Xenon HID ballasts & LED drivers

Read the brand on the potting label. Denso KDLT002/85967, Hella 5DV 008, Koito, Matsushita, Valeo or Mitsubishi means a $50 part. An unbranded slim black "35W" brick means a dollar fifty of scrap.

Au 0.003–0.015 g per ballastCu 30–90 g in the HV transformer and inductorsAg trace in thick-film and solder

eBay typical$2–6per lb

Refiner pays$2per lb

Metal in it$2.92per lb at 4 Aug 2026 spot

Confidencelowof the yield figures

How to spot it

HID ballast is a sealed potted block about 4×5×1.5 inches with a short HV lead to a separate igniter, bolted to the back of the headlight housing or the inner fender. LED drivers are smaller flat modules clipped to the headlight back cover with a 6–20 pin connector.

Metal content

Metal	Quantity	Notes
Gold	0.003–0.015 g per ballast
Copper	30–90 g in the HV transformer and inductors
Silver	trace in thick-film and solder

At 4 Aug 2026 spot prices that works out to $2.92 per pound of contained metal — Gold 0.015 g = $1.96, Copper 90 g = $0.96. A refiner paying $2 returns about 68% of that, which is normal: refining costs money and the buyer takes a margin.

Safe removal

Working temperature: Cold, discharged

Headlights off, key out, and wait — the reservoir capacitors hold charge after power-off. T20/T25 Torx and 8/10 mm sockets, usually with a quarter-turn bayonet mount. The headlight assembly often has to come out, which means bumper cover removal on many modern cars. Unplug at the connector, don't cut, if you're selling.

Hazards

⚡ Stored high voltage

NEVER short a large capacitor with a screwdriver. It welds the tip, blasts molten metal at your face, and can rupture the can.

🌡 Mercury

NEVER vacuum a mercury spill — it aerosolises it. Use a mercury spill kit or sulphur powder, or call your local hazmat line.

💣 Electrolytic capacitor rupture

Don't heat a capacitor directly with hot air at close range.

Before you scrap it

Among the best effort-to-return items anywhere in this guide. $33–150 used against $1.50 as scrap — 20–100× — and they're light, small, cheap to ship, in constant demand, with no programming or VIN lock. Take every OEM ballast you find.

The common trap

"Ballasts are electronics so they're full of gold." They're a copper transformer in a block of silicone, worth about $1.50 to a refiner who will grumble about the potting — potted assemblies get discounted or refused because the potting won't burn cleanly or leach. The value is 100% in the OEM part number.

Questions

How much gold is in xenon hid ballasts & led drivers?

Gold: 0.003–0.015 g per ballast. Copper: 30–90 g in the HV transformer and inductors. Silver: trace in thick-film and solder. At current spot that is about $2.92 of contained metal per pound.

How do you identify xenon hid ballasts & led drivers?

Read the brand on the potting label. Denso KDLT002/85967, Hella 5DV 008, Koito, Matsushita, Valeo or Mitsubishi means a $50 part. An unbranded slim black "35W" brick means a dollar fifty of scrap.

How do you remove xenon hid ballasts & led drivers safely?

Headlights off, key out, and wait — the reservoir capacitors hold charge after power-off. T20/T25 Torx and 8/10 mm sockets, usually with a quarter-turn bayonet mount. The headlight assembly often has to come out, which means bumper cover removal on many modern cars. Unplug at the connector, don't cut, if you're selling.

Is xenon hid ballasts & led drivers worth more working than as scrap?

Among the best effort-to-return items anywhere in this guide. $33–150 used against $1.50 as scrap — 20–100× — and they're light, small, cheap to ship, in constant demand, with no programming or VIN lock. Take every OEM ballast you find.

Related in Automotive

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