dslatsh wrote:
So with that being said KuroNekko, you don't need to add anything special when using LED bulbs unlike HIDs right? I was thinking of replacing my fogs with HIDs or LED bulbs.
I also wanted to replace the headlights eventually with LED or HIDs what would be your opinion for that? Especially since the suzuki uses two different bulbs where I'm more used to my Civic that used the low/high bulb all in one.
For HIDs and LEDs to work as replacement bulbs for halogens, it's pretty easy but you need to purchase a kit. The bulbs themselves won't work like halogen bulbs. For HID kits, the kit includes harnesses, ballasts, sometimes external igniters, and the HID bulbs. In the first page of this thread, you see all of this stuff in my photo. The ballast is the thing tucked into the pocket-like cavity on the inside of the bumper. In my opinion, you don't need an HD harness running all the way to the battery just for the fog lights, but some kits (like Morimotos) will come with them anyway. My HID fogs are only powered by the factory harnesses for the fog lights.
As for LEDs, they include a ballast-like thing that is called the controller. LEDs typically also include cooling fins and fans at the base of the bulb. However, for the fog lights, there is a lot of clearance so fitting them shouldn't be an issue. There are no housing caps for fogs either, unlike the headlights. LED kits are optimal for fog bulbs because they typically cast short-range light in a flood pattern. LEDs have a harder time mimicking the narrow focused beam of halogen bulbs when used in halogen-intended housings. This is why LED kits generally don't make good high beams. For them to cast light far, they really need their own dedicated housings like in off-road light bars. Hence, most aftermarket LED kits are specifically marketed as fog lights and I saw many while in Japan.
I think either a HID kit or LED kit would be suitable for the fogs, but if I was to spend the money, I'd go for LEDs for the fogs. I personally have HIDs, but it's because the previous owner put them in and I merely upgraded them with better HID bulbs.
As for low beams, HIDs definitely work very well. I've had HIDs in my Kizashi since Day 1 (previous owner put in a kit there too) and think they are a much better option than halogens given the pain it is to replace bulbs in the Kizashi. As for LEDs, the newer kits may work but you need to be careful about an LED bulb's compatibility with a projector housing. My reading is that many LED kits don't optimally emit light for the projector housing to properly cast it out. Hence, most LED conversion kits for low beam purposes are intended for multi-reflector housings.
As for the high beams, I've already gone through the pain of experimenting for you a few years ago. Most LEDs aren't going to give you the far-reaching light high beams are intended for. They will also likely flicker as DRLs given the Kizashi uses a pulsating voltage for the DRL system. I had a LED kit as high beam/DRLs but ended up returning it after consulting with the kit's manufacturer who stated themselves that LED kits aren't optimal for high beams or pulsing DRL systems. However, I should note that technology is never static so there are always developments and progress. LED kits for projectors and high beam use are entering the marketing now so there are kits that may actually work fine. This is a new kit from VLEDs that wasn't around when I tried another LED conversion kit from them. This new one looks specifically intended for projector and high beam compatibility:
http://www.vleds.com/bulb-type/headligh ... 7-lmz.html
Only trying them out can tell whether they will work for our cars.
HIDs are also a risky investment as high beams because Xenon bulbs require warm-up. After turning on a cold HID bulb, it takes about 10~15 seconds for it to warm up to normal operating output and color. Given that high beams are typically flashed or used sporadically, HID kits are ill-suited for high beams. After the LED experimentation, I opted with halogens for high beams, but high performance ones (I still need to install my Osram Rallye H7 halogens for my high beams).
Below are photos of what typical HID and LED kits include. You'll need all of this as a conversion kit from halogens.
LED:
HID:
