I've noticed that lately the light output from my Londoncolour HID kit has been quite poor.

 

One of the bulbs had been occasionally not starting, so for £8.85 for a pair of replacement bulbs, I though it's worth changing both of them.

 

Even though I've replaced like with like (H7 4300k), the replacements seem much brighter.

 

Now these have only been in around 1 year, but when I took the old ones out, I noticed on both bulbs a sort of frosting type effect on the glass. 

 

It was quite hard to get my camera to focus, but below are what both bulbs look like.

 

Do they all look like this after they've been used?

 

 

 

 

Anyone with any ideas?

 

I had another look at the bulbs yesterday, and it's not just something that has deposited on the glass that can be cleaned off. It seems to have a very rough surface where it's gone cloudy.

Edited 19 November, 201510 yr by softscoop

There was a post about this a few years ago in the Mk 1 Octavia section, think it was started by Rob Clubley, but can't find it. I cant remember what the consensus was, but it was something to do with salts deposits inside the glass. When I changed my original lamps after 5 years, there was a slight mark, didn't look as pronounced as yours though.

Edited 19 November, 201510 yr by Kenny R

I've heard that the reflective surface of the reflector can degrade over time. Perhaps it's bits of the reflector or dirt depositing on the glass when it's hot?

 

Maybe I could do with cleaning out the lense and inside of the reflector bowl. I don't want to damage the reflective surface though.

 

Can the projector be removed from inside the housing? I could possibly swap them out to a bi-xenon unit at the same time.

Hmmm, perhaps the projector bowl can be removed.

 

On the pre-facelift there is a lot of access. It looks like it could be pulled out without disassembling the whole headlight.

 

Edited 19 November, 201510 yr by softscoop

Seeing as they are £9 per unit and they still make profit on it id suggest they just arent that brilliant quality. Compare that to proper hid bulbs @ £60+ per unit and they must be cutting costs someware.

It could also be if you touched the glass as it looks very specific area

I definitely didn't touch the bulbs when I put them in.

 

I will see how these bulbs last. 

 

Most members have had good results with the CNLight units supplied by AE Trading (Londoncolour on eBay)

These bulbs get really hot don't they?

 

I'd imagine as they wear over time then a bi-product of the high intensity discharge is a clouding or dusting of the glass.

 

My H7 4300K London Colour kit is still going strong after 3 years and 86,000 miles and being on over 3 hours a day during the winter months.

 

I've no doubt that they aren't as bright as when they were new but they still put halogens in the shade.

 

I have a full spare kit in the garage in preperation for the original kits demise, it was a sniff over £20 for the complete kit.

 

Did you pay £9 per bulb or for them both?

Edited 19 November, 201510 yr by silver1011

It was £9 for a pair of replacement bulbs from londoncolour