HID bulbs starting to discolor headlight lense

[CDORR]

I've got HID bulbs in my main headlamp on my GS. I've noticed that the heat from bulb is starting the effect the reflective surface immediately above. Its starting to go brown. Its probably ok as it is but I'm concerned that it will get progressivly worse. Anyone else experiencing this problem or any suggestions on how to prevent it. I'm think my bulbs are 35watt but not 100% sure.

Colin

 

[SPL]

I thought HIDs were supposed to produce less heat than conventional bulbs???

 

[Magwych]

I've got HID bulbs in my main headlamp on my GS. I've noticed that the heat from bulb is starting the effect the reflective surface immediately above. Its starting to go brown. Its probably ok as it is but I'm concerned that it will get progressivly worse. Anyone else experiencing this problem or any suggestions on how to prevent it. I'm think my bulbs are 35watt but not 100% sure.

Colin

Have you tried traking the bulb out then looking to see if the reflector is discoloured? HIDs produce a lot less heat than a conventional filament bulb, could it be that the brown mark is just a distorted reflection of the insulated (brown in colour) solid wire that runs form the base of the holder to the tip of the glass ?

 

[Ringmaster999]

Nothing wrong with mine and I drive with the aux lights on all the time which as also hid

 

[Fanum]

HIDs may run cooler but they do tend to be physically longer than the standard halogens....check your positioning and clearance and maybe add a spacer?

 

[Snoopy]

The bulbs rarely sit true like the conventional ones, the four wires coming out the back can shift it around quite a bit. Sounds like yours are pulling down, which seems the natural way to fit them so they are tidy, but the bulb goes up.

Nothing wrong with mine over 8 months.

A.

 

[Micky]

Mine has blackened the reflector just above the bulb (dip beam, F800GS) quite considerably, so gone back to standard bulb. Main beam OK but then that's not see much service

 

[Deleted account 211025001]

I think HIDs have a much higher UV output compared to halogen. Could be something to do with that

Andres

 

[BD]

skunk and nancy

i was told that HID bulbs produce the best form of blue light (up in the uv i think)thats why all the pot growers use them.

 

[shugie]

I think HIDs have a much higher UV output compared to halogen. Could be something to do with that

Andres

If the reflector is plastic, perhaps the additional UV is damaging it, not by heat, but by degrading the plastic. Some plastics do become discoloured and brittle if exposed to the sun for a long time.

 

[CDORR]

Thanks for all that feedback. Both bulbs (main and full) do look pretty centered. I checked again and as you go further up the reflector its all a bit clowdy on the main lap. Its been in about 18 months and I've done about 15k miles in that time. The full lamp has no discolouration but thats rearly on. It may well be the uv light effecting it but then it should effect the whole surface not just the area directly above it. hhmmm

 

[theop]

If the reflector is plastic, perhaps the additional UV is damaging it, not by heat, but by degrading the plastic. Some plastics do become discoloured and brittle if exposed to the sun for a long time.

its exactly that. Nothing to do with heat. Its a chemical reaction trigered by UV rays. Pretty much the same reason why human skin grows cancerous cells...

 

[davedyer]

I've just gone and looked at mine, and yes, there is a some discoloration starting. Not enough to effect the output from the headlight but I will be keeping an eye on it. HID is a 35 watt 6000k item from Les W. and been in for 12 - 18 months/10k miles.

<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/davedyer/3703793479/" title="09/07/2009 by Dave Dyer, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3470/3703793479_02f0cf2ef9_b.jpg" width="1024" height="768" alt="09/07/2009" /></a>

Looking at it, it looks as if it could wipe or polish off? If you look at the 11 o'clock position of the aperture it looks as if heat's been effecting it?