HIDs or not - how do you tell?
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Junior Member
Joined: Feb 2007
Posts: 4
HIDs or not - how do you tell?
I have a 2002 A$ 1.8t. A headlight blew out and I see a lot of threads about HIDs and non HIDs. How do I tell if my car has HIDs and the prospect of really expensive bulbs! Thanks
Senior Member
Joined: Jun 2007
Posts: 1,077
From: Iowa - Land of the Corn
RE: HIDs or not - how do you tell?
When you turn the headlights on its kind of blue and turns white. Thats the way mine is. Im assuming thats the way they all are if im wrong please correct me[&:]
1st Gear
Joined: Nov 2007
Posts: 80
From:
RE: HIDs or not - how do you tell?
Check the backs of the headlight housing if you have a yellow high voltage sticker they are HID's. Also when you turn off your headlights if they turn off right away they are HID's if they gradually turn off they are halogenbulbs.........Hope that helped
RE: HIDs or not - how do you tell?
The yellow "high voltage" sticker is your best bet. If you're a good headlight guy, then you can tell by the color and light intensity of the headlights when they are on. With HID there is a "warm up" period that some can notice.
The HID bulbs from the dealer are expensive but you can order quality phillips replacement bulbs online for well less than $100 if you look around. You can also buy off-branded bulbs for much, much less. If you go the cheap route I would suggest buying two so the colors match.
The HID bulbs from the dealer are expensive but you can order quality phillips replacement bulbs online for well less than $100 if you look around. You can also buy off-branded bulbs for much, much less. If you go the cheap route I would suggest buying two so the colors match.
1st Gear
Joined: Oct 2007
Posts: 337
From:
RE: HIDs or not - how do you tell?
Pull the bulb. If there's a filament inside the glass housing, it's halogen. If there's no filament, it's HID. checking the bulb is really the best bet. if you don't want to pull the bulb, follow the bulb wires, and if they head to small box (your ballast) close to the headlight (like within 12" of lead) then they are HID. No ballast = Halogen.
- Ryan
- Ryan
2nd Gear
Joined: Apr 2006
Posts: 1,122
From:
RE: HIDs or not - how do you tell?
If you have ever seen HIDs it should be easy to tell... when u turn them on, they should be light blue then "warm" up to white light.....they will reflect 100x more on signs and police cars 
ballast for OEM hids is under the housing..... metal box thingy
ballast for OEM hids is under the housing..... metal box thingy