Member Since: 14 Oct 2007
Location: Perth
Posts: 64
Headlight fault?
Hi all, noticed the dipped beam RHS headlight was out on the D3, but noticed when turning on to confirm I'd remembered the correct side, it flickered a bit before going out. So I'm now thinking it probably isn't the bulb and wondering whether it is more likely the ballast (Haven't pulled it all apart until I have the parts, but am presuming these D2S Xenon lights are just regular HID type things with a ballast somewhere?) or even just a bad connection. Anyone seen these lights act this way, as it's not like a $20 bulb so I don't want to be spening $100+ for a pair of them if it is something else!!
Thanks!- Jeff K -
10th Nov 2015 11:54 am
DDDad
Member Since: 10 Jan 2015
Location: Angus
Posts: 1201
Are sure it wasn't just the filament drooping before it melted/burnt through completely? Went for a job as a human cannonball. Not the right calibre.
Ballasts are available if required - YWC500060 - but have you tried swapping the bulbs over? HID bulbs do tend to flicker when they fail. Current: Discovery 3 06MY (55 reg) HSE Auto Zambezi Silver Allisport Fast Road Intercooler, V8 Brakes, Silicone IC Hoses, EGRs Blanked, Remapped, De-Cat pipe, FBHIC
Freelander 2 2007 HSE Manual Tambora Flame
Previous: FL2 56 reg SE Manual Black (written off )
Disco 3 06 reg B7S Manual Rimini Red
Disco 2 TD5 Y reg ES Manual Blue - Chipped
Several Discovery 300 TDis
10th Nov 2015 12:02 pm
jik22
Member Since: 14 Oct 2007
Location: Perth
Posts: 64
Thanks....
If the YouTube clip I found is right, and it's grill off and the whole light unit out just to change the bulb, I was trying to avoid doing that twice....I've never seen HID's fail that way, but only have experience of aftermarket ones in driving lights, hence the question.
If they do that, and given they're supposed to be replaced in pairs, I'll order a set and cross fingers. Might as well do the H7's at the same time...
So, next question: Reccommendations for replacements for either. A quick look on eBay suggests the Philips Extreme Vision Plus for the H7's and standard Philips colourmatch for the Xenons? Anything better for the $200 these two sets will cost?- Jeff K -
10th Nov 2015 12:11 pm
DDDad
Member Since: 10 Jan 2015
Location: Angus
Posts: 1201
Lost for Words wrote:
He's referring to the xenon beams, DDDad.
Ballasts are available if required - YWC500060 - but have you tried swapping the bulbs over? HID bulbs do tend to flicker when they fail.
Hey, I never knew they were an arc lamp! Cheers, LFW! Learn something new every day. Went for a job as a human cannonball. Not the right calibre.
Taking the grille and headlights out takes absolutely no time (unless you have driving lights etc. in the way). One of the very sensible bits of design on the car.
Replacements - I suggest you stick with 4300k for the HID bulbs (for HID bulbs, the most possible light is produced at this colour temperature). Similarly, make sure you focus on light output for the H7s, rather than colour. In both cases, the expensive ones often focus on a "whiter"/"bluer" colour, so this tends to save money too... Current: Discovery 3 06MY (55 reg) HSE Auto Zambezi Silver Allisport Fast Road Intercooler, V8 Brakes, Silicone IC Hoses, EGRs Blanked, Remapped, De-Cat pipe, FBHIC
Freelander 2 2007 HSE Manual Tambora Flame
Previous: FL2 56 reg SE Manual Black (written off )
Disco 3 06 reg B7S Manual Rimini Red
Disco 2 TD5 Y reg ES Manual Blue - Chipped
Several Discovery 300 TDis
Ballasts are available if required - YWC500060 - but have you tried swapping the bulbs over? HID bulbs do tend to flicker when they fail.
Hey, I never knew they were an arc lamp! Cheers, LFW! Learn something new every day.
They sure are. Current: Discovery 3 06MY (55 reg) HSE Auto Zambezi Silver Allisport Fast Road Intercooler, V8 Brakes, Silicone IC Hoses, EGRs Blanked, Remapped, De-Cat pipe, FBHIC
Freelander 2 2007 HSE Manual Tambora Flame
Previous: FL2 56 reg SE Manual Black (written off )
Disco 3 06 reg B7S Manual Rimini Red
Disco 2 TD5 Y reg ES Manual Blue - Chipped
Several Discovery 300 TDis
10th Nov 2015 12:20 pm
jik22
Member Since: 14 Oct 2007
Location: Perth
Posts: 64
Lost for Words wrote:
Replacements - I suggest you stick with 4300k for the HID bulbs (for HID bulbs, the most possible light is produced at this colour temperature). Similarly, make sure you focus on light output for the H7s, rather than colour. In both cases, the expensive ones often focus on a "whiter"/"bluer" colour, so this tends to save money too...
Yeah, I absolutely didn't want the blue/purple higher colour temps, and was just interested in whether there was better than the OEM's available light output wise....and ideally for the same wattage.
The Philips bulbs I used in my Defender's regular H4 units were in a league of their own compared to standard bulbs The aftermarket HID's in it's driving lights are 4300k too....and I even have the same colour temp in my HID-converted gun light as I find the bluer ones give more glare and less visibility! - Jeff K -
Yep, blue light does indeed give more glare. All down to the way our eyes work. Current: Discovery 3 06MY (55 reg) HSE Auto Zambezi Silver Allisport Fast Road Intercooler, V8 Brakes, Silicone IC Hoses, EGRs Blanked, Remapped, De-Cat pipe, FBHIC
Freelander 2 2007 HSE Manual Tambora Flame
Previous: FL2 56 reg SE Manual Black (written off )
Disco 3 06 reg B7S Manual Rimini Red
Disco 2 TD5 Y reg ES Manual Blue - Chipped
Several Discovery 300 TDis
10th Nov 2015 12:36 pm
BrianX
Member Since: 11 Dec 2005
Location: Bolton UK - it may be 'grim up north' but at least you get gravy on yer' chips.
Posts: 217
Hopefully I might get some advice via a four year old post, I'm a bit baffled.....
'05 Disco 3 with Bi-Xenons. Switch on headlights and nearside fires up fine, but offside gets up to about half brightness with a strange purply/blue taint then goes out after about 5-10 seconds. Does this look like a failing ballast or something else, and if it is the ballast then can anybody recommend a suitable (hopefully cheap) replacement?'
'
'05 Disco3 TDV6 - gone
'06 Disco3 TDV6 - gone
'08 Freelander 2 - gone
'98 P38 V8/LPG - gone
'02 L322 V8 - gone
'02 Freelander 1 - gone
'05 Disco 3 TDV6 - SWMBO
'06 L322 V8 - current
5th Jan 2020 1:06 pm
Pete K
Member Since: 15 Jan 2016
Location: GL
Posts: 10673
I’d buy a replacement bulb first
5th Jan 2020 1:32 pm
aja4x4
Member Since: 14 Apr 2019
Location: Westbury
Posts: 2463
Sounds like cheap bulbs, good quality bulbs are expencive for the zenons and there are a lot of cheap copies out there.
I use the top of the range Osram bulbs and the headlights are fantastic.
5th Jan 2020 2:02 pm
BrianX
Member Since: 11 Dec 2005
Location: Bolton UK - it may be 'grim up north' but at least you get gravy on yer' chips.
Posts: 217
Aja can you give me any details on what you used? I know for a fact that the bulbs and everything else are originals from '05. Cheers'
'
'05 Disco3 TDV6 - gone
'06 Disco3 TDV6 - gone
'08 Freelander 2 - gone
'98 P38 V8/LPG - gone
'02 L322 V8 - gone
'02 Freelander 1 - gone
'05 Disco 3 TDV6 - SWMBO
'06 L322 V8 - current
5th Jan 2020 2:05 pm
aja4x4
Member Since: 14 Apr 2019
Location: Westbury
Posts: 2463
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Allisport Fast Road Intercooler, V8 Brakes, Silicone IC Hoses, EGRs Blanked, Remapped, De-Cat pipe, FBHIC
)
Cheers, LFW! Learn something new every day. 
