Really? I thought it was vice-versa and that's why HID's were much more energy efficient because they generated LESS heat than halogen. Much like the incandescent light globes vs. compact fluorescent lamps.

Like this?
http://www.m3forum.net/m3forum/showthread.php?t=194886

What do you mean? My halogen fog lights will be a lot brigher than my (potentially) 50W HID xenon low beams?

Similar to my link above?

Haha... complemented with a lot of advertising

I don't think my actual question has even been answered r.e. errors

 

Nope, i am using mobile to type this, otherwise i would link you for references.

 

You're not wrong. OE wiring is more than adequate to run 50 or 55W.
You don't need resistors - unless you are doing it to get rid of error messages.
We've been playing with a new Canbus kit that is rated at 35W but actually runs at closer to 42W of total power, it plugs in so far on most E60s without issues and doesn't require any additional wiring harnesses. Kit runs about $115 + shipping.

There is a lot of misinformation out there, if someone says it's bad, and 50 people repeat it, there is a consensus without any basis in facts (kind of like Global Warming).

 

So then my question is, why would you get errors if the 50W HIDs are supposedly using 50W of power (almost the same as 55W halogens)? How does the car know that HIDs are plugged in? Does the 5W difference make a difference?

 

Because resistance is different for halogen bulbs and Xenon ballasts LCMs send pulses to check if everything is ok, if they don't get the correct resistance, they freak out.

 

I would recommend for you to read this thread ... https://5series.net/forums/topic/945...g/page__st__75