Let's Figure Out the Headlight Bulb Issue

SamirD · Wed Aug 23, 2017 3:28 am

Thank you very much for the update KuroNekko. I was actually just reading your part 2 writeup. I'm considering doing a conversion since the kits have almost come to the point where you can install everything inside the headlight. I think the Morimoto 2stroke H7 might do the job. Plus, being on the low beams, I won't have to worry about the drl issue.

Wed Aug 23, 2017 4:44 am

SamirD wrote:Thank you very much for the update KuroNekko. I was actually just reading your part 2 writeup. I'm considering doing a conversion since the kits have almost come to the point where you can install everything inside the headlight. I think the Morimoto 2stroke H7 might do the job. Plus, being on the low beams, I won't have to worry about the drl issue.

The Morimoto 2Stroke still has external drivers. I'm not sure if they will fit inside the headlight or not and even if they do, you'll have to secure them from moving around inside the headlight. I've also seen some comparisons with the 2Stroke to HIDs in the same projectors and in all honesty, I wasn't too impressed. I'll link the video below.
If I were you, I'd go for a cheaper LED kit than the 2Stroke given the vast selection. I know some other Kizashi owner put in an OPT7 H7 LED kit in their Kizashi's low beam and reported good results.
In my honest opinion, I still don't think anything tops a quality HID kit for the focus and performance. The video below shows why.

SamirD · Wed Aug 23, 2017 3:21 pm

KuroNekko wrote:
SamirD wrote:Thank you very much for the update KuroNekko. I was actually just reading your part 2 writeup. I'm considering doing a conversion since the kits have almost come to the point where you can install everything inside the headlight. I think the Morimoto 2stroke H7 might do the job. Plus, being on the low beams, I won't have to worry about the drl issue.
The Morimoto 2Stroke still has external drivers. I'm not sure if they will fit inside the headlight or not and even if they do, you'll have to secure them from moving around inside the headlight. I've also seen some comparisons with the 2Stroke to HIDs in the same projectors and in all honesty, I wasn't too impressed. I'll link the video below.
If I were you, I'd go for a cheaper LED kit than the 2Stroke given the vast selection. I know some other Kizashi owner put in an OPT7 H7 LED kit in their Kizashi's low beam and reported good results.
In my honest opinion, I still don't think anything tops a quality HID kit for the focus and performance. The video below shows why.

I'm not too concerned about cost vs getting something that will be plug and play and self-contained inside the headlight. It's very good to know that your LED kit still worked with the dust covers as I really don't want to permanently alter anything if I can avoid it since parts are hard to source these days.

I've also been considering HID since LEDS still have only 2 light planes. There is one product that I somehow ran into on Amazon that uses three planes of light to have 360 coverage similar to a halogen bulb. I think a product like this would have a better shot in the projector. But a good HID kit would probably still perform well if not better.

At this point in time, I don't think I'll be able to do all the research needed to find the kit I'm looking for, so I'll get another set of PIAAs for the time being as the wife has to drive the car regularly now. Can't have her dealing with lighting issues. (Or rather I can't deal with her comments about the lighting.

)

motosonic · Wed Aug 23, 2017 3:34 pm

I'm with SamirD. I have no doubt that the HID kit works well and solves many problems. But for those of us with little to no confidence in our ability to get that particular job done without ruining something and making the situation worse.. a plug and play solution is really the only option.. So, I'm hoping that someone finds one. With the Kizashi aging and the limited number of them out there.. I'm going to guess this may never happen. So it is what it is. But I can dream.

SamirD · Wed Aug 23, 2017 4:34 pm

motosonic wrote:I'm with SamirD. I have no doubt that the HID kit works well and solves many problems. But for those of us with little to no confidence in our ability to get that particular job done without ruining something and making the situation worse.. a plug and play solution is really the only option.. So, I'm hoping that someone finds one. With the Kizashi aging and the limited number of them out there.. I'm going to guess this may never happen. So it is what it is. But I can dream.

All of the kits out there are plug and play, but there may need to be some 'creative' solutions for mounting ballasts and routing wiring.

At one point, I wanted to see if it was possible to source the front bumper and headlights from a LHD Kizashi from another market that had factory HIDs and just swap all that into our car. An even bigger research project (and more expensive), but it definitely would be the ultimate.

Wed Aug 23, 2017 8:45 pm

I think some imagine that it's harder than it is. Whether LED or HID, it's not all that different. In fact, it's not too much of a departure from simply changing the halogens in the Kizashi given the necessary removal of the bumper and headlights. Just that part, as also required for the halogens, is actually the hardest part of any HID or LED installation in any car. It's really not much more work from that point on.

As for a simple drop-in solution, it will likely never happen because HIDs and LEDs work differently from halogens therefore can't have the same form factor. HIDs require ballasts and igniters because they fire up in a voltage way higher than a halogen. LEDs need cooling components to keep the emitter temperatures in check and also need drivers to control them properly. Reducing these necessary components down to the size of a simple halogen H7 bulb is nearly impossible and will likely never happen. I imagine the industry will abandon halogens (therefore their headlight housings) before developing simple but capable drop-in conversion bulbs. Basically, by the time such reductions in size can happen, it likely won't matter anyway. After all, even simple and affordable cars like the Toyota Corolla and Mazda Miata now come with Bi-LED headlights standard. Halogens are on their way to obsolescence therefore so will the aftermarket revolving around them.

redmed · Tue Aug 29, 2017 2:25 pm

I'm probably jinxing myself, but, I have had no problem with any of my lights. In fact my 2010 with manual trans has had no problems except popping out of reverse gear occasionally and the chump Dunlap tires. Still on the factory battery and bulbs.

SamirD · Fri Sep 01, 2017 4:59 am

redmed wrote:I'm probably jinxing myself, but, I have had no problem with any of my lights. In fact my 2010 with manual trans has had no problems except popping out of reverse gear occasionally and the chump Dunlap tires. Still on the factory battery and bulbs.

That's awesome!

Fri Sep 01, 2017 4:55 pm

My 2010 factory bulbs lasted a very long time. When the first one went out I replaced both w/ el-cheapo nuthin' fancy Sylvania's...lasted about a year. Put a pair of the same in again...about another year. Swapped a pair of Philips el-cheapo and these are holding up well so far 1-1/2 now possibly...