Aftermarket HID systems

[helhedded]

I just burned out a silverstar after a year and I want to upgrade to HID. Damn Silverstars, they aren't worth the money. My OEMs lasted for 4 years and they cost the same price (around $30 for 1 bulb). I see that the HID kits are more than reasonably priced now and more efficient compared to when they first hit the market years ago.

I know that HIDs are meant for projector lenses with the cutoffs. I see it all the time, vehicles without the proper HID lenses using HIDs and they blind oncoming traffic. My vehicle (07 HHR) apparently doesn't have that problem according to many people on the HHR forum that I visit. I'm also dropped 2" all around so that has to help. I figured that I'd try them out for myself.

Who all has bought an aftermarket HID kit recently and where did you make your purchase? There seems to be about a million places to buy them now and I want to buy from a reputable company with parts support.

 

[jetboat]

I use HiDnation.com I was burning out a bulb every 6 months in my truck so just for the reliability the HiD's have been better.

I dont even use brights anymore, just stay on "dim".

Im running the HiD low's with reg highs but, you can pay a little more and get HiD hi/low.

 

[helhedded]

I use HiDnation.com I was burning out a bulb every 6 months in my truck so just for the reliability the HiD's have been better.

I dont even use brights anymore, just stay on "dim".

Im running the HiD low's with reg highs but, you can pay a little more and get HiD hi/low.

What type of vehicle? What K rating did you get? get flashed much by oncoming traffic? I assume that you just installed HIDs into a housing made for halogens? thanks

 

[constantmotion]

Heard a lot of good things about DDM Tuning's Kits....DDM Tuning : HID Kits & Lighting

Really reasonably priced.

 

[binaryterror]

I ride a motorcycle...

Just installing HID = poor aiming and terrible light diffusion for motorcyclist's safety.

Do a full retrofit with the proper projectors. And SilverStars have a 1yr warranty...

 

[chino63]

Be careful what you get, my friend's Focus burned to the ground due to an HID malfunction. Bad part was he was in traffic when it lit off. Don't remember the manufacturer but I recall him saying how cheap it was compared to some of the other kits when he bought it. I warned him but...

 

[helhedded]

Heard a lot of good things about DDM Tuning's Kits....DDM Tuning : HID Kits & Lighting

Really reasonably priced.

thanks Greg. I have seen their links and product posted more than once so I'll check them out.

I ride a motorcycle...

Just installing HID = poor aiming and terrible light diffusion for motorcyclist's safety.

Do a full retrofit with the proper projectors. And SilverStars have a 1yr warranty...

I doubt that it would just affect a cyclist. If fact most bike riders sit higher than people in sedans...


I am trying to stay away from the costly retrofit. If these are blinding then they are coming out, but I have talked to quite a few people that are running them in their HHRs and they don't blind oncoming traffic. The stock housings have a very nice cutoff for being made for halogens so I'm thinking that has to so do something with it.

Trust me... I am more than aware of the issue that I could cause for other people on the road. That is why is said I want to try them out for myself. I know Silverstars have a one year warranty, but that has passed. They bulb actually lasted 1 year and 2 weeks. :ror:

 

[jetboat]

I'm in an f250 4x4 on 35's... Amazingly I never get flashed. I'm running the 6000k bulbs installed in the stock housing.

Biggest thing is to make sure you install the ballast in a place where they can get air to cool.

 

[JeremyH]

I used to kill those Silverstars in my Jeep as well...the Vato Zone guys would give me some BS about driving them on bumpy terrain wasnt good for them.

I switched to Round Eyes lights since then and have NEVER had a problem. They arent HID, but they are bright as hell! I upgraded the wiring harness too....

 

[BFGcrawler418]

Heard a lot of good things about DDM Tuning's Kits....DDM Tuning : HID Kits & Lighting

Really reasonably priced.

I bought mine from DDM Tuning probably about a year and a half ago now for my Civic, they are 35 Watt, 6K HID's. The 6K's have a little bit of blue tint to them which makes it really nice when driving in the dark, makes it easy on the eyes.


I know about 5 ppl who bought theirs from DDM and have not had any issues, I'm still on the original bulb (H1) after about a year and a half. Although my stock honda housings would not accept their H1 bulb without modifications, it was not a problem cause I ended up buying some aftermarket housings. The kit was all plug and play so I didnt have to worry about cutting wires or using crappy connectors, very well built stuff atleast from my experience.

When I need to get replacement bulbs I am going to try the 5K's to see if they are any brighter than the 6K's. The 6K's are plenty bright, I sometimes have ppl flash their lights at me but I know one of my lights needs to be adjusted so im pretty sure thats why.

 

[Ernie W]

I agree with the others about DDM..... they have some great kits.

I've also bought some stuff from The Retrofit Source, they offer all kinds of projector parts as well as some higher end hid kits....

HID Component Kits from The Retrofit Source Inc

 

[tazman]

Running 5000k hi/low HID kit from DDM tuning"thumbsup" in my non-HID Prius. Great product and they have been helpful as well. Here in Hawaii we have a yearly safety check that includes having the ability to switch from to low to hi beams. In my 96 Stang, I had only lows and every time I went for a safety check had to switch back to my stock setup. PITA! With the hi/low setup I pass safety with no problem. The setup has been in the car for a little over a year now with no problems.

 

[helhedded]

Running 5000k hi/low HID kit from DDM tuning"thumbsup" in my non-HID Prius. Great product and they have been helpful as well. Here in Hawaii we have a yearly safety check that includes having the ability to switch from to low to hi beams. In my 96 Stang, I had only lows and every time I went for a safety check had to switch back to my stock setup. PITA! With the hi/low setup I pass safety with no problem. The setup has been in the car for a little over a year now with no problems.

How do yo u like the 5000k color? That's what I'm leaning towards. I don't really care for the blue, though I'll admit that it looks cool while driving in the snow :mrgreen:

 

[aztitan]

i have ddm kits and have had 2 for 4+ years no issue.
all are 6k and 2 are in projectors and 2 in regular housing and i love em.

make sure you get the relay harness to keep from burn to the ground.
the 6k has a real slight hit of blue but is mostly white.

5k is more yellow, closer to regular headlight.

get the 55w kit, its alot brighter and more for headlights, the 35w kit is more for foglights, but will work as headlights.

 

[The Violator]

I have the ddm 35 watt 5k on my tundra. It has separate high and low bulbs and I have HID on both. I do get flashed pretty often. They put out a nice white (not rice racer blue) light. The only issue with high beams is they take a few seconds to warm up so when I get flashed and I flash back it takes 5 seconds or so before the high beams are bright.

 

[STANG KILLA SS]

DDM period
audrey has the 55w kit in her TA with Hella housings. there ridiculous.

 

[mudn_1]

Retro solutions 55w 5000k bi-xenon here... so I have high/low beam, but all it does it pull the "bulb" in or out.... but I love mine

I have the 35w 5000k fogs and they are more blue than the headlights.... but both are some of the best money I ever spent

go 5000k 55w.... they seem to have the brightest white light... of course 3000k will be the most useable light, but it has a yellow tint to it, 5000k is what most factory HIDS are

Plus costumer service at retro is top notch, not to mention a lifetime warranty.... I have heard some horror stories about DDM...

 

[constantmotion]

I was looking for a kit for my old truck. The only thing that had me not wanting them was not having use of my Daytime Running Lights. I like having them. I have seen that they are only powered by something like 6V. The HID transformer/balance will not run on 6V. I am not sure on the DRLs not getting the full 12V or not and haven't never checked it out in person.

 

[NorCal 2500HD]

Cant go wrong with the DDM stuff.

4300k or 5k are the only 2 choices I would go with, but it all comes down to personal opinion.....

 

[Nabil]

like everyone said i wouldnt go higher than a 5000k bulb

you got a pm