HID Xenon Bulbs – D2S Or D2R – What’s The Difference?
When looking at D2 xenon HID bulbs, it can be tricky to determine which bulb you need.
A frequently asked question in our Sales Office is:
do I need a D2S, D2C, or D2R?
The difference between D2S and D2R is that D2S HID bulbs are designed for projector
headlight applications, while D2R bulbs are made for reflector applications,
such as work lights and some driving lights.
Figure: D2R bulbs feature a painted anti-glare shield on the glass, while D2S bulbs do not.
You can easily identify them by their construction.
D2R bulbs have a painted shield on the glass, whereas
D2S bulbs do not. This difference is important because D2S and D2R bulbs are designed for different headlight housings.
The painted shield on a D2R HID bulb is essential because, without it, there would be too much
glare in a reflector housing. The coating acts as a deflector, allowing the HID light to shine
only in specific directions. It also helps reduce the amount of yellow light visible in the
final light output.
When fitting HID bulbs, you may also notice that some bases have notches cut in specific
positions. These are designed to prevent the wrong type of bulb from being installed in the
wrong application.
In case you were wondering, HID stands for High-Intensity Discharge, referring to
the technology used to produce this bright, efficient light output.
Need help choosing the right HID bulb? View our full range of D2S and D2R xenon HID bulbs.