My OEM HID's are very dim. The auto leveling on both sides appears to be working.

Where do I start diagnosing or replacing parts to fix this? I've got a 98 GS4 with OEM HID's. Do I just start by replacing the bulbs with replacement 4300's or can I test something? I don't really want to get into replacing the whole HID system out of the shoot, but these lights are dim as **** - probably the same or worse than OEM halogen lights on a normal car.

Any insight?

 

HID bulbs get dimmer with use. Your car is almost 10 years old so if the bulbs have never been changed, they'll have a lot of hours on their. I guess all you can do is get new bulbs do a projector retrofit.

 

ChrisES is right. What color are the bulbs after being on for 1 minute. If they are not white or yellow/white, than they are fading out and will need to be replaced. You can get a used set of bulbs on Ebay for under $100. Make sure you buy D2R is you decide to go this route.

 

Also consider what condition your plastic lens covers are in... if they're all scratched up & dirty then you also lose some brightness that way. Consider cleaning them up (several threads in the detail forum)

 

This is my hope. I'm thinking these are the OEM bulbs. The previous owner did not seem the type to replace bulbs at $100/bulb (OEM replacement type guy - not E Bay)..

 

Cool, I'll go for this. I'll hit up Xenondepot and order some up.

 

I wet sanded and PlasticX'd em recently. Clear as new. I'm going to go the bulb route.

By any chance could this be an issue with my balasts or wiring or is this almost certainly a problem with bulbs?

 

Get yourself a set of Phillips D2R 4300k bulbs off of ebay. They should run about $70 a pair.

Dealer wants at least $200 a bulb.

 

That would be the plan.

 

this is a complete guess...
maybe the battery might have some influence? is it low?

...just guessing

 

Is THIS the bulb I want to buy?

http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/Phili...QQcmdZViewItem

 

Looks right to me.