Using Cheap Hid Bulbs

[LeeC]

I have a blown HID bulb on my LS and have been looking around for a replacement and the cheapest original Phillips bulb I have found is £50, which is alot cheaper than the dealer prices. I then found a PAIR of bulbs for £20 on eBay, I know that they won't last as long as the expensive bulbs but my worry is could using them cause any damage to the ballast unit? Also could having the ballast unit powered without a working bulb while waiting to get new bulbs cause any problems?

Many thanks.

[Mybikesacx500]

I have a blown HID bulb on my LS and have been looking around for a replacement and the cheapest original Phillips bulb I have found is £50, which is alot cheaper than the dealer prices. I then found a PAIR of bulbs for £20 on eBay, I know that they won't last as long as the expensive bulbs but my worry is could using them cause any damage to the ballast unit? Also could having the ballast unit powered without a working bulb while waiting to get new bulbs cause any problems?

Many thanks.

No one else has answered, so here's my opinion, for what its worth. The bulbs are basically an air gap between 2 electrodes, with a particular gas inbetween. I don't think a different bulb would damage a ballast unit.

I assume these things are built for a harsh electrical environment and are designed to deal with blown bulbs, even reversed connections (I discovered the cheap ones I bought from eBay took all sorts of abuse while I installed them)

You will want bulbs of the correct temperature /colour to suit you, I would stick to the yellow / white end of the spectrum, leave the blue and purple to the boy racers. There are all sorts of hybrid dip/ main bulbs, so make sure you are getting like for like

[LeeC]

Thanks for the reply Mybikesacx500, I have ordered some of the cheap bulbs now.

[Ray430]

The bulbs i wouldnt find a problem , it's cheap ballast that give trouble