I bit and decided to change the D1S bulbs on the car. I'm not familiar with changing the bulbs for the bi-xenons but found them pretty easy to do. However, I've noticed that the lights dim at least 30 seconds after starting the car. I'm wondering if the bulbs are not getting enough power from the stock ballast. The bulbs came with their own plug but I didn't use them since they plugged right in with the car's factory wiring and I didn't get the ballast either.
I'm familiar with the concept of the higher the K temp the lower the light output. I got white/quartz purple 6K but as soon as they dim, a car with halogen lights have a better light output than mine.

Anyone out here have any knowledge on this?

Greatly appreciated!

 

Were they cheap ebay bulbs?

 

Was a bulb bad? Dim? Many hours/years on it/them?

Or, did you by chance try to up the bulb wattage?

 

I got the bulbs new and I don't think anyone of them
are bad. I'm thinking that the bulbs may not be getting enough juice since they are plugged to the stock wiring and ballast. I'm not sure if tue favtory ballast would need to be changed also (is there even a factory ballast?).

 

If you have HIDs there will be a ballast, not necessarily identical to the aftermarket kits but similar in size and location (within a foot or so of the lights).

 

Thanks for confirming about the ballast. I'm waiting to hear from the VLEDS about the light output being so dim and if it has something to do with using the factory ballast or not.

 

I have the 35 watt bulbs in my 2010 bi-xenon mini headlights and want to change them to 55 watt. What does this involve? Do I change the ballasts also? do I also have to change the controller and have these reprogrammed into the onboard computer? ANY help will be appreciated. Thanks

 

I hope the information I provide below helps you out a bit.

Your factory D1 bulbs are considered bixenons (bi=dual filament), so changing them out to another color has absolutely no effect on the factory D1 ballast OR how they function in terms of the "dimming" you are experiencing.

Your new D1 6000k bulbs do not require any more "juice" that your original factory D1 4300k bulbs did. With that being said, if BOTH sides are dimming out at the exact same time about 30 seconds after start up, it is highly unlikely that the issue with them dimming is related to the bulbs or the ballasts.

The amount of visibility you get with your factory bulbs and the 6000k bulbs is going to be pretty much the same. In terms of "lumens," sure .. they'll be different. But as humans, our eyes will not be able to see that minimal of a difference between the two.

If you were not having a "dimming" issue before you changed out the bulbs, then either 1. both bulbs are bad or 2. you have an issue in the vehicle not due to the bulb and/or ballast.

 

You answered your own question.

The bulb has nothing to do with the wattage of the ballast. So if you want to go from 35W factory ballast to a 55W then .. well .. yes, technically you would need to change out the ballasts ..

However, I do not know if D1 55W ballasts exist anywhere and if they do, most likely not from a reputable company. Although they literally all come from the same place (China), I wouldn't purchase a product that no one can vouch for.