Hey guys, would really appreciate your help for this.

I have a Yeti with halogen headlights now, I am interested in installing HIDs. Today I tried fitting a Philips HID kit with can bus compliant ballasts. The bulb error was on. Anyway I have returned the kit for now.

After searching around a bit, I read that using a canbus compliant ballast is bad for the BCM, and it spoils things like the wiper motors after a while. The better thing is to use normal HID kits and code through VCDS.

Now I do know a couple of people with VCDS, but I don't know what to code. Should I buy a normal 35W hid kit and then code through VCDS? Or what is the best way to get xenons onto my car. Another person told me I should not draw power for the HIDs through the battery, but should draw it through the existing wiring?

Will really appreciate any help. I'm pretty damn confused lol.

What you are suggesting would be illegal in the UK, where many forum contributers are from, so you might not get much of an answer. Here, from memory, xenons have to have automatic levelling and built-in washers. Some people do modify regardless, but it then has to be undone to pass the annual MOT test (from the car's third anniversary of registration.)

It might be possible to replace the headlight units with Skoda's own xenon units, but at considerable cost.

It is NOT illegal in the UK.

The MOT Regs have been changed this year and HID lamps can be retro fitted without levellers or washers, but if fitted they must work. They do however have to conform with the "scatter/setting" test and must not be too blue.

There have been many threads about this, mainly in the Fabia section.

It is NOT illegal in the UK.

The MOT Regs have been changed this year and HID lamps can be retro fitted without levellers or washers, but if fitted they must work. They do however have to conform with the "scatter/setting" test and must not be too blue.

There have been many threads about this, mainly in the Fabia section.

Have you got a legal, definitive statement of this - news to me?

Yes, the new rules came in from today and I have posted a thread about it.

Have you got a legal, definitive statement of this - news to me?

Yes, the new rules came in from today and I have posted a thread about it.

And the relevant thread:

http://www.briskoda.net/forums/topic/269691-new-mot-regulations-come-into-effect-from-today-200313/

And the relevant thread:

http://www.briskoda....m-today-200313/

Thanks Graham, just read that, but to my reading, nothing has changed.

Unless the lens unit/bulb unit is "e" marked by an approved test house, ie OEM manufacturer and then complies with the extra bits, self leveling/washers etc, then it is an illegal retro fit.

That statement does nothing to undo any of the previous documents which have been issued over the last few years.

I've always argued with my MG friends they are illegal when retro fitted, but then they always read the bits they want to see and ignore the blindingly obvious parts.

I'll let the dust settle down before I draw any premature conclusions.

Hey guys, would really appreciate your help for this.

I have a Yeti with halogen headlights now, I am interested in installing HIDs. Today I tried fitting a Philips HID kit with can bus compliant ballasts. The bulb error was on. Anyway I have returned the kit for now.

After searching around a bit, I read that using a canbus compliant ballast is bad for the BCM, and it spoils things like the wiper motors after a while. The better thing is to use normal HID kits and code through VCDS.

Now I do know a couple of people with VCDS, but I don't know what to code. Should I buy a normal 35W hid kit and then code through VCDS? Or what is the best way to get xenons onto my car. Another person told me I should not draw power for the HIDs through the battery, but should draw it through the existing wiring?

Will really appreciate any help. I'm pretty damn confused lol.

It seems difficult to answer: however a couple of points.

What are your local rulings on after market HID kits? Fitting OEM is really best, but most probably the expensive route.

Cheap HT ballast packs can interfere/spike the supply voltage, which could cause unintended consequences.

Not much help I'm afraid, I'd go the OEM route myself.

Well the legality over here isn't an issue like it is in Europe. Adding OEM xenons would be far too expensive for me at this point. Any other suggestions guys?

There have been a couple of recent threads in the Octavia section, and it seems the conclusion was it was possible to fit non canbus HID to a late FL model and code the errors out. Not sure how different Yeti and late FL systems are.

It was slightly more complex than just checking a box as Ross don't want aftermarket HID's on their concience

I think it was member Vectra1 who sorted it out first, but quiz the search box.

There have been a couple of recent threads in the Octavia section, and it seems the conclusion was it was possible to fit non canbus HID to a late FL model and code the errors out. Not sure how different Yeti and late FL systems are.

It was slightly more complex than just checking a box as Ross don't want aftermarket HID's on their concience

I think it was member Vectra1 who sorted it out first, but quiz the search box.

Aah ok. Went through that. byte 14 bit 4 if I'm not mistaken. I shall give it a shot this weekend.

There are these so called "Error Cancellers" on the net, like this one, may be give it a shot?

<p>But those probably won't be any better than can-bus ballasts which draw a higher voltage than required, and could end up damaging the bcm or wiper motors.

Why do you think that putting a resistor across the HID power wiring is going to damage the BCM (What is that?) and the wiper motor?

This "Canceller" is just a basic Capacitor+Resistor circuit, which can not draw more voltage than supplied/required, but only use what is available to it. Yes, it can create a slight "variance" in voltage (as an Oscillator), which anyway even an OEM Ballast would do, but certainly not enough to damage it.

However, if you still are worried it could damage the BCM/Wipers (could very well be a myth!), why don't you source Power for the Ballasts directly from the Battery then?

The resistors are there to "cheat" the Canbus system into thinking that the load being taken by the HID units is the same as the headlight bulbs (35w compared to 60w). It doesn't matter where you power the the HID's from, the load will still be sensed on the switching circuit.

The resistors are there to "cheat" the Canbus system into thinking that the load being taken by the HID units is the same as the headlight bulbs (35w compared to 60w). It doesn't matter where you power the the HID's from, the load will still be sensed on the switching circuit.

I thought the BCM was powering the HID's directly (without a Relay/Switch), hence suggested drawing Power directly from the Battery instead and connecting the Canceller to be identified as a valid Load by the BCM. Are the HID's as well being controlled by a Relay then? If not, powering it directly from the Battery will most likely make a difference.

Sorry, but what is the BCM?

Body Control Module

Thanks. I wish people wouldn't use acronyms without at least explaining them first! I get enough of the bloody things at work!! (eg: PICCOP,IWA,COSS,ES :wall: )

As far as I can see the problem is that the "bulb failure" system shows a failed bulb when the HID lights are connected, because their resistance is lower than the prescribed limits in the system, typically 35w as against the "correct" 65w. To overcome this "problem" a resistor is added across the contacts to bring this figure back up to 65w. Therefore, as far as I can see, this cannot "damage" anything else.

I'm also not sure that trying to power the HID's directly from the battery will help, as it would have to be through a relay, of which the switching side would still be less than 65w without resistors being fitted.

Oh for the old fashioned days when wiring lights was a simple case of fitting a simple relay.

The thread on the Octavia forum explains how to have aftermarket HID's and use vagcom to adapt the vehicle accordingly. No risk, however small that may be, from resistors or capacitors either together or separately.

Why do you think that putting a resistor across the HID power wiring is going to damage the BCM (What is that?) and the wiper motor?

I don't think that. I've just been browsing through the forum and quite a few people seem to have had problems with the bcm and wiper motors after installing aftermarket HID kits. Someone wrote can bus ballasts have some reverse voltage or something of that sort. And also the changes the voltage affect the bcm in the long run. Now since I do intend on keeping the car for a while, I want to try and do it in the safest possible way.

This "Canceller" is just a basic Capacitor+Resistor circuit, which can not draw more voltage than supplied/required, but only use what is available to it. Yes, it can create a slight "variance" in voltage (as an Oscillator), which anyway even an OEM Ballast would do, but certainly not enough to damage it.

However, if you still are worried it could damage the BCM/Wipers (could very well be a myth!), why don't you source Power for the Ballasts directly from the Battery then?

I understand what the error canceller does, but like I've written above, many people have had issues in their octavias. I can try sourcing from the battery too, it may be better than sourcing power from the existing wiring. Maybe the safest way is to code for xenons from vag com, use normal non can bus ballasts, and course power from the battery.

The thread on the Octavia forum explains how to have aftermarket HID's and use vagcom to adapt the vehicle accordingly. No risk, however small that may be, from resistors or capacitors either together or separately.

I did read a thread, about how to use vag come and enable xenons. Though can you post a link to the thread you are talking about, I may have missed it. Thanks.

I don't think that. I've just been browsing through the forum and quite a few people seem to have had problems with the bcm and wiper motors after installing aftermarket HID kits. Someone wrote can bus ballasts have some reverse voltage or something of that sort. And also the changes the voltage affect the bcm in the long run. Now since I do intend on keeping the car for a while, I want to try and do it in the safest possible way.

There has been no mention about this perceived "problem" in this section of the Forum, so I'm still not sure where you have got the idea from. It certainly isn't from a Yeti.

The ballast resistors cannot cause a "reverse voltage" or alter the voltage.

Do you actually understand how the CanBus system works?

I understand what the error canceller does, but like I've written above, many people have had issues in their octavias. I can try sourcing from the battery too, it may be better than sourcing power from the existing wiring. Maybe the safest way is to code for xenons from vag com, use normal non can bus ballasts, and course power from the battery.

Again, where are these reported problems? Certainly not with the Yeti. Please also realise that the circuitry fitted to a different model, and an earlier model, may bear no relationship to that fitted to a Yeti.

I cannot understand why you are trying to do something "strange" when you have been told that it can be done with VagCom.

I did read a thread, about how to use vag come and enable xenons. Though can you post a link to the thread you are talking about, I may have missed it. Thanks.

Have you tried using the search function whilst in the Octavia sections?

There has been no mention about this perceived "problem" in this section of the Forum, so I'm still not sure where you have got the idea from. It certainly isn't from a Yeti.

The ballast resistors cannot cause a "reverse voltage" or alter the voltage.

Do you actually understand how the CanBus system works?

Again, where are these reported problems? Certainly not with the Yeti. Please also realise that the circuitry fitted to a different model, and an earlier model, may bear no relationship to that fitted to a Yeti.

I cannot understand why you are trying to do something "strange" when you have been told that it can be done with VagCom.

Have you tried using the search function whilst in the Octavia sections?

I don't understand why you are getting so offensive Sir.

As far as I know VAG - Volkswagen Auto Group (Since you don't like short forms) cars share a lot of components and even the way they may be controlled are similar. The fact that the same vag-com system works on both the Yeti and the Octavia and other Skodas makes me believe their can bus behaves in a similar fashion. I did actually search the Yeti forum for people fitting aftermarket HID kits, but I could not get a satisfactory answer. I did in fact search the Octavia forum which is where I read about wiper motors getting messed up, BCM damage, and reverse voltage. Perhaps you would like to search there to see what I am talking about. The Yeti and the Octavia share a lot of components, and also the way the can bus would check for fused bulbs and give errors, that is why I am assuming similar things would happen on the Yeti too.

Now since no one seems to have done this on a Yeti here, I don't really want to be the guinea pig and mess something up in my car. Which is why I am going to try these so called strange things. The cost of the BCM, nor the wiper motors is exceptionally cheap. So pardon me if I would like to save my money and not just go out and try things without getting help from someone and being totally sure.

Also If I had known exactly how the can bus worked, or even been an expert with electronics or even an engineer, I don't think I would've been here asking these questions. I would've just gone out and known what to do.

You have been told how to do this job CORRECTLY; see post #21 above.

I'm out of here!!