Had the car in the local garage for some work to be done. I asked the service manager if I purchased the ST HID projector headlamps if they would be plug and play with my Titanium. He told me that they would not because the heat would cause the plastic in the connector to melt.... is this true?
ST projector headlamps..not compatible?
cjanderson629
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Had the car in the local garage for some work to be done. I asked the service manager if I purchased the ST HID projector headlamps if they would be plug and play with my Titanium. He told me that they would not because the heat would cause the plastic in the connector to melt.... is this true?
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That is such a myth that hids melt stock wiring,why would a light that uses way less power and burns way cooler cause your wires to melt?just saying lol
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Thanks for clarifying! I just mentioned the ST housings even though I am more interesting in retrofitting my headlamps.
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Also, you will need the whole HID relay and wiring harness that people are using to retro fit the HID's to stock housings or the new ST housing will cause the same bulb out message.
Assuming all new cars are heading the same way in terms of electronics, maybe this retrofit is a bit more complicated than just swapping leveling modules and lights.
In my case (2006 VW Jetta), in order to swap autoleveling OEM Xenon's, i need to change wireing harness (12 pin vs 10 pin), all new hardware (lights and leveling mechanism, etc) plus i need to get into the lights electronic module (aka Central electric module) and change the long coding (its basicly the car's electronic DNA; bytes and bits; accesible via the OBD2 port using a the famous "Vag Com cable/software) so that it can send the correct xenon voltage along with enabling the shutter mecanism (it what diferenciates a Xenon vs a Bi-Xenon).
Here's a screen shot of the software itself inside the headlamps module:
![Image]()
Note that Xenon option needs to be ON, or checkmarked in order for the electronics to work properly.
Anyway, im telling all this just to give you guys some direction in terms of what challenges could appear on the way of doing such a project (hope in the Focus its just a hardware thing), not to preach VWs stuff lol
In my case (2006 VW Jetta), in order to swap autoleveling OEM Xenon's, i need to change wireing harness (12 pin vs 10 pin), all new hardware (lights and leveling mechanism, etc) plus i need to get into the lights electronic module (aka Central electric module) and change the long coding (its basicly the car's electronic DNA; bytes and bits; accesible via the OBD2 port using a the famous "Vag Com cable/software) so that it can send the correct xenon voltage along with enabling the shutter mecanism (it what diferenciates a Xenon vs a Bi-Xenon).
Here's a screen shot of the software itself inside the headlamps module:
Note that Xenon option needs to be ON, or checkmarked in order for the electronics to work properly.
Anyway, im telling all this just to give you guys some direction in terms of what challenges could appear on the way of doing such a project (hope in the Focus its just a hardware thing), not to preach VWs stuff lol
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Ha ha ha - You gotta love the "service managers"... they know it all!! - LOL
I've been running an aftermarket HID kit (w/ no error message) in the stock SE headlights without any issues - 55W AC Ballasts and 55W 4300K H11 bulbs.
I also just recently added a similar set but 35W in my fog lights... no issues there either. If the ST3 Headlight Housing is physically the same, you'll just need to wire or retrofit the D1S bulbs into a ballast and you should be good to go. Assuming the auto-leveler doesn't cause additional issues.
I've been running an aftermarket HID kit (w/ no error message) in the stock SE headlights without any issues - 55W AC Ballasts and 55W 4300K H11 bulbs.
I also just recently added a similar set but 35W in my fog lights... no issues there either. If the ST3 Headlight Housing is physically the same, you'll just need to wire or retrofit the D1S bulbs into a ballast and you should be good to go. Assuming the auto-leveler doesn't cause additional issues.
LOL @ You.
1)Im no "service manager" or anything similar.
2)Installing an Aftermarket "error free" kit these days is as challenging as a DIY air filter job.
3)Doing an all OEM retrofit can be a whole different project, depending on the aplication.
BTW...
You gotta love "Forum trolls"... they know it all!!! (...and yet they can only contribute by making my "this is a bunch of written crap" scrolls downs a lot harder lol)
he is not talking about you. he is talking about the first post of this thread.
also, I am an Assistant Service Manager at a Ford dealership and a former VW employee. we are no where near as messed up as VW with electronics yet. lol. Im so glad I don't have to deal with those messes anymore.
Oooops....lol!!!!
My apologies to him...my bad lol[eek][shhh][:0][facepalm][8)][thankyou][grinking]
Hehe, thanks for the help.
BTW, (and my apologies for steering away the topic a bit) but did u had to deal with Long Codings while working with VW service?[doorpeek]
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Wow 4motion... you went hard on this one my man. Apology accepted though! [smackbum]
At any rate, I was merely responding to cjanderson629 in regards to what the service manager told him about the ST HID lights melting the stock connectors/wires... that is definitely false information.
I also wasn't trying to be a d-bag with the "you gotta love service managers" comment; I've been given wrong information by these guys on multiple occasions for various cars...
Just as an FYI, this 2012 Focus happens to be the 16th car I've owned in my lifetime, so I'm not just blowing smoke... [rolleyes]
This is why you should always quote the post you're replying to.
Sent from my DROID BIONIC using Tapatalk 2
Thanks man! Again, my bad.[cheers]
For those who just tunned in, cliff notes:
At first i was like...
then i was like...
][:)][:)][:)]_in_boots1.jpg)
lmao...
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I have wanted to put in HIDs for a while now. The only thing stopping me is the fact that I will need resistors to get rid of the bulb out warning. I would prefer to have that function of the car still work even though it is obvious when a headlight is out.
Talk about messed up! So my buddy's wife has a VW and the battery died...well that wouldn't be a problem just manually unlock the door, pop the hood and charge the battery...BUT VW on that model atleast had everything run off electricity so you can't get in the car to pop the hood or even in the trunk because that too is ran off electricity.
even the mechanism used to aid people locked in the trunk by a murderer or something requires electricity...its freakin ridiculous...
so its been sitting outside for MONTHS lol
In this case, oem retrofit is indeed the correct choice.
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