HID (Xenon?) Light Bulb - any recommendation?

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Batman

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Topic # 123384 5-Jul-2013 12:27

My 13 year old Subaru Impreza with HID lights has blown the left bulb ... where do people get good replacement for these things? (I could google or trademe but there are so many, on ebay it's like $13US) Is it a simple swap like your halogen bulbs?

Thanks

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Geekzone

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Reply # 849661 5-Jul-2013 12:27

Hmmmm. Here we go.

I am the Geekzone Robot and I am here to help. I am from the Internet. I do not interact. Do not expect other replies from me.

wasabi2k

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Reply # 849670 5-Jul-2013 12:38

http://www.hidreplacements.co.nz - from 30s of googling - prices seem ok.

I had to replace a set a few years ago - was originally quoted $600 for a set of 2, ended up getting 2 for $400 for after-market replacements.

I just asked standard auto electrician - ymmv.

Batman

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Reply # 849674 5-Jul-2013 12:41

hey that was the link i clicked on too!

$200+ for a pair ... "we guarantee these are not made in china" ... hmm ... anyone knows if they're good quality?

mrphil

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Reply # 849695 5-Jul-2013 13:07

I learnt my lesson on cheap hid bulbs.

Purchased some cheap bulbs from eBay and found them to ok until it blew the xenon unit, $700 later lesson was learnt to only use oem

You get what you pay for

petercad

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Reply # 849986 6-Jul-2013 07:48

They're a simple swap like halogens, don't touch the glass or the wire that runs along it though
It'll be a D2S
Most auto-sparkys would stock them, Repco (if you want to be ripped-off), otherwise TM (don't get the no-brand crap, go for 6000k, nothing higher (or it'll be the wrong colour), and the new one will be a slightly different colour to the other one you have as they change slightly over time
Hella and Narva and Philips are the 3 big names in automotive bulbs

Found this:
http://www.hidreplacements.co.nz/index.php/nz-hid-oem-bulbs/nz-premium-oem-hid-bulbs/nz-hid-d2s.html

graemeh

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Reply # 850675 8-Jul-2013 10:09

Make sure you change both bulbs, that ensures they are the same colour.

wasabi2k

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Reply # 850698 8-Jul-2013 10:39

Hi,
Also are you sure it's the bulb and not the ballast? From what I understand the ballast brings the voltage up to 'ignite' the light so if it is faulty it won't come on.

I had one bulb do the half lit thing before the bulb went. At the moment I have one that takes a couple of tries to come on. Going to take it to auto sparky to get it checked.

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Reply # 850718 8-Jul-2013 10:58

hmm ... the lights came back on yesterday ... *scratches his head* ...

auto sparky it is I guess!

btw how much was it to get the ballast fixed?

lxsw20

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Reply # 850719 8-Jul-2013 10:59

You don't fix ballast AFAIK, they are a replacement item. If anything like Honda try to find second hand, because new is probably worth as much as the car.

wasabi2k

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Reply # 850741 8-Jul-2013 11:25

joker97: hmm ... the lights came back on yesterday ... *scratches his head* ...

auto sparky it is I guess!

btw how much was it to get the ballast fixed?

I didn't get it replaced - haven't taken it in yet. Giving my credit card a rest this month.

Google suggests Ballasts are cheap (less than $50), but given name brand + nz tax + labour who knows.