pantyshanker55

This might be super straight forward but I just don’t get it, everything about the headlights on this car is complicated. I need new bulbs and the little stupid a** box you plug them into, but there’s all these different HID systems like D2S, D3S, etc. again forgive me for my ignorance, it’s driving me up the walls though.
Story is: bought the car from someone recently and gave it a wash. Come to find out the hard way that it didn’t come with the dust cover on the pass. Headlight, so water got in there and messed it up. I’ve never had this happen, so did it just fry the whole headlight and need replacing or is it just the bulb?

Josh.A.Hussey

First thing, try the bulb in the working headlight. If it doesn’t come on, then you know you need at least a new bulb.

1. If it does come on:
   1. Try it again in the original (maybe it needed to dry)
   -If it does come on: You’re good!
   -If it doesn’t come on: Replace balast. (Box)
2. If it doesn’t:
   1. If you’re willing to risk a bulb, try the bulb that works in the water affected one.
   - If it does come on: Buy a new bulb.
   - If it doesn’t come on: Buy new bulb and ballast.
   
   
   
   Probably a good idea to replace both bulbs. But they are expensive.

Josh.A.Hussey

sorry on my phone, quoting when I should be editing but:

those are the igniters, not the ballast.

Try the other bulb, see if it works.
I think your igniter should be fine, but you never know.

pantyshanker55

thanks man, super big help.

nd-photo.nl

I can recommend the Osram Xenarc Classic, they are very good bang for buck. Sergiu Gabor performed a good test with them:

In NL, they cost about 25 euro a piece.

Josh.A.Hussey

This is a deal. On my old car (w204 350 4Matic), when I had to replace the bulbs here in Canada, it cost me CAD$192 for the pair.