FYI: Cheap HID Bulbs

[RobG]

I think Sean mentioned here before, but I'll post it up again.

Some of the cheaper HID bulbs are not manufactured to the same specifications and can cause your ballasts to fail as well. Sometimes there is a reason OEM bulbs are prices as they are. Spend a tad more and it will be cheaper/less work in the long run.

[witchcraftz]

Re: FYI: Cheap HID Bulbs

I've been looking to buy another set of those ballasts too, they are harder to find now. It sucks, did both fail?

[RobG]

Re: FYI: Cheap HID Bulbs

Yea, one wouldn't even turn on, the other headlight would last about 10 min, kinda sucks when the high beam and lows use the same bulb.

New Bulbs and used ballasts.

[MechEngg]

Re: FYI: Cheap HID Bulbs

I certainly did Rob. I still stand behind my statement as well.
How long after changing the bulbs did the ballasts start to fail? What brand of bulbs did you try, it looks like some OEM osram's are in there now

I third this but at the same time it has happened before. Can I ask what brand bulbs you chose to replace your originals with and what condition the original bulbs were in? We're they burnt out at all or did you just want a change in color?
Using aftermarket hid bulbs paired with oem ballasts which have been used for quite a while seems to put a lot of strain on the ballasts. Don't ask me for the technical reasoning why, it just seems to happen that way. The worst pairing between aftermarket vs oem ballasts and bulbs is the oem used ballasts with aftermarket new bulbs. Best is to pair oem with oem or aftermarket with aftermarket. Oem bulbs with aftermarket ballasts is ok too, provided that they are both brand new.
again it may seem like a weird science, but it has quite a bit of backup if you know what you are searching for.

http://www.eurodrivers.ca/forums/sho...t-working-HELP

[RobG]

Re: FYI: Cheap HID Bulbs

I bought some bulbs from DDM, then a year later I thought I just needed new bulbs, I put in some cheap new bulbs and it didn't fix the issue, I replaced one with a still good OEM(but pink) it worked better, but the light still went out.
Osram bulbs from the dealer are around $240 a piece, knowing that Osram is some how connected to Sylvania, I purchased some Sylvania bulbs from Worldpac for half the price and was surprised to find Osram bulbs inside. Maybe Sylvania is just the NA division of Osram?

So just a friendly ED FYI to people, you can keep and extra $500 in your pocket if you don't cheap out on bulbs.

Or buy a Chevy Cruz that has $8 headlight bulbs.

[JW]

Re: FYI: Cheap HID Bulbs

I bought my HID's from vvme. I have ran the same pair of HID's for the past 3 years and have had zero issues. No burnt out bulbs, no broken ballasts. Not to mention they were $50 shipped to my door....and plug and play. Best bang for the buck out there =)

http://www.vvme.com/hid-conversion-kits

[RobG]

Re: FYI: Cheap HID Bulbs

[QUOTE=JW;329242]I bought my HID's from vvme. I have ran the same pair of HID's for the past 3 years and have had zero issues.[/QUOTE}

Was it a bulbs and ballast kit?

[MechEngg]

Re: FYI: Cheap HID Bulbs

I bought my HID's from vvme. I have ran the same pair of HID's for the past 3 years and have had zero issues. No burnt out bulbs, no broken ballasts. Not to mention they were $50 shipped to my door....and plug and play. Best bang for the buck out there =)

http://www.vvme.com/hid-conversion-kits

Please don't get me started on $50 HID kits.

I bought some bulbs from DDM, then a year later I thought I just needed new bulbs, I put in some cheap new bulbs and it didn't fix the issue, I replaced one with a still good OEM(but pink) it worked better, but the light still went out.
Osram bulbs from the dealer are around $240 a piece, knowing that Osram is some how connected to Sylvania, I purchased some Sylvania bulbs from Worldpac for half the price and was surprised to find Osram bulbs inside. Maybe Sylvania is just the NA division of Osram?

So just a friendly ED FYI to people, you can keep and extra $500 in your pocket if you don't cheap out on bulbs.

Or buy a Chevy Cruz that has $8 headlight bulbs.

When i need bulbs i ALWAYS go to www.theretrofitsource.com
Best price on real OEM bulbs

[JW]

Re: FYI: Cheap HID Bulbs

Was it a bulbs and ballast kit?

Yes it was a bulbs and ballast kit, comes with all the required wiring, and it even comes with wiring and a relay so your lowbeam warning does not come on

Please don't get me started on $50 HID kits.

I was pretty skeptical aswell, but they have lasted 3 years with zero issues, and I drive my car all year round. The build quality on them is very very nice. They're not like other cheap HID's out there, these ones are actually really good quality. Don't knock them till you try them! I could buy 5 or 6 sets of these for the price of some of the other kits on the market

[BaggedGLI]

Re: FYI: Cheap HID Bulbs

I agree, don't mix cheap bulbs with OEM ballasts and vice versa.

But my $22 ballasts and $13 bulbs have held up perfectly over the last two years.

[witchcraftz]

Re: FYI: Cheap HID Bulbs

I second going to TRS for bulbs, ballasts and real HID kits.

Rob, those ballasts are from a Chevy Cruz? Mind letting me the part number and how much the ballasts were? Those look like the identical ballasts to the MK4 HID ballasts which are hard to find nowadays.

[MechEngg]

Re: FYI: Cheap HID Bulbs

I second going to TRS for bulbs, ballasts and real HID kits.

Rob, those ballasts are from a Chevy Cruz? Mind letting me the part number and how much the ballasts were? Those look like the identical ballasts to the MK4 HID ballasts which are hard to find nowadays.

I think you missed the joke, the Chevy Cruz was brought up to signify that if you want cheap headlamp replacement bulbs purchase a car which uses halogen bulbs

[RobG]

Re: FYI: Cheap HID Bulbs

Quite a bit different from the MK4 ballasts, these ones are specific to cars with curve lighting, lights go up/down and left/right.