Tuesday, June 17, 2008 - 10:37 am, by: David Grab(Blastedbyasoarer)
Hey guys am gonna be looking at a HID kit for my Soarer. Just wondering what info i need to get the right kit so it fits. The bulbs need to be H3 right? Also i was reading another thread in the for sale section and they guy was saying something along some part number 90***. Is there anything i need to know to get the right ones so they fit without modification or very little at that?
Tuesday, June 17, 2008 - 12:57 pm, by: David Grab(Blastedbyasoarer)
Well im thinking of going through a manufacturer ive found and before getting a group buy i was thinking i'd get a unit for myself and see how it goes for the benefit of other members. What does Dean charge and how do i get in touch with him?
Tuesday, June 17, 2008 - 01:57 pm, by: Bobby Green(Nash)
I got a 50W 6000K set for $170 shipped. Don't know how that compares to other guys. It certainly is bright though, much brighter than my mates 35W kit.
Tuesday, June 17, 2008 - 06:06 pm, by: Jim Burrough(Jfb)
The old adage "...you get what you pay for..." seems to apply also to HIDs. Two sets from a well-intentioned very economical group buy three years ago have recently given up the ghost. Sets from Damian are a quantum step up, in light quality and electronics, albeit up to 2x more expensive, ...and are worth it. Why compromise for less than a couple of tanks of fuel?
Wednesday, June 18, 2008 - 12:40 pm, by: David Grab(Blastedbyasoarer)
Oh well people will have to get use to my 6000K or 8000K haha
So what wattages are available, you obviously have 35W and ive seen someone else on here with 50 or 55W. Whats the general consensus on wattage with HID's?
Wednesday, June 18, 2008 - 03:37 pm, by: Leo Zarate(Leo_zarate)
Shouldn't need more then 35W as HID produce more then 3 times the light of a standard halogen with less power.
You should already know the kelvin (6000k, 8000k etc) has nothing to do with brightness or lumens, just the colour temp. Higher K you go the more glare and less light you will actually get.
I've read a few people doing a 'reto fit' by fitting projecter lights from BMW's and lexus cars.
Thursday, June 19, 2008 - 06:10 pm, by: Brian Timms(Turbo_brian)
Scott Casey wrote on Wednesday, June 18, 2008 - 11:03 am:
everyone's flashing their headlights to tell me to turn them down and my headlights are looking at the ground and need adjusting up!!!!
This is the problem with incorrect projector types.
Something people dont understand is Normal style 'dull' globes are matched to the normal style 'dull' projectors, which are designed to throw 4% of light upwards to illuminate street signs, and provide the light that people oncoming see.
Now, when you wack a set of HID globes into these projectots, you also through up the 150% brighter light up, making it seem like this 4% is 12% or more light.
No matter how low you adjust the headlights, your still throwing 4% light straight up, so it makes no difference.
Park something like a Honda Accord Euro, and a Soarer next to each other, both fitted with HID headlights (Honda stock, Soarer retro-fitted) and you will see the difference in setups.
The Honda will show a very nice straight light cut-off point, but the Soarer will show a bump and light being pushed up at the left (designed to illuminate the side of the road for animals and pedestrians).
Swapping HID into stock projectors simply because they are projector lenses will not make a perfect setup. It will give YOU better light, but will blind oncoming people, no matter what you do.
Friday, June 20, 2008 - 08:04 am, by: Brian Timms(Turbo_brian)
The setup is the actual projector. As mentioned, ADR for your standard halogen style headlights requires at least 4% upward projection of light, to illuminate street signs, buildings and other possible objects you might want to see when driving.
HID projectors dont have this upward 4% light, they have a definitive cut-off of light to stop the glare.
The HID kit in my Soarer was very nice, had the destinctive cut-off line, although I didn't actually have to change the projectors, I was quite impressed with the quality and result.
I have seen cars around whre the owner has retro-fitted the projectors from Lexus RX 330 4x4, and the difference is incredible.
Either way, some cars will push more than 4% light into the upward section from the projector, these cars are the ones that blind people when fitted with HID kits.
Then there is people that have gone and imported headlights from USA, and installed them. This causes problems because the headlights are designed to illuminate higher towards the passenger side, therefore getting US lights means the passenger side on these headlights is actually the oncoming cars, so you will blind them without fail.
Saturday, August 09, 2008 - 02:22 am, by: David Grab(Blastedbyasoarer)
Just another question if i go bixenon aka hi/lo does that mean ill have two sets of hi beams? Ie have hi beams on the HIDs and also the stock hi beams?
Brian Timms wrote on Friday, June 20, 2008 - 08:04 am:
I have seen cars around whre the owner has retro-fitted the projectors from Lexus RX 330 4x4, and the difference is incredible.
Thank you
I've gone through two plug and play HID kits and while you can see a difference in light colour it didn't really do squat for the actual light throw.
With the RX330 projectors the light beam is as intended from Toyota with factory HID lights. Mind you to get the absolute crisp cut off I need to either deline my headlights or install those clear lenses (haven't decided what to do yet) but all that regardless, the output is quite amazing.
If you are still determined with getting a plug and play kit I suggest going for the MTEC kits as they are quite good (I had mine in for about two years before switching the projectors, bulbs and ballasts for all OEM Toyota parts).
Saturday, August 09, 2008 - 03:22 pm, by: Piers McDonald(Drp)
I have a "dirt cheap" ebay kit that I bought for around $90 6 months ago, from a dealer in Australia.
I did a bit of research first and it became obvious that there are a large number of "brands" all selling the same units from the same factory, at a price ranging from $30 - $200.
I had a couple of problems with my order which made me pleased I bought from someone in Aus. One of the globes had spade connectors instead of a 9005, and the 5000k globes were much warmer/yellower than expected. The dealer replaced the globes after around 10 days.
The construction is much better than I expected, with very nice insulated wiring harnesses and the installation was too easy.
After 6 months of use I can see that I got what I paid for. The lights initially were very difficult to adjust as there is not a very distinctive cutoff line in the beam and as such I think I've adjusted them too low. They are brighter than my old G4s but nothing like a factory HID setup. There is a fair amount of upward light 'wash' but I haven't ever been flashed by anyone. Although anything reflective, street signs, etc, light up from a great distance away.
I feel the real flaw with the ebay kits is the globes, but the ballasts seem fine. When mine inevitably die, I'm going to try some more respectable globes with the ebay ballasts and see if it improves things.
i bought a cheap one aswell just to give it go. i totally agree with you piers. i havent been flashed yet but am scared i was driving behind a cop thinking any moment now he is going to pull me over
by the way, i showed this off to my friend and he end up buying one off ebay that night. he has a non projector headlight, so what happens if he puts it in that
Sunday, August 10, 2008 - 01:02 pm, by: David Grab(Blastedbyasoarer)
Can someone give me an answer to this question please. Just another question if i go bixenon aka hi/lo does that mean ill have two sets of hi beams? Ie have hi beams on the HIDs and also the stock hi beams?
My car gets plenty of attention from the popo without the HID so it will make little different, just another thing ill have to change back when going through defect.
I have just bought a set of dirt cheap HID's fromeBay for $80 delivered to my door, they turned up in 4 days and work perfectly, excellent quality ballasts and wiring loom, plug directly into the stock bulb connectors.
The cut off line is razor sharp and they installed with no fuss whatsoever.
The fact that they're so cheap means if they fail - I throw them away and install a new set for less than teice the price of a new set of bulbs.
Tuesday, August 12, 2008 - 09:53 am, by: Brian Timms(Turbo_brian)
David,
Jose kind of did answer the question, bit I guess your asking if you will have 2 high beams instead of the stock middle lights.
No, you will not get a 2nd high beam unless you midify the wiring of the headlights to provide high beam to the high-beam side of the HID's, in which case you will need to add relays and other aftermarket wiring, because if you simply splice, the Halogen High beams will draw to much power for the HID high beams to initially fireup, and you will run into problems like only 1 of the 2 HID globes working, taking several goes to get both on, etc.
Just get the correct globes and setup, they will work terrific, wont attact unwanted attention, and will do a joy and a pleasure to drive at night.
Tuesday, August 12, 2008 - 03:11 pm, by: David Grab(Blastedbyasoarer)
So if i wanted HID hi beams i would need a second set of ballast (a whole new kit) is that correct? So really there is no point going bixenon in our cars then.
Tuesday, August 12, 2008 - 07:26 pm, by: Jason Munro(Jason_munro)
David, yes that is correct. on the soarer, you need two complete sets of HID kits, in order to run hi and low beam as HID.
i personally, wouldn't bother running HID high beam, due to the slow warm up time, and the constant high / low beam switching would probably shorten the life span of the high beam units.
i am planning to run a good quality HID in the main beam, and run something like the Phillips Diamond Vision in the high beam.
Tuesday, August 12, 2008 - 08:59 pm, by: David Grab(Blastedbyasoarer)
Yeah im currently running Philips Diamond Vision on the hi beams. Just just curous, was never going to run HIDs on the hi beams because as you said by the time they warm up you dont need them anymore.
HID plug and play kits that are bi-xenon (hi/lo, whatever you want to call it) are usually only available as an H4 application, NOT for HB3/4 (9005/6) which is required for Soarers.