HID Headlamp Replacement

[Kevin2448]

Were the new bulbs made in China?!?! Sorry for my cynicism!

Not at all! I checked their serial number on the OSRAM website and it came out legit. I'm just trying to figure out why they light beam is all messed up.

 

[inmanlanier]

All jest aside, I've not studied these - I believe the beam focus/direction is managed by a combination of the bulb insertion into the socket (keyed as I remember) and the orientation of the entire lens assembly in the car. If you removed the lens assembly, my guess is that you may have misaligned it re-installing. If you did not remove the lens assembly, check to make sure the bulb keys are properly aligned. If all is well on both points, I'd say the bulb is a POS.

 

[slawek65]

Not at all! I checked their serial number on the OSRAM website and it came out legit. I'm just trying to figure out why they light beam is all messed up.

Make sure the "wire" on the side of the bulb point in the same direction as old bulb.

 

[Kevin2448]

Just a quick update on this, looks like I figured out what was wrong. I forgot to install the metal outer ring from the old bulbs. Put them on the new bulbs and the light output is phenomenal. These are the bulbs that I purchased.

 

[dfyffe]

Can you use a D1S LED bulb plug and play ?

 

[Kevin2448]

Can you use a D1S LED bulb plug and play ?

From my experience, I'm pretty sure you can't. I do believe you would have to retrofit a H7 LED wiring harness if you have HIDs because of the ballast that lights up the bulb.

 

[StarPower]

Can you use a D1S LED bulb plug and play ?

No. The headlight optics are designed assuming the light is emitted from a specific shape and in a specific location. LEDs emit light differently than the HID arc. Changing the shape or location of the light source will change the beam pattern, which may result in not enough light in the hot spot of the beam or too much light above the cutoff causing glare to other drivers. You will achieve the safest and most effective headlamp performance using the proper HID bulbs.

If you're having trouble seeing, I recommend checking the aim of your headlamps. You can either pay a shop to do it or use these instructions. I don't know if later years were affected, but several new owners in 2015 found that their headlights were aimed too low.

 

[surprisinguy]

several new owners in 2015 found that their headlights were aimed too low.

This was absolutely a problem for my car when purchased. Found a nice "Rooms to Go" wall with a level parking lot and raised/leveled my own.

 

[snork]

This was absolutely a problem for my car when purchased. Found a nice "Rooms to Go" wall with a level parking lot and raised/leveled my own.

+1. Both my 2009 and 2015 Genesis were both aimed very low. One of the first things I did to both cars we raise them up.