Taking out your headlight is easier to get out vs. getting it back in, the 3 uses H7 headlight bulbs and only cost $17 each.

 

fyi: The Halogen bulbs are H7. The OEM HID are DS2, and will cost you much more.

 

which one will cost more H7's or DS2?, the low beams are H7

 

you don't have HIDs it's optional. He's saying halogen bulbs (regular bulbs that even my car has) are cheapos and this thread is about DS2 Bi-Xenon High Intensity Discharge (HID) headlights.

 

DS2 bulbs cost more.

-If you have regular headlights then you have H7 low beam, 9005 high beam, and H11 fog
-If you have xenon discharge (HID) headlights then you have DS2 low beam, 9005 high beam, and H11 fog

In 2004/2005 you could get the HID packaged with the TPMS, and in 2005 the sp23 also came standard with HID/TPMS. In 2006 you can only get HIDs on the grand touring trim. If you car doesn't have this package added on ('04/'05), or it isn't a sp23 ('05), or a GT ('06) then you have standard halogen lights.

 

I own a 2006 Mazda 3 Sport GT with 2.3L standard...
I never noticed it before but since you put it that way,
now I know why my car's headlights are so damn bright...
Good to know that I have HIDs...hehe

 

Yeah, you'll also have the little leveler dial to the left of the steering wheel (next to the dimmer dial), and if you look at the back of the headlight there should be a high voltage warning sticker on the dust cover.

 

Halogen H7 bulb

HID DS2 bulb

 

hey everyone, thanks for your help. luckily i didnt run into any problems as this repair was covered under warranty...kinda strage...they replaced the HID bulb and the module that converts the 12v power to the 8000v necessary to run the lights....pretty sweet...got it all for free!

 

glad things worked out. I'm guessing that "module" is the ballast for the lamp.