What did you do for your ZHP/ BMW / MINI today? #2

[hcbeck2689]

I'm having fun in the truck doing 4wd drifts in the snow, but, I will be happy to drive her again in a few months!

We are supposed to get some snow here in NC tomorrow, I plan on testing out the driftability of the X5.

[Sockethead]

We are supposed to get some snow here in NC tomorrow, I plan on testing out the driftability of the X5.

The X5 will 4 wheel drift quite nicely

[anandoc]

We are supposed to get some snow here in NC tomorrow, I plan on testing out the driftability of the X5.

Don't end up like this

[wstr75]

Thanks to Anandoc and PhZHP for your suggestions. It turned out to be a bad ballast. The wiring feeding the ignitor was in poor shape. One wire completely broken apart 1" from the ignitor plug and the other two wires feeding into same plug were missing insulation and becoming frayed. The shorting must have zapped the ballast. The ground wire and the three ignitor wires had additional places with broken insulation. These wires were soldered together and completely covered with shrink hose their entire lengths. We will see if the heat gets to the dark shrink hose over time. My guess it will be okay.

My question to the esteemed audience of this forum is: Is it because the lighting system moves as the car turns that the wires all broke at the same place 1" away from the ignitor? In other words, the back and forth movement of the headlights coupled with the wiring degradation caused by heat eventually fatigued the wiring and the point at the end of the light at the ignitor is where the most wire flexing is occurring?

[sillieidiot]

Thanks to Anandoc and PhZHP for your suggestions. It turned out to be a bad ballast. The wiring feeding the ignitor was in poor shape. One wire completely broken apart 1" from the ignitor plug and the other two wires feeding into same plug were missing insulation and becoming frayed. The shorting must have zapped the ballast. The ground wire and the three ignitor wires had additional places with broken insulation. These wires were soldered together and completely covered with shrink hose their entire lengths. We will see if the heat gets to the dark shrink hose over time. My guess it will be okay.

My question to the esteemed audience of this forum is: Is it because the lighting system moves as the car turns that the wires all broke at the same place 1" away from the ignitor? In other words, the back and forth movement of the headlights coupled with the wiring degradation caused by heat eventually fatigued the wiring and the point at the end of the light at the ignitor is where the most wire flexing is occurring?

Yep that's pretty much it.

[Sockethead]

Not only do BMW gaskets suck, so does their wiring... we'll have to replace one of the headlight assemblies in the 135 for the same reason... not an easy fix on the E82

[holyc0w]

Sometimes I wonder if BMW does this on purpose, so people just trade in the cars for new ones. They also make money on the parts, so it's a win/win either way.

[Sockethead]

I wonder that every day! The new cars leak just as bad as the old ones so nothing has changed

[sillieidiot]

Not only do BMW gaskets suck, so does their wiring... we'll have to replace one of the headlight assemblies in the 135 for the same reason... not an easy fix on the E82

Their wiring inside the car is pretty good. They use a higher gauge than what other cars would use. Maybe it's AL that's skimping out to increase their profits lol

[Johnmadd]

Drove it through at least 10 inches of snow and got stuck in the cul-de-sac on the way back in.