Xenon bulb not working

[H8T0W8]

Has anyone had to replace an Xenon headlight bulb yet? Local suppliers are saying up to $250.00. No one on the sunshine coast has one!!!
Where is the best and cheapest place to get one???

[sh|tbmxrider]

From my BMW days, that sounds about on the odds.

(actually, Zenon globes for them were circa $500)

[brad]

Try Delonixradar, arco imports or Frank at xenonoz.

Phillips do replacement bulbs which you can usually get through Autobarn. These are better quality than the made under licence Phillips bulbs
yumcha bulbs are <$100pr; Phillips are about $200ish IIRC

Or try the UK - hids4u, hidsdirect, powerbulbs

I think it's a D1S pattern but you should check. Best you change both & keep the old one as a spare. Have a think about what colour temp you want. A lot of places will try & steer you into 6000k or bluer. I like 4200k as it's quite grey (and gives out a more usable light IMO but maybe I'm wrong.)

[kamold]

Check the powerbulbs Ebay store. They sell on there cheaper than through their website for some reason.
Have bought quite a few Philips globes from them over the years, fast shipping.

Technically ADR only allows HIDs with a colour temp up to 4200K or so I beleive. As Brad mentioned, higher tends to look bluer, but actually has lower light output.

[brad]

I think the 4200k limit might have changed. The guy at Arco Imports desperately wanted to sell me 6000k bulbs as "this was the OEM colour on BMWs, Audis, etc". Given how blue a lot of high end vehicles are now, I'm inclined to believe him but i still wanted 4200k.

[Diesel_vert]

As has been suggested, check out Powerbulbs (or their sister site Car Bulbs Direct). Both are based in the UK and are considered trustworthy. A pair of standard Philips D1S globes will cost you GBP 180 (or AUD 290 at current exchange rates!) and shipping is free.

Osram and Philips, followed by GE, are currently the most prominent OEM suppliers of automotive bulbs. I trust these brands more than others.


As for "blue" bulbs...

Osram Xenarc D1S
Colour temperature : 4150 K
Luminous flux : 3200 lm (+/- 450 lm)
Lamp life: 2000 hrs (B3) / 3000 hrs (Tc)

Osram Xenarc D1S Cool Blue Intense
Colour temperature : 5000 K
Luminous flux : 3200 lm (+/- 450 lm)
Lamp life: 1500 hrs (B3) / 3000 hrs (Tc)

Both bulbs are ECE approved, and hence ADR approved (remember - the ADR is being harmonised with ECE regulations).

As always in life, you can't get something for nothing, especially when it comes to bulbs - lower life vs higher colour temperature, given the same luminosity (see here for the definition of B3 and Tc).


Philips' equivalent would be its Xenon UltraBlue bulb, with a claimed colour temperature of 6000 K (ECE approved). Though as far as I can see, ECE Regulation No. 99 restricts gas-discharge lamps from approximately 3500 K to 5000 K so I suspect the 6000 K claim is more a triumph of marketing over engineering.

In any case, I suspect something has been sacrificed (most probably reduced life span, like Osram) but not having the spec sheet, I can't say for certain.


If Osram and Philips cannot make a blue bulb (halogen or discharge) without reducing its lifespan, it's probable that no one else can.

[pologti18t]

The "bluer" the light the worse the beam penetration will be at night and especially in the wet.

[ausspace87]

Superskoda sell the genuine HID bulbs. Some people have had issues with delivery times from them, but I have only ever had good experiences using superskoda...

Octavia II - genuine Skoda Auto,a.s. HID xenon bulb D1S - N10566103 : superskoda.com

[dArK5HaD0w]

The "bluer" the light the worse the beam penetration will be at night and especially in the wet.

+1. its shocking. might aswell drive with the lights off!! i've been there (not in the skoda, my previous car - using 6000k), never again!!

plus the 'blue'er' the light, the more attention u attract with the boyz in blue!!

[Diesel_vert]

Superskoda sell the genuine HID bulbs. Some people have had issues with delivery times from them, but I have only ever had good experiences using superskoda...

Octavia II - genuine Skoda Auto,a.s. HID xenon bulb D1S - N10566103 : superskoda.com

What a find - very cheap, and as a novelty you get 'em in a VAG branded box.

Seriously, at EUR 120 for one pair (incl. shipping + Paypal/CC fee of 3.40%) which works out to be AUD 160, you might as well stock up and buy two or even three pairs.

Gotta love the Aussie dollar right now!