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[Gaffers]

After changing the bulbs on my HIDs they were working ok.  Yesterday after switching them on one (the one that was pink before) did not light up, I switched them off and on again and it was fine.

This morning it wont work at all.  When I switch the HIDs on it lights up for a second and then goes out.

Is this the ballast or is the bulb fubar?

[Kevin Wood]

Could be either, but if the bulb has recently been changed I would suspect that. Maybe you got a duff one.

Can you swap the bulbs and see if the fault follows the bulb?

[Gaffers]

I could but it's bugger to get in and out as I have to remove the battery.

I wonder if it's the connector?  User error maybe?

[dbug]

I could but it's bugger to get in and out as I have to remove the battery.

I wonder if it's the connector?  User error maybe?

Possible - as said mate try swapping bulbs and see if problem moves or magically fixes itself

[Marks DTM Calib]

If not I have a spare ballast

[tango]

if it was pink then could be the bulb but as mentioned above try swapping the bulbs
youll find it easer to remove the whole headlight

[Kevin Wood]

If it is lighting up initially the ballast is obviously providing a high enough voltage for it to strike. I wonder if it's then shutting down due to an overload or something?

I think you still need to swap bulbs to diagnose, unfortunately.

[TheBoy]

Weren't cheap nasty bulbs you bought, were they?

[Gaffers]

They were off ebay but I expected them to last longer than 2 days 

[TheBoy]

The shite ones are, errr, shit.

[Jimbob]

Too many bad stories with cheapies, including fire.

Osram or Philips only imho  (I was lucky with chinese ones, but that was a long time ago, and they were not as good as branded, all though they worked.)

[joff]

Did you not put an higher than normal rated set in i think i have seen that on here before, must have been over a year ago but can't remember the outcome (oldage you know) i have a set of of HID'S off the 02 Elite here if the bulb's are the same on the MFL as they are on the FL with ballast packs working if you need them

[dbug]

Got some cheapies off ebay a while back - Hungarian made Osram - been ok.

[Tonka.]

They were off ebay but I expected them to last longer than 2 days 

Made exactly the same mistake myself. Mine didn't even do 2 days. It was instant failure. Both struck and then nothing.

I bit the bullet and bought a pair of these - - - > http://www.hids4u.co.uk/osram-d2s-xenon-hid-headlight-bulb.html 

[Topuz]

I have the same problem with my bulbs. Most of the time they light up the first time, but occasionally one or both fail to light up. When I turn the switch off and then back on, they're ok. Truth to be told, my HIDs are aftermarket ones and were installed before I got the car and it was obviously a half-ass job.

I'm currently trying to solve this problem and I initially thought that the ballasts have to be the problem, but after seeing this thread I guess I could change the bulbs first.

I'm not familiar with UK laws, but here in Serbia we must drive with dipped beam during the day as well and I'm afraid I'll get the ticket because I sometimes don't notice they didn't light up (and I can't be bothered to get out of the car every time to check).