Factory HIDs

martyjer · Post by **martyjer** » Wed Apr 08, 2009 1:47 pm

One of my HIDs is gone and I'm having major trouble replacing it. Its a factory HID, so its a pain in the a$$ to get at the unit from the engine bay, the unit is longer than aftermarket HIDs as the ballast is located in the unit along with the usual stuff, and the air con pipes are getting in the way for taking off the back of the unit.
My problem is that I think I need to remove the headlight unit to get at the back of the unit to get out the bulb, and to do that I need to remove the front bumper! Does anybody know if there is an easier way to change the bulb?? Surely they dont expect you to take off a bumper every time a bulb goes do they??
Is there anybody that has done or knows someone who has replaced a bulb in an factory fitted HID?
Thanks.

nicholas · Post by **nicholas** » Wed Apr 08, 2009 2:51 pm

I don't know mate, I was thinking the same thing the other day (only because I was taking off the front bumper anyway). It seems like a whole lot of effort like you say, just to change a bulb.

Having said that, i've never actually had to replace a xenon bulb... seems they don't tend to go as often as standard headlights do... well not the factory ones anyway. So maybe that's how they justified not being able to change them without removing the bar?

Having said that, I'd recommend just biting the bullet and taking off the bar... then you can easily get at the headlights, and you won't risk damaging the lights / your hands and getting frustrated in the process.

martyjer · Post by **martyjer** » Wed Apr 08, 2009 9:07 pm

Thanks nicholas, you're probably right I'd say. It looks like very little space back there anyway so at least by taking the bumper off then I'll have much more room to see what I'm doing etc. Its true that they are long life too so that could be it, ah well.

koolio1234 · Post by **koolio1234** » Thu Apr 16, 2009 2:57 am

I had a same problem when I replaced my HID's, I ended up take the bulb out from the back of the headlight but I had an aftermarket set so they must of been obviously smaller.

martyjer · Post by **martyjer** » Thu Apr 16, 2009 4:33 am

The aftrmarket units are a lot smaller, the ballast is included in the unit in the factory unit, whereas with aftermarket ones can be fitted anywhere in the bay. So theres a big difference in size. Its this increase which is making the problem, the air con pipes are in the way on one side, and the water bottle for the wipers on the other side, the screws are located in really awkward spots as well to get at. If it was an aftermarket HID unit I'd get at it all right but being factory its causing major grief.