2007 V8 Vantage Dipped Beam HID Ballasts - again
Discussion
I've spent a fair bit of time researching dipped beam HID ballasts since one of mine blew in April.
There's no way of testing whether it's the ballast or the bulb that's gone, except bulbs very rarely go and I'm assured by a Main Dealer that their standard test is to replace the ballast with a known good one. Only then would they replace the bulb.
So, I ordered an OEM ballast, part no 4G43-13C169-AA or AB, from Scuderia Car Parts in Egham for the princely sum of £172.12 collected.
When it arrived, I fitted it - and the light worked. So far so good.
On researching things a little further, I found that the new OEM part is a De Amertek XHB-3502, which doesn't seem to be available from internet sources, in UK anyway.
However, the unserviceable, also supposedly OEM ballast is a Philips XLD145, which is readily available for Land Rovers etc at around £45. It has a rather checkered reputation for reliability if you read the JLR forums, but it's also considerably cheaper than the current OEM part. You pays your money and you takes your pick.
This information is posted here for the edification of other owners who are considering replacing a probaly-failed ballast. It's not a difficult job, as long as you remove the wheel and wing liner completely.
There's no way of testing whether it's the ballast or the bulb that's gone, except bulbs very rarely go and I'm assured by a Main Dealer that their standard test is to replace the ballast with a known good one. Only then would they replace the bulb.
So, I ordered an OEM ballast, part no 4G43-13C169-AA or AB, from Scuderia Car Parts in Egham for the princely sum of £172.12 collected.
When it arrived, I fitted it - and the light worked. So far so good.
On researching things a little further, I found that the new OEM part is a De Amertek XHB-3502, which doesn't seem to be available from internet sources, in UK anyway.
However, the unserviceable, also supposedly OEM ballast is a Philips XLD145, which is readily available for Land Rovers etc at around £45. It has a rather checkered reputation for reliability if you read the JLR forums, but it's also considerably cheaper than the current OEM part. You pays your money and you takes your pick.
This information is posted here for the edification of other owners who are considering replacing a probaly-failed ballast. It's not a difficult job, as long as you remove the wheel and wing liner completely.
huntsen said:
I've spent a fair bit of time researching dipped beam HID ballasts since one of mine blew in April.
There's no way of testing whether it's the ballast or the bulb that's gone, except bulbs very rarely go and I'm assured by a Main Dealer that their standard test is to replace the ballast with a known good one. .
Or swap the bulb from one side to the other to see if its the bulb or the ballast!There's no way of testing whether it's the ballast or the bulb that's gone, except bulbs very rarely go and I'm assured by a Main Dealer that their standard test is to replace the ballast with a known good one. .
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