Headlight turned purple (xenon) ?

[Calabria]

I have the xenon package on my 00, randomly last night I turn on my headlights after dinner, and the passenger side didnt light up all the way? I turned them off and returned it own, and it did it again, and then my pass side light flickered off. So I turned them off again and it worked. After about 10min of driving, it turned purple again. Then I went to friends house for some time, come back to my car, and my lights are working fine...
Is this a sign that 1 of my lights are goin out and should invest in a new set?

[Silverstreak98]

If you have Osram bulbs in your headlights they will color shift towards a 'pinkish' color when they warm up after a few minutes of them being on.

This may be what you are experience, but it still sounds kind of strange. Maybe time to invest in a new set of bulbs, I'd recommend either Philips or GE D2S bulbs. The consensus seems to be that of the OE manufactures Osram is the worst (not to mention their bulbs color shift to a pink/white, while Philips and GE bulbs will color shift to a white/blue over time).

[Calabria]

My bulbs are more of a blueish white, I get 6000k comments about my lights, even though there OEM 4300. But, when warmed up, they dont get pink at all. 1st time ive actually seen this purple color ?
Got any link for the GE or Phillips

[Silverstreak98]

Here are some links.

GE

Philips


GE is a bit cheaper than the Philips which is a more established OE brand for HID bulbs. This seller definitely sells legit new/unused authentic bulbs too, and I've seen good reviews for this seller on HIDPlanet forums.


PS - I hate how links are no longer underlined unless you put your cursor over them

[RichardsA4]

My car did the same thing right before my ballast went out. It actually was purpleish and stayed that way for awhile until finally it work no more.

Check your headlights for holes cracks or anyway moisture could get in there. That will kill your ballast and cause the problems your describing. In my case I smashed thru a huge puddle and my cover had happend to come off.

[Euromike]

i have had many ballasts shit the bed on me, but never had this problem. hmm, i would try a new bulb before ballast.

[RichardsA4]

Hmm... what he described was exactly the same thing I had happen. Light got dim and looked purple. I drove around for a month like that occasionly having the light flicker to full brightness than one day it just gave up completely. I bought and installed a new bulb... no light... new ballast and everything was back to normal.

I suggest removing both bulbs and switch them from right to left ect. See how that works. If the light is the same way on the same side then start lookin for a deal on a ballast.

[vietxnam]

Usually when a hid bulb gets older they color shift. When the bulb degrades the bulb changes then gets dimmer and dimmer and finally goes out.

[Calabria]

Hmm... what he described was exactly the same thing I had happen. Light got dim and looked purple. I drove around for a month like that occasionly having the light flicker to full brightness than one day it just gave up completely. I bought and installed a new bulb... no light... new ballast and everything was back to normal.

I suggest removing both bulbs and switch them from right to left ect. See how that works. If the light is the same way on the same side then start lookin for a deal on a ballast.

Ya, tmrrw ill change the bulbs from left to right and see what happens. Tonight the 1 light started to flicker around and turn off a couple times while driving. I doubt its the ballast though.

Usually when a hid bulb gets older they color shift. When the bulb degrades the bulb changes then gets dimmer and dimmer and finally goes out.

Ya, thinking its still the bulb, its getting more purple/blue while one, and flickering a lot more, and then going off while driving.

Is there a DIY for removing the bulbs, or is it a pretty basic swap...

[RichardsA4]

I hope it is the bulb for your sake since the ballasts are expensive. lol

I havent had a bulb go out so maybe it does do the same thing as a bad ballast.

[Calabria]

I hope it is the bulb for your sake since the ballasts are expensive. lol

I havent had a bulb go out so maybe it does do the same thing as a bad ballast.

As well, here in SoCal weve had the nice amount of rain the last couple of weeks so...who knows. Ill play with it tmrrw and post back the results of my findings.

[Calabria]

So im stuck...my bulb wont come out to swap. Do I just pull from the black part out of the silver?

[Silverstreak98]

You have to twist it, works easier if the bulb is still in the socket and you twist the igniter (silver part) to separate them from each other.

[Calabria]

You have to twist it, works easier if the bulb is still in the socket and you twist the igniter (silver part) to separate them from each other.

Ight, i still got the other side to do. Goin eat and work on it.

[RichardsA4]

update ?

[Calabria]

It was the light all along. Should have ordered that light on Sunday so I would have had it by now. Bought these http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/ws/eB...#ht_1394wt_939
But ran into some more, older problems from my body shop "repairs"...body shops are pieces of crap I swear, if anyone opens a legit shop, and takes their time on the work - done the right way. Call me.

[Silverstreak98]

It was the light all along. Should have ordered that light on Sunday so I would have had it by now. Bought these http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/ws/eB...#ht_1394wt_939
But ran into some more, older problems from my body shop "repairs"...body shops are pieces of crap I swear, if anyone opens a legit shop, and takes their time on the work - done the right way. Call me.

Glad you got the lights figured out, the new bulbs are going to be much brighter I'm sure.


Sorry about the body shop, and I completely agree with you. I have had nothing but problems having my car repaired (apparently by the best place in town), so I know how you feel. I literally had to go back to this place 5 times before they got it right WITHOUT fucking something else up.

You should see if that body shop has a quality guarantee, like mine did, even though I'm sure it will be a PITA getting them to honor it.

[ECS Tuning-Audi]

It was the light all along. Should have ordered that light on Sunday so I would have had it by now. Bought these http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/ws/eB...#ht_1394wt_939
But ran into some more, older problems from my body shop "repairs"...body shops are pieces of crap I swear, if anyone opens a legit shop, and takes their time on the work - done the right way. Call me.

I've done a ton of bodywork, its a family thing, what is wrong with your car? Maybe I can give you some pointers? PM me if you'd like.

[Calabria]

The screw that was supposed to hold the side of the headlight in, the body shop used a completely different type, almost like a wood screw with different threading, and just torqued it in so now the hole where the screw should be, is huge and got find a way to make it work. Plus they broke 1 of my headlight tabs on each side that holds the light on, and just glued it back. But once I unscrewed 1 of the tabs, it just broke off...guess I gota re glue it on. Not to mention the paint work, which could have been wet sanded a lot more to get out the orange peel and the hood has a finger gap on the dirvers side between the bumper/bottom of the hood.

[ECS Tuning-Audi]

Oh my, sorry! Well at least it sounds like you are able to handle the repair, of the repairs...

[Calabria]

Hah, ya some of them. Body shops, its hard to find a good one thats for sure.