easy19 Posted October 22, 2008 Share Posted October 22, 2008 one of the biggest justifications of the new HID package is that they won't burn out as often as the standard lighting set up? is this in fact the case? what kind of life are HID users getting out of bulbs? i have had my car for six months and replaced four bulbs. I like the PIAA'S but i have already paid enough to have done HID's. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
underpowerd Posted October 22, 2008 Share Posted October 22, 2008 longevity is the primary factor that got me to make the switch. i never really had a 'thing' for hids, but i was losing expensive (silverstar) halogens every other month. the clean look and modest bump in performance for such a relatively cheap price makes me want to give myself a kick for not doing it sooner. mine are coming up on a year, no hint of tiring, and i use them fairly often, sometimes just to be visible (overcast days, tree-shaded backroads, etc.). if they do ever go down, all parts are covered for lifetime you mentioned you have piaa; my plasma ion fogs have been going strong so far; i was losing silverstar fogs far too often, as well. i stayed halogen down low because the piaas are generally reported to be a long lasting bulb... are you losing piaas at that rate? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bbc84 Posted October 22, 2008 Share Posted October 22, 2008 I had one of the 1st gen HIDs on my Old Accord V6 back in like 01' They still work fine, only thing that went bad was 1 of the bulbs last year. Replaced both HID bulbs real cheap and good to go again. I was replaceing high output halogens on the Accord every 6 months before I went over to HIDs. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
urs1ne Posted October 22, 2008 Share Posted October 22, 2008 I have the Apexcone 55w HID setup which I have had about a year. I have replaced one bulb already and I think a balast is about to go. If I could do it over again I would get the Phillips OEM quality kit or replace the projectors. ^ n00bs below this line Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
20lgt06 Posted October 22, 2008 Share Posted October 22, 2008 one of the biggest justifications of the new HID package is that they won't burn out as often as the standard lighting set up? is this in fact the case? what kind of life are HID users getting out of bulbs? i have had my car for six months and replaced four bulbs. I like the PIAA'S but i have already paid enough to have done HID's. KNOCK ON WOOD 2 years 40k miles and still working fine on HID some cheap ebay brand also which i paid like 100 bucks for Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
easy19 Posted October 23, 2008 Author Share Posted October 23, 2008 longevity is the primary factor that got me to make the switch. i never really had a 'thing' for hids, but i was losing expensive (silverstar) halogens every other month. the clean look and modest bump in performance for such a relatively cheap price makes me want to give myself a kick for not doing it sooner. mine are coming up on a year, no hint of tiring, and i use them fairly often, sometimes just to be visible (overcast days, tree-shaded backroads, etc.). if they do ever go down, all parts are covered for lifetime you mentioned you have piaa; my plasma ion fogs have been going strong so far; i was losing silverstar fogs far too often, as well. i stayed halogen down low because the piaas are generally reported to be a long lasting bulb... are you losing piaas at that rate? underpowered, what brand hids are you running? i have done Piaa in the lows and silverstar, both only seem to last about a month and half. i have had piaa's in my vw's and had great performance and life, but not on the gt. will put piaa ion's in teh fogs for winter for sure. thanks, easy Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MauiJim Posted October 23, 2008 Share Posted October 23, 2008 Hey easy, I'm thinking of going with Xenon Expert's 'Xtreme' HIDs-- he says the quality is markedly better than the Apexcone/DDMs. I wish the Xtreme came in a 55w variety for the extra output, but Xenon's own LGT wagon setup with the 35w Xtreme kit and 4300K Phillips bulbs looks pretty nice: http://www.xenonexpert.com/guides/lgt_1.jpg http://www.xenonexpert.com/guides/lgt_2.jpg Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
underpowerd Posted October 23, 2008 Share Posted October 23, 2008 I am running DDMs (4300K/35W), easy. Xenon Expert is a very good vendor here, and those 'Xtremes' above look pretty sharp As I understand when it comes to hids, you're either serious, and go all out (retro), or you just want to step it up a bit and get the best deal you can for your $ -- for the halos I would have blown in a year alone, my kit's already earned my 110 bucks I like the warranty, it's kind of what sold me on the kit. bummer to hear about the piaas failing . I have also heard that they last forever on other makes. good excuse to go hid fogs if they go on me, though good luck with whatever you choose. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
easy19 Posted October 23, 2008 Author Share Posted October 23, 2008 thanks boys Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
StoplightAssassin Posted October 23, 2008 Share Posted October 23, 2008 Xenon Expert is a very good vendor here The jury is out on that statement. I will let you guys know, but at this point me = Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
psucaptainkickass Posted October 23, 2008 Share Posted October 23, 2008 I have had HIDs for over two years now. Xtecs..35W kit, 5000k. No problems <knock on wood> Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
xenon expert Posted October 24, 2008 Share Posted October 24, 2008 The jury is out on that statement. I will let you guys know, but at this point me = If you have a problem please PM me. I'll take care of you. Oliver Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
StoplightAssassin Posted October 25, 2008 Share Posted October 25, 2008 If you have a problem please PM me. I'll take care of you. Oliver I've sent you 4 already. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
akscooby Posted October 26, 2008 Share Posted October 26, 2008 I have also heard that they last forever on other makes. good excuse to go hid fogs if they go on me, though good luck with whatever you choose. I've got HID fogs, and if you want some serious improvement in light output down low, that is definitely the way to go. HUGE difference from any halogen bulbs I've run. FWIW, I've got 55w DDM's in lows and fogs, and thus far they are trouble free and look pretty sharp, too. I also switched because of constant bulb changing. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
c-lo Posted October 28, 2008 Share Posted October 28, 2008 this thread caught my attention. really getting frustrated with constantly changing bulbs. whose got the best price on HIDs? 258k miles - Stock engine/minor suspension upgrades/original shocks/rear struts replaced at 222k/4 passenger side wheel bearings/3 clutches/1 radiator/3 turbos Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TPLGT Posted October 28, 2008 Share Posted October 28, 2008 subscribed Rehab is for quitters. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
c-lo Posted October 28, 2008 Share Posted October 28, 2008 man I dunno, I'm thinking of running driving lights. mostly I want more lights for the backroads around my house. no street lights. may go driiving lights first before I make the investment in HIDS. 258k miles - Stock engine/minor suspension upgrades/original shocks/rear struts replaced at 222k/4 passenger side wheel bearings/3 clutches/1 radiator/3 turbos Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
StoplightAssassin Posted October 28, 2008 Share Posted October 28, 2008 Factory HIDs last a lot longer than these ~$130 aftermarket stuff we can buy. The aftermarket HIDs seem to be hit or miss in life expectancy. Mine are a miss. I think I am gonna try these halogens. http://store.candlepower.com/osraulhiouh7.html I've heard good things about the Osrams but I'll probably save up for a good set like the Phillips mentioned earlier. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
johnAWD Posted October 28, 2008 Share Posted October 28, 2008 So far so good on a 35 watt Xenon Expert DDM kit from Apexcone. It's been less than a year, but no issues yet. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jarrod Posted October 28, 2008 Share Posted October 28, 2008 Factory HIDs last a lot longer than these ~$130 aftermarket stuff we can buy. The aftermarket HIDs seem to be hit or miss in life expectancy. Mine are a miss. I think I am gonna try these halogens. http://store.candlepower.com/osraulhiouh7.html I've heard good things about the Osrams but I'll probably save up for a good set like the Phillips mentioned earlier. That's a good price on those but you'll be replacing them in less than a year. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
akscooby Posted October 28, 2008 Share Posted October 28, 2008 +1 Those are good bulbs, with excellent brightness and color. You probably can't beat them in a halogen. I used them for a couple of years, but you'll still have to replace them. I think I averaged about 6 months, so even at that cheap price, you're looking at $80/year. You can get a 35w HID kit for less then that, that in theory should last 3 or 4 years before you have to replace a bulb. Just some thoughts. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
StoplightAssassin Posted October 28, 2008 Share Posted October 28, 2008 In theory they should last. However my Apexcone kit degraded over the 5 months I had it installed. It was great when it worked, but I was pulled over twice b/c my passenger side light didn't fire. It went from usually working to sometimes and finally to never. I know it's not a bulb issue b/c I switched the bulbs into the opposite ballast and got the same result. According to a certain vendor on here, who is not returning my emails, Apexcone tested my suspected bad ballast and it worked as it should. That just leaves the wiring harness. At 20 bucks for the Osrams though I might as well give them a try. They are still cheaper than Silverstars I have in currently and have a much greater light output as well. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jarrod Posted October 28, 2008 Share Posted October 28, 2008 Definately go with the Osrams if you're going back to halogens. I could have already paid for HID's for the low beams and fogs with what i've invested in halogens thus far...so i'm going to try out HID's this time around Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DoubleM Posted October 29, 2008 Share Posted October 29, 2008 So far so good on a 35 watt Xenon Expert DDM kit from Apexcone. It's been less than a year, but no issues yet. Same, had mine over a year, no problems. I got the lifetime warranty just in case, but I haven't needed it. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
scooby600 Posted October 29, 2008 Share Posted October 29, 2008 I've had 3 DDM ballasts go bad on me in about a year... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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