HID Headlight Kit

[Marsh White]

However, if I had it all to do over again, I'd install an HID kit:

http://www.ddmtuning.com/index.php?p=product&id=106&parent=61

OMG!  $70.00   That is so freaking inexpensive!!  So the question remains...which temperature/bulb color should I go with?

Here is their chart:


They give options of:
-3000K
-4500K
-5000K
-6000K
-8000K
-10000K
-12000K

I'm thinking 6000K or 8000K.  Any thoughts or experience on this?

[pdxfj]

6000k is the most common.

8000k would be quite blue.


Only $70?  Damn.. they have come way down in price.

[Arnie]

Paul,

What a great link (DDM tuning).  Really great prices, especially with lifetime warranty.  Thanks for the info.

Cheers,
Arnie

[Harvy]

$70 for the 35W, $77.50 for the 55W.

So does a 35W Hid outperform a 55W OEM?


Harvy

[Arnie]

So does a 35W Hid outperform a 55W OEM?

Harvy

Yes, except for initial warm-up.

Arnie

[Marsh White]

Ed Thiele has an HID bulb if I remember correctly...and it looks good!  Not too blue, but not too orange.  Hey Ed, what temperature bulb do you have?

[simi_ed]

I have the 6000K kit.  I'd recommend a 5000K if I had to get another bulb or new purchase.
Be sure to get the hi/low or bi-xenon kit.  The kit I have has a moveable shutter that simulates a high beam. 
http://tinyurl.com/leu6aw

Another benefit is that that lamp draws such low power that you probably could skip the relay kit.  It only draws about 3.5 amps, and has a regulated power supply, so the bulb DOES NOT FLARE UP when the system voltage goes up & down.

Marsh, I just got the FJ back together last Thursday, and went down to PCH & up the coast with 500,000 of my closest friends on Friday afternoon.  What a zoo!  Mostly Hardleys at the Rock Store, too but a nice day for a ride none the less.

[pdxfj]

Do not try and run the ballast off the stock wiring.  It is true that the HID does draw less than a Halogen lamp, but it's initial draw is somewhat high so the ballast can build up enough power to create the arc.  Stock wiring will cause misfires of the lamp which will shorten lamp life and possible damage to the ballast.


Totally off topic and totally useless information:

Ever been to a IMAX theater?  The lamp house in the projector uses a 15,000 watt Xeon arc lamp that is requires roughly 40 volts DC at 450 amps to maintain the arc.  The rectifier to create that kind of power is about 3 feet high by 8 feet long.  The anode and cathode blocks in the lamp are water cooled to keep them from melting.  The primary and secondary mirrors are first surface mirrors mounted to solid copper plates that are about 3 inches thick and are also water cooled.  Primary is roughly 3'x3' where the secondary is about 20"x20".

Another benefit is that that lamp draws such low power that you probably could skip the relay kit.  It only draws about 3.5 amps, and has a regulated power supply, so the bulb DOES NOT FLARE UP when the system voltage goes up & down.

[MyFirstNameIsPaul]

Paul,

What a great link (DDM tuning).  Really great prices, especially with lifetime warranty.  Thanks for the info.

Cheers,
Arnie

I actually learned about those guys from the Kawi forum.  Benefits of hanging out with the squids.  (o;

[FJ Flyer]

There's a review in this month's Motorcycle Consumer News, probably what's generating all the discussions.  They had a favorable review.  Hell, a decent pair of H-4 bulbs will set you back almost $30.  Get a pair of HIDs for $70?  Seems like a no-brainer.  The units reviewed had telescoping bulbs to allow hi and lo beams.  Versus some other systems that use a second halogen bulb for hi beam. 

Probably be getting a set for the FJR.  They say they make the smallest ballast, should be able to hide them somewhere under the fairing.  Also, its a plug and play kit, no mods to the stock harness.

[Tuxracer]

I was planning to do the relay mod until I found this thread. The price of the HiD is now down to $44.95 (35W) or $52.45 (55W). Not sure which one to get? They both look pretty bright at 5000K but wonder if the 55K is overkill? I think the 35W should be sufficient? Any suggestions are welcomed

[flyingbanana]

Get the 4300k one, its still whiter than the Halogen, anything higher is a waste of time 

[candieandy]

I have the 55watt hi/lo combo in my fj. It comes with a plug and play relay and its really bright. I have 6000k and would say they have a. Blue tint. they say 55w washs the blue out but it doesn't that much so stick to 4500k-6000k if you want to see pics let me know

[waricle]

Just got the shipping quote $124!!!!!!!!!
Holy snappin duckshit Robin!!!!!

[candieandy]

i got all of my HIDs from DDM Tuning. love the kits. and what a deal. the 55w looks amazing, definitely not overkill.