Good day everyone ! I'm planning on upgrading my lights with HID (ballast and all). I understand that HID runs at 35 watts while standard halogen runs at 55 watss, but the HID startup requires more power during start-up. My question is, whether it is necessary to install a relay for an HID setup or the stock wiring harness is up for the job taking the temporary increase in load during the HID startup into consideration. Thanks in advance.

Willy

If you have a Mercedes and plan on using Mercedes parts, it's very likely there is a service procedure for your model that explains everything you need and need to do.

If you're attempting aftermarket parts, you'll need all the luck you can get.

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Kent Christensen
Albuquerque
'07 GL320CDI, '10 CL550. '01 Porsche Boxster
Two BMW motorcycles

I've been using HID Bi Xenon in H4 Lamps for a couple of months now in my '85 500 SEL. Low beam is really excellent, although high beam isn't much better than before. Most of my driving is with low beam anyway, so there is no problem really.
The kit i've got used 'soft start' latest generation ballasts, so eliminated the need for additional relays.

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Ben

'85 500 SEL
'85 928S2
'88 560 SEC
'90 750i

It's an aftermarket kit and uses hella ballasts. I doubt it has the soft-start feature. Do you think the stock harness can withstand the extra current during start-up ?

I have a 99 E320 and have HID which I made. I bought a clear lens Depo
headlight, E55 bixenon projectors, Hella gen3 ballasts and Phillips D2S bulbs.
I did not use supplemental wiring harness, though I did throw in additional
inline fuses.

I figured that since HID was an option and they used the same main wiring
harness in the 99 E320 be it halogen or HID, what I needed to do was to use
the same (or more efficient) ballast and it should be fine. The ballast is the
big load....and what *may* trigger the BULB MALFUNCTION code if you don't
have the dealer change from halogen to HID setting. my BULB MALF light
comes on about 4x a year....when it is really cold. To-date, I've not yet
changed the light setting to HID.


The super safest would be to fabricate a wiring harness. No one will ever
be faulted for that.

uhm....i'm intrigued with the H4 bixenon mentioned above. since there really
is no such beast, I'm wondering what it really is. is it still a switchable, dual
filament bulb....or a single filament with moveable cutoff....or what?

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-- raymond~
47º 34'N 122º 18'W