Materials to Maintain Your ZHP IIIII Hand Protection IIIII Tools to Maintain Your ZHP
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  1. #1
    Join Date
    Nov 2013
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    Bay Area
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    TXL vs GXL wire for ZKW xenon wiring

    I've dived into the deep end of ZKW problems. Fortunately, BP gave me some very good advice about the type of wiring to use, but I'm thinking about it and wondering if it's better to get a thicker insulated wire. And if it weren't for BP's advice, I'd probably purchased some crappy wire off of Amazon, so thank you BP for even getting me in the right direction.

    He used "TXL" rated wire, which is "extra thin wall", which is apparently comparable to the OE wiring. But I'm thinking... if the OE wiring is so shitty, maybe it makes more sense to use "GXL" rated wire, which is the same gage, but thicker walls.

    They're both rated to a max of 125 *C, but the 3 websites I found all said GXL is clearly used for higher temp situations.

    https://www.awcwire.com/blog/txl-wir...oduct-knockout :
    TXL, as stated earlier, is used for applications where small diameter and minimal weight are desired. The extra thin wall makes the wire more lightweight than GXL. GXL, however, is used primarily in engine compartments where high heat resistance is required.
    So... does anybody have any insight that's better than mine?


    His: 05 330 ZHP Imola Red - 07 Z4 M Coupe Imola Red
    Hers: 04 330i ZSP
    2004 325 M56 Steel Blue Metallic - Sold
    Stephen's DD & AutoX/HPDE Build Thread
    Stewart WP - Z4M LCAB - M3 trans/motor mounts - DICE MediageBridge Duo - ARC-8 17x8.5"
    DrVANOS - Mason Engineering Race Strut Bar - E30 Exp. Cap - Custom Black+Beige Interior - M3 Seats
    Bilstein PSS10 - Turner Sway Bars 27/21 - ECST RTAB Limiters - R.E. RSM


  2. #2
    Join Date
    Jan 1970
    Location
    Branford, CT
    Posts
    16,055
    I just had a thought. You know those ferrite things they wrapped the wiring in? I think GXL wouldn't be able to be wrapped around it due to being so thick. That might be one reason they went with TXL wiring. I would also imagine that being thicker doesn't necessarily mean it'll last longer. I think the material matters more in this case, because if they were made of the same material, the GXL wiring would also crack. Since I didn't use the ferrite things (not knowing what they were), I probably could have gotten away with using GXL wiring, though I'm not sure whether there would have been any benefit to it.

    I'm curious if anyone knows for sure. I couldn't really find sufficient information on deciding between the two when I did mine.
    BP
    2005 330i ZHP / 6MT
    Imolarot / Naturbraun
    2003 330iT / 6MT
    Orientblau / Naturbraun




    It's not the car you drive, it's how you drive it.

  3. #3
    It doesn't matter. FWIW, I used old monster cable automotive speaker wire when I did my projector retrofit. The insulation on the stock wiring is super garbage. Almost anything is better than that. And this was 18 gauge, super thick poly-something insulation and I could just fit the 4 or so loops around the ferrite.

    Just because I like this page:
    https://www.rbracing-rsr.com/wiring_ecu.html
    -Corey

    2003 Blue ZHP Sedan @ 210k
    Dead due to damaged valve. Parts are being transferred to a wagon:

    2003 325iT Japanrot 6MT @ 230k

  4. #4
    Join Date
    Jun 2012
    Location
    Socal
    Posts
    1,739
    You can use GXL. They are both made of the same material and have the same exact specs other than insulation thickness. There's SXL too (which may be too big). All of them have cross-linked polyethylene insulation which is the important spec of the wire and what gives it those desirable properties.

    Quote Originally Posted by az3579 View Post
    I just had a thought. You know those ferrite things they wrapped the wiring in? I think GXL wouldn't be able to be wrapped around it due to being so thick. That might be one reason they went with TXL wiring. I would also imagine that being thicker doesn't necessarily mean it'll last longer. I think the material matters more in this case, because if they were made of the same material, the GXL wiring would also crack. Since I didn't use the ferrite things (not knowing what they were), I probably could have gotten away with using GXL wiring, though I'm not sure whether there would have been any benefit to it.

    I'm curious if anyone knows for sure. I couldn't really find sufficient information on deciding between the two when I did mine.
    Are you talking about the ferrite cores/chokes?

  5. #5
    Join Date
    Jan 1970
    Location
    Branford, CT
    Posts
    16,055
    Quote Originally Posted by sillieidiot View Post
    Are you talking about the ferrite cores/chokes?
    Yep
    BP
    2005 330i ZHP / 6MT
    Imolarot / Naturbraun
    2003 330iT / 6MT
    Orientblau / Naturbraun




    It's not the car you drive, it's how you drive it.

  6. #6
    Join Date
    Nov 2013
    Location
    Bay Area
    Posts
    2,973
    Guess I’ll give GXL a try.


    His: 05 330 ZHP Imola Red - 07 Z4 M Coupe Imola Red
    Hers: 04 330i ZSP
    2004 325 M56 Steel Blue Metallic - Sold
    Stephen's DD & AutoX/HPDE Build Thread
    Stewart WP - Z4M LCAB - M3 trans/motor mounts - DICE MediageBridge Duo - ARC-8 17x8.5"
    DrVANOS - Mason Engineering Race Strut Bar - E30 Exp. Cap - Custom Black+Beige Interior - M3 Seats
    Bilstein PSS10 - Turner Sway Bars 27/21 - ECST RTAB Limiters - R.E. RSM


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