Stock HID help

[Jlor1002]

I have stock HID headlights and I switched out the bulbs for 5000k bulbs that I ordered from DDM (along with their conversion kit for fogs). At first everything worked perfectly fine. Then after a few weeks one of them started to misfire. I noticed it only did it on the auto setting (I searched around here and that seems to be common?), but not when I would turn them on manually. And now it's completely dead - I put a new bulb in and still nothing.

Is it possible the bulb caused damage to the headlight? Any ideas as to why it's now completely dead? Thanks in advance for any feedback!!

[SanoSuKe]

You shouldn't put HIDs on auto. It takes a while to warm up. This is a common problem with HIDs, especially if you have an alarm system that flashes your headlights when it goes off. Either your bulbs are out or the ballast are out.

[Jlor1002]

Doesn't every car that has stock HIDs have an auto setting? And I'm willing to bet 99% of people use the auto setting. If this causes problems then shouldn't headlight issues be exceedingly common, to the point that the auto setting causing problems would be common knowledge? I am not trying to be confrontational, I'm just asking as it's something I've never heard of before, and doesn't make sense to me as literally every car w HIDs has an auto setting.

By the way I love your car. Great job. Without a doubt best looking AC out there.

[SanoSuKe]

Hmm, true. I have a 2012 and I didn't get HID headlights that's why I assumed that was the problem. Maybe the stock ballasts are not compatible with the new bulbs? I'm not sure.

and thank you! appreciate the compliments

[Jlor1002]

No problem. Thanks for the feedback. Looks like I'm taking it to the dealership. That should be fun. I'll post the results...

[Buyingcoilovers]

Along these lines, do HIDs require projectors?

[Jlor1002]

Yes. For one they're blindingly bright. And it supposedly screws up the housing because they're a lot hotter.

I converted my fogs to HIDs and didn't put projectors in and they're way too bright. Fortunately they point down. It's something I would fix but it's my understanding that projector fogs are difficult to fit. And I need to deal with my headlight first...

[Jlor1002]

WTF. My headlight came back to life. It even works on the auto setting. Could this have anything to do with the weather?I put them in last Spring without any issues, then as it got colder one went to s***, and now that it's warmer again it has resumed working. Does this make any sense to anyone??

[mjiacik]

I went through many sets even spent the extra money on German Ballasts, added compactors (helped some) changed out the harness. Still every so often driver side kept having issues. Finally pulled them and bought 5000 new style LEDs with Ballasts. WOW are those bright. Much happier and no more problems.

[SanoSuKe]

Mjiacik, which ones are you talking about? Got a link?

[mjiacik]

http://www.amazon.com/New-Brights-LED-H ... headlights

I love them, getting a pair for my Fog/Driving lights next. Come on every time right away and soooooo bright. There is no color like my 8K HIDs had, but super bright white is cool with me.

[THE2012COUPE]

Still loving them? No problems?

[seldomseen]

Wow....8k Xenon/LED is too blue and seems to degrade visibility significantly. 5k Xenon/LED seem to be the perfect temperature for performance and looks.

[DAAN.]

i say 4.3Kelvins for visibility and 6K for looks

[seldomseen]

i say 4.3Kelvins for visibility and 6K for looks

[Jlor1002]

Cold weather = headlight started misfiring again. Naturally I didn't bother to look into it any further once it started working again. It didn't misfire once throughout the spring/summer....

[seldomseen]

Cold weather = headlight started misfiring again. Naturally I didn't bother to look into it any further once it started working again. It didn't misfire once throughout the spring/summer....

Are you saying that you never experienced any misfire while using the OEM HID bulbs? Have your tried switching the bulb that's misfiring to the other headlamp to determine if the issue may be ballast related? You'll need to attempt to isolate the problem to determine if your ballast is going bad or if the aftermarket HID bulb is a defective to some degree preventing the internal gases of the HID bulb from igniting during cold weather.

[Jlor1002]

Yup. Never misfired with the OEM bulbs. I did not try switching the bulbs to see if it was ballast related. The only thing I tried was replacing the bulb with another DDM bulb, and it still misfired - I'm guessing based off what you're saying is that it would be ballast related, not bulb? I suppose I should try putting the OEMs back in and seeing if it still misfires?

[seldomseen]

If the OEM bulbs do not misfire under the same conditions that the aftermarkets did, your problem is due to some sort of defect with the aftermarket bulbs---which is most likely due to gases inside the bulb, or the bulb's base and/or igniter rod.