Cost effectivenes of aftermarket HID kits

[yearoftherat]

OK just want to get some opinions here.
I installed my Prolumen HID kit last August and now one of the bulbs flicker and sometimes does not come on. I figured its the bulb and will have to replace it. A replacement bulb will run approx $75.
I would have expected the bulb to last longer than just 15 months. If I have to replace a bulb every year, IMHO it is not economically feasible to run aftermarket HID's.
Yes I know that the stock lighting is not as bright as HID's and that I'd be crazy to switch back.
Just wondering how long you've had the aftermarket HID kit in your car before you've had to replace a bulb.

[S.F.W.]

I've had my kit on the car, just under 4 years now. Original Xtec 5000K kit, have never had to replace a bulb.

[McGuyver_3]

My oem hids from factory have aftermarket bulbs in them and i think my passenger side one is starting to go but thats my fault for chosing a no name brand. shame on me. my fog light kit is a 3 or 4 year old prolumen kit and the first bulb burnt out on me last week

[yearoftherat]

I can see 3-4 yrs before replacing but only after 15 months?? Is there a chance I just got a bummed bulb?

[Donutz]

I've been burning out Prolumens approx. every 6 - 9 months. The ones I have in now were replaced in July, so knock on wood, we'll see how long they last. My first bulb went at approx. 5 - 6 months after being installed. Since about Jan 2006 I've had 3 full sets of bulbs replaced.

[x_o_k_x]

Prolumens are descent bulbs, but would say below average life span.. There is dosens of different companies that make HIDs, most of them are No Name brands. BUT the reason for it is they use the same quality components as Philips uses, except made in China to reduces costs of making. Thats why they are so cheap. For example, I had Handa HID kit, lasted me 1 year and I believe its still going, sold it to someone on this board..so 2 years now.

[McGuyver_3]

isnt there lifetime warranty on the apexcone and prolumen kits? or did they stop offering that?

[Donutz]

isnt there lifetime warranty on the apexcone and prolumen kits? or did they stop offering that?

I've been getting my bulbs replaced under warranty.

[mit-gee-mui]

Not sure if you saw these links
http://www.torontomazda3.ca/forum/showthread.php?t=26647&highlight=hid%2A+blew
http://www.torontomazda3.ca/forum/showthread.php?t=17192&highlight=hid%2A+blew


My Girlfriend's MTECs lasted only a year and a half. :bang The white one's Apexcones are still fine, and it's been about a year.

:)

[S.F.W.]

let's stay on topic...

[queens49]

I'm going on 2 yrs w/ Prolumens. No problems yet.

[chinsterr]

My hid fogs and headlights have caused nothing but headaches for me. LOL and I bought these kits when they were 300 a piece!!! The sacrifices you need to make for your car to look good :p

I think I've gone through 4 sets of bulbs in 3 years (and one ballast). My rentention clip is all mangled becuase of it !

[SwooshICE]

I've been through 4 prolumen bulbs
each last about a year an a half

[omalak]

err... i just put my Prolumens in a few weeks ago.. hope mine don't go out in less than a year!

I think Prolumens are sold with a 1 year warrenty..

[Ogata]

I got my stock 4300K ones on and I'll have to wait for the calm of the storm before my problems arise. Considering switching to a different set of bulbs at a later date.

[yearoftherat]

Ogata, your car has factory HID's and therefore should have no problems. My issue is with aftermarket HID kits.

[yearoftherat]

HAHAHAHA>..the saga continues
SO like I said I stated in the OP one of my bulbs started to flicker, and didn't come on a few times (this was the one on the passenger side)
Now I turn on my lights and now the driver side doesn't even fire up at all and the passenger side fires up with no probs...for now..:bang
Anyone have any ideas?

[Ogata]

Ogata, your car has factory HID's and therefore should have no problems. My issue is with aftermarket HID kits.

:) I will be putting some HID fogs in soon so I might be joining the saga of bulbs flickering if something goes wrong.

[yearoftherat]

Seems it might be the ballast is shot as I switched bulbs and the driver side still doesn't work :bang
So back goes in the stock bulbs for now and may decide to scrap the HID kit all together.

[dj_chinaman2097]

So what did you decide to do since last week? Are you still using the stock bulbs for now?

Both Prolumen H7s failed today as I pulled into my driveway after work. The H11s still work.

I don't have spare parts so I can't test if it's the ballast or bulbs. When I was pulling into my garage both flickered a few times then wouldn't come back on when I turned them off. I can't even drive out to get standard bulbs.

[Thrizzl3]

how long have you had them for?

[dj_chinaman2097]

The kit has been installed exactly 13 months.

I just PM'd Dan to see if he can uninstall them until SSG is back in town.

[yearoftherat]

So what did you decide to do since last week? Are you still using the stock bulbs for now?

Both Prolumen H7s failed today as I pulled into my driveway after work. The H11s still work.

I don't have spare parts so I can't test if it's the ballast or bulbs. When I was pulling into my garage both flickered a few times then wouldn't come back on when I turned them off. I can't even drive out to get standard bulbs.

I disconnected the HID kit and swapped back in the stock bulbs. Once it warms up the HID kit is going to be removed from the car.

[m_a_t_r_i_x]

To sum up this thread, looks like having aftermarket HIDS is not cost effective, considering the cost of replacing burnt out HID bulbs (where some, as mentioned doesnt last long).

That's one of the reason thats why i didnt have one.. after almost 4 yrs, i only replaced once my stock bulbs and you could buy them cheap at walmart or crappy tire, better yet with Joe (MOT) with club discount :).

PS. yeah those retention clip are pain in the ass and are cheap in design.

[yearoftherat]

Yes the wow factor is neat as HID do def have advantages over stock. Also it depends on where the kits are made. A lot of the kits out there including Prolumen are made in China/Taiwan. Cheap labor = cheap kit. You def get what you pay for.
Considering kits now go for sub $200 and that a replacement pr of bulbs can run you $140ish...well do the math.
There are some kits made in Japan out on the market now and worth taking a looking at.

[liquidzyklon]

Doesn't the kit quality affect how "cost effective" (reliable) HID kits are?

As mentioned there are different brands that are manufactured in different countries where their quality will vary,

i.e. Prolumen (China/Taiwan), DDM/Apexcone (China?), Xtreme (Jap), Volt (Jap), Retro, mtec, etc.

I think it will provide a better picture to determine which brands / countries that manufactured reliable kits (i.e. good ballasts and good bulbs that don't die in a year). Isn't it better if we had a list of brands and their manufacturer's origins to determine their reliability?

[dj_chinaman2097]

I have H7 and H11 Prolumen kits with the slim ballasts. Got them November 2007 from Devin (Xenon Store).

Dan (McGuyver) inspected the flickering of my H7 kit and the relay may need to be replaced. The lights would flicker when the relay was moved around.

[ZeroChalk]

Paying $75 for 1 replacement bulb seems excessive.

I swapped my old Prolumen's 5000k for 6000K and went with an Ebay brand (sharperdeal). I paid ~$30 bucks including shipping for two bulbs. I can't attest for the durability over a long period of time but if your blowing through bulbs like crazy you should consider this cheaper option.

From what I can tell you is that they're prompt and deliver excellent service. When one my bulbs was displaying a very mild flicker, they sent me a new bulb no questions asked. It makes me wonder how crummy some of our local distirbuters are.

So far so good, but it's only been 2 months and I don't drive too often. Worth a shot IMO.