HID install less $$ than new stock 9006 bulbs

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ponytl

ponytl

10 Year
Joined
Dec 1, 2011
Threads
92
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801
Location
overlooking the Mississippi River @ Memphis
A friend asked me to find some hid lights for his truck... so I ordered a set for my 98 streetcruiser
I ordered the 6000 ones mostly white with a hint of blue... was less than $30 on ebay came with the ballast... but I had to reverse the polarity (switch red for black on the plug that went to the ballast that plugged into the oem light connection) before they would work, including that it was a 20 min job... if i had known that little bit of info going in it would have been a 5 min job... used a self drilling screw to mount the ballast on each side...
s-l1600.jpg
 
I went with these Kensun's when I replaced my bulbs. It was one of those "while you're in there" moments because I had just completely submerged the truck and had to wash/clean/dry out the headlight housings. I figured I would go ahead and replace them and I love them. I've had 1 ballast fail though but since they are Kensun I just shot them an email and they responded within 24hrs telling me they already had one heading to me and not to bother sending the failed one back. I might have told them another failed just so I have a backup ballast...

https://www.amazon.com/gp/aw/d/B004ZF39T0/?tag=ihco-20
 
You guys are only running these in projector housings right? The glare from reflector housings with HID's is terrible.
Generally good for LX's or LC's with projector conversions though.
 
Nope, @AimCOtaco I'm running them in reflectors and yes you do make a very valid point. However, I have never been flashed by anyone in my experience. I have been told they are very bright and I even went as far as parking the truck in the road in front of my house, hopping in both of my fathers cars (2012 Camry & 2015 4Runner), and driving past it as I would normally pass an oncoming vehicle on a 2-lane road. I experienced no disruptive glare from either of the height perspectives that could potentially impair driving so I kept the lights in. Sure they aren't as efficient in a reflector housing as they are in a projector, but they do throw a better beam (from my opinion, never took before/after pics) and plus they look really cool since the intensity matches that of all my led lights.
 
TheForger said:
Nope, @AimCOtaco I'm running them in reflectors and yes you do make a very valid point. However, I have never been flashed by anyone in my experience. I have been told they are very bright and I even went as far as parking the truck in the road in front of my house, hopping in both of my fathers cars (2012 Camry & 2015 4Runner), and driving past it as I would normally pass an oncoming vehicle on a 2-lane road. I experienced no disruptive glare from either of the height perspectives that could potentially impair driving so I kept the lights in. Sure they aren't as efficient in a reflector housing as they are in a projector, but they do throw a better beam (from my opinion, never took before/after pics) and plus they look really cool since the intensity matches that of all my led lights.
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Have you evaluated the scatter while driving in heavy fog, rain, or snow? I would expect them to be an issue in those conditions for the driver of the cruiser.
 
I used DDM HIDs that fit in the standard housing and was in the same camp - I've never been flashed, they must be fine. That changed when I was running errands one evening and an oncoming truck had horrible glare and was pretty annoying. Yeah, it was my wife in our truck out getting the kids. Went back to the Toshiba HIRs until I can properly retrofit the projector lenses in.
 
I understand the appeal of a cheap HID kit and the immediate increased brightness, but I promise you that you are blinding oncoming drivers and scattering light into places it doesn't need to be, even if they aren't flashing you.

Do yourself a favor and start saving for a proper retrofit and you will never look back! A good retro is by far the best money I've spent on my cruiser thus far (not that I've spent a ton).
 
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You'll see a major difference with Phillips HIR 9011's in the high beams.

Steve
 
spaber05 said:
I understand the appeals of a cheap HID kit and the immediate increased brightness, but I promise you that you are blinding oncoming drivers and scattering light into places it doesn't need to be, even if they aren't flashing you.
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+1000

No HIDs without projectors please!
 
I like everyone else hate bright oncoming lights... but ..... I don't see an issue with the ones I used... really nice white/blue light not near as bad as what I experience on the road... I ordered a set for my wifes lx470 and a set for my daughters bmw z3...

my lc is set up with a bit of rake via the torsion bars so my light might be shoot'n a little low anyway...

I believe it to be money well spent...
jmho
p

just curious was i the only one that had to reverse polarity? to make them work
 
@Drogon click on the link in the second post. That is what I would recommend.
 
chudly said:
i popped in LED lights into my 2001 LC. not real happy with the beam pattern. maybe i'll give HIDs a shot.

How's the pattern on the ground?
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i like the pattern and I like the lights I have since (yesterday installed them on the wifes lx470 H1 bulb and she likes them also... I drove both in the rain yesterday and was impressed... I don't see them being any more or less "blinding" than other hid lights on the road... we went head on with them and neither one of us found the others offending... usually the ones that seem to bother me are on lifted trucks... neither of ours are... about to install a set on my daughters Z3 bmw
 
hoser said:
@ponytl Do a comparison after you install the set on your wife's LX. 25' from flat surface.
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installed em on the lx470 yesterday and compared them lc to lx liked both... we did a head on test to see if either was offensive.... and neither of us did... yes they are more white and brighter but they aren't aimed high and neither truck is lifted... we both like them so far...
 
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