HID life?

[Skarbro]

How long do HID's typically last before a side burns out? What brands last longer and what brands are crap.

I personally don't mind the stock bulbs. But if it makes sense economically to get HID's because they last longer, then I may go that route.

[S.F.W.]

my HID's are going on three years, and have been great. XTEC 5000K kit

[chinsterr]

How long do HID's typically last before a side burns out? What brands last longer and what brands are crap.

I personally don't mind the stock bulbs. But if it makes sense economically to get HID's because they last longer, then I may go that route.

Its very hard to answer your question as HID bulbs are very temperamental --- some last a few years and others a few days.

[Magitronic]

mine went 3 days after i bought the car and now i`m stuck with a burnt out headlight cuz atm i cant afford the cost to replace the stupid bulb :O haha

[howitts_done]

It's amazing how many new cars have burnt out HIDs. Is it really worth the extra money if you have to replace them all the time?

[bubba1983]

im entering 3 years at the end of the summer, not one probvlem

[billyfo]

my HID's are going on three years, and have been great. XTEC 5000K kit

Mine, one bulb was burnt after 2 1/2 yrs, one ballast not fully working around after 2 yrs, cause I now at Hong Kong, I have to get back to Jim @Xtec after April

[Xenon]

Most HIDs are designed for a life of 10,000 hours. Which should outlast the life of the car under normal use.

That 10,000 hours will fluctuate depending on how the bulbs are used, environmental and power conditions etc.

[Skarbro]

Considering that most people are saying around 2-3 years, it's not economically feasible to switch. I'll probably just stick with stock bulbs.

[majic]

lol.. there's MORE.. WAY MORE to it than just economics.. for one, the ability to SEE better.. 2.. OTHERS seeing you better.. 3.. looks..

this should be the first mod anyone does next to tinting the car

[Skarbro]

Honestly, I could care less about the extra light output. I've always had comparable lighting on my cars and it doesn't bother me at all.

BTW, rear sway bar is the first mod that should be done on the 3's IMO. :P

And put it this way... I've got some hefty expenses coming up (kid on the way) and I really should be picking my mods carefully. :)

[majic]

i've got both.. RSB and HID and they are BOTH equally amazing.. long trips/night time.. HIDs all the way.. a little more umph and fun on ramps.. RSB.. but the RSB feeling wears off after a couple of tickets..

.. so i hear ;)

[Chuckie]

lol.. there's MORE.. WAY MORE to it than just economics.. for one, the ability to SEE better.. 2.. OTHERS seeing you better.. 3.. looks..

this should be the first mod anyone does next to tinting the car

i have no tints.. =*/
I agree with the RSB being very useful

my hid's have been on for 3 months. no problems yet.. except one is off colour. gotta get that fixed.

[sp3GT]

i have no tints.. =*/
I agree with the RSB being very useful

my hid's have been on for 3 months. no problems yet.. except one is off colour. gotta get that fixed.

Hey chuckie,

One of mine is off colour too but I think it's the lens. You have a 06 HB GT as well right?

[queens49]

Hey chuckie,

One of mine is off colour too but I think it's the lens. You have a 06 HB GT as well right?

Which one is off colour? When I first installed my 5k, the passenger side looked "whiter" than the driver side. Looking at the write-up Xenon did, I attributed the passenger side being brighter and whiter because the two headlights "meeting" up. After 2 months, I don't even notice it anymore.

[Chuckie]

it's not the lense for me. I've had xenon adjust the bulbs for me. and they are still off colour. now it's been 3 months and still noticable

[billyfo]

Honestly, I could care less about the extra light output. I've always had comparable lighting on my cars and it doesn't bother me at all.

BTW, rear sway bar is the first mod that should be done on the 3's IMO. :P

And put it this way... I've got some hefty expenses coming up (kid on the way) and I really should be picking my mods carefully. :)

If you drive @ daytime most of the time, you really don't need HIDs, but my PT job need me to drive at night, after I switch back to stock bulbs, two different world.

and if you don't drive quite aggressive, RSB also don't needed, cause no major different.

[sp3GT]

Which one is off colour? When I first installed my 5k, the passenger side looked "whiter" than the driver side. Looking at the write-up Xenon did, I attributed the passenger side being brighter and whiter because the two headlights "meeting" up. After 2 months, I don't even notice it anymore.

My driver side is brighter and Bluer then my passenger. The passenger side looks more white and dimmer. I have 6500k.

[cereal83]

Who cares how long they last unless it's a ridiculously short time. When they burn out, replace the. Just like brakes and tires!

[Xerox]

Who cares how long they last unless it's a ridiculously short time. When they burn out, replace the. Just like brakes and tires!

Don't think everyone is that care free.
Like Xenon said (aka the HID expert), they're definitely suppose to last longer than halogen bulbs but I think some of the aftermarket HID kits may be subpar, the install is poor, or the usage is less than ideal for the HID components (ie. firing them up when electrical system is unstable, turning them on and off quickly) all leading to premature failure.

But personally, after getting a taste of HIDs, I'm never going back to halogen.

[cereal83]

I am care free because everything goes bad at one time or another. I know one day they might blow but thats the cost of having amazing lighting. I never had xenon before but I do with my new car and I would happily pay even $300 to replace a blown bulb because to me, it looks so much better and is safer.

Just how you looks at things.

[cwp_sedan]

I've had the crappiest light output on my current vehicle so when the 3 comes, HIDs will definitely be one of the first things done. I hate not being able to see clearly at night. Even if they cost more than a typical halogen bulb, they are well worth it if you ask me.

RSB is up there on the list though ;)

[blk_muzda]

One of my bulbs blew after 10 months, and the other is working fine and i've got it for about 15 months now. For those out there looking for aftermarket HIDs, I think you should go for those lifetime warranty ones.

[bubba1983]

^^ or pony up for a quality kit