Tibbychick

Something's up with my HIDs. I've had them installed for about 3 years and have never had any problems with them before. Now all of the sudden, the driver's side HID is acting up.

I turn them on, they both come on. The passenger's side is fine, charges up and stays on. The driver's side comes on, but does not fully charge up, or at least does not turn the same blueish white shade as the other one like they are supposed to. It stays more like a yellowish white shade. It will flicker 1-2 times, then after a couple minutes, go out completely, and the other one will stay on. If I turn the lights off and back on again, both come on but the driver's side repeats the same process.

I haven't touched the car and nothing happened to the car for it to cause this to happen, it just started randomly the other night. Why after 3 years of perfect opperation would it decide to become the biggest pain in the ass possible?

Bullfrog

I have read that your ballast could be going bad. Someone else had a problem like this not to long ago.

http://www.rdtiburon.com/index.php?showtop...2;ballast\


try switching your ballast to diffrent sides and see if the problem follows your lightbulb.

DTN

Don't switch the ballast. Switch the bulb.

Most likely your bulb is going bad. A HID has 2 modes of operation, striking and sustainment. If striking fails, a high quality ballast will attempt a restrike. If restrike fails it may or may not restrike. I think this is what is happening to your car.

Tibbychick

Ok, is it hard to change the bulb? I was under the impression that if the bulb goes, that the whole entire HID unit would need to be replaced.

Bullfrog

I believe they sell just HID bulbs. I know on my HID i can just disconnect the bulb.

DTN

PM Jay-M, he gave me a deal. You'd probly want 6000K or 8000k bulbs. It will probly be your best bet. HID bulbs are the most expensive thing in the unit. They are replacable though.

StrikeEagle

I just had this happen to mine, the bulb is gone. I just sent mine off today for warranty replacement (eBay seller nonetheless!)

Tibbychick

damnit. I have 6000k. I'll have to do some research, I wanna make sure the new bulb matches the existing one as far as color. Thanks for the info.

DTN

You need to buy them in sets. Never replace one or it will be alot brighter then the old one. Just get a set of 8000K like the new BMWs.

Tibbychick

Yeah thats true, I would need two wouldnt I. I want a purplish tinge, isnt 8000k more blueish?