Interested in HID's and Options

[cyb593]

I was looking at ddmhid and i see on the site they have like 5 different kits. I was thinking about the bixenon kit. Is this the right kit or does it matter? Which number for color is the brightest or does it not matter? Should i upgrade to 55w? What about the relay harness/LBF modules? Also can i use the same balasts for high beams too? Sorry i am new to HID's and anything you can tell me will help me lots.

[trdproven]

I was looking at ddmhid and i see on the site they have like 5 different kits. I was thinking about the bixenon kit. Is this the right kit or does it matter? Which number for color is the brightest or does it not matter? Should i upgrade to 55w? What about the relay harness/LBF modules? Also can i use the same balasts for high beams too? Sorry i am new to HID's and anything you can tell me will help me lots.

DDM kits are pretty good for its price and its supposed lifetime warranty. I believe the bixenons are for lamps that have both low and high beam filaments in one bulb, in your case no, its separate. for the 55watts are unnecessary, they are only somewhat brighter not noticeable to the human eye, unless you put a 55w on one side and 35 in the other. and its been said there are some electrical issues. 35 watts is more than enough. just remember hids settle into 35 watts once its warmed up which is lower than stock at 55w, but at startup it pulls initial crazy wattage so imagine it at 55watts pulling at starting is way over 100w.

here is what i've always heard about hids.

1) almost always illegal to convert to them in the united states. the whole lens has to be dot approved for hid use. i think there is one place that sells a whole round headlight unit that is dot approved; but it isn't for our cars specifically. places in the us that sell them say they are for offroad use only, thus removing them from dot's jurisdiction.

2) cars that come with them have lenses that dot approves of for use with them. but even then they don't use them in their hi-beams, because the on/off nature of hi-beams doesn't work well with hid. whether it degrades them quicker or there is a warmup i don't know.

3) i am not a lawyer, but...you can always say it was there when you bought the car if you wind up in court. if you get something really intensely blue or purple you are probably more likely to get ticketed.

4) i think jdm projector lenses are better than usdm lenses if you run hids, but i could be completely wrong on that.

5) could be difficult to pass inspection with them. not really sure.

HIDs should only be run in projector lamps, thats how it comes out of the factory, and the light comes out more normal, than non-projectors, the light output is uncontrolled and just goes everywhere, it stupid.

As a general rule, lower Kelvin ratings produce more usable light. Usually, 4,300-4,500K is the whitest light and 12,000K is purple and difficult to see with at night. 3,000K is yellow.

Don't go for the 55w upgrade. The general consensus is that the light output is marginally better than the 35w kits but it's so much hotter that it cooks the insides of your headlights.

HID's have a warmup and cool down period, making them usually unsuitable for high beam/fog light applications, unless you never use your brights.

You really should go for the harness, as the ballasts are not part of the car's electrical system.

Last, and by far most importantly, you really shouldn't put HID's in factory USDM headlights. These headlights were designed to scatter light and with HID's, you scatter intensely bright light into oncoming traffic. JDM projectors are better at controlling the light, provided you have fixed the cutoff. Granted, we've all broken these rules and gotten away with it but it's still irresponsible. I did it and never caused any accidents but I did make plenty of people mad.

Edit: The issue with HID's and the stock headlights is that the focal point is different between HID's and standard halogen bulbs. The bulb itself doesn't sit in the same place inside the headlight and therefore, the light housing can't control the light output properly. A much better option are a new type of bulb called HIR's. Same light output as LED's, yet it's the same style bulb as a regular halogen bulb so your housings control the light much better. Plus they cost about the same as a DDM kit, and they don't have a warmup or cool down period so they're great for high beams and fog lights.

AGREED

here is what i've always heard about hids.

1) almost always illegal to convert to them in the united states. the whole lens has to be dot approved for hid use. i think there is one place that sells a whole round headlight unit that is dot approved; but it isn't for our cars specifically. places in the us that sell them say they are for offroad use only, thus removing them from dot's jurisdiction.

2) cars that come with them have lenses that dot approves of for use with them. but even then they don't use them in their hi-beams, because the on/off nature of hi-beams doesn't work well with hid. whether it degrades them quicker or there is a warmup i don't know.

3) i am not a lawyer, but...you can always say it was there when you bought the car if you wind up in court. if you get something really intensely blue or purple you are probably more likely to get ticketed.

4) i think jdm projector lenses are better than usdm lenses if you run hids, but i could be completely wrong on that.

5) could be difficult to pass inspection with them. not really sure.

DOT has absolutely nothing to do with HIDs.
My Celica has the exact same headlight housigns as yours in the states but they are DOT approved, and really I shouldn't have HIDs in them.
DOT is simply a standard.

HID's really shouldn't be installed in headlight housings that are non projector housing (all OEM celica housings, DOT or not), and only in retreofitted projectors or JDM projectors.

agreed, DOT and HID are not related unless you run those pink HID ones or something i as cop would pull him over. HIDS come in stock from the factory so its not DOT related, its more of a standard and how US regulations test or ensure how glass/plastic is made on a car. and tires, wtvr.

I couldnt imagine in a million years that someone would disassemble my car to check if my headlamps were DOT stamped or not. They dont even check the headlight alignment here in texas

DOT is always if im wrong correct me but they are always outside in the lens somewhere showing DOT, SAE, or Stanley either way. i just think this cus i look at everyones lights and its always on the outside or visibile looking at it.

This post has been edited by trdproven: Aug 30, 2012 - 8:12 PM