Folks,

I am in the process of replacing my custom retrofitted Audi D2S projectors from my halogen housings to OEM, D2R lamps, (via transferring internals and ballast from a damaged headlamp to my halogen lamp housings.

In my initial conversion, using Audi projectors, I also used the Hella ballast as the OEM D2R based headlamps use. Although I noticed the driver-side lamp would flicker if the voltage was lower, i.e. 12-12 volts after starting the vehicle. (diesel uses some juice :-) ) Sometimes it would fire up, sometimes flicker for a little until it fired and sometimes flicker and not fire.

I figured that the ballast was on the fritz...

With the same style hardware but different parts ofcourse I am getting the same effect on the driver-side as I was with my prior retrofit. I installed new Philips D2S Ultinon bulbs at the time. I've swapped the bulbs to other side and no real change. I left it alone and ran this setup for about 3 years.

Note: on my old retrofit I noticed that the passenger side would warm up slightly faster and the color output was slightly darker than the driver-side. I always thought this to be the ballast fault.

So.... I am thinking that I may have a corroded ground that needs some TLC.

In addition my vehicle originally came with halogen based units. I have done nothing to the electrical wiring other than increasing the fuses from 10amp to 20 amp I believe. I was under the impression that the wiring for vehicle w/ xenon and w/o was essentially the same, other then the rear axle sensor that controls the auto leveling of the headlamp....

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#dieselFLEET
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'97 E300
'99 E300