are there any differences in brand name ballast vs generic ones? The price gap is drastic and i was just wondering why.

Also, does anyone know where to buy the Osram Cbi 5k's D2s? there was a link on ebay for around 130$ but im kind of pessimistic about those.

 

Generic ballasts are hit/miss. OEM ballasts are much better IMO in terms of regulated output & reliability. Sure you pay $35-50 for a DDM ballast but it can be a crapshoot. I'd personally go for Denso's or Matsushita Gen3/4's. Not necessarily best bang for the buck but only you can decide what parts you want to roll with & at what price. I'm a pay the price for quality type when it comes to most mods but especially when it comes to lighting.


CBI's should be roughly ~$220ish or so for a pair. There was a GB on HidP awhile back for $190ish/pair. Also they (HidP) would know who the sellers are that sell authentic sets as there are tons of fakes out there.


You should probably go spend some time at HidPlanet to read up on more detailed explanations re: general lighting questions not specific to G35's. Probably quite a few threads on OEM ballasts vs. aftermarket ones that would help you decide which way to go. The knowledge there is more in-depth as the site specializes in automotive lighting.


What's So Special About Osram CBI's?

Where to buy Osram 66240 CBI D2S Bulbs?

 

what im looking for specifically are 55w ballast and i think DDm carries 50w with a lifetime warranty here. So if anything goes wrong i can just exchange it for a new one. what i was wondering though, is the output really 50w. as for the CBI's isnt 220 for bulbs a little outrageous?

 

^ If the DDM ballasts are good enough for you, go for it - it's your setup. I would never use them based on what I've read of them but that's just me. I don't know if their 50w is really 50w or not but I do know plenty of aftermarket ballasts do not output what they claim.


And with the CBI's, you're paying for the best. And CBI's are demonstrably the best. They are OEM quality and not a Chinese knockoff.

If you don't want the best and want 'good enough', you can pay $50 for aftermarket bulbs that die out faster/change color quicker/or any multitude of issues with them. But some people run them just fine and are happy. Others have plenty of issues.


I think genuine Philips 85122's are $75 or so. YOU make the decision based on what you read/research and your budget. I highly recommend you go spend some time on HidP.

 

i am getting a quad projector setup soon and already have a pair of Philips 85122+ but still want the CBI's for their 5k color. A couple people on HIDplanet have vouched for this ebay seller that is selling them for 125$... which i am still skeptic about. Just checking all my options to make the best informed decision.