Any electrical experts? Headlights not working

[cj10jeeper]

I still don't understand how you plan to coeenct to the rear of the light without the correct plug?

I'm going to solder them directly onto the wires inside the headlight and insulate them to a high standard. Then i will drill a hole in the black casing and feed them though before siliconing around the wire hole and inside where the block connector would have gone.

I will have slightly better access to the wiring due to a simultaneous project i'm working on. :wink:

http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/2x-80mm-White-Angel-Eyes-Ring-Halo-Car-light-Lamp-416-/280608203690?pt=UK_CarsParts_Vehicles_CarParts_SM&hash=item41558d63aa

OK - I really would not go that way as you're taking the wiring away from stock and if ever you have a damaged headlight you have problems. A crash and it won't be repaired, a fire and insurenace won't pay, etc. All limited risks perhaps.

As a minimum I would source the plugs (be that BMW or part of a loom) and then extend the loom or even fabb up a connector. Best bite the bullet and buy a new piece of loom though if the above doesn't work.

Expensive I know, but right on so many levels.

 

[aquazi]

OMG just read this thread....who'd have thought something as simple as dehumidifying your lights could end up so bad.

Good to see your on the right course of getting it fixed though... shame you have to source a new light / and or harness though.

 

[a11y]

Guess I'll be removing my bags of dehumidifying crystals tonight then...

Typically, I only installed them at the weekend when I was swapping my winter for summer wheels. I thought it was a great idea too. I don't have major condensation issues, just the occasional small bit of misting up after washing the Z4. Oh well!

Thank goodness for that, im not the only one! Even now looking back i thought it was a really clever idea. I just assumed that once saturated they would hold their shape. Instead the crystals dissoloved and formed a lake of death which has destroyed everything. Its hard to convey what a total mess has been caused by something so basic.

You might be ok if you are using silica crystals but if they are calcium chloride then GET THEM OUT!

Been home for 15mins and I've already removed them - mine are apparently silica crystals so I should probably have been OK, but I'll certainly do a bit more research before thnking of inserting them again!

Like you I'm struggling to believe how something so simple can cause such a big problem

 

[tomTVR]

I still don't understand how you plan to coeenct to the rear of the light without the correct plug?

I'm going to solder them directly onto the wires inside the headlight and insulate them to a high standard. Then i will drill a hole in the black casing and feed them though before siliconing around the wire hole and inside where the block connector would have gone.

I will have slightly better access to the wiring due to a simultaneous project i'm working on. :wink:

http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/2x-80mm-White-Angel-Eyes-Ring-Halo-Car-light-Lamp-416-/280608203690?pt=UK_CarsParts_Vehicles_CarParts_SM&hash=item41558d63aa

OK - I really would not go that way as you're taking the wiring away from stock and if ever you have a damaged headlight you have problems. A crash and it won't be repaired, a fire and insurenace won't pay, etc. All limited risks perhaps.

As a minimum I would source the plugs (be that BMW or part of a loom) and then extend the loom or even fabb up a connector. Best bite the bullet and buy a new piece of loom though if the above doesn't work.

Expensive I know, but right on so many levels.

I will continue my search for the OEM connector sans loom. Otherwise my father works at main dealer so i will at least price up the full loom section at staff rates, will still be £100+ though i suspect.

Do you really think the insurance wouldn't pay ou in the case of a fire? Surely they won't send an assessor to inspect every electrical block connector in the car to check that it hasn't been replaced with an aftermarket one with an identical function. Likewise could they not say the same about anyone who has done the AE conversion, however professional - its still a modification to the wiring. I appreciate your advice but wondering to what extent i should be concerned. I would say the majority or car enthusiasts will have undertaken low level modding which at worst would fall into a 'grey area' for insurance. Technically you are supposed to declare if you retrofit OEM cupholders!

 

[cj10jeeper]

Insurance not paying out is of course a small risk and was just part of a list or reasons I believe a job should be done correctly. If there was a fire from a loom that had been bodged together then it is 100% certain an inspector would examine the car and likley find it.

Equally if someone fitted AE and it went up in flames the same would be true, however you are talking about a major cable feeding one of the big components so the risks are higher than just an small 5w internal bulb replacement.

Nothing imho to really worry about but it's one Zed if done the way you originally proposed that I would never buy if I found it.

 

[tomTVR]

Nothing imho to really worry about but it's one Zed if done the way you originally proposed that I would never buy if I found it.

Or is that because you have seen how i got my 'two spot' rear lights to work?

We know you're a perfectionist, some of us aren't but your're advice is still highly welcome and appreciated.

Doesnt bother me driving the car like this, its a keeper anyway and if i do sell it then im still expecting bottom book price as its an early car with 113,000 on the clock and counting.

Its just the insurance which has me slightly worried. I'm not conerned about a fire caused by my wiring - even if there is an element of a 'bodge job' about it, it will certainly be properly insulated and after your advice i'll not be thinning any cables down to make them fit.

 

[cj10jeeper]

Probably am a bit of a perfectionist, but not too much. Could never do a concours car for instance nor detail to the point I worried about driving.

Sadly too many years and too many 'quick jobs' has left me with bigger bills and wasted time and effort, but the pain of some of them still haunts me.

I do agree though that wtih 1113k on the clock and a keeper it's not a real issue whatever you do as far as selling on later is concerned

 

[tomTVR]

Well against all of the odds ive managed to get hold of a block connector on its own:



Only problem is it doesn't have any metal sleaves inside. Does anyone know where i can find some? Now i have the connector i may be able to move away from BMW-only parts.

 

[PawnSacrifice]

Nice work! To me these look the same as the ones in the white connector for the cigar lighter. If you pop out the centre ash tray / switch console you should be able to check easily. I think you can buy those connectors or pins separately.

 

[pvr]

From here perhaps?

http://www.nexxia.co.uk/product.asp?product_code=M-55-1&category=ISO%20Connectors&section=CAR%20AUDIO

 

[NathanZ4C]

Looks like i might need to replace my headlight connection both loom and headlight side.

I had some real trouble getting the socket apart and ive found the reason for this is that 3-4 pins have turned green

Any idea where i can get a replacement socket from like Tom found? Ive dropped him an email but no response yet

 

[NathanZ4C]

Bummer Tom has come back to me but doesnt have the part number

 

[Scooba_Steve]

BMW do a wide range of connectors, have a look on RealOEM to see if there is anything to suit.

 

[NathanZ4C]

Sopers confirm they can provide the headlight socket but not the loom end. About £11-£12. However the metal retaining pins are £3.25 each!!!