Zigma

It looks like I have to replace the bulb. It has gone bad, I noticed it when I saw the reflection of my car in the back of another car. I noticed it and turned the lights off, then turned it back on and the light came on. The next day, same thing however, the light slowly dimmed and thats it. Now it does not turn on (not even on high beam)

Hopefully it is just the bulb. I should get both of them replaced correct? Does anyone recommend a good set? Also, I am not too mechanical but not scared to try and replace it myself. Is it easy?

Thanks

TypeSDragon

Yes, you just need to replace the hid bulbs. I think it is best to change both at once to match the color. Check the vendor sales section in the black market. They do sell hid bulbs for a good price.

Zigma

thanks, typically, how much would someone charge to replace them?

crazyasiantl

iTrader: (7)

you can buy a good set of bulbs and DIY. its pretty easy

Zigma

Which bulbs do you guys recommend? Anything that is not too ricey (Eg I dont want no blue green bleh color) but brigher than the stock ones?

crazyasiantl

iTrader: (7)

i got mine from our vendor excelerate. he has kaixen replacement bulbs for around 100 shipped. stock output is 4300 k. go with 5k if youre looking for something close to stock. check out the sponsored sales and groupbuy section

Trew

iTrader: (1)

+1

Just ordered a set of 6000k Kaixens from Excelerate this morning. These are the next best thing to Philips Ultinons without breaking the bank.

Zigma

Thank you! I just want to make sure I get the best bang for the buck.

lemonade

You should see the difference between a stock hid and a 6000K before buying , it's not like higher the better. Go search and you may be able to find some pictures, although picture is not very good at showing this kind of stuff...

detailinguy99

iTrader: (1)

I want to see pics.

crazyasiantl

iTrader: (7)

search, a lot of people have posted pics. check out the group buy section. people usually post pics in those threads after they install new bulbs

Elegant TYPE S

iTrader: (2)

As you go up in Kelvin rating, you lose lumens. Simple as that. Lumens is defined as the amount of useable light for the driver on the road. So going to 6000K from stock 4300K you will lose light and yes it is noticeable. However its not that bad, and the benefit is the aesthetics. Kind of like doing bigger rims, your ride comfort is sacrificed but your aesthetics are improved.

As far as the Kaixens are concerned, I've seen some sky high positive reviews to piss poor reviews on this site about them. Search for Teknokings reviews .. I think he noticed some light angling problem on them.

My personal opinion, I think HID manufacturers just over hype the technology and make it seem like it should cost 3x as much as it should. Just buy one with a good warranty and from a good vendor and thas about it imo. Everything else is just so minor none of us will notice it.

And to those that are wondering if I own Kaixens, the answer is no. I'm done with the days of spending hundreds on name brand HID's..I use to be a Philips only guy but I've come to my own realizations about all HID's. However, I also at one point, felt more comfortable buying the more expensive stuff, so I can't blame anyone that feels that way. We are programmed to think that things that cost more, must be better.

ifirahse

iTrader: (6)

Since you're not going for the blue HID look get the philips 85122+ bulbs. They're brighter than stock.

Zigma

Damn, I think it might be an electrical problem. Yesterday as I am driving home, I flipped the switch and both lights came on. I turned them back off and turned it back on and only the left came on, not the right. I tried a few times and the right came back on and when I turned it off and turned it back on only the left... Can it still be the bulb or most likely electrical?

crazyasiantl

iTrader: (7)

swap the bulbs. if the right side lights up with the left bulb, then you have a bulb going out. if the light is flickering like that, kinda sounds like a ballast problem because when bulbs go bad, they tend to turn pink

Zigma

I'll do it this weekend. Most likely it will take me 2hrs for a simple job like this and my skills

crazyasiantl

iTrader: (7)

im a noob at installs too, but i had a friend help me install new bulbs and we knocked it out in about half hour . check the DIY section, im sure theres a step by step guide for you 3G guys

NedShneebly

are ballast replaceable?

crazyasiantl

iTrader: (7)

yes, but the lot charged me an arm and leg to replace the ballast and ignitor. best to get the ballast somewhere else and do it yourself..set me back 7 bills

NedShneebly

^That's criminal! Is it that delicate or technical of a part? Are new ballast included with upgraded bulbs?

crazyasiantl

iTrader: (7)

you dont need to replace the ballasts when you upgrade bulbs

Zigma

I have an aftermarket warranty, hopefully it is covered if it is that.

timmahh

I had a light go pink; in addition to needing new bulbs [since one was now bad], my regulator/ignitor were both shot.

You have to be EXTREMELY careful when dealing with the electronics, there's something like 25,000 volts that are passed to the bulb. Make sure they are disconnected before you touch anything, make sure everything has had ample time to cool off as well.

My light would come on and function normally for a short time, then it would start flickering and turning pink. The regulator was not doing its job thus causing the issue.

So you could just have a bad bulb, or you could have a bad bulb and a bad ignitor/ballast. I can pull up the paperwork but it was roughly $600 in parts (<3 my warranty)

NedShneebly

Somebody should collect the bulbs that turn pink and sell them to the chicks driving TL's.

...or some of the guys...

timmahh

Yes. That's a fantastic idea.

crazyasiantl

iTrader: (7)