hid question

Just got my 6000k hid installed by a local xenon dealer this afternoon for $235(parts & labor). Took about 1 hour. The installer did not take out the whole headlight piece from the front trunk, he jacked up frontside, removed the panel in the wheel section and worked from the backside of the headlight without removing the whole piece. I guess that also works. I am very happy with the result, the light output on this aftermarket hid maybe even better then the original factory xenon I have in my 06 cayenne. (Sorry, I forgot to mention, the newly installed xenon is on the '03 boxster). PROBLEM: I realized there is some yellowish light in my 6000k hid when I see the car from the front with engine running, but when I turned off the engine, the hid light turned off as well and left with the weak yellowish light, is this normal??? I saw the installer took off the halogen low beam bulbs which I have them in them in the box. What is that yellowish light?? Cant be the parking light? Cant be the signal light? I am going back to the installer on monday, please help, I dont want to sound stupid.

It might be just the parking light, you should be able to determine what light is left on once the HID turns off. (the HID is in the lowbeam location)

The other thing is I recall that the lens of the headlight had turned yellow, likely from non-OEM high power halogen overheating and discolouring the lens.

Can you take a picture so we could help you out more?

sure, i do it now. let me try, not very good with computer or download pics...

ok, the top pic is engine running, low beam: u can see blue hid with yellowish light. the bottom pic is engine off, light still position to low beam, the hid went off, but the yellow light bulb still remains on.

Something is definitely wrong - your low beam (which now has the hid bulbs) should be on regardless of whether the engine is running or not (as long as the light switch is in the proper position, of course).

good, just want to confirm the low beam(xenon)stay on with & without the engine running. maybe the installer wired wrong. taking it back in tomorrow.

That is your "City Lights" in Europe cars are required to turn off their headlights in certain sections/areas so while the headlight is off, the city light goes on. This usually goes on when the parking lights are just on. The reason you may have not noticed them before is because when you turned your headlight on they blend in due to the yellow light, now that your lights are blue they are more noticeable. You can replace the city light bulb with a blue or brighter white light so that it blends in more and not as noticeable. As far as your concern, IMO that is normal and nothing wrong.

bigb said:

Something is definitely wrong - your low beam (which now has the hid bulbs) should be on regardless of whether the engine is running or not (as long as the light switch is in the proper position, of course).

Click to expand...

I believe you are incorrect. Try this, with the engine off turn your headlights on , now look at your lights you will have the same effect. They are your City lights. It is a separate bulb from your headlights.

boxs2000, i think u r right. i just did a test on my cayenne. when engine is turned on, xenon low beam & yellow parking light both went on. engine turned off, xenon went off but yellow park light remained on. cayenne has 3 separate lights, but boxster has bulbs behind that round glass cover, cant really tell how many bulbs are behind it. going back to the shop tomorrow, change to a 5000k hid(6000 is just a bit too blue) will also replace a white parking bulb so it wont look so weird like a christmas tree(red car with blue & yellow light). many thanks to you all.

boxs2000 said:

I believe you are incorrect. Try this, with the engine off turn your headlights on , now look at your lights you will have the same effect. They are your City lights. It is a separate bulb from your headlights.

Click to expand...

Oops, looks like I may have spoken too soon. I didn't try what you said, but trust your knowledge enough to know that you are probably right. I hadn't tried this earlier (still have the original battery in my 01, and don't want to risk it ),
and spoke from my experience with other cars I've owned.

Sorry about the misinformation, and thanks for the correction.