Headlights brightness issue

The HID headlights on my MS6 are relatively dim. I replaced the bulbs a while back and recently I used Cerakote to make the plastic nice and clear.

The HID headlights on my Audi A3 are at least twice as bright. And when I use the high beams on the MS6 (incandescent) those are also twice as bright (not just projecting higher). I used DMEX bulbs, and I also used DMEX bulbs on my Audi. They are different bulbs (D1S on Audi vs. D2S on Mazda) but they are the same wattage.

Just wondering if anyone has any thoughts.

 

I replaced my factory with Morimoto DS2 bulbs for the same reason. Fixed. HID bulbs do fade over the years. Get em here. https://www.theretrofitsource.com/

 

Thanks! I’m assuming the Morimoto XB35’s are compatible with the OE ballasts?

I had thought maybe the issue was not with the bulbs since my Audi has the same wattage DMEX bulbs and they’re a lot brighter. But I wouldn’t know what else could cause dimmer bulbs (since they’re only 6 months old or so).

 

D2S: Morimoto XB35 HID is what I ordered. It's crazy how HID fades over time. But 12 years of use was time for me to replace.

 

I’ll definitely get those if/when I’m able to order bulbs. Since you say they’re good, but also because they come in 4300k and lower which I prefer. And they’re cheaper than the OSRAM Xenarc Nightbreaker.

Though age isn’t why these bulbs are dim. I replaced the bulbs 6 months ago or so hoping that’d fix the dimness. It helped a little but not much.

 

Probably just trash bulbs. I looked up bulbs for a while and what I remember is they fade out over time.

 

Ms6 uses same projectors as m6 for halogen and HID just a bracket on HID so you will never get as good light as a proper projector no matter what bulbs. I did a retrofit on mine and there are now kits. But dont expect new bulbs to match what as has assuming its proper HID.
Also I went with 6k xb35s this time as they seem to run yellow(er). We will see...polishing lenses now.

 

Interesting, thanks. What’s involved in retrofitting them to have better projectors?

 

I have the same issue where my low beam bulbs are crap. I replaced both with new bulbs and it didn't make much of a difference. I did however switch my high beams to LED and good lord are they bright. My high beams are 50x brighter than my HID bulbs.

I know my housings are faded but I may just find some non Speed headlamp housings for a hatchback and run LEDs instead.

 

IDK rules on linking other forums here but its same as mazda6 so here is old thread
https://www.mazda6club.com/threads/how-to-retrofit-your-6.145576/
Or google mazda6club how to headlight retrofit
Its not hard but more than most want to do.

 

Thanks for the link with the details! I really appreciate it. I’d be willing to do the work, but he said it’d cost $415…that’s out of my range

 

I assume that price included new/used headlight housings but I just used ones on car and bought TSX projectors on ebay for about $100 and installed. Can be done for $100-$200 or so but can certainly spend more depending on projectors and bulbs. TRS also sells some decent projectors:
https://www.theretrofitsource.com/projector-kits/hid-led-projectors
And TRS will have a sale soon.
I used oem HID ballasts but have also use fast bright F3 ballast which can get for $30 or so on aliexpress. Used on retrofit in fogs and on audi a4 retrofit (both of which installed projectors in as would never run HID bulbs without projectors with proper cutoff):
https://m.aliexpress.com/item/32817704603.html?spm=a2g0n.orderlist-amp.item.32817704603