9th Gen Lighting Thread: Headlights, Taillights, HIDs, LEDs, Retros, etc.

[MM49]

Originally Posted by Aviography

First of all, my response below is not intended to pick a fight with you, so let's not start off on the wrong foot.

My DDM kit was bought 5 years ago from a Montreal based Canadian company because at the time it had the lowest price from a reputable company, but it was still some $180 IIRC, I also bought the life-time warranty for another $25 IIRC for the peace of mind. The unit was shipped directly to me from DDM in the US.

3 years later one of the ballast failed, I contacted this Montreal company and told them I have a failed ballast which I isolated through process of elimination, the company then got me a return authorization number from DDM and told me to ship the failed ballast at MY expense to DDM in San Diego, California.

A week later DDM emailed me that they have confirmed the ballast has failed and will send me a free replacement since I purchased the life-time warranty, but the shipping charge has to be paid by ME first!!

It was very clear to me at that point the Montreal based company I bought my HID kit from was only a local middleman who does not keep any stock on hand, but rather just sell the HID kits from his webstie, then places the orders directly with DDM to have the purchased items shipped directly to the customer.

You also have to keep in mind that most if not all of these HID kits have been made in China for years, they are rebranded for shipment to various companies who then market them under their own brand names, to the best of knowledge there are no companies in America, or Canada, or UK, or Germany etc. western world countries making these HID kits, so the HID kit you are buying from this Canadian company was almost certainly made in China.

Of course I could be wrong, and this Canadian company you are dealing with does carry a large inventory, and will support you directly when something fails under warranty by providing you with a free replacement rather than make you contact the manufacturer and arrange the warranty replacement yourself, consider yourself very fortunate if that is the case!!

+1

From what I've seen most of re-brand part is done on the boxes. The bulb itself either will come with no name or "super vision" cover.

[Jaan Lewaa]

Originally Posted by glen e

Post above edited to be more clear...

I am just asking that we must have converter? or just LED bulbs will work like plug n play?

[glen e]

I answered the question in the post, Jaan - I don't know what more you need...

[gxer]

The way i see it, everything is made in china now-a-days. No need to debate hehe..

[lockeed]

Originally Posted by gxer

The way i see it, everything is made in china now-a-days. No need to debate hehe..

Everything, and that includes most of the car we drive btw....

Off course the kit is made in China. Even the oem hids components are made in china for the most part.

To Absolute hid's defense, they use high quality German capacitors on all their kits. But don't get fooled, it can go wrong just as much as the other reputable kits out there, at least I know I can call Yvan at their shop and get another one sent out in no time. They HAVE an inventory, they are not a middle man selling product without ever seeing a box or even what it looks like.

Anyway... I'm very happy with the end result I got, I'm also happy with the price and the quality. Feels great. As I said, if in 2 years I still am, that would've been money well spent imho.

[jeremyp969]

Originally Posted by glen e

After a lot of research, trial and error, and King's & Lockeed's help, I have put together my "Poor man's Touring headlight kit" that HTG sells. It is $175 total and gets me 80% of what the premium $1300 kit give you. Yes, I know it's not as good - please refrain from posting that- that's a given.

HID kit for low beams- so I can get along without high beams - ( I don't really drive at night- retired)

http://absolutehid.ca/index.php/shop...g-hid-kit.html

Total white LED DRL where Highbeam bulb goes:

http://www.ebay.com/itm/2-HB3-9005-6...09e086&vxp=mtr

YOU NEED THIS weatherproof converter to run above bulb as a DRL, OTHERWISE IT WILL FLICKER:

http://www.ebay.com/itm/230891518729...84.m1439.l2649

The bulb for the strip to make it an white LED:

http://www.exledusa.com/exled-3528-12p-t-10-bulb.html

This should give me a nice white look, all around day and night...all for 15% of the new Touring cost now...

I'm sure this is probably a stupid question that is answered elsewhere, but your goal seems to be to light up the LED strip and the high beam light for DRL. Isn't it possible to only light up the LED strip and disconnect the lower power feed to the high beam? Isn't that how the Touring lights work? What am I missing?

Thanks

[glen e]

Originally Posted by jeremyp969

I'm sure this is probably a stupid question that is answered elsewhere, but your goal seems to be to light up the LED strip and the high beam light for DRL. Isn't it possible to only light up the LED strip and disconnect the lower power feed to the high beam? Isn't that how the Touring lights work? What am I missing?

Thanks

it may be possible, but I'm not into complex rewiring - the above is all plug in and play - if you can change a lightbub, the above is for you...also if you are selling or doing a lease return, the above comes out as easy as it went in with no indicators you did any work up front.

there's some thought behind this plan.....

[jeremyp969]

Originally Posted by glen e

it may be possible, but I'm not into complex rewiring - the above is all plug in and play - if you can change a lightbub, the above is for you...also if you are selling or doing a lease return, the above comes out as easy as it went in with no indicators you did any work up front.

there's some thought behind this plan.....

Oh ic, didn't realize you were trying to avoid rewiring. So in your setup, the LED strip only runs when your lights are on? Not DRL?

[glen e]

correct...my DRL's now are so bright I don't need the strip lit, but that's a pretty easy rewire we did here. Go about halfway in on this thread where I made the harness:

http://www.driveaccord.net/forums/sh...ad.php?t=77594

[jeremyp969]

Originally Posted by glen e

correct...my DRL's now are so bright I don't need the strip lit, but that's a pretty easy rewire we did here. Go about halfway in on this thread where I made the harness:

http://www.driveaccord.net/forums/sh...ad.php?t=77594

Yeah, I saw that thread, thanks! The last I saw in that thread though you guys weren't able to find a light strong enough to run as the strip LED DRLs. Do the ones you point to in your post work for that?

[glen e]

no same...no bulb on a coupe becasue of placement is strong enuf to light the entire strip like an LED but it's good enuf from 15 feet away. And it only runs at night:


keep in mind what I said above..this is compromise at $175 vs $1300......and I'm not OCD (except for my paint, LOL)

[Aviography]

Originally Posted by lockeed

At least I know I can call Yvan at their shop and get another one sent out in no time. They HAVE an inventory, they are not a middle man selling product without ever seeing a box or even what it looks like.

That's good, I'll have to look back into my record to see which company I bought my original DDM kit from.

[MM49]

Bottom line, you can find it for cheaper. Hid's are everywhere now then they were back in days. You can probably find a local shop selling it for cheaper and you can go to them right away if anything goes wrong with the kit.

If you like purchasing through eBay, there are also U.S.A/Canadian sellers.

[sbashir95]

Does anybody know what kind of bulb the running light is on the 13' accord sport sedan? I'm looking to replace the crappy amber color to an led bulb but cant seem to find the bulb size and type. Any info would be appreciated! Thanks

[glen e]

Originally Posted by sbashir95

Does anybody know what kind of bulb the running light is on the 13' accord sport sedan? I'm looking to replace the crappy amber color to an led bulb but cant seem to find the bulb size and type. Any info would be appreciated! Thanks

put this in:

http://www.exledusa.com/exled-3528-12p-t-10-bulb.html