HID suggestions

[hromika@gmail.com]

OK, I know this is an old topic, but Im on my 2nd Mazda3. I had a 04i and now I just bought a 08s. I have seen there is a lot of people doing HID upgrades. Is there someone out there who actually did theirs who can offer some input?

Are there any downfalls you have heard of?

What are my bulb types? H1 H7 or whatever?

35 or 55 watt?

Im thinking of 6000k to 8000k. I would like more light but also a hint of blue would be nice.

-Rob

[Virgin1]

<span style="color:navy">
Actually, mine are waiting in the wings for some better weather and some time to install. After years of wanting to convert, I finally took the plunge.
What I got: 2 kits. An Apexcone/DDM 55w, 6000k H7 kit for the low beams (and I'm hoping I don't regret getting the 55w kit,) and another Apexcone/DDM 35w, 5000k H11 kit for the fogs ('04-'06 only.) According to every bit of research I have done on the subject, these should be a good match in color for each other.

What I know:
1) Your low beams are still H7's. Fogs are 9006 in an '08, if you are going that route too.
2) Do not put a 55w HID conversion kit in your fogs. The area inside is not enough space for proper cooling of the glass envelope. They might overheat, perhaps discoloring or melting the lens and bulb life will surly be severely reduced.
3) 55 watt kits are said to wash out the color a bit so step up your color choice by 1000k, if choosing a 55w kit.
4) An 8000k color will be pretty blue looking, to you and the cops. You may want to rethink that and stick w/a 6000k kit. You will also get a better output (lumen's) from the lower color and piss off other driver's less, and you will still have that "hint of blue" you are after.
5) Converting is not the same thing as actually having projectors that are designed for HID bulbs. There will be more scatter or spread out and once installed you should adjust your beams lower than w/the halogen bulbs installed.

Hope you find this info helpful to you.

</span>

[hromika@gmail.com]

Thanx so much..
Why might you regret a 55w install on your low beams? I assume the 55Wers are just brighter right? I originally thought they were just a wattage match to what ever was in there OEM. Are the 55wers so bright youll get pulled over?

Also are there any warnings the 55w ones get to hot at all?

Why did you pick the brand Apexcone?
Have you heard about aftermarket HID reliability in general?
Looking on ebay it seems the German made ballasts are recommended more??
This was the one I originally was looking at. http://www.retrosolutionsllc.com/servlet/t...NVERSION/Detail They are even adjustable 30 - 55w.

As far as the install. Do you have to cut the wire harness or is there an adapter that plugs in?

Thanx, -Robo'

<span style="color:navy">
Actually, mine are waiting in the wings for some better weather and some time to install. After years of wanting to convert, I finally took the plunge.
What I got: 2 kits. An Apexcone/DDM 55w, 6000k H7 kit for the low beams (and I'm hoping I don't regret getting the 55w kit,) and another Apexcone/DDM 35w, 5000k H11 kit for the fogs ('04-'06 only.) According to every bit of research I have done on the subject, these should be a good match in color for each other.

What I know:
1) Your low beams are still H7's. Fogs are 9006 in an '08, if you are going that route too.
2) Do not put a 55w HID conversion kit in your fogs. The area inside is not enough space for proper cooling of the glass envelope. They might overheat, perhaps discoloring or melting the lens and bulb life will surly be severely reduced.
3) 55 watt kits are said to wash out the color a bit so step up your color choice by 1000k, if choosing a 55w kit.
4) An 8000k color will be pretty blue looking, to you and the cops. You may want to rethink that and stick w/a 6000k kit. You will also get a better output (lumen's) from the lower color and piss off other driver's less, and you will still have that "hint of blue" you are after.
5) Converting is not the same thing as actually having projectors that are designed for HID bulbs. There will be more scatter or spread out and once installed you should adjust your beams lower than w/the halogen bulbs installed.

Hope you find this info helpful to you.

</span>[/b]

[Virgin1]

Thanx so much..
Why might you regret a 55w install on your low beams? I assume the 55Wers are just brighter right? I originally thought they were just a wattage match to what ever was in there OEM. Are the 55wers so bright you'll get pulled over?

Also are there any warnings the 55w ones get to hot at all?

Why did you pick the brand Apexcone?
Have you heard about aftermarket HID reliability in general?
Looking on eBay it seems the German made ballasts are recommended more??
This was the one I originally was looking at. http://www.retrosolutionsllc.com/servlet/t...NVERSION/Detail They are even adjustable 30 - 55w.

As far as the install. Do you have to cut the wire harness or is there an adapter that plugs in?

Thanx, -Robo'[/b]

<span style="color:navy">I am concerned that the 55's may be too bright, but I'm not so worried about cops as I am other drivers. As I'd said, halogen projectors are not HID projectors and so there are trade-offs. The pattern will not be as controlled and I worry about scatter blinding other drivers.
HID's actually run cooler than halogens.
I chose Apexcone because they are a name brand, offer a "lifetime" warranty, and I found this site http://www.ddmtuning.com/hidkihidbuhi.html which offers them at a very good price, as long as you're not in a big hurry to get them (2-3 weeks.) Before that I had been looking at the M-Tecs which are $280/kit. A lot of money for headlights, and I could not have afforded 2 sets then either.
Lastly, I would avoid eBay rhetoric unless you are already familiar with the seller. EBay has become the cheap sellers quagmire. It used to be the equivalent of a giant yard sale or auction sale and you could find some really good deals there. (Still can, but you have to be much more careful now.) The "commercial" businesses have found and use them more often that real people do it seems. It's become more of a clearing house than an auction.
With the kits I have you plug the ballast into the factory harness on one side and the bulb into the other. Pretty simple really. The hard part seems to be finding a safe and secure place to mount the ballasts. You can get an additional harness, at an additional price that includes a relay if you are concerned about frying the factory wiring.
My thinking is that the OE low beams already draw a constant 55w, slightly more on start-up, so it should not be a problem, especially if using a 35w HID kit.

</span>

[hromika@gmail.com]

Wow they do have good prices.. The digital ones I was looking at had a lifetime warrenty and the ballast was digitally controlled. You can switch between 35 adn 55w from inside the car. But they were 170bucks..

ewwww decisions decisions..

<span style="color:navy">I am concerned that the 55's may be too bright, but I'm not so worried about cops as I am other drivers. As I'd said, halogen projectors are not HID projectors and so there are trade-offs. The pattern will not be as controlled and I worry about scatter blinding other drivers.
HID's actually run cooler than halogens.
I chose Apexcone because they are a name brand, offer a "lifetime" warranty, and I found this site http://www.ddmtuning.com/hidkihidbuhi.html which offers them at a very good price, as long as you're not in a big hurry to get them (2-3 weeks.) Before that I had been looking at the M-Tecs which are $280/kit. A lot of money for headlights, and I could not have afforded 2 sets then either.
Lastly, I would avoid eBay rhetoric unless you are already familiar with the seller. EBay has become the cheap sellers quagmire. It used to be the equivalent of a giant yard sale or auction sale and you could find some really good deals there. (Still can, but you have to be much more careful now.) The "commercial" businesses have found and use them more often that real people do it seems. It's become more of a clearing house than an auction.
With the kits I have you plug the ballast into the factory harness on one side and the bulb into the other. Pretty simple really. The hard part seems to be finding a safe and secure place to mount the ballasts. You can get an additional harness, at an additional price that includes a relay if you are concerned about frying the factory wiring.
My thinking is that the OE low beams already draw a constant 55w, slightly more on start-up, so it should not be a problem, especially if using a 35w HID kit.

</span>[/b]

[hromika@gmail.com]

OK, Im not the most decisive guy but I do know I wand HID's. I have read all the articles and saw all the pictures but understanding technically the in's and out's dosent help with the brand confusion.

So just a simple question. Im looking for 6000k 35w on my low beams Around $150 or lower. What one of these would be the best bang for the buck?

http://www.dabears2k.com/product_info.php?...products_id=239

http://www.ddmtuning.com/ap55wwesa.html

http://www.xenonexpert.com/volt_hid_sale.html

http://www.apexcone.com/lbrhigeap.html

<div align="center"> ?? Let's see who knows their stuff ? :P ?
Thanks In Advance!

-Robo

Wow they do have good prices.. The digital ones I was looking at had a lifetime warrenty and the ballast was digitally controlled. You can switch between 35 adn 55w from inside the car. But they were 170bucks..

ewwww decisions decisions..
[/b]

[pearlwhite99]

Stay away from anything that is chinese. they are some of the worst HID's out there. 35 watt bulbs are the max you should use in a non HID housing with 55w bulbs your just asking for trouble. Most HID kits are plug and play with the exception of OEM kits which are designed for a specific housing and bulb type.

[hromika@gmail.com]

So 55w would be ok in the lowbeam MZ3 projector but you wouldnt try it in the highbeam open lens?

Im leaning torwards the ExPower Japanese HID Kit from Dabears.com $105.00
They have a lifetime warrenty.

-Rob

Stay away from anything that is chinese. they are some of the worst HID's out there. 35 watt bulbs are the max you should use in a non HID housing with 55w bulbs your just asking for trouble. Most HID kits are plug and play with the exception of OEM kits which are designed for a specific housing and bulb type.[/b]

[Virgin1]

Wow they do have good prices.. The digital ones I was looking at had a lifetime warranty and the ballast was digitally controlled. You can switch between 35 and 55w from inside the car. But they were 170bucks..

ewwww decisions decisions..
[/b]

<span style="color:navy">The Apexcones also have digital ballasts. It's listed in the descriptions.
As far as switching back and forth, how would they do that? You either have a 35w bulb or a 55w. You can't have both... can you?

Oh, and I did look at that link and frankly never heard of them before. I would be leary of a "company" like that, if I wuz U.

</span>

[hromika@gmail.com]

As far as being leary of a brand they are all unknown to me.. ;-)

I am very good with electronics however. (Helicopter crewchief in Air Force) To my understanding the bulbs are all pretty much the same between 35 and 55w of the same brand. The only difference is the ballast. What they are doing is producing an adjustable 55w ballast that cuts down the juice to 35w when the trigger is switched. Having said that Im not buying them..

Im getting the ExPower Japanese HID Kit - Mazda3 http://www.dabears2k.com/product_info.php?...products_id=239
as they are from Japan and have the lifetime warranty.

-Rob

<span style="color:navy">The Apexcones also have digital ballasts. It's listed in the descriptions.
As far as switching back and forth, how would they do that? You either have a 35w bulb or a 55w. You can't have both... can you?

Oh, and I did look at that link and frankly never heard of them before. I would be leary of a "company" like that, if I wuz U.

</span>[/b]