On the subject of cheap HID kits...

[madrabbitt]

A vendor dropped off some samples to the upfitter I used to work for.

The fact that these kits are made in China, assembled in Mexico is probably the first hint of the quality.

The fact that they want them priced at "Sale price is $99, marked retail price is $149" and wholesale is $78 is another hint.

One of the samples is a 10000k H3 kit, and I have a pair of H3 Hella 500FF's that are getting replaced soon with something else, so I figured i'd give this kit a try.

And by try, i mean see how long it can stand up to typical abuse at my hands...

 

[AK Rover]

I had really good luck with a cheap set of dual beam HIDs I bought off ebay for my Land Rover Discovery. Even bouncing around off-road didn't seem to cause them any problems.

 

[madrabbitt]

Ok, I tore up a set of hella 500FF's and took pictures of the converstions...
The beam pattern sucks, but at least its sorta close to OEM focus.

Surprisingly, the arc bubble was pretty much centered on the location of the original H3 light... of course, an H3 bulb has a transverse filament and the arc in a HID bulb is axial.

Wait, did i get that right? Transverse is left to right across the bulb, and axial is top to bottom, right?

 

[-Virgil-]

Yup, you got it right.

 

[madrabbitt]

Oh, I need to go out and see how they do in the dark...

10000k, they are NOT.

I'd say 6000Kish, at best. Noticeably bluer then my stock 4300, but not dark blue or purple.

 

[madrabbitt]

Eh, They werent too bad, out in the desert.

Stock, the 55w bulbs are overpowered by my HIR high beams... the HID's however, were brighter then the high beams.

The beam pattern is funky though, its still a driving beam, but its in weird shapes, and thats noticable when its not the same color as the other lights.

Forgot my phone, so didnt take pictures, will post all pictures from the conversion later today... also have to go get some epoxy to seal them up

 

[Diesel_Bomber]

I wouldn't ruin a good set of Hella's by epoxying that garbage into them.

 

[Alaric Darconville]

What do you expect to prove? That cheap HID kits are.... cheap?
We've long figured that part out...

 

[madrabbitt]

I wouldn't ruin a good set of Hella's by epoxying that garbage into them.

Um. Its a walmart set of hellas.

Which is slightly less then... good.

 

[madrabbitt]

What do you expect to prove? That cheap HID kits are.... cheap?
We've long figured that part out...

More curious about how they perform.

Damn, i STILL havent remembered to upload the pics.

Surprisingly, they're still alive.
And they work... decent.

For now.

 

[LeanBurn]

Did you convert both of them or just one...it would've been nice to see the new beam pattern up against the old...for comparison purposes...

 

[Diesel_Bomber]

Um. Its a walmart set of hellas.

Which is slightly less then... good.

Regardless of good or not, you certainly have not improved them.

 

[Phatty McPatty]

On the very same topic, I have a guy on a car forum who added an aftermarket HID kit to his halogen reflector assembly. He's already had people flash their lights at him. I told him that this was illegal and he is asking for the law. He said "the ebay listing stated it was legal.". Can someone help me on this one? Thanks.Patrick

 

[-Virgil-]

"HID kits" in halogen-bulb headlamps (any kit, any headlamp, any vehicle) do not work safely or effectively, which is why they are illegal. See http://www.danielsternlighting.com/tech/bulbs/Hid/conversions/conversions.html .

 

[Phatty McPatty]

Scheinwerfermann, thanks for the info, I've passed the link along.Patrick

 

[Frank88]

It's been over 2 years I have a set of H4 Bi-xenon (with an electromagnet to make the high beam instead of another halogen bulb. They are 35watt kit 4300k and I rolled 40000km with them so far including 2 canada winter and Québec roads (hole land). I bought the kit for about 80$ at that time, they are now sold 65-70 $ (my ebay seller still exist) and i have a friend who got a kit from them too with no problem.

Hella Technology Germany is written on the ballast (or something like that i dont remember).

For the price im MORE than satisfied, as for the output, its as good as my other friend 250$ dealer bought kit. Plus I have hid high beam

Oh and the high beam on my car are simply nuts !!! I would not imagine with a 55w kit :huh:

About people flashing you... its all an adjustment question, at first i was flashed alot, I adjusted my light height(with the adjusting screw) and my garage door and did alot of error/try and now nobody flashes me for months, exept when im on high beam, burning their retina

The only down of this ''cheap kit'' is that one of my bulb is not exactly(slightly) the same color but that doesn't really bother me.

Never Halogen again on any of my cars.:thumbsup:

 

[-Virgil-]

It's been over 2 years I have a set of H4 Bi-xenon (with an electromagnet to make the high beam Hella Technology Germany is written on the ballast (or something like that i dont remember).

Yeah, uh-huh, take a look at all the German companies whose name the Chinese are happy to put (without authorization or approval of the named company) on "HID kits". They'll put whatever the buyer wants.

For the price im MORE than satisfied

It's easy to be satisfied when you are ignorant of the danger you are bringing on yourself and (more importantly) others on the road.

as for the output, its as good as my other friend 250$ dealer bought kit.

Your saying this is evidence that you are neither qualified nor equipped to make that judgment. "HID kits" in halogen-bulb headlamps (any kit, any headlamp, any vehicle -- whether the kit is bought at a dealer or on the internet) do not work safely or effectively, which is why they are illegal.

 

[Frank88]

By saying compared to a shop kit it's equally brighter, im not making a general statement here, it's just that i have the same output for less money (the 250$ bucks price is with installation but still overexpensive)

As for the Hella statement, Im very conscious it may be complete ripoff and hella as nothing to do but hey, they still works very fine, never flickered
It's written made in xxx, designed germany on it (where xxx i dont remember, probably china) But anyway ?? where's the point here ? its working just fine like it should for a more than acceptable for ''china junk''

Now tell me, as im an ignorant, where do I put myself in danger ? electrical shock ? When driving on dark tight road the safety it brings me with deers ans such is MUCH appreciated. Has it happen, it almost save my life or majors injuries with a Adult deer 90 kmh impact. (no hid I would not have see it in time)
And where do i put other in danger with a well adjusted beam pattern vs. STOCK suv with blinding HID where they are STOCK adjusted way too high ?

Oh and by the way, In what way the law should stop me ? Not that im a stupid perso who dont care about other people but by the law almost anything not oem on the car is considered illegal as it may alter/decrease/increase performance... (here at least, but modifications car largely acccepted by police)

Edit : My kit is none of the above boxes. My kit was and is sold on ebay but the real ''manufacturer'' or the one who make the packaging is vvme. I say this as an information, Im not making any kind of publicity here.

 

[-Virgil-]

By saying compared to a shop kit it's equally brighter, im not making a general statement here, it's just that i have the same output for less money (the 250$ bucks price is with installation but still overexpensive)

Your claim of "output" is meaningless, because you are ignoring beam focus/formation.

its working just fine

No, it isn't.

Now tell me, as im an ignorant, where do I put myself in danger?

Improper light distribution. Too much light in some places, not enough light in other places. It means you can't see what you need to see, and it means you're producing dangerous levels of glare for other road users. This is fact, not opinion, and subjective impressions of how well you think you can see are meaningless.

And where do i put other in danger with a well adjusted beam pattern

If you had a beam pattern, we could talk about adjustment, but you haven't got a beam pattern if you have an "HID kit" in an H4 headlamp -- you've got a mess.

Oh and by the way, In what way the law should stop me?

The same way the law says your brake lights have to be red. You can decide to make them green or purple or white, and you might drive around for many years without getting a ticket, but that doesn't make it OK or safe.

Not that im a stupid perso who dont care about other people

Whether you're stupid or not isn't apposite to this forum. The fact that you take a vehicle with an "HID kit" on the public roads is evidence that you don't care about safety.

 

[Phatty McPatty]

Hella Technology Germany is written on the ballast (or something like that i dont remember).

For the price im MORE than satisfied, as for the output, its as good as my other friend 250$ dealer bought kit. Plus I have hid high beam

Oh and the high beam on my car are simply nuts !!! I would not imagine with a 55w kit :huh:

About people flashing you... its all an adjustment question, at first i was flashed alot, I adjusted my light height(with the adjusting screw) and my garage door and did alot of error/try and now nobody flashes me for months, exept when im on high beam, burning their retina

Never Halogen again on any of my cars.:thumbsup:

As they say, ignorance is bliss... :shakehead