I Was On Light Duties Alltronics Xenon Hid Lamps. By Glen Smith on Jan 09, 2010 - Updated Oct 15, 2011

I just want to tell you about the other week, when I discovered I had one headlight out. No problem thought, just nip into my garage & pick out a bulb, fit it & go. Oh, wait a moment, I have Xenon HID Headlights, and for the first time in my life, I don't have a spare. OK, ring the main dealers for a price, expect it to be rather expensive - I was wrong, it was not that at all - it would cost me £109 plus VAT!!! OK that is that option thrown out of the window, now where? Overalls on, in the car, and off to my local scrapyard, I need a few other bits too as it happens. Went round, finding not one single car with these HID lights, so came home. I should just point out that these are proper HID (High Intensity Discharge) and these work by having an arc of 23,000 Volts to produce a brilliant light, although it takes some four seconds for them to be at full strength. The system only draws 35 Watts, but produces 3 times the light from a traditional 55 to 60 Watt Halogen system. The system can be retro fitted to all cars, but is expensive.I got home, and put the kettle on, while waiting for it to boil, I realised I was not 100% sure it was the bulb. These headlights have a resistor ballast pack, stepping up the voltage, so perhaps it was one of these that had blown. Option two of course was the chance that it was just a loose wire. I thought I had better just make sure the actual bulb was at fault. I started off by removing the battery from the vehicle (These lights are high voltage, and you need to disconnect the battery) I then waited five minutes to make sure there was no residual current in the system, and removed the offending bulb. It did look like there was burning, but I swapped it with the other one, and on turning the switch, I had proved that the defective component was indeed the bulb.After another Coffee (Always helps) I rang a local motor accessory shop, "Oh yes, we do those" I was told. Off I went to collect a precious bulb. I walked into the shop and asked for one HID Xenon bulb, only to be asked for the model number. I had not brought it with me, so asked if they could look it up. I was told that it was not on computer, and the page was missing from the parts book. This was turning into a saga. Off I went heading for home, got the required numbers, and returned to the scene of the crime (shop anyway). I asked a different operator for a bulb, offering the number which was refused, "Oh I do't need that mate, I just look it uo on the comp", OK fair enough I thought. I was then handed a bulb which was very smart, in brilliantly coloured wrapping, at a bargain price, BUT, was obviously the wrong bulb. After checking again, I was told "Oh you mean Xenon HIDs?" yes I replied, that is what I asked for, "Oh we don't do those" came the reply from the Acne riddled assistant.I was beginning to lose the will to live by this point, but rather than waste yet another journey, I decided to buy an air filter while I was there, only to be told they were out of stock. OK I thought, I will not be beaten, just give me an oil filter please. Yes, you guessed, none left at the moment. OK this is now a challenge, asking for a pollen filter, I was again let down "Oh they have to be ordered", I declined and walked out of the shop, never to return.I came home, went on my rusty computer (I meant trusty, Oh I think rusty was more accurate.) anyway, I found a Company called Alltronics (see then at www.alltronix.co.uk) selling a pair of these for about £20, a bargain. Ordered, paid by Paypal, and delivered within 48 hours, I was a Happy Bunny.I can recommend these bulbs, and Alltronics to all.