Headlamp issue

[Martin.S]

Getting an error telling me to check front left dipped light. Checked and it was out but oddly it comes on when I first start and then goes out also if I have full beam on it works for a couple of minutes when I go back to dipped.

 

Had it in to dealer who have decided it is the bulb that is faulty at a cost of £163 and no it is not covered under used Skoda warranty!! Ouch!

 

How often do these bulbs fail?

[Too Tall]

It happens. What mileage/lifespan?

 

Different schools of thought on replacing it, some say never replace just the bulb, always replace bulb + ballast, some say always do both sides (L+R), ...

 

Your symptoms sound more like a ballast failure tbh, a xenon bulb on it's way out will usually show a tell-tale blueish/pinkish hue. flickering of the bulb sounds like a ballast not providing enough juice. Was the light output nice and white or did you notice any discolouration?

Edited 11 September, 2013 by Too Tall

[Martin.S]

What is the ballast and could that be why the price is £163 because its for both? I did not notice any discolouration, just normal then nothing.

 

Mileage 63k year 2008

[Nathanio]

That could be. Bulbs themselves are around £80 (depending on where you buy them from).

 

I would change both though so you don't have a light to light colour shift. 

[Too Tall]

What is the ballast and could that be why the price is £163 because its for both? I did not notice any discolouration, just normal then nothing.

 

Mileage 63k year 2008

 

Better contact your dealer to find out what exactely they changed, that price includes working hours so no way to tell.

 

Shamelessly stolen from Wikipedia;

 

 

 

Operation[edit source | editbeta]

HID headlamp bulbs do not run on low-voltage DC current, so they require a ballast with either an internal or external ignitor. The ignitor is integrated into the bulb in D1 and D3 systems, and is either a separate unit or part of the ballast in D2 and D4 systems. The ballast controls the current to the bulb. The ignition and ballast operation proceeds in three stages:

1. Ignition: a high voltage pulse is used to produce a spark – in a manner similar to a spark plug – which ionises the Xenon gas, creating a conducting tunnel between the tungsten electrodes. Electrical resistance is reduced within the tunnel, and current flows between the electrodes.
2. Initial phase: the bulb is driven with controlled overload. Because the arc is operated at high power, the temperature in the capsule rises quickly. The metallic salts vapourise, and the arc is intensified and made spectrally more complete. The resistance between the electrodes also falls; the electronic ballast control gear registers this and automatically switches to continuous operation.
3. Continuous operation: all metal salts are in the vapour phase, the arc has attained its stable shape, and the luminous efficacy has attained its nominal value. The ballast now supplies stable electrical power so the arc will not flicker. Stable operating voltage is 85 volts AC in D1 and D2 systems, 42 volts AC in D3 and D4 systems. The frequency of the square-wave alternating current is typically 400 hertz or higher.

[Martin.S]

Just the bulb was replaced. Looking at them in daylight I can't tell a difference in colour. At night I am not sure if there is a slight one or if it is my imagination. Not sure I want to spend £163 for another unless I have to!

 

Martin

[ashfan]

Are these bulbs something special and/or difficult to fit?  Is it not possible to buy a kit from Ebay or Amazon which includes two bulbs and use those? I had a kit fitted to my Honda Accord and it worked perfectly for years without any issues

[Too Tall]

No difference between those aftermarket sets or a dealer provided one - you just pay for the "service"

 

Fitting a xenon bulb can be done yourself, however be aware of the dangers involved (high voltage in the light units) and of the risk you accidentally put a nice greasy fingerprint on the bulb/lens. But then again, the wrench monkey at the dealer propably does that too

[Superb Smartie]

Don't worry about fingerprints on the discharge lamps, this only applies to the quartz halogen lamps where fingerprints etch into the quartz glass under the heat of the filament and cause the lamp to deteriorate and eventually fail. With HID the discharge happens inside either a quartz or ceramic tube that you can see inside the lamp. The outer glass is not affected by fingerprints.

Do not however run the lamps outside the headlight itself, they can in rare cases fail explosively causing hot parts to fly all over the place. The headlight catches these bits and pieces.

[Nathanio]

Could have got 2 for less than £90 on eBay! http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/2x-Osram-D1S-5000K-66144-CBI-Cool-Blue-Intense-Xenon-Headlight-Bulbs-NEW-/290849841511?pt=UK_CarsParts_Vehicles_CarParts_SM&hash=item43b8006167

 

I did note in my Superb they had replaced the bulbs the previous year at £100 a bulb. 

 

Colour fringing may occur as the new bulb 'burns in' more. You possibly might not notice it; it can happen though

[ashfan]

Thanks guys, thats good news. So is that what "K" rating the Superb uses, 5000k?

[Enriquez]

K menas Kelvin - the colour temperature. It should be around 4200 - 4300 K

[Nathanio]

Thanks guys, thats good news. So is that what "K" rating the Superb uses, 5000k?

 

Most stock Xenons are 4300k or there abouts. When I had my Octavia I tried 4300k and 5000k and found 5000k as it was a crisper white. I believe Mazda and MB now use 4900-5000k 

[mathias2001]

hi 

bought economy xenon bulb for my mk2 superb. 29.99 a piece with 2 year warranty from TPS. skoda quote 164 i think and GSF 84 for osram. i think is d1s or smth. got tps version ( one ) and looks like genuine next door. happy.