Headlight ballasts

[Quango86]

Where is the best place to source them I have intermittent left headlight failure and very occasionally the right one. Also have the warning light on the dash. Is there any aftermarket options?

[Quango86]

Picture of fault light

[JamesBaby]

As Xenon lamps age they place more stress on the ballasts. How old are the xenon bulbs?

I’d try new bulbs first.


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[Quango86]

Not sure how old tbh but i was going to change them at the same time as the bumper would be off anyway

[Covkiller]

How do old Xenon bulbs place stress on the ballast. Do they get fat with age

[JamesBaby]

They begin to draw more power. Upon ignition I think or to keep the arc stable. I used to work for General Electric in the lighting division.


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[Covkiller]

You mean they draw more current on the ignition loom and hence effect the ballast.

[Kenny147]

Whether it’s simply an urban myth that’s grown a life of its own or whether it’s based on reality, too many owners have had the flickering light issue and changed the bulbs, only to have to change the ballasts not that long after.

I know I did.

It might cost you more in the short term but as some of these cars are now over 12 years old, it makes sense to just change the bulbs and ballasts at the same time. Especially as it’s a bumper off job and the bumper is such a joy to remove.

My only piece of advice is that you have to code the new ballast to the car before you can adapt it. It’s not difficult to do but you can’t simply plug it in and have it work without errors.

[Quango86]

Whether it’s simply an urban myth that’s grown a life of its own or whether it’s based on reality, too many owners have had the flickering light issue and changed the bulbs, only to have to change the ballasts not that long after.

I know I did.

It might cost you more in the short term but as some of these cars are now over 12 years old, it makes sense to just change the bulbs and ballasts at the same time. Especially as it’s a bumper off job and the bumper is such a joy to remove.

My only piece of advice is that you have to code the new ballast to the car before you can adapt it. It’s not difficult to do but you can’t simply plug it in and have it work without errors.

I have to agree mines is an 06 so for the hastle of doing the bulbs I would do the ballasts also. Where is the best place to pick them?

[MB2]

I am not sure that light is a ballast error - I think it might be the self levelling lights in error.

I would agree flickering is the ballasts and while you have the lighst out I would change the bulbs too. It is an easy swap - I bought mine off eBay.

I can give you the PN for the ballast but I have the adaptive lights - move left/right up/down on startup so could be differnt to yours.

Old PN - 307 329 154
PN On Box - Magneti Marelli PN - 711307329154

Bought from here - https://www.ebay.co.uk/usr/lichtex_de

[Quango86]

I am not sure that light is a ballast error - I think it might be the self levelling lights in error.

I would agree flickering is the ballasts and while you have the lighst out I would change the bulbs too. It is an easy swap - I bought mine off eBay.

I can give you the PN for the ballast but I have the adaptive lights - move left/right up/down on startup so could be differnt to yours.

Old PN - 307 329 154
PN On Box - Magneti Marelli PN - 711307329154

Bought from here - https://www.ebay.co.uk/usr/lichtex_de

I have Adaptive lights also so that would be great. Any special I need to do or job done once there in? Thanks for the replys

[Kenny147]

I am not sure that light is a ballast error - I think it might be the self levelling lights in error.

That error can mean a multitude of things and without running a scan with VCDS, you’ll simply be throwing parts at it, unless you get lucky.

Because I’m an idiot and refused to simply throw money at my car, I learnt more than I ever wanted to know about the ballasts and headlights, in our cars. From memory, some of the things that can cause that error symbol to show up........

Bad bulb....you’ll get a flickering light first. Goes away when you turn the lights off, then on.
Bad ballast....lights won’t do the up/down/left/right dance, when you turn them on.
Chaffed wire inside the headlight unit.....As above for a bad ballast.
Bad leveling sensor....not sure about this one but a quick check of the two sensors might reveal whether this is the cause.

[Quango86]

I am not sure that light is a ballast error - I think it might be the self levelling lights in error.

That error can mean a multitude of things and without running a scan with VCDS, you’ll simply be throwing parts at it, unless you get lucky.

Because I’m an idiot and refused to simply throw money at my car, I learnt more than I ever wanted to know about the ballasts and headlights, in our cars. From memory, some of the things that can cause that error symbol to show up........

Bad bulb....you’ll get a flickering light first. Goes away when you turn the lights off, then on.
Bad ballast....lights won’t do the up/down/left/right dance, when you turn them on.
Chaffed wire inside the headlight unit.....As above for a bad ballast.
Bad leveling sensor....not sure about this one but a quick check of the two sensors might reveal whether this is the cause.

I don't throw money at things either. I had it scanned when it was in for a service I'll dig out the codes. The lights scan up and down but not left and right. The lights flicker sometimes and go out but switching them off and on brings the light straight on.

J667 - power output module for headlight(rep. Gr. 94)
0055 power regulation

2233 14 left power output stage (faulty static)

[Kenny147]

From memory, those are the same codes I got. Changed the bulbs and then the ballasts about 300 miles later. Been trouble free for the last 18 months.

[Quango86]

From memory, those are the same codes I got. Changed the bulbs and then the ballasts about 300 miles later. Been trouble free for the last 18 months.

Yeah that was why I was going for the bulbs and ballast at the same time. Where did you buy your parts for it?