2012 3 Sport w/auto lights

[Mazduh]

Just wondering, perhaps a UBER newb question, but.....
I have a 2012 3 Sport GS-L with the auto headlights. Will I have any issues if I install HID's?? I've seen comments regarding 1 light working and such, but haven't seemed to find an answer.

Thanks gents

[Booter22]

not a problem to install hids with a 3 with auto lights, only thing i found was if you leave the auto light setting on the hids will not always signal both to come on, and you will end up with one on and one off. best i have found is to leave them in the off position and turn them on each time.

[Mazduh]

Awesome! Any ideas why the auto lights act up with the HIDs? Sounds like a relay harness could help the problem.

Thanks though!

[Booter22]

i think its just how the signal gets to the lights. i dont think a relay would help but it could be possible. other then that, and then the programming on the auto lights to the japan spec ( give the car intermit lights with the low running bulbs, and signals vs the way it comes going from low lights to full head lights. you get the inbetween for "dusky" times) thats the only problem i have had. but trying to figure out if or if not a relay would would is more hassel then to turn the light from off to auto at night.

[Lactose]

not a problem to install hids with a 3 with auto lights, only thing i found was if you leave the auto light setting on the hids will not always signal both to come on, and you will end up with one on and one off. best i have found is to leave them in the off position and turn them on each time.

Not sure if thats the 2012 problem, but I never have this issue. I feel like my Light sensor is off though, it can be fairly bright, or a bright day in the shade and my HIDs will trigger. Not sure if thats "Adjustable". but sometimes i turn off my lights because of it.

Other than that they work 100% fine.

[Booter22]

Not sure if thats the 2012 problem, but I never have this issue. I feel like my Light sensor is off though, it can be fairly bright, or a bright day in the shade and my HIDs will trigger. Not sure if thats "Adjustable". but sometimes i turn off my lights because of it.

Other than that they work 100% fine.

thats what i was talking about with changing to the japan setting it gives you the intermit otherwise the lights would come on full blast at 5-6pm when the sun is out. those that dont know you can change that wouldnt be able to tell you.

[Lactose]

thats what i was talking about with changing to the japan setting it gives you the intermit otherwise the lights would come on full blast at 5-6pm when the sun is out. those that dont know you can change that wouldnt be able to tell you.

Ahhh okay, so how does the Japan spec work for that? Is that programmable yourself or? wouldnt the intermit use the HIDs causing problems?

[Wes08M3]

Ahhh okay, so how does the Japan spec work for that? Is that programmable yourself or? wouldnt the intermit use the HIDs causing problems?

Check out your owners manual, there are a few different settings you can change in the "personalization" section.

There's 2 or maybe 3 different settings for the light sensor. I had mine changed (has to be done by the dealer) because the lights came on when it was still very bright out. It took about 10 minutes to do (because he had never done it before) and it was free.

[zoomahh]

I've kinda played with the "auto light" feature a bit myself with my GS 12 Sky after I installed my hids. It's been a few months now, and so far, every time I do use it, it works quite well. As far as dusk, it actually comes on when I feel it should come on. Like was mentioned earlier, there are custom settings that can be done via the dealer. I guess my settings were chosen right when they rolled it outa the factory. And with my Morimoto 6k 35w hids, I never had a misfire with either lights. Could be also contributed to the ballast quality as well unless anyone with a high end set could chime in and give their opinion.

[Mazduh]

I've kinda played with the "auto light" feature a bit myself with my GS 12 Sky after I installed my hids. It's been a few months now, and so far, every time I do use it, it works quite well. As far as dusk, it actually comes on when I feel it should come on. Like was mentioned earlier, there are custom settings that can be done via the dealer. I guess my settings were chosen right when they rolled it outa the factory. And with my Morimoto 6k 35w hids, I never had a misfire with either lights. Could be also contributed to the ballast quality as well unless anyone with a high end set could chime in and give their opinion.

I'll look into the Morimottos. I have no issue with them actually, had them in my Mustang for a bit before I sold it. I was looking at the DDM ones mainly because of how affordalbe they are.

[Aitch]

I don't have any issue with the auto setting in normal use. However I'll caution you against leaving it the auto setting while starting the car. The reason is that the lights come on before you start cranking the engine, then the voltage drops considerably while the engine cranks, causing the HIDs to flicker and/or go off, before coming back on again after the engine has started. Halogens can take this abuse easily but it is very hard on HID ballasts, can lead to faster failure. Turn on your auto lights after the car has been running for at least 5 seconds and the voltage has stabilized.

[Mazduh]

I don't have any issue with the auto setting in normal use. However I'll caution you against leaving it the auto setting while starting the car. The reason is that the lights come on before you start cranking the engine, then the voltage drops considerably while the engine cranks, causing the HIDs to flicker and/or go off, before coming back on again after the engine has started. Halogens can take this abuse easily but it is very hard on HID ballasts, can lead to faster failure. Turn on your auto lights after the car has been running for at least 5 seconds and the voltage has stabilized.

Thanks!! I'm glad that they do still work. I really like the auto feature, not that I forget to turn them on, just a nice feature. I'll keep that in mind when installing :)

[113GT]

I don't have any issue with the auto setting in normal use. However I'll caution you against leaving it the auto setting while starting the car. The reason is that the lights come on before you start cranking the engine, then the voltage drops considerably while the engine cranks, causing the HIDs to flicker and/or go off, before coming back on again after the engine has started. Halogens can take this abuse easily but it is very hard on HID ballasts, can lead to faster failure. Turn on your auto lights after the car has been running for at least 5 seconds and the voltage has stabilized.

this doesn't happen with the OEM hids.

there would be no point to the auto headlights if you need to keep turning it off before starting your car.

Plus Mazda wouldn't make a system that over time, damages itself.

I am referring to oem though. Not sure about aftermarket.

[Lactose]

I don't have any issue with the auto setting in normal use. However I'll caution you against leaving it the auto setting while starting the car. The reason is that the lights come on before you start cranking the engine, then the voltage drops considerably while the engine cranks, causing the HIDs to flicker and/or go off, before coming back on again after the engine has started. Halogens can take this abuse easily but it is very hard on HID ballasts, can lead to faster failure. Turn on your auto lights after the car has been running for at least 5 seconds and the voltage has stabilized.

WOuld a Relay harness work to get around that? I've always driven a car with auto lights, and I'm 100% going to forget to do this :[.

[Mazduh]

this doesn't happen with the OEM hids.

there would be no point to the auto headlights if you need to keep turning it off before starting your car.

Plus Mazda wouldn't make a system that over time, damages itself.

I am referring to oem though. Not sure about aftermarket.

Correct me if I'm wrong, but I believe he is refering to starting the car at night / dusk when the auto lights would turn on.

[113GT]

Correct me if I'm wrong, but I believe he is refering to starting the car at night / dusk when the auto lights would turn on.

i know. i was referring to that as well.

[Aitch]

Indeed the OEM bi-xenons don't have this problem. But the OEM halogens don't need a delay, so the problem arises when you install HIDs. A relay wouldn't solve the problem, you'd need something with a delayed power switch (I believe this does exist somewhere).

[kenghk]

WOuld a Relay harness work to get around that? I've always driven a car with auto lights, and I'm 100% going to forget to do this :[.

If you install the HIDs with a quality harness and use a good kit like an asian market philips kit or a Morimoto kit then you'll be able to use the auto light feature without issue. if you do have issues then replace the relay on the harness with a time delay relay from WolstenTech.

[Wes08M3]

Indeed the OEM bi-xenons don't have this problem. But the OEM halogens don't need a delay, so the problem arises when you install HIDs. A relay wouldn't solve the problem, you'd need something with a delayed power switch (I believe this does exist somewhere).

The OEM bi-xenons don't seem to have any sort of delay built into them. The lights come on when you turn the key to "ON" and they stay lit when you crank the engine. Maybe they have some sort of voltage regulator built in, because they don't appear to dim when starting the engine either.

[Mazduh]

Just want to post up for those that are intersted. I ended up getting the Morimotto balasts for my HID's. I've had them installed for 3 weeks now, with zero issues. No flicker, lights work fine on auto. They do come on as you're starting the vehicle, but again, they don't flicker. They actually don't come on until the last few seconds of cranking the engine over.

[Wes08M3]

Are you running a relay harness or no?

[Mazduh]

No relay harness. They sent one with the kit, but it's super bulky and hard to hide. Just plugged the ballasts into the OEM harness and good to go.

[Wes08M3]

Yeah the Morimoto harnesses are supposed to be top notch quality. It's a good safety measure to have but good to know its working well without it, even the auto lights.

[kenghk]

No relay harness. They sent one with the kit, but it's super bulky and hard to hide. Just plugged the ballasts into the OEM harness and good to go.

There's a reason the harness comes with the kit, just sayin'

[Mazduh]

There's a reason the harness comes with the kit, just sayin'

Thanks ;)

[nguy3nha]

i do not use a relay harness. I used a few relay harnesses and only 1 light comes on when i start the car with the auto lights engaged. It's an issue with the relay harnesses. I connect the ballasts directly to the socket of the H11 bulbs and its all good now. Both lights turn on in the dark when i start the engine.

[kenghk]

One last post and I'll leave it be. It's your cars and so I really don't have a say but from my experience a harness is a must when installing anything to the car. Foglight kits from CT come with them, aftermarket fans and the likes come with them. It keeps the load/voltage to the components clean. Anyone with halogen can do the following test. With the lights on and the car stationary, turn the steering wheel...the lights dim....while driving down a dark road, with the windows up, pull the window switch as if to close the windows (I know they're already up), the headlights dim. What about when the AC kicks in...