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Electrical Hella 500 Wiring

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Old Jan 24, 2009 | 01:20 PM
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From: Philly
Hella 500 Wiring

Could anyone tell me how to hook up the relay to get them to turn on with the high beam only without any other switch?

I opened everything up, but I had to give up and put it all back together again because I couldn't find the wire to splice it into.

It says "Connect to high-beam wire", but I have no idea which one is the high beam wire.

They're all black and the only difference is the "A" "B" and "C" markings.

Could anyone post how they have their Hella 500s wired up? Pictures would be helpful, and please please please R56 only. I've looked through the R50/R53 threads and they seem to be too different to help.
 
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Old Jan 24, 2009 | 01:33 PM
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Not sure if this is R53 or not. Maybe you can tell.



Also, at one time, the side of the relay itself had a half **** wiring diagram on it. Do they do that anymore?
 
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Old Jan 24, 2009 | 01:39 PM
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From: Philly
I have the paper that came with the Hella 500s, but i don't knnow which wire is which on the headbeams on the MINI, which is what I was asking.
 
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Old Jan 24, 2009 | 01:59 PM
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Originally Posted by Kazy
Could anyone tell me how to hook up the relay to get them to turn on with the high beam only without any other switch?

I opened everything up, but I had to give up and put it all back together again because I couldn't find the wire to splice it into.

It says "Connect to high-beam wire", but I have no idea which one is the high beam wire.

They're all black and the only difference is the "A" "B" and "C" markings.

Could anyone post how they have their Hella 500s wired up? Pictures would be helpful, and please please please R56 only. I've looked through the R50/R53 threads and they seem to be too different to help.
if you cant find a diagram you will have to check the wires yourself with a Hot wire tester that has a bulb built into handle and a pointed tang on the end. Turn high beams on and push the pointed end into one of the wires going to the headlights. When the light in the handle comes on, turn off high beams to low beams - If the the light in the tester handle goes out as well, you have the correct lead from high beam.



Autozone's have these for about 6 bucks. Works great, my tool box has always had one for last 25 years, or sometimes I have had to just make my own with a turn signal bulb and some wire.

To circumvent the switch, I think you only have to put a jumper wire as in diagram ? The only problem is that they will always come on with high beams - so you will not be able to use the lens covers that came with the lights.

Basically the power from the HD lights closes the circut of the relay, not the aux lights themselves.


 

Last edited by Eurothrasher; Jan 24, 2009 at 02:20 PM.
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Old Jan 24, 2009 | 07:07 PM
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From: Philly
Thanks, that was just the info I needed.

Hopefully I'll get this done soon.
 
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Old Jan 28, 2009 | 06:47 PM
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well? work? no? pics?
 
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Old Jan 28, 2009 | 07:48 PM
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Originally Posted by digi0123
well? work? no? pics?
+1, I was looking to help you out, but the R56 where to tap is the one part about this that I'm unsure of, but is critical for installing any aftermarket driving lights. If you still don't know there is one R56 thread on here and one other website that I might be able to go dig up an answer for for you.
 
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Old Jan 29, 2009 | 11:57 AM
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From: Philly
Well, I'm up at college and I won't be able to work on it until Saturday probably.


edit: My dad's been helping me as well, but he's back at home and I won't be home until Friday evening, hence the Saturday thing. Any extra help in the meantime would be very much appreciated though.
 

Last edited by Kazy; Jan 29, 2009 at 12:29 PM.
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Old Jan 29, 2009 | 07:48 PM
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I found the original MINI R56 retrofit instructions

Which seem to talk about a yellow/blue wire (yellow w/ blue stripe) but am as of yet unable to find the wire you are looking for
 
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Old Jan 31, 2009 | 01:32 PM
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From: Philly
Got 'em working! Turns out the terminal marked "C" held the high-beam wire. We used those stripless splicers from Auto-Zone to hook everything up, so now they come on with the high-beams!

 
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Old May 17, 2009 | 06:22 PM
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so im assuming that the B marked one would be the low beams right??
 
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