HID bulbs... 2011 Infiniti M37

[ciscogeo]

What is the typical lifespan of HID's? Do they typically fail in a way where they look dim and not go out completely?

Chasing down an issue where both lights are very dim but working. Both lenses have a little haze but I wouldn't think that could interfere with the light projection. Anyone else dealt with this? Trying to make sure it's not something else before dropping $115 per headlight. I have to go in there anyway to replace a couple of other parking lights but damn those HID's are expensive. TIA

George

[Ilya]

Welcome to the forum.

What HIDs are you buying? Shouldn't be that expensive...you should be able to get a set for that much from TheRetrofitSource.

Generally they usually discolor a bit (ever see an Acura with one purple headlight?), start flickering but lack of brightness could also happen.

[ciscogeo]

I was pricing the OE replacements from O'Reilly's. They are $99 each but I'll check out the other place you mentioned.

I've seen the purple color before but that's not what is happening here. I masked them off yesterday and polished them with Meguiar's Plastic X polish and a drill foam pad. It made a huge improvement with lens clarity but the level of brightness is still not there...confirmed by driving it last night.

While polishing them though, I noticed the driver side had a faint flickering to it when on, then when I turned the car off, the passenger had a faint flickering to it while waiting to turn off.

[Ilya]

It's possible your ballasts are going out too...and not just be old worn bulbs...