Print

Please login or register.
1 Hour 1 Day 1 Week 1 Month Forever
Login with username, password and session length

[aaronjb]

It's not my week for cars - took the Omega to Solihull yesterday as the M3 broke down on Saturday and just as we left to head home .. fizz POP and the drivers side headlamp went out.

I have the factory fit HIDs - does anyone have a recommended reasonably priced supplier for replacement bulbs? I know I've read before here that some folks have bought cheapies only to find they don't function correctly .. darned if I can find the post now, though.

[aaronjb]

Thinking about it.. I should probably have put this in Electrical 

I'll report my own post.. 

[05omegav6]

www.hids4u.co.uk

  obviously you want the philips or osram bulbs rather than the chinese copies...

[aaronjb]

Cheers Al

Thinking about it I better try swapping the ballasts (or bulbs) around first just in case it's the ballast that's gone pop rather than the bulb.

I know they come with a giant warning sticker telling me to only let the highly trained (presumably rubberised) Vauxhall technicians in there so .. anything I should be concerned with beyond disconnecting the battery first?

I don't enjoy 40kV shocks much  (or whatever the voltage is .. I'm guessing)

[05omegav6]

Pull the headlight unit out, unplugging as you go, pop it on the kitchen table make a cuppa and then dive in

Only disconnect the battery if you enjoy reprogramming the clock/ radio

You'll need a small torx bit to undo various screws, but all obvious once the unit is out

[aaronjb]

Cool, thanks Al I'll whip it out tonight.

And I'll take the headlight out later this week.. 

[05omegav6]

Just to add, to check bulb, switch the headlights on, if you can see a faint spark in the dead one then the bulb is toast, rather than the ballast. Should also replace in pairs

[biggriffin]

Incoming pm

[TheBoy]

I probably have some spare ballasts if you need them. I have spare bulbs, but seem to recall a slight tinge of pink/purple, so I put my almost melted ones in my "new" headlights.

As to safety, don't be gay .  I've never had an issue, but I'd say just be wary of the contacts (which are difficult to touch accidentally)...

[Keith ABS]

  I think I used autobulbs direct for my new set. i had previously used Regal autobulbs but they could not match the prices
keith B

[Andre8100]

Just to add, to check bulb, switch the headlights on, if you can see a faint spark in the dead one then the bulb is toast, rather than the ballast. Should also replace in pairs

I am totally agree with you. Its dead easy and pretty difficult to go wrong. You are 100% good here that just to add, to check bulb, switch the headlights on. Should also replace in pairs.

[aaronjb]

Well I stared hard at the headlight last night and had Amy switch them on - nothing.. I didn't see even a hint of a spark in there, which seems to indicate ballast rather than bulb.

Must swap them over and see what's what..

[05omegav6]

Got a spare ballst here if required

[aaronjb]

Thanks guys

I had a sudden thought today - I wondered if (logically) the headlights would be on individual fuses for safety.. they are, of course, and guess what? The drivers side 15A fuse had popped..

Replaced, tested and it appears OK so I'll hold off replacing things until it blows again (which, I guess, would indicate an electrical fault somewhere to fix.. probably the ballast)!

[05omegav6]

Ah yes the turn it off and on again approach

Fault could also be the bulb failing