MSG C5

...Just curious as I'm swapping out my fogs and my headlights to ACA style HIDs. 4300 temp all four. I've read various threads on keeping an extra bulb/ballast, etc.

Do they last as long as stock halogen or less? Also, what ususually goes first, the bulb or the ballast?

HID newbie questions....

03BlkZ

I myself am asking the same question as I am about to purchase ACA's

karateboi87

I'm pretty sure bulb goes out first. one of my fog's burned out I had it on less than like 5 hours total... but I didn't disable the option that turns it on when i unlock car, so it got turned on/off too often.

I want the ACA style projectors too but they are not getting black sets

JW Motorsports

We're expecting a shipment of black in by the end of the month. I have about 3-4 sets that aren't pre ordered.

HIDs just depends really. Some of the lower quality kits don't last too long.

Ours which you have should last a long time. If not we replace them with our warranty (2 years now).

I've been running the same fogs in my C5 for 2 years now. They work perfect and I always flash my fogs when I lock and unlock the car.

mel3535

hey JW i bought a set of low beam HID bulbs from you like two weeks back, do those have a warranty with them?

JW Motorsports

No. My warranty program started the day after you ordered

Yes! 2 years

rws.1

Mine came with a 2 year warranty. My first one burned out 1 month after the warranty expired. The vendor still replaced both of them under warranty.

karateboi87

I know but I cannot afford to pay that price

0TheRadioFlyer97

Most aftermarket HID kits have a bulb life of 2000-3000 hours. OEM quality HID bulbs have a life span of ~3500+ hours.

Ballasts lifespan is indefinate.

Note: most HID bulbs will "color shift" over their lifespan towards the blue end of the spectrum. As the bulb dies, it will also get dimmer and dimmer.

Dudeurgettnavette

I've purchased my HID's from JW and they're going on 3yrs + now with no problems.

Cardinal Flyer

Just installed lo beams from JW--working great!

Just installed hi beams from flea-bay--junk!

usnavyfc

one of mine just burnt out. is there anywhere i can get just the bulb? what should i do?

Scissors

Where do I start? lol

On my C5 I made the mistake of buying the same kit twice. The first failed (and had no warranty) but I figured it was a fluke. Second go? Failed again.

It's all about quality. Don't go cheap like I did with another kit I got for my bike (which also failed).

Make sure you're getting a good bulb, preferrably Philips. Definitely don't cheap out on the igniter and ballast, keep them away from extreme heat and water, and make sure you wire everything tightly. Also, if you can, use a relay to draw directly from the battery/alternator so the initially high amperage when it first starts can't damage your wiring.

BenC5

I believe anything TheRadioFlyer says about lighting, he knows.

I have had my low beam bulbs in for a year now and I drive a lot at night and have been so all year round/22,000 miles in a year now and not a single issue.

My foglight bulbs have been working well too and I have the "approach lights" option on so they go on/off every time I hit the FOB.

So far, so good over here and when anything does go, I'll buy the best I can get for a replacement.

Zenak

sujective to use :-) do you DRIVE it or garage show it :-)

MSG C5

Thanks for the info. What does the ballast do? Provide extra power to light up the bulbs?

0TheRadioFlyer97

A true HID bulb functions like a floureecent bulb in a shop. Light is generated from a high voltage electrical arc through a gas mixture (there is no burning filiment) The ballast is a transformer that steps up the car's 12v to upwards of 20kV to create the arc needed to sustain the light. Once the arc is stable, the voltage drops down to about 8kV.

MSG C5

Thanks for the information! What does the black plastic box (Battery votage) that's connected about 2" away from the ballast do?

0TheRadioFlyer97

For slim ballasts, that part is the ignitor. What what i understand, this functions as a capactor to fire the bulb on cold startup.