Take a look at the picture HERE.

On the right is the OEM HID ballast that came with my car.

On the left is a HID ballast that was replaced in my car before I bought it and is supposed to be OEM. It is also the ballast that I see being sold in places around the web as being OEM. But clearly it is different from the actual OEM ballast that came with the car. In case you have problems seeing obvious things, the original ballast on the right has a metal ring around the igniter connection that helps the ballast seal into place better.

What is the deal with this? How can the one without the ring be considered OEM when it is clearly different from the original equipment?

And most importantly, can I get a true OEM ballast that has the ring around it anywhere? And if so, where?