I have a 2002 A$ 1.8t. A headlight blew out and I see a lot of threads about HIDs and non HIDs. How do I tell if my car has HIDs and the prospect of really expensive bulbs! Thanks

 

i dont know mutch, but you should check for some ballasts near your headlights. that is all i know

 

take a picture of your bulb and I can tell u if its HID or not

 

When you turn the headlights on its kind of blue and turns white. Thats the way mine is. Im assuming thats the way they all are if im wrong please correct me[&:]

 

^^thats they way i can alwyas tell if they are hid

 

Check the backs of the headlight housing if you have a yellow high voltage sticker they are HID's. Also when you turn off your headlights if they turn off right away they are HID's if they gradually turn off they are halogenbulbs.........Hope that helped

 

The yellow "high voltage" sticker is your best bet. If you're a good headlight guy, then you can tell by the color and light intensity of the headlights when they are on. With HID there is a "warm up" period that some can notice.

The HID bulbs from the dealer are expensive but you can order quality phillips replacement bulbs online for well less than $100 if you look around. You can also buy off-branded bulbs for much, much less. If you go the cheap route I would suggest buying two so the colors match.

 

Pull the bulb. If there's a filament inside the glass housing, it's halogen. If there's no filament, it's HID. checking the bulb is really the best bet. if you don't want to pull the bulb, follow the bulb wires, and if they head to small box (your ballast) close to the headlight (like within 12" of lead) then they are HID. No ballast = Halogen.

- Ryan

 

Thanks all - super helpful. My daughter will bring the car over and I'll do these checks. BTW I also have a BMW and the forum guys are not nearly as helpful!

 

If you have ever seen HIDs it should be easy to tell... when u turn them on, they should be light blue then "warm" up to white light.....they will reflect 100x more on signs and police cars

ballast for OEM hids is under the housing..... metal box thingy