HID Xenon Bulb recommendations

[Rognmoe]

Hi, everyone!

I'm wondering if anyone has had good(or bad) luck with any particular brand of HID headlamps in their cars.

Any products to stay away from? Reputable/disreputable websites?

[nordwulf]

Are you looking for Xenon bulbs for the factory headlights, halogen bulb replacements or aftermarket conversion kits?

[Rognmoe]

Just the stock ones. I think all the 04 and up 9-5's came standard with them, didn't they?

[Burnsside42]

Option on all 2002+ 9-5's - never was it standard, thank goodness. Worst XENON lights ever - 2002-2005 9-5 cars. I have them on our 03' and I hate them. H7 bulbs put out more light then these things.

I've heard HELLA and OSRAM make the best quality replacement units. Keep in mind our xenon's are bulb/ballast units and cost twice as much as everyone else.

See my post here about making your highbeams work properly - http://saabworld.net/f29/halogen-h7-...b-9-5-a-27248/

[rabbott]

If you search around the Internet you'll find lots of posts about counterfit bulbs being produced in China. Beware of suspicioulsy cheap bulbs on ebay.

[nordwulf]

I had Xenons on almost all of my 9-5s and found them to be the much better and brighter than halogens.

In addition to the brands Jeff mentioned, Philips is also a good brand. As rabbott said, watch out for the fakes from China, even though they may have labels from the reputable brands. Like those Rolexes they sell on the street in New York for $20.

http://saabworld.net/f15/fake-xenon-bulbs-25844/

[Rognmoe]

Beware of suspicioulsy cheap bulbs on ebay.

Yeah, I try to avoid eBay when it comes to stuff like this.

And to Frank - I was wowed by the visibility of the xenons. I'd never had HID headlights before. Then it snowed. I could not believe how the xenons cut through the blowing snow. I'll always be getting cars with HID's in the future.

Thanks for the input, guys!

[nordwulf]

eEuro has them for $82 each. Sometimes it makes sense to spend a little more to make sure you get quality products.

https://www.eeuroparts.com/Parts/8667/Headlight-Bulb-Xenon-W-Ballast-D1S/

Made in Germany. Original Osram in a Hella box.

[Rognmoe]

Agreed. That'll save me $40 over buying them from Autozone, though.

[Brad Lauzze]

Be super careful of aftermarket Xenon bulbs, there was a bulletin from Saab about some cheaper alternative bulbs causing voltage spikes and burning out the headlamp control modules. I dealt with 2 or 3 cars because of this issue, and some unhappy owners...