OEM Spot lights wiring bypass

[mini_mart]

i got some OEM spot lights, as you know they need programing in to work.
but i thought you could by-pass this by wiring the brown wire that operates the relay into the main-beam wire (yellow/blue).
i try this and they light up but stay on without the ignition been on/or any lights been switched on

Is this not possible or am i doing somthing wrong.
i dont see how bmw spots are diffrent from other aftermarket ones.

[MartinSSZ]

Is the brown wire you're referring to actually brown with a white stripe?

[mini_mart]

yes, brown and white that goes the 45 slot in the bc1

[MartinSSZ]

OK - this wire is a "switched ground" wire - the ECU connects it to ground to activate the relay (and hence the lights). The main beam wire is a "switched positive" line - it is at 12V when active.

What's happening in all likelihood is that the relay is being earthed through the headlights themselves and therefore the spots are on all the time!

What you need to do is permanently connect the brown and white wire to ground (i.e. the vehicle body), and then cut the THIN red and white stripe from where it joins the BIG red and white stripe. DO NOT CUT THROUGH THE LARGER RED/WHITE STRIPE WIRE!

Now extend the thin red/white stripe wire and connect this to the main beam feed.

Alternatively you can set up another relay to provide a switched earth from the headlamp switched positive.

[mini_mart]

big thanks for taking the time to explain, it all makes sense.

[MartinSSZ]

Any luck with this?

Martin

[mini_mart]

going to try it later, been stuck at uni, will let you no how it turns out.

[richards]

is your model the r56 if so the spot lamps do not need coding as i have fit these myself and the work fine are you following the wiring diagram supplied.

[mini_mart]

its a R51

[jpw]

Hi Mini_Mart

Can I ask where you got your spots from and how much, I want some but dont want to do the fleabay thing.

regards

Jon

[mini_mart]

direct from MINI part in wolverhampton at £145.
not cheap but ithink they look amazin.

im thinking of wiring in some LEDS connect to the head-lights, so they give a light glow when on.
then the main bulbs spark up on mainbeam.

[mini_mart]

i have looked and i cant find the THIN red and white
only the BIG red and white going to the fuse.
their is a THIN red and brown going to the lights.

this wire i need to link to the main beam feed, were do it usually go/do

Thanks

[mini_mart]

doin it, the 2 red/white wire are the same thickness, cut the v.short one that jumps from the relay to the v.long red/white to the fuse box.
v.short red/white one was ground and the brown/white linked to the main beam feed.

let there be daylight.