PERDE Headlights Halogen Set w/Performance Lens Black Housing Pair Fits 2004-2009 Mazda 3 Sedan

HID stands for "High Intensity Discharge". These bulbs use an electric arc rather than the glowing filament in a Halogen bulb. HID headlamp bulbs do not run on low-voltage DC current like a Halogen Bulb, so they require a ballast, which controls and regulates the flow of current. This ballast will require an ignitor to light the bulb. This is either integrated directly into the bulb or as a separate unit which is occasionally part of the ballast, similar to fluorescent bulbs in your home. In a vehicle, HID bulbs tend to be much more expensive to replace than a Halogen bulb.

Your headlights will be warm to the touch from the heat generated by the bulb. The filament inside of a headlight bulb can reach temperatures of over 4000º F while the temperature of the glass surface of the bulb can exceed 150º F. This means that heat will naturally radiate to the exterior surface of your headlights. This intense heat is also what will help your headlights remain condensation and moisture free. However, to prevent burns or other injuries, be sure to let bulbs and headlight assemblies cool completely after use before handling.

For the most part, no. The stock replacement headlight assemblies are a direct equivalent to what is being taken out of the car. You can reuse your old bulbs and sockets, which should fit right in with no modifications needed. Some of the aftermarket units do use different Halogen bulbs than the stock ones. In those cases, we sell the requisite bulb, and really, with the great deal we have on PERDE light bulbs, you can't go wrong with fresh, new bulbs.