Electrics: What bulb for Xenon headlights?

[lolinginthelolvo]

Hi All,

I have just purchased an 05 XC90 D5 SE and one of the dipped beam headlights is a slightly different color to the other, one is very blue and one is white.

Small things like this bother me so I went to halfrauds and bought two H7 bulbs which according to them were correct for the dipped and high beams.

On trying to change the bulbs I found my dipped beams are using odd bulbs with a metal box on the back, I assume that they must be Xenons?? Having never had them before I dont really know but the bulb is very long and has a wire or fillament running up the outside of the bulb...

I would like to buy two bulbs that are the same so the headlights match and not crap cheap things that put no light out, is this going to be ridiculously expensive?

What do I need to buy?

[Rockhopper]

They're Xenon D2R HID bulbs, not H7. Example here: http://bit.ly/ajbbL2 - available in different temperatures, hence different colours. Looks like the PO has just replaced one - and with a different temp output.

[lolinginthelolvo]

Thanks Rockhopper!

So those £17 bulbs will be ok? Not that I am complaining, but £17 sounds pretty cheap, I don't want them to put out sub-standard light or blow in five minutes.

[owenfackrell]

The standard ones should have been 4k7 which gives out a White light. The higher thenumber the bluer the light becomes but the light out put falls. People like to fit the blue ones as they think it makes them look like the ones fitted to BMWs etc. Ut that's done by the projector lens desgin.

[Rockhopper]

I've not needed them in mine (yet...) but used a similar pair from this guy in my old Saab (6k output I think) and they lasted over 4yrs until I sold it. Seemed better than spending £45 per bulb that the dealer wanted...