2010 RDX HID Headlight Question
 

One of my headlights has started turning pink and I'd like to replace both of them. In my 2010 RDX it looks like I need a D2S bulb. What brand, kelvin rating, volts, and wattage should I get?

I need to make sure I order the right ones, because I'm going to have my mechanic install them. Basically looking on RockAuto and TheRetroFitSource. Thank you in advance!

i'd get them at theretrofitsource and just get whichever D2S bulb fits your budget. I've had great success with their in-house Morimoto brand and they're a steal at 50/pair.


If you want some higher quality bulbs, you can go for the CBI or CBH but then that doubles in price.

I did OSRAM D2S CBI Cool Blue Intense Xenon HID 5000K-5500K, Amazon, $100:

Amazon

Amazon

OEM HIDs are warm in the 4300K-4500K range like early morning/ late evening sun; while, the OSRAM are in the cool range like mid-day sun during summer. It will look like pure white light from behind the wheel with the OSRAM (a hint of blue from the front as you look at it). You also can't go wrong with the Morimoto brand. I had to remove the bumper and HID headlight housing to access the rear to exchange out my HIDs. I also purchased additional black plastic clips because some were broken or missing during the install. There is a YouTube vid on how to remove the RDX bumper (probably a 30-45 min job for me to exchange HIDs). Just make sure the long ground wire that runs the length of the HID is pointed towards the ground when you insert the new HIDs. The HID will not seat correctly and it will be hard to clip in place if the ground wire isn't pointed down.

Big improvement over OEM in range, brightness, and width of the HIDs with the OSRAM.

OK Mr. Gold, one question. Did you replace your bulbs because you had to, or because you wanted to? I want to do some minor upgrades to my 2011 just for the heck of it. Something to do, something to waste money on I guess. Did it make a noticeable difference over OEM. Which I think OEM are great compared to my other car's headlights. Thanks.

I changed them out for the fun of it. My 06 TSX and 08 RDX still had the original OEM bulbs for the longest time and I was very pleased with the HID output of each. I originally put the OSRAM Cool Blue in my main travel vehicle the 11 MDX. It was a noticeable improvement over OEM with the MDX; but, I kept chasing the rabbit. The OSRAM Nightbreakers sounded pretty good on paper and decided to move the OSRAM cool blue to my RDX and go for the Nightbreakers in my MDX. Very disappointed in the Nightbreakers in my MDX and sent them back after a few weeks (I love Amazon return policy). The projector lens on my MDX is a little different and doesn't focus and diffuses the HID light more compared to my RDX and TSX. The lower temp Nightbreakers look more like regular non-Xenon projector lens or even Halogen headlight in range, width, and color temp (little to no improvement over the MDX OEM HIDs). I just left the OSRAMs in the RDX and purchased another set of the OSRAM Cool Blue for the MDX.

The RDX HID projector lens really focuses the light very well; especially, with OSRAM bulbs. It will look like you have bi-xenon in the HIGH setting compared to OEM HID bulbs. The HID improvement was much more dramatic on my RDX compared to my MDX with the exact same OSRAM bulbs.

eBay has the best prices for these parts that’s what I use...
 

I second mrgold35's recommendation. I bought the ones he recommended because his review was on Amazon and Osram has a verification site you go to and enter the the bulbs ID # to verify they are actual Osram bulbs. Both Amazon and Ebay are full of counterfeit bulbs packaged as genuine bulbs. Read the customer reviews and if the price seems to good to be true, it probably is.

Here is the thread where mrgold35 talks about the bulbs and I also posted on replacing my bulbs. I replaced them on my 2010 Acura RDX because the HID bulbs definitely have a shelf life and 8 years is getting close to the end. The new bulbs made a huge difference to my older eyes.

New HID Bulbs

I replaced mine with OSRAM Xenarc Cool Blue Intense D2S Xenon Car Headlight Bulbs (Twin) 66240CBI-HCB ($80 on Amazon) and they are 10x better than the OEM. I can highly recommend these.