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Who wants a Volvo P1 specific, WMM safe, HID Retrofit?

60549 Views 362 Replies 43 Participants Last post by  Bernie (NoVA), 
T
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SwedeSpeed P1 (C30, S40, V50, C70) HID Retrofit Index
  1. SKBOWE Plug-and-Play harness for P1 HID conversion (you are here)
  2. Background info, general questions, and share your HID setup <- Non-SKBOWE HID install issues/discussion/WMM kills
  3. KBOWE How-To (Original 2009 Version) build your own PWM filter <- if you want to build your own
  4. Original 2009 investigation and technical discussion on S40 HID issues <- Technical/Engineering discussion on the CEM, PWM, WMM, and alternate designs
  5. ForceFed's E46 D2S Bi-Xenon Projector Retrofit guide
  6. Rewire OEM Bi-Xenon headlights to work on the halogen harness
  7. DRL Disable Alone not enough for safe Aftermarket HID retrofits
  8. LizardOfBodom's EU/RHD Bosch ("E46") Bi-Xenon replica retrofitting writeup + angle eyes + running lights

This thread is for discussion of the SKBOWE PWM filter, a plug-and-play error harness that I developed to help the P1 community with HID retrofits. If you have a question that's not related to the SKBOWE, please see if it fits in one of the other HID threads (above) before posting here or starting a new one.

Lets face it, the OEM halogen headlights in our cars suck. We should all know by now the issues with HID retrofits, and that the DIY solution is not trivial since it takes some soldering and hacks up the CEM harness. I have been PMed dozens of times over the years asking for a better way...

So... I found something really sweet ;) If you are interested in a commercial, plug-and-play (no cut wires!) solution that was designed specifically for Volvo P1 cars (S40, V50, C30, C70) check out:

https://www.skbowe.com/ - Shipping Now! Limited Quantity Remaining

Orders as of October 2017 (82 total): boulderc30, V50toS40, thefisch33, rhags138, persianelf, nhiggins, S40R-by-design, walky_talky20, taskmule, viggen, Puddlepirate56, chrisasdf, Noswal, beachnut, stevien1, evy0311, MJC70, MCRDSM-S40, hq_, et al... *
  • Prototype: #001A (test) #002 (mine), #003 (display unit/open box)
  • Batch 1: #004-#028 CLOSED & SHIPPED (JUL 2017)
  • Batch 2: #029-#050 CLOSED & SHIPPED (DEC 2017)
  • Batch 3: #051-#075 CLOSED & SHIPPED (FEB 2018)
  • Batch 4: #075-#100 - Shipping Now (OCT 2018)
* Don't see your username here? PM me with your SN#



Click here to see SKBOWE Installs!!

rhags138 (007) - Install
mgm7890 (024) - Install + writeup
:thumbup: SirScarFace - Install
:thumbup: Saab - Install

SKBOWEs have shipped all over...

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Useful Snip

For those of you looking for projectors, I put together a reference sheet to help you identify compatible Bosch AL 3-inch "E46" projectors in auctions or at salvage yards:



See the full resolution PDF here: https://www.theeshadow.com/files/volvo/e46/guide/al_projector_guide_v1_web.pdf

You want to look for "Gen 2" projectors, they have the best optics and the wiring is simple. Gen 1 requires a solenoid controller for bi-xenon functionality. All projectors with black plastic rings will fit D2S, the ones with octagon-shaped bulb holders might need a simple modification (bending a small tab) to allow them to take D2S bulbs.

If junkyard hunting and eBay stalking aren't your thing, Nick has been nice enough to hold a few for us:
Nick0matic said:
matched sets of gen 2 projectors... PM if you're interested.
Click to expand...
Here are some projector beam patterns:

<a href="https://www.skbowe.com/a/2017/08/01/al-projector-e46-identification-chart-selection-guide-pdf/" target="_blank"><img width="683" height="1024" src="https://www.skbowe.com/a/wp-content/uploads/2017/08/al_projectors_hid_cutoffs_sixup_montauge-683x1024.jpg" class="attachment-large size-large" alt="" srcset="https://www.skbowe.com/a/wp-content/uploads/2017/08/al_projectors_hid_cutoffs_sixup_montauge-683x1024.jpg 683w, https://www.skbowe.com/a/wp-content/uploads/2017/08/al_projectors_hid_cutoffs_sixup_montauge-200x300.jpg 200w, https://www.skbowe.com/a/wp-content/uploads/2017/08/al_projectors_hid_cutoffs_sixup_montauge-768x1152.jpg 768w, https://www.skbowe.com/a/wp-content/uploads/2017/08/al_projectors_hid_cutoffs_sixup_montauge-1200x1800.jpg 1200w" sizes="(max-width: 709px) 85vw, (max-width: 909px) 67vw, (max-width: 984px) 61vw, (max-width: 1362px) 45vw, 600px"></a>

SKBOWE install is plug-and-play:
</img>
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Survey Stats as of May 2017: 87 responses, 82 on board.

VENDOR INFORMATION

We need a reliable manufacturer / distributor for high volume manufacturing of a specialized error canceling circuit designed specifically for the Volvo P1 series. A complete validated production ready design is available. If you are a vendor and are interested in taking on this project, please contact me!
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T
Cool!

beachnut said:
Just an observation, but there seems to be a slight difference between your projector identification chart and Nick's rundown post on AL projectors , which is not all "Gen1" projectors are 3-wire. I've seen a few newer ones (ex. 2007) that are 2-wire and have plastic reflector housings. I think Nick's definition of a "Gen2" revolves more around the aluminum housing with integrated bulb holders (octagon) found on even later model years. I know, potayto, potahto lol.
Click to expand...
90% of that chart came from Nicks input, pretty sure we are on the same page. There are no OEM 3" AL Bi-Xenon projectors with plastic reflectors - just aftermarket / repo.
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beachnut
You're right, they're not plastic. Whatever metal they are (some kind of lightweight cast?) sort of threw me off because they're plated all over, inside and out, except for the inside of the bulb holder, so I thought they might be plastic. This is on the OEM BMW E46 projectors I picked up. All the aluminum housing projectors I've seen are not plated that way, and some seem slightly corroded (not in the bowl however).
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Nick0matic
Yeah, he's right! I genuinely thought the gen 1's had some different underlying material because most of the replicas felt like plastic, but there is in fact aluminum under there. I don't even think the alloy is different between gen 1 and 2, but something in the casting process is different enough that Bosch felt they didn't need to vapor deposit the whole thing to a nice reflective finish.

Beachnut is right about the 3-wire thing though. For instance, there are some later-year gen 1s that are 2-wire. They're basically an edge case, but wire count does not define the projector "version," just the bowl/bulb holder type. Or at least that's what I was going by.
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Nick0matic said:
Or at least that's what I was going by.
Click to expand...
AFAIK there was no prior (public) classification system for AL projectors so your post *is* the definition and you are the authority so it's your call.

Gen1.5?
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beachnut
Yep Nick, I bought that guy's other Caddie 2-wire projectors today. Will get them next week. He had a set w/o the ignitors, but it had the holders, and based on this other auction I felt like I could get a D2S ring and bulb on them without any mods, plus I got a 2-wire, so no controller. Too bad I already bought Wolstentech controllers ... learning by fire lol. I'll probably just put the beemer projectors and controllers up for sale here.
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Nick0matic
beachnut said:
Yep Nick, I bought that guy's other Caddie 2-wire projectors today. Will get them next week. He had a set w/o the ignitors, but it had the holders, and based on this other auction I felt like I could get a D2S ring and bulb on them without any mods, plus I got a 2-wire, so no controller. Too bad I already bought Wolstentech controllers ... learning by fire lol. I'll probably just put the beemer projectors and controllers up for sale here.
Click to expand...
Those are just bulb holders that fit onto the bowls, so I'm at least 50% certain that your typical D2S rings should work. Haven't held a D1S gen 1 in my hand to confirm, unfortunately.

theshadow27 said:
AFAIK there was no prior (public) classification system for AL projectors so your post *is* the definition and you are the authority so it's your call.

Gen1.5?
Click to expand...
Don't think it matters that much, lol. We got 2-wire, 3-wire, Gen 1, and Gen 2.
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beachnut
Well, I don't think there's any 3-wire Gen2's. I like the classifications you developed though, it helped me a lot, and others too I'm sure. IMO it's probably enough to accept that there were some Gen1's with 2-wire, but the rest is the same with some slight differences in bulb mounting. Seems like the year-break for 2-wire solenoid *might* be around 2007?
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M
LizardOfBodom said:
TRS seem to be reputable enough so its no harm to give it a shot. If you send them a pic from good one and compare to bad one, and explain you tried the bulb swap and you are confident its the actual projector issue, I would expect them to exchange them without a word.
Click to expand...
TRS was great! They sent me a complete new projector. This fixed the corona and now the output is nice and even!
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LizardOfBodom
mgm7890 said:
TRS was great! They sent me a complete new projector. This fixed the corona and now the output is nice and even!
Click to expand...
Good stuff! :thumbup: :}
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T
Got the shipping notification on the backordered capacitors! Looks like they are coming early :cool:
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beachnut
Great news! Now you need some more orders ... c'mon people!

If you tell me they'll work on my P3 S80 I'll get another pair. I'm sure they will, it's actually the whole lens popping, retrofitting, customizing, projectorizing (not actually a word) a halogen reflector assembly that I'm not so sure about.
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T
There have been a couple of Batch 2 orders already, but yeah need about 20 more :)

What I am most surprised at is how few installs I've seen. Is everyone just sitting on your SKBOWEs waiting for me to get hit by a bus so you can resell them for a huge profit? lol
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beachnut
Well, not really an install yet ... but I am gearing up :D
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theshadow27 said:
There have been a couple of Batch 2 orders already, but yeah need about 20 more :)

What I am most surprised at is how few installs I've seen. Is everyone just sitting on your SKBOWEs waiting for me to get hit by a bus so you can resell them for a huge profit? lol
Click to expand...
I wasn't but now I am

'10 s40 m66 awd
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Nick0matic
Shameless plug...have 3 matched sets of gen 2 projectors. Dusty, but otherwise perfect. Thought I'd have found more of them (and more easily) by now, but I still keep an eye out. PM if you're interested. Gotta gauge interest before I start having shelves full of projectors.
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T
2
Caps got here early so I got a head start...




Going to try to get orders placed before midnight shipped out tomorrow. I'm traveling for the rest of the month, so if you have procrastinated you'll have to wait till I get back in October...
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S
Been running your SKBOWE since the first batch. E46 with 5500k morimotos and wired the flaps. Great job dude. Had zero issues yet!
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SirScarFace said:
Been running your SKBOWE since the first batch. E46 with 5500k morimotos and wired the flaps. Great job dude. Had zero issues yet!
Click to expand...
:thumbup:

Glad to hear it.

FWIW I haven't heard of any issues so far - though only a few folks have confirmed installation (I think you're the third?). Slackers...

I have set #002 in my car (wouldn't have anyone to do something I wasn't willing to do myself) and I dare say according to the butt dyno it works better than the original KBOWE (c. 2009).

Four orders shipping out tomorrow - you know who you are :)
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R
I've been having weird issues with mine lately. Worked great with a cheap kensun setup (just wanted cheap, quick and dirty.) The kensuns flickered, but still better than stock halogen. Then I got morimoto ballasts and ds2 bulbs. Passenger side worked great. When I swapped out the Kensun kit on the driver side for the morimoto, I got no ignition on the bulb. Swapped everything on the other side to see if it was a bad ballast or igniter, and still no dice. Pop the cheap kensun kit back in and it works fine. Now the passenger side randomly goes out and I get the BOW. Going to resand the ground points and see if it is just a bad ground. Maybe I didn't sand as well as I thought. Hard to tell with a light silver car. It might not even later now though (a little off topic) as I am hearing a loud ratcheting sound under light throttle and am getting jerky acceleration. Off to the shop it goes tomorrow. Worst case scenario I will have a e46, skbowe, morimoto kit for sale and will no longer be a member of the volvo community. The wife has been eyeing the CX-5

Sent from my VS995 using Tapatalk
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T
So if I understand right on one side only, neither Morimoto works, but the crap ballast + rebased works fine?

Did you move the igniter with the ballast when swapping sides? With as much trouble as Nick had with his morimoto setup, it's very unlikely that it's a bad SKBOWE (but worst case lifetime warranty).

Ratcheting noise doesn't sound good... Hope it's not too serious. I hadn't expected anyone to be looking to sell this quickly, was thinking eventually I'd set up a buyback + CPO program since they are so expensive (and time consuming) to make.
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