I have HIDs in my car and I want to change my FJ setup.
Who has the best and offers a setup with high and low beams?
cost is always a consideration but you get what you pay for.
Myself and a couple of others have installed the DDM kit.
http://www.ddmtuning.com/Products/DDM-35W-55W-Single-HiLo-Motorcycle-HID-Kit (http://www.ddmtuning.com/Products/DDM-35W-55W-Single-HiLo-Motorcycle-HID-Kit)
I am running a 55w 6000k lamp. Click below for some pictures I took of the install and such.
http://picasaweb.google.com/zulu01/FJMods# (http://picasaweb.google.com/zulu01/FJMods#)
Quote from: pdxfj on June 09, 2010, 09:00:54 AM
Myself and a couple of others have installed the DDM kit.
http://www.ddmtuning.com/Products/DDM-35W-55W-Single-HiLo-Motorcycle-HID-Kit (http://www.ddmtuning.com/Products/DDM-35W-55W-Single-HiLo-Motorcycle-HID-Kit)
I am running a 55w 6000k lamp. Click below for some pictures I took of the install and such.
http://picasaweb.google.com/zulu01/FJMods# (http://picasaweb.google.com/zulu01/FJMods#)
Thanks for the info
They are to ones I was looking at
How is the 6000K
I have those on me car and they seem great on that
Should i stay with those or go lower???
+1 for the DDM kit. I have the 35w 5000K Hi/Lo and it blows away the stock headlight :good2:
I have a hi/lo kit and it's marginal. The shutter moves to 'n fro to simulate a hi beam, but the high beam is so diffuse that it really does not do anything unless you are on a totally dark road. BUT, the HID IS WONDEFFUL. Even on low beam, there is sooooooo much light that the hi beam is really not needed.
I'd also recommend a 4300-4500 K light color temp. I have a 6K in the FJ and 5500 in z1 of the cars, they're both too blue for my taste. 4300K in my daily driver is perfect!
My 2¢
Ed
The FJR gang like these
http://www.fjrforum.com/forum//index.php?showtopic=129435&hl= (http://www.fjrforum.com/forum//index.php?showtopic=129435&hl=)
I took the plunge and ordered the DDM 5000k kit.
I also ordered a spare set of 5000k H7 bulbs for my Volvo
Thanks guys :good2: :good2: :good2: :good2:
Quote from: simi_ed on June 09, 2010, 11:25:40 AM
I have a hi/lo kit and it's marginal. The shutter moves to 'n fro to simulate a hi beam, but the high beam is so diffuse that it really does not do anything unless you are on a totally dark road. BUT, the HID IS WONDEFFUL. Even on low beam, there is sooooooo much light that the hi beam is really not needed.
I'd also recommend a 4300-4500 K light color temp. I have a 6K in the FJ and 5500 in z1 of the cars, they're both too blue for my taste. 4300K in my daily driver is perfect!
My 2¢
Ed
Im curious if everyone had the same opinion of the Hi/Lo performance (or lack of) , as well as if anyone has installed these in the newer (like my '92) style headlamp.
I just installed a new highend Silverstar halogenand have no high beam. The HID cost is nearly what I paid for the halogen.
I installed my HID from DDM today.
no instructions but I figured it out.
Night and day difference (pun intended) I have to redo it seeing that I did not mount the black box securely.
My wiring under the fairing is a rats nest and i hate that.
I have yet to try it on the road but i know the bike will be much more visible when I'm riding.
I'll update soon
One of the few mods I haven't done to my FJ is an HID headlight. I'm contemplating on going with the DDM Tuning H4 35W 4300K setup. I have two questions though, first what is the bulb life? Right now I have a Phillips Silverstar and they last me about 2 years. One nice thing is that if I do lose the Phillips low beam I can use the high beam as a backup. With an HID H4 bulb if it goes out, it goes out. Second how well does the high beam function work? Can you flash to pass and does it work quickly?
thanks, jd
The reliability of a HID setup is in the fact that there is no filament to burn out since it's an arc lamp. One person I know has been running a HID lamp in his bike for many years and has never had an issue. If you're really concerned about it, keep a standard halogen lamp under the tail section and make your stock headlight plug accessible in case you have a failure of the HID system.
You will lose the flash to pass because there is no separate high and low filament in the lamp. With DDM's kit (and others) the lamp is attached to a magnetic base and when you flip the high beam switch it physically moves the lamp to "simulate" a high beam.
I think Marsh set his up to cut power to the ballast so he can "flash to pass". This can shorten the life of the system, but by how much.. who knows..
Ed is correct that the "high" beam is a bit weak in anything but very dark conditions. But the amount of light output is incredible. I did a 120+ mile ride this weekend in very dark conditions (very rural areas in central Oregon) and having the HID was very nice. It was easier to spot deer since their eyes really glowed bright from the HID lamp.
For what the DDM kit costs give it a shot and if you don't like it, you're not really out anything. Someone here would likely buy it from you.
I've been chasing an intermittent HID for about a month. I just changed out the relay, since everything else is sealed, and HID/xenon lamps either ignite or they don't. As Garth says, either carry a spare H4 or even a spare HID. But I would not bet anything that the lamp would fail vs the voltage regulator or step-up power supply (all parts of the HID system).
I guess a spare H4 is the best bet. I don't carry one, FWIW
My 2¢
Ed
Thanks for the feedback. I'm still undecided, I guess it's another 'mod' that is tempting me. I rarely ride at night, so it would be more of a daytime visibility issue for me. Maybe the next time the bulb goes out I'll make the switch.
Quote from: simi_ed on August 09, 2010, 01:20:26 PMBut I would not bet anything that the lamp would fail vs the voltage regulator or step-up power supply (all parts of the HID system).
I guess a spare H4 is the best bet. I don't carry one, FWIW
My 2¢
Ed
Stupid smug comment! Went out today and the Da*& headlight was off 'n on all day, at least 51% off. :diablo:
Where's my H4 spare when I need it?
Quote from: simi_ed on August 10, 2010, 09:30:07 PM
Stupid smug comment! Went out today and the Da*& headlight was off 'n on all day, at least 51% off. :diablo:
Where's my H4 spare when I need it?
thats why i stuck with a standard H4 headlight (relay equipped) and went with the HID driving lights instead.
if there is a misfire or failure i'm not all of a sudden running in the dark.
(http://i47.photobucket.com/albums/f198/Racerman27410/IMG_1110.jpg)
KOokaloo!
I think frank's approch is the safest way to see in the dark, if something brakes you have options.
Frank could you tell us what kind of HID driving lights you've installed and how you've installed it?
With photos??
I would gladly replace my small bullit lights with that kind of power!!!
Alain
sure thing.... first off i bought some H3 driving lights Optilux are made by Hella.....
http://www.rallylights.com/SearchResult.aspx?CategoryID=936 (http://www.rallylights.com/SearchResult.aspx?CategoryID=936)
bought a set similar to the 1502 except black with clear lense. they had them on sale for about 20 bucks
then i bought a slim ballast HID 5000K H3 setup off ebay.....
http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/HID-Xenon-Light-Conversion-Kit-9006-9007-H8-H7-H4-H3-H9-_W0QQcmdZViewItemQQitemZ140429128667QQptZMotorsQ5fCarQ5fTruckQ5fPartsQ5fAccessories (http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/HID-Xenon-Light-Conversion-Kit-9006-9007-H8-H7-H4-H3-H9-_W0QQcmdZViewItemQQitemZ140429128667QQptZMotorsQ5fCarQ5fTruckQ5fPartsQ5fAccessories)
Time to get to work :good2:
(http://i47.photobucket.com/albums/f198/Racerman27410/IMG_1094.jpg)
(http://i47.photobucket.com/albums/f198/Racerman27410/IMG_1089.jpg)
(http://i47.photobucket.com/albums/f198/Racerman27410/IMG_1091.jpg)
(http://i47.photobucket.com/albums/f198/Racerman27410/IMG_1095.jpg)
(http://i47.photobucket.com/albums/f198/Racerman27410/IMG_1096.jpg)
(http://i47.photobucket.com/albums/f198/Racerman27410/IMG_1097.jpg)
(http://i47.photobucket.com/albums/f198/Racerman27410/IMG_1099.jpg)
(http://i47.photobucket.com/albums/f198/Racerman27410/IMG_1110.jpg)
(http://i47.photobucket.com/albums/f198/Racerman27410/IMG_1107.jpg)
super bright lighting and draws less power than the standard 35 watt H3 bulbs
have fun and KOokaloo! :good2:
Frank,
That does look like a safe and bright solution, but what you haven't told us is which Optilux model driving light you used and how you mounted it to your FJ. A pic of your bike during the day with the lights not ON would be very helpful.
Cheers,
Arnie
Yes Frank, please show us!!!
Alain
Here is a quick video demo (sorry for the out of focus bits) of the DDM HID kit. I have the 55w 5000 temp version.
HID Headlight Bulb for FJ1200 (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dpu2ZJFEUZk&feature=youtube_gdata#ws)
Thanks for the video that says a lot. The low to high beam response seems very good to me and I would think my flash to pass switch would definitely still work. I'm convinced, I'm going to order a DDM setup.
Yes, thanks for the vid, Marsh. And all you others using HID's - thank you too.
I have been procrastinating over this mod for way too long. I need to order and install it now.
Cheers,
Arnie
Trying to decide if I want to switch to HID and was doing some research and found this. Its a long read but makes you stop and think about using HID.
http://www.danielsternlighting.com/tech/bulbs/Hid/conversions/conversions.html (http://www.danielsternlighting.com/tech/bulbs/Hid/conversions/conversions.html)
Mark H.
I've read that article before, and others like it.
Still made the switch and have no regrets. I don't do a whole lot of night riding, but the times I have since installing the HID lamp no one has flashed me even in totally dark rural areas.
Around town I see a fair number bikes running a HID headlamp and they stand out among the crowd of cagers. Much more noticeable, which to me is a major plus.
Quote from: pdxfj on August 16, 2010, 11:45:18 AM
Around town I see a fair number bikes running a HID headlamp and they stand out among the crowd of cagers. Much more noticeable, which to me is a major plus.
Yo Beano... I've always wondered, if you were to put Marsh's HID flasher on your red/white FJ....
Would people think you were a ambulance?
I'm just asking...
<snicker>
glad the tread is still alive... I think it helped a lot on us.
I did the DDM 55w H-4 a few weeks ago (while doing the fork swap). Wow, is that ever a bright light! Like sunshine in a bottle. I had a bit of weirdness with the Hi/lo switching for a day or 2, then it all went away. Perhaps a break-in 'feature'.
Good stuff, highly recommended!
My intermittent problem was a bad connection in a fuse block, found by chasing down the VOLTAGE DROP along the path, from load to source (battery).
All good now; bright light, all the time.