HID Kit recommendations

SamirD · Sat Jan 18, 2014 10:06 pm

bootymac wrote:I found it a bit strange that we can't turn the fog lights on without the low beams. It would be a lot more effective if the fog lights operated independently to better illuminate the immediate area and to also minimize glare.

My Altima and Mercedes work this way. The Corvette and the Porsche will allow fogs with only the parking lights on.

~tc~ · Sat Jan 18, 2014 11:19 pm

bootymac wrote:Where did you end up mounting the ballasts?

Under/behind. There is an unused hole on each side that I put the mounting bolts through. The passenger one is on top of the washer bottle. Should have taken pix.

SamirD wrote:
bootymac wrote:I found it a bit strange that we can't turn the fog lights on without the low beams. It would be a lot more effective if the fog lights operated independently to better illuminate the immediate area and to also minimize glare.
My Altima and Mercedes work this way. The Corvette and the Porsche will allow fogs with only the parking lights on.

Retrofit source has a harness that might allow this - I've been meaning to call them and see how it works.

Mon Jan 20, 2014 3:51 am

My passenger side HID bulb is no longer working. Given that even testing it will require the bumper and headlights to come off, I've decided to just get a new kit. My current HIDs are cheap ones that came with the car so I don't even really care.

I'm going to go with Morimotos from retrofitsource as well. I'm going to upgrade to get their better bulbs though (XB35). I also like that they offer a HD harness that directly connects to the battery to avoid flickering issues.
While I do want to wait to see what the JDM offers, I doubt that those Japanese kits will offer a HD harness nor be cheaper than retrofitsource. Kits in Japan were starting at roughly the equivalent of $200 when I saw them last year. Warranty is also another reason to go with Morimotos.
I think I'll get the 5000k.

~tc~ · Mon Jan 20, 2014 3:58 am

I went with the XB35 4300K. The harness is VERY nice.

Mon Jan 20, 2014 4:10 am

~tc~ wrote:I went with the XB35 4300K. The harness is VERY nice.

I bet. You mind uploading a picture of your set up when you have a chance? I'm particularly interested in how you routed your HD harness.
Morimotos from retrofitsource seem like the way to go.

~tc~ · Mon Jan 20, 2014 4:46 am

Not much to see

Relays mounted on back side of computer. Ballasts mounted behind/under headlights. Wiring to passenger side is under front crossmember. Leads to headlights go through covers - my balls weren't big enough to drill into the actual housing, but you could make a super stealthy install bringing the wires up from the bottom.

Mon Jan 20, 2014 9:37 am

Drove in some dense fog today and took some pictures of the factory set up with stock aim and halogen bulbs.

First picture is low beams and fog lights. The fogs help a bit but I feel like they could be aimed higher up, as already discussed. Second picture is low beams only.

Mon Jan 20, 2014 5:00 pm

The fog lights definitely made a difference between the photos. While straight ahead may not look like much, see how the fog + low photo shows the road lines on the left side much better? That's pretty much the whole point of fog lights. They are to illuminate the front but more the sides of the car so you can better see the road lines and road reflectors.
That being said, I agree that the OEM setting for the fogs are too low and the setting of the driver's side headlight goes towards the passenger side. Both can be remedied with some effort. I've posted tutorials on how to adjust both.

Mon Jan 20, 2014 5:15 pm

Yep, I'll be following your instructions on adjustments! I'll try to get everything lined up once the HIDs are in. Judging by the "beam" of each headlight, it seems like my Kizashi is a bit cross eyed

How distinct is the cut off with your set up?

Mon Jan 20, 2014 5:42 pm

bootymac wrote:Yep, I'll be following your instructions on adjustments! I'll try to get everything lined up once the HIDs are in. Judging by the "beam" of each headlight, it seems like my Kizashi is a bit cross eyed

How distinct is the cut off with your set up?

I'd say comparable to the halogen cut-off in your pics.
Keep in mind that for HIDs to have that super crisp cut-off, they need to be in projector lenses made for HID bulbs. This is why factory HID headlights have that crisp cut-off that HID kits in halogen projectors don't. The Retrofitsource sells projector lenses made for "retrofiting" HID projectors in halogen headlights (hence their name). I personally think it's too much hassle as you have to find a projector that fits and then bake and open up your headlight.

HID kits work well enough in halogen projectors. The problematic HID kits are the kits in regular multi-reflector headlights. These are the ones that have horrible light throw while creating insane glare for oncoming traffic.

I'd say that having HIDs in halogen projectors like the Kizashi's is somewhere in between the two beams below. The super crisp cut-off of the headlight below is of a HID kit in a HID projector whether factory or retrofit.

Here's another picture to demonstrate the difference between the worst HID set up vs. the best HID set up.