Just installed HIDs

[MikeATL]

Everything they say about HIDs is true.
They look great and they are super easy to install.

For the people with HIDs: Did you have to adjust your beam height after the install? The cutoff was at about the same level as my halogens, so I didnt adjust.

Also, where did you mount your ballasts? I remember seeing some pics on here of where someone mounted theirs, but i can find them in the search. I mounted mine near the headlights, but im not sure if i like them there...

[cklinh]

I did not adjust my headlights (haven't gotten honked at so I guess it's not blinding anyone...)

As for ballasts, it's difficult to explain without pics, but I installed one right on the frame under the battery. I had to squeeze it past the battery. The other side is in approximately the same location.

[MikeATL]

I did not adjust my headlights (haven't gotten honked at so I guess it's not blinding anyone...)

As for ballasts, it's difficult to explain without pics, but I installed one right on the frame under the battery. I had to squeeze it past the battery. The other side is in approximately the same location.

I think I know where you are talking about. The drivers side headlight was a b!tch to change, but i managed to do it without taking out the battery. Do the ballasts get really hot, or hot enough to melt plastic?

[cklinh]

I have no clue how hot they get... never wanted to stick my hand in there after the engine's been running

But so far, no major problems... I've had the HID's since February.

[Biggi_e]

u guys are lucky, when i was working o the driver side, i took out my battery and somehow i blew a fuse in the process but it was a random fuse so it took forever to figure out wut happened but i didnt adjust my lights at all even tho ive been high beamed a few times =)

[bunthy]

um....any pix for us to see please

[cklinh]

I'll try to get a pic of my ballast location this weekend.

[MikeATL]

and I will try and get some pics of my HIDs up this weekend. I have 6000K but they look a lot like cklinh's (he has 5300K, right?). I hear there is a break-in period before they get to their "true color".

Sounds stupid, but I cant wait for it to get dark tonight

PS-here is an awesome faq about HIDs: http://faqlight.carpassion.info/hl-hid-bulbs.htm

[cklinh]

I have 6000K but they look a lot like cklinh's (he has 5300K, right?).

Yeup!

Sounds stupid, but I cant wait for it to get dark tonight

I know how you feel! I couldn't wait for it to get dark after I installed mine. I even went cruising the next few nights to test out the lights. Nothing like driving on Highway 1 by Pacifica with the fog rolling in!

[stockae92]

i did mess with the aim adjustment

i began with aimming it low

now i am aimming it higher (more back to normal, not higher than normal)

so far nobody highbeam me yet

i mounted the ballast right under the frame above the headlight housing

question: after HID installation, does your beam seems to travel towards or paralle to the ground? (when you are driving or packed right next to a dark wall, does it look like the cutoff on the side pointing paralle or down to the ground?

[cklinh]

question: after HID installation, does your beam seems to travel towards or paralle to the ground? (when you are driving or packed right next to a dark wall, does it look like the cutoff on the side pointing paralle or down to the ground?

Looks parallel... but this might be too close to the car...

[MikeATL]

I haven't had a chance to fully test (in complete darkness) my HIDs yet. But when i installed them I parked about 4 feet away from a wall, marked the halogen cutoff, and it matched pretty closely with the new HID cutoff.

I did notice a weird pattern though:



I know its a getto paintbrush image, but im proud of it. I know this probably has something to do with the deflector plate, and its not such a big deal.

My hids seem to light up the road really well (like daylight) close to the car but there is a steady fade the farther away the light travels.

[stockae92]

that's a great doing, lol

i think thats the glare from the housing (mine got the same thing)

and my HID seems to have same pattern when light travel, i don't quite remember how the stock ones are, so i can't tell if its actually brighter or not

i know HID puts out more light, but is the beam useful? (or as useful as the stock ones)

I haven't had a chance to fully test (in complete darkness) my HIDs yet. But when i installed them I parked about 4 feet away from a wall, marked the halogen cutoff, and it matched pretty closely with the new HID cutoff.

I did notice a weird pattern though:



I know its a getto paintbrush image, but im proud of it. I know this probably has something to do with the deflector plate, and its not such a big deal.

My hids seem to light up the road really well (like daylight) close to the car but there is a steady fade the farther away the light travels.

[MikeATL]

Again I haven't fully tested mine out yet. But it really depends on what the driver wants.

There is definately more light output than standard halogens, but its a white light instead of a yellowish light. The human eye is more sensitive to yellow/orange light, so some drivers might find HIDs "less bright".

If you want HIDs but want the max "useable" light, go for the ~4000K range of HIDs, they appear more yellow than the ~5000K+, and have the highest useable light output.

I should also add that OEM HIDs will always look better than aftermarket, Its not the bulbs or ballasts, its that the housing is designed specifically for HIDs, its impossible to get the exact BMW/S2000/Audi look using our OEM projectors.

[MikeATL]

Does anyone know if there is a way to adjust the focus of the beam more than just the level? My cutoff line is where it should be, but I feel like the focus of my HIDs is too close to the car. The "brightest" light doesnt pass the range of the stock fog lamps.

I am going to reseat the bulbs tonight to see if i maybe they are threaded improperly or something.