HID kits
Thread Starter
Race Director
Joined: Aug 2006
Posts: 13,542
Likes: 1
From: Are you fat because you're lazy or lazy because you're fat? San Jose, CA
Cruise-In X Veteran
St. Jude Donor '09
HID kits
I just was given some cash as a birthday present, and with daylight savings time coming up soon, I'll be driving home from work in the dark everyday. I take some windy backroads home, and the stock headlights just don't do a good enough job.
I know there are some $1000 kits out there that replace the factory bezels and all that, but that's way more than I want to spend.
There are a lot of kits out there for around $200-300. I'm interested in one of these, but I'd like to hear some of your experiences, as I get the feeling there are a lot of crappy ones out there that simply change the K temp of the bulbs to get the HID look.
I know there are some $1000 kits out there that replace the factory bezels and all that, but that's way more than I want to spend.
There are a lot of kits out there for around $200-300. I'm interested in one of these, but I'd like to hear some of your experiences, as I get the feeling there are a lot of crappy ones out there that simply change the K temp of the bulbs to get the HID look.
Melting Slicks
Joined: Nov 2001
Posts: 3,088
Likes: 1
From: NC
If there is a better bang for the buck upgrade to the C5 than the
$1K HID replacements, then I don't know about it.
Do yourself a favor and don't go the cheap route here. Buy the full
kit and replace those stock headlights.
They're DOT approved and pass inspection. The difference is literally
night and day.
...G
$1K HID replacements, then I don't know about it.
Do yourself a favor and don't go the cheap route here. Buy the full
kit and replace those stock headlights.
They're DOT approved and pass inspection. The difference is literally
night and day.
...G
Thread Starter
Race Director
Joined: Aug 2006
Posts: 13,542
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From: Are you fat because you're lazy or lazy because you're fat? San Jose, CA
Cruise-In X Veteran
St. Jude Donor '09
Ttt
Anyone?
Personally, it's not worth it to me for $1000, but I know there are kits out there for a few hundred bucks that people are running. Let's see em...
Personally, it's not worth it to me for $1000, but I know there are kits out there for a few hundred bucks that people are running. Let's see em...
Team Owner
Joined: Dec 1999
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From: Here
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I believe in the Beer Fairy
Love mine....HUGE difference over stock or any aftermarket bulbs....I was hesitant about the cost as well.....now I occasionally drive friends C5 and keep checking to see if the damn lights are on...
Drifting
Joined: Jan 2002
Posts: 1,550
Likes: 2
From: Woodbridge VA
Originally Posted by pewter99
Love mine....HUGE difference over stock or any aftermarket bulbs....I was hesitant about the cost as well.....now I occasionally drive friends C5 and keep checking to see if the damn lights are on...
Race Director
Joined: Jan 2003
Posts: 10,838
Likes: 1
From: Volusia. Las Vegas FL, NV
This is not recommended but I went with the $350 HID with stock housing. Just make sure it's adjusted correctly to reduce the glare. I don't have any problem with oncoming traffic and it brighten the road much better than stock. 
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Pro
Joined: Jun 2003
Posts: 669
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From: DFW TX
St. Jude Donor '08-'09
Originally Posted by spider94r
Not good ones.
I suppose they arent good like the $299 auction site long tubes arent good
The $200 kits are fine, as long as the come with a decent ballast, philips ect.. remember the guy isnt talking about a projector setup, just stock replacement bulbs that are HIDs.
IMO for 40 bucks I would just try some Silverstars, they have been plenty bright on every vehicle I've owned. I wouldnt go HIDs unless you are going to do projectors, then you are looking at spending $1000 for a $600 setup, damn vette tax.
http://www.hidplanet.com/
has some good setups.
P
Race Director
Joined: Jan 2003
Posts: 10,838
Likes: 1
From: Volusia. Las Vegas FL, NV
Originally Posted by slayer6x6
So what does it mean when a car had 6000K HID lights? What does the 6000K mean?
Drifting
Joined: Jan 2002
Posts: 1,550
Likes: 2
From: Woodbridge VA
Originally Posted by PatrickCarter
I suppose they arent good like the $299 auction site long tubes arent good
The $200 kits are fine, as long as the come with a decent ballast, philips ect.. remember the guy isnt talking about a projector setup, just stock replacement bulbs that are HIDs.
IMO for 40 bucks I would just try some Silverstars, they have been plenty bright on every vehicle I've owned. I wouldnt go HIDs unless you are going to do projectors, then you are looking at spending $1000 for a $600 setup, damn vette tax.
http://www.hidplanet.com/
has some good setups.
P
The $200 kits are fine, as long as the come with a decent ballast, philips ect.. remember the guy isnt talking about a projector setup, just stock replacement bulbs that are HIDs.
IMO for 40 bucks I would just try some Silverstars, they have been plenty bright on every vehicle I've owned. I wouldnt go HIDs unless you are going to do projectors, then you are looking at spending $1000 for a $600 setup, damn vette tax.
http://www.hidplanet.com/
has some good setups.
P
http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/97-04...spagenameZWDVW
http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/9006-...spagenameZWDVW
Instructor
Joined: Sep 2006
Posts: 168
Likes: 0
From: Montgomery County MD
Personally I would spend that 1k on other things on my vette that I can get my use out of full time.
I have european headlights with the high wattage bulbs with the harness and I am very happy.
I have european headlights with the high wattage bulbs with the harness and I am very happy.
Instructor
Joined: Sep 2003
Posts: 155
Likes: 0
From: northeast
I got HID's from Meccatune. They cost around $549. They are a terrific upgrade over the stock lights. They illuminate the road much better. and make the vette look a hell of alot better too. I'll take a pic of it tonight when it gets dark out.
Thread Starter
Race Director
Joined: Aug 2006
Posts: 13,542
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From: Are you fat because you're lazy or lazy because you're fat? San Jose, CA
Cruise-In X Veteran
St. Jude Donor '09
HIDs
StiflersVette,
Was your kit projector style or just an upgraded ballast/bulbs kit that I'm looking at?
Yes, some of you are correct, I'm not looking to blow anywhere near $1000 on this. Some of those kits from HID planet look nice, and $400 is about the most I'd like to spend. They certainly look better than the $200 kits you see on ebay.
Was your kit projector style or just an upgraded ballast/bulbs kit that I'm looking at?
Yes, some of you are correct, I'm not looking to blow anywhere near $1000 on this. Some of those kits from HID planet look nice, and $400 is about the most I'd like to spend. They certainly look better than the $200 kits you see on ebay.
Night Owl for life
Joined: Nov 2003
Posts: 24,725
Likes: 4,564
From: Bugs Bunny should'a made a left turn here
Originally Posted by SLO C5
StiflersVette,
Was your kit projector style or just an upgraded ballast/bulbs kit that I'm looking at?
Yes, some of you are correct, I'm not looking to blow anywhere near $1000 on this. Some of those kits from HID planet look nice, and $400 is about the most I'd like to spend. They certainly look better than the $200 kits you see on ebay.
Was your kit projector style or just an upgraded ballast/bulbs kit that I'm looking at?
Yes, some of you are correct, I'm not looking to blow anywhere near $1000 on this. Some of those kits from HID planet look nice, and $400 is about the most I'd like to spend. They certainly look better than the $200 kits you see on ebay.
you're not going to "blow" $1000 on something that is a genuine upgrade to the lighting. it actually works.
but you will be blowing $3-400 on the retro kit that gives crappy light output that blinds oncoming drivers and will not pass a state inspection, should you have one.
read this entire thread to get some insight...take note of the pics in post #33 and especially the conslusions of post #40.
http://forums.corvetteforum.com/show...&highlight=hid
Last edited by jdmvette; Oct 26, 2006 at 06:36 PM.
Instructor
Joined: Oct 2006
Posts: 133
Likes: 0
From: Austin TX
I ran the Meccatune kit on my cobra. Loved it. The only drawback was the stang used a single bulb for the high beam and low beam, so I did not have any high beams. But to be honest I did not need any. But with the vettes being two bulbs that would be a bad *** option. I might go back with their kit myself.
Melting Slicks
Joined: Jan 2006
Posts: 2,630
Likes: 7
From: Woodridge Illinois
St. Jude Donor '06, '13
http://blinglights.com/shopbling/sto...idCategory=109 i dont have them... but some members here do.... my car came with 6500k hid lights... dont know what company they are but they have a purple tint to them when u look at them and the road really lights up bright white.... i installed silverstars in my highbeams and they look really yellow compared to the hid and i can see 10x better with the low beams than the high beams
Instructor
Joined: Sep 2003
Posts: 155
Likes: 0
From: northeast
Originally Posted by SLO C5
StiflersVette,
Was your kit projector style or just an upgraded ballast/bulbs kit that I'm looking at?
Yes, some of you are correct, I'm not looking to blow anywhere near $1000 on this. Some of those kits from HID planet look nice, and $400 is about the most I'd like to spend. They certainly look better than the $200 kits you see on ebay.
Was your kit projector style or just an upgraded ballast/bulbs kit that I'm looking at?
Yes, some of you are correct, I'm not looking to blow anywhere near $1000 on this. Some of those kits from HID planet look nice, and $400 is about the most I'd like to spend. They certainly look better than the $200 kits you see on ebay.
