Description
A xenon headlight that fails usually has not failed at the bulb. The ballast is the component that steps voltage up to the tens of thousands needed to strike the arc, and it lives in the harshest environment in the car: heat from the lamp housing, vibration from the road, and moisture cycling through every season. When one side goes dark or starts flickering pink, the ballast is the first part worth testing, not the last.
This unit is built as a direct OEM replacement rather than a universal fit. It cross references 5DV 008 290-00, 5DV00829000, 5DV008290-00, Audi 4E0 907 476 and 4E0907476, BMW 63 12 6 907 488 and 63126907488, and Mercedes 002 820 23 26 and A0028202326, which covers a spread of D2S and D2R applications across Audi A6, A8, BMW 5 and 7 series, X5, Z4, Mercedes E, CLS, ML, GL and SLK, plus Jaguar, Saab, Chrysler and Land Rover fitments. Matching the part number is what separates a twenty minute job from a return.
The D2S and D2R distinction is the one that catches people out. D2S lamps are shielded and designed for projector housings, D2R lamps are unshielded and designed for reflector housings, and the ballast must match the lamp type in the housing. Confirm which housing you have before ordering, and confirm the part number stamped on the old ballast rather than the number in a listing. If the old unit carries a different suffix, the cross reference table on this page is the place to check before you commit.
Fitting is mechanical and should be done with the battery disconnected and the headlight assembly cool. Access is usually from the rear of the housing, sometimes through a wheel arch liner. Handle the new ballast by the body rather than the connector, seat the seal fully, and test both sides before refitting trim. A ballast that works but is not sealed will fail within a season, so the seal is as important as the electronics.
Diagnose the ballast before you replace the bulb. It is the part that fails and the part nobody checks.
Key Features
- ✦ Direct OEM cross reference across Audi, BMW, Mercedes, Jaguar, Saab, Chrysler and Land Rover
- ✦ Matches 5DV 008 290-00, 4E0 907 476, 63 12 6 907 488 and 002 820 23 26 part numbers
- ✦ Covers D2S and D2R xenon lamp applications
- ✦ Sealed housing designed for the heat and vibration environment of a headlight
- ✦ Plug in connector layout matching the original harness
- ✦ Suitable for Audi A6, A8, BMW E60, E65, E53, E85 and Mercedes W211, W219, W164
- ✦ Straightforward rear access fitment on most listed applications
Technical Specifications
- Part TypeXenon HID headlight ballast, OEM replacement
- Primary Part Number5DV 008 290-00, 5DV00829000, 5DV008290-00
- Audi Reference4E0 907 476, 4E0907476
- BMW Reference63 12 6 907 488, 63126907488, 63120150614, 63126916100
- Mercedes Reference002 820 23 26, A0028202326
- Other References12790592, 12-790-592, YWC 500430, 4E0 907 476
- Lamp CompatibilityD2S projector and D2R reflector applications
- Housing MaterialPE with sealed electronics enclosure
- Fitment NotesRear of housing access, disconnect battery before fitting
- Ships FromChina warehouse
Where It Belongs
Independent workshops keep this part on the shelf because it covers a wide spread of European platforms with one SKU, which reduces the number of references they need to stock. Owners of 2000s and 2008 era Audi, BMW and Mercedes models are the largest group of buyers, since those cars are now at the age where original ballasts fail and dealer pricing for the same function is difficult to justify. Body shops and salvage rebuilders use it when a front end repair takes out a headlight assembly. Anyone diagnosing a one side dark or flickering xenon should test the ballast before replacing a lamp that is probably still good.
Questions Buyers Ask
Q: How do I know if the ballast or the bulb has failed?
A: Swap the suspect bulb to the working side. If the fault follows the bulb, replace the bulb. If the same side stays dark, the ballast or its wiring is the cause. A bulb that flickers pink and then settles usually points to a failing ballast rather than a spent lamp.
Q: Will this fit my car if the part number differs slightly?
A: Check the number stamped on the old ballast against the reference list rather than against a marketplace listing. Cross references carry suffix variations, and the list here covers 5DV 008 290-00, Audi 4E0 907 476, BMW 63 12 6 907 488 and Mercedes 002 820 23 26. If your number is not listed, message before ordering.
Q: Is D2S the same as D2R?
A: No. D2S lamps are shielded for projector housings, D2R lamps are unshielded for reflector housings. The ballast must match the housing and lamp type. Fitting the wrong combination produces glare, uneven output and, in some markets, a roadworthiness failure.
Q: Do I need to code the ballast after fitting?
A: On most of the listed platforms the ballast is a direct electrical replacement with no coding step. Some later vehicles monitor lamp current and may log a fault that requires clearing with a diagnostic tool after fitment.
Q: How long should the job take?
A: On most listed applications, thirty to sixty minutes. Access is from the rear of the headlight housing, and some models need the wheel arch liner loosened or the bumper partially released. Disconnect the battery first and let the assembly cool fully.
Q: Why do ballasts fail in the first place?
A: Heat, vibration and moisture. The ballast sits behind the lamp where temperatures climb, and the seal around the housing degrades with age. A failed seal is often the root cause, so check and reseat it when fitting a replacement, otherwise the new unit will follow the old one.
The EastSupplier Promise
Every listing is checked before dispatch: specification verified against the manufacturer sheet, packing inspected, and stock confirmed in the warehouse shown on this page. If an item arrives outside specification, send photographs within 30 days and we replace or refund. Write to service@eastsupplier.com with your order number and a person reads it, not a queue.
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