HID Headlight Bulbs

HID Bulbs, known as high-intensity discharge globes, were initially developed for luxury vehicles, including brands like Mercedes-Benz, to enhance night driving visibility. An HID system comprises three key components: the ballast (essentially a headlight control module or transformer), the ignitor (often integrated into the ballast, positioned on the globe, or placed along the cable connecting the ballast and globe) and the globe itself. This sophisticated system collaborates to provide superior lighting, ensuring safer and more comfortable driving conditions after dark. 

HID bulbs come in various power ratings and color temperatures, which we categorise into two main types: after-market HID Globes and OEM HID Globes. After-market HID xenons typically offer three primary power ratings: 35W, 55W and 100W, while OEM HID Globes are standardized at 35W. In terms of colour temperature or Kelvin ratings, after-market HID globes range from 3000K to an intense 30,000K, whereas OEM HID globes fall within a spectrum of 4200K to 6500K.

It's crucial to match replacements accurately: an after-market H4 55W HID globe should be replaced with another H4 55W after-market globe. Similarly, an OEM D3S HID globe must be replaced with another D3S globe. For optimal balance and visibility, colour temperatures in the range of warm white (4200K-5500K) to cool white (5500K-6500K) are recommended.

You can also have a look at the Bulb Application Guide on the OSRAM site to see if you can find a listing for your vehicle and have a look at the HID Bulb Colour Chart to give you an idea of the colour.

FEATURES & ATTRIBUTES OF THE PRO VISION HID GLOBES.

Our after-market HID bulb selection encompasses a comprehensive range of types, including H1, H3, H4, H7, H9, H11 and H13 H/L, along with H15, H16, HB1 9004, HB2 9003 (H4 H/L), HB4 9006, HB5 9007 H/L, 9012, 5202, 880, and 881 series. In the realm of OEM HID bulbs, their universal part numbers are D1S, D2S, D2R, D3S, D4S, D4R, D5S, and D8S. Brand names such as Philips and Osram will have their own part number.

We advise that when testing HID bulbs, it is always best to test them on a ballast that you know is working. For example; for after-market HID Globes, plug them into the ballast on the other side of the vehicle. For OEM Xenon Bulbs, swap them over to the other side and see if they work on that circuit.

HID bulbs have more than one part, the ballast and the igniter. Sometimes the ignitor is built into the globe or the ballast; sometimes, they are separate. Scan tools and warning lights on the dash generally only inform you that a globe is out, they don’t usually tell you exactly what part is faulty, such as globe, ignitor, ballast, connector, fuse or headlight relay, so we advise running thorough checks first.

Call us on +61 (02) 9698 2543 if you have any questions about HID bulbs.

FAQs

HOW DO I CHECK MY HID BULBS?

HID bulbs can be tricky to figure out if they are faulty. Simply looking at them is not always easy to tell if they are blown. Once an HID globe has been lit up, it’s burning at high temperatures, so if it appears burnt, it doesn't always mean they are blown.

Scan tools and warning lights on the dashboard only tell you a globe is out, it doesn't tell you which part is faulty, such as the headlight fuse, relay, connector, ignitor, globe or ballast. We suggest swapping the globes around and seeing if the fault stays on the same side or follows the globe; this will tell you if it is a faulty globe or a different issue.

HOW DO I CHECK IF YOUR HID GLOBES FIT MY CAR?

Pro Vision Lighting's HID bulbs are suitable for various vehicles, including cars, trucks and other automotive applications, whether OEM Factory fitted globes or after-market hid globes. You can identify OEM globes by checking the universal part number on the globe, it will read D1S, D2S, D2R, D3S, D4S, D4R, D5S or D8S. You must match the original “universal” part number with your purchase. 

For example; if you need a D3S globe, you must purchase a D3S globe. After market HID globes are H1, H3, H4, H7, H9, H11, HB3 9005 and HB4 9006. These replace non factory fitted HID bulbs or after-market HID bulbs. These are also used when someone upgrades their cars, say H4 halogen globes to an H4 HID Conversion kit.

ARE YOUR HID GLOBES BETTER THAN MY ORIGINALS?

With the advancement of HIDs comes the advancement of HID globes. Pro Vision lighting HID bulbs are the latest and greatest in terms of Clarity. This means they look brighter and whiter and give you better vision than your old globes. HID globes change colour over time as well, so it is always best to get a pair, change them both to the new ones and keep the old good original globe as a spare.

WHAT SORT OF WARRANTY DO I GET AND HOW LONG WILL YOUR HID BULBS LAST?

Pro Vision Lighting provides HID bulbs that carry an Australian backed extended 3yr warranty. Simply keep your invoice for proof of purchase and date of purchase.

Our replacement HID globes can last anywhere from 3 years to 10 years, depending on the use of them. Technically, they will last for 3500 hours, but the lifetime depends on whether you are running them constantly, such as a taxi vehicle or a truck, or whether you don't use your lights much at all.

WHAT RANGE OF HID HEADLIGHT GLOBES DO YOU SUPPLY?

Pro Vision offer a full range of HID bulbs. fFr after-market globes, simply replace the globes for your after-market HID conversion kit that came with it with the same globe. For OEM Factory fitted globes, we have the full range for Audi, Mercedes, BMW, High End Mazda, Toyota, Nissan and much more.

ARE OEM HID BULBS EASY TO INSTALL?

Yes, OEM HID Bulbs are designed to directly replace your original globes. The trickiest part can be getting into your headlight. Sometimes you can simply take the cap off and pop the globe out, but other times it can be a nightmare as in some vehicles you need to pull out the entire headlight. We advise a qualified auto electrician to fit your globes (by law).

HOW DOES YOUR COLOUR TEMPERATURE STACK UP TO THE QUALITY OF THE ORIGINAL HEADLIGHT HID BULBS?

Buying new globes from Pro Vision Lighting's HID bulb range ensures you get the latest optical engineering available. Most of our HID bulbs use a pure and natural colour temperature, similar to the latest high-end automotive lights found in premium brands like BMW, Mercedes or Audi. This contributes to the quality of light output by providing optimal visibility, reducing eye strain and delivering an aesthetically pleasing lighting experience.

WHY ARE YOUR HID HEADLIGHT BULBS SO CHEAP COMPARED TO OSRAM AND PHILIPS, AND SOME OTHERS ONLINE ARE CHEAPER AGAIN?

Pro Vision Lighting's HID bulbs are what we call mid-tier and high-end. The Philips OEM HID Globes we carry speak for themselves, and our OEM Replacement globe upgrades use imported Japanese, German and US components.

Be wary of dealers who charge $300 to $600 per globe — there is a lot of junk out there. We recommend buying from a trusted Australian-based company with genuine third-party reviews from clients, like Pro Vision Lighting.