jeff kushner
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Thanks Gixxer, I thought that Z4's(sry, SLK better) question re: canbus was that the kits are one in the same but I admit my weakness in all things Electrical....LOL
jeff
jeff
Headlights
- Thread starter Nakita23
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Whoa... same exact contents as my $39 Chinese Amazon kit.
Identical. Same packaging, same wire colors, same materials, same everything
That diode dynamics place sure is ballsy
gixer2000
Retrofit or Bust
Bulb caps with foam- industry standard
Wire colors- industry standard.
Hylux 2A88- far better than anything you'll ever find on Amazon. However, plenty have copied the exterior design
Bulb built by Diode exclusively for Diode.
Remember cheap kits are built to resemble better kits
Looks suspiciously like same shit to me
There's greater varience between stock shit from different suppliers
...you DO know its all made in China, and there's absolutely NO such thing as an HID plant with Diode Dynamics written on the building, right????
That's just rebranding ******** so they can charge Osram Germany pricing for Innovited China product
Coincidentally, for 30-40 bucks, nobody cares what their connectors look like (since nobody looks inside the box), so they use whatever cheap generic clips everyone else has
gixer2000
Retrofit or Bust
Funny stroy but Diode stuff is actually made in America. I'm sure some supplies are from china but made/built in America
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You sure?
IS there even a single American HID manufacturer???
Cuz stock HID on FoMoCo vehicles is Osram Germany
gixer2000
Retrofit or Bust
100% sure on diode being American made.
Some of the better equipment for oem hids come from Germany,Japan and a few other places around the world but no expense is spared for engineering and the overall build. When were talking Chinese manufacturing we see low cost components and every possible way to save money.
The retrofit I'm building now is made up of Rx350 projectors(Japan), hella gen3 ballasts(Germany) and osram CBB bulbs(Germany) . They are said to be the best in the hid/projector market
jeff kushner
Full Access Members
I got to admit, when I bought my Factory Xenon HID, Canbus equipped '02 car a bunch of years ago, I was simply amazed at the level and quality of lighting....very, very impressive, even by today's standards!
jeff
jeff
gixer2000
Retrofit or Bust
When I bought my first pnp hid kit back in 2002 it was hella ballasts and rebased osram bulbs. Top notch stuff but it cost me $600 and no one else in my area had them.
Went with the Morimoto HID kit. Installed and confirmed everything works, but I've still got to go back and permanently mount the ballasts. 35W, 5500K HID - looks great. I'll get some better pictures at night later. I did use the CANBUS system, works just fine, no flickering or light out signal from the car (not sure if we even have that). Should have taken a picture with one of the halogens still in there for comparison, but is it MUCH brighter, the focus point looks identical as before.
Neilster1
Full Access Members
I'm at my wits end with HID conversion kits. I dropped decent coin on a "good" set and I'm constantly burning up ballasts. I'd love to find a set of plug and play H13 LED's that don't need ballasts for my `13 expy. Any recommendations?
gixer2000
Retrofit or Bust
What "good" set did you buy?
Neilster1
Full Access Members
expeditionandy had recommended a setup from xenonhids.com. They've worked well but this is ballast #2 that's gone, it so happens to be the ballast that is furthest from the power relay. Even so, I've got good power and ground every time I pull everything to test. I suppose the relay harness could be crap, but 12v is 12v.
gixer2000
Retrofit or Bust
12v is 12v but if for Some reason the harness isn't carrying the current required as it should it could cause premature failure or just random issues. I woukd try the ballast on thr other side and see what happens
Neilster1
Full Access Members
What do we like to replace the yellow halogen high beams in the 2015-17 trucks with projector lights. I believe its an H9 65W bulb. The yellow color bothers me now that I've fixed the low beams - if they could be brighter that would be great too, but don't want an HID solution - need instant on for high beam flashes when needed.
Theres some halfdecent projector-ized LED headlight bulbs on the market
They dont cut off smoothly like HIDs, but some pump a ton of light.
Ive only run em in fog light positions, but decent China brands for 30-50 bucks are purdy damn powerful.
Imho 12,000 lumen or higher kits are a must.
Zdatt brand on Amazon is pretty decent
PS modern HIDs are plenty instant on for flashing people, btw
They dont cut off smoothly like HIDs, but some pump a ton of light.
Ive only run em in fog light positions, but decent China brands for 30-50 bucks are purdy damn powerful.
Imho 12,000 lumen or higher kits are a must.
Zdatt brand on Amazon is pretty decent
PS modern HIDs are plenty instant on for flashing people, btw
jeff kushner
Full Access Members
Here is a LED kit for both high and low beams....non-projector type..for 20 bucks. Keep in mind if you have a '17 that your manual is wrong....H11 for high beam and HB3 for low...is what you actually have!
https://www.ebay.com/itm/9005-H11-6000K-1960W-294000LM-Combo-CREE-LED-Headlight-Kit-High-Low-Light-Bulbs/263701942218?ssPageName=STRK:MEBIDX:IT&_trksid=p2057872.m2749.l2649
Maybe I'll get around to installing the HID kit this weekend.
jeff
https://www.ebay.com/itm/9005-H11-6000K-1960W-294000LM-Combo-CREE-LED-Headlight-Kit-High-Low-Light-Bulbs/263701942218?ssPageName=STRK:MEBIDX:IT&_trksid=p2057872.m2749.l2649
Maybe I'll get around to installing the HID kit this weekend.
jeff
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jeff kushner
Full Access Members
Kerry is up in Maine for a week so I finally got around to installing the kit shown earlier in this thread. Very straightforward install...and I included a couple of pics of the frame/radiator supports as I found them........with nearly 44,000 miles, not a spec of rust!
My plan is to wait till this evening, then aim them correctly and I'll let you guys know tomorrow how I like them.
jeff
My plan is to wait till this evening, then aim them correctly and I'll let you guys know tomorrow how I like them.
jeff
ExpeditionAndy
Full Access Members
I lost a ballast on the right side just last week. XenonHIDS.com replaced it no charge. I had to pay postage to send it back. I'm not sure why it went bad but the new one is installed and I'm good to go. Just a pain in the rear to have to remove and replace. At least with that lifetime warranty I don't have to buy ballasts.
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