General HID Question
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Race Director
Joined: Jul 2007
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From: 972 and 405
General HID Question
Most of the time when I see aftermarket installations of HIDs into vehicles that are not originally equipped with this system, they experience flickering and sometimes takes a few seconds for the lights to come on. Among other issues. So my question is, do these aftermarket systems truelly provide a stock type setup or should we expect, flickering and dimming lights for a perfectly functioning setup?
-Alex
-Alex
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From: The Sunshine State
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I have ACAs so I can only talk to my experience with them. I think the key component is the actual HID bulb/ballast and harness being used. I'm sure the quality differs between manufacturers.
I purchased both my ACA HIDs and my Fog HIDs through JW Motoring. I noticed that my fogs turn on and brighten up immediately. The ACAs lows (which are the same 4300 temp as my fogs) tend to warm up more slowly probably due to the wiring harness connections I had to route to the battery. The fogs were simply plug and play using the existing wiring and adding the ballasts. I have experienced no flickering with either the fogs or ACA lows.
Both the HID fogs and ACA HID lows emit a high pitched whine upon firing them up, which apparently is normal.
I also changed the settings on the DIC so that my fogs no longer flash when I lock/unlock the car. That was a tip provided on an earlier thread to help extend the HID bulb life.
I purchased both my ACA HIDs and my Fog HIDs through JW Motoring. I noticed that my fogs turn on and brighten up immediately. The ACAs lows (which are the same 4300 temp as my fogs) tend to warm up more slowly probably due to the wiring harness connections I had to route to the battery. The fogs were simply plug and play using the existing wiring and adding the ballasts. I have experienced no flickering with either the fogs or ACA lows.
Both the HID fogs and ACA HID lows emit a high pitched whine upon firing them up, which apparently is normal.
I also changed the settings on the DIC so that my fogs no longer flash when I lock/unlock the car. That was a tip provided on an earlier thread to help extend the HID bulb life.
Last edited by MSG C5; Feb 24, 2011 at 12:03 PM.
Team Owner
Joined: Sep 2001
Posts: 23,283
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From: Lake Elsinore, CA
I put the ACA's on one of our C5's and get no flickering or other anomaly once they warm up. I also have a set of JWM prototypes on my other C5 that have the same performance as far as no flickering. As a comparison, I just bought a 2011 MINI Cooper S with Bi-xenon HID headlights that are factory and they take about 6-8 seconds to completely warm/brighten up and there is no flicker with those either.
Just FYI, I rate the the aftermarket performance sets I installed in the Vettes equal to the awesome factory HID's in my new MINI.
Just FYI, I rate the the aftermarket performance sets I installed in the Vettes equal to the awesome factory HID's in my new MINI.
Drifting
Joined: Feb 2009
Posts: 1,379
Likes: 1
From: MA
I have both Light Cannon 2.0's as well as a new set of Hella foglights with HID's and both have been performing exceptionally well.
Even went through my State Inspection with no issue as my headlights are aligned perfectly.
Even went through my State Inspection with no issue as my headlights are aligned perfectly.
Pro
Joined: Sep 2010
Posts: 606
Likes: 1
From: ON THE RED RIVER TEXAS
Some of the kits also use a relay in the system that causes the lights to take a moment to come on until they "power up" the relay... The ones I have installed on my Hyundai do not have a relay, and they slowly "power up" and get brighter while doing so..
I've had this kit on my Tiburon for 2+ yrs and I've had zero issues with them.
I've had this kit on my Tiburon for 2+ yrs and I've had zero issues with them.
Supporting Vendor
Joined: Jul 2010
Posts: 8,550
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From: Republic of Texas
A factory-installed HID system uses OEM equipment that's usually provided by higher quality manufacturers. The warmup time for these are about 4-5 seconds and rarely flash.
Aftermarket HID kits generally are not built to the same exacting standards. The flickering and long warm up time of aftermarket bulbs are the result of 2 key factors:
a) a wider tolerance of salt and mixtures in the bulb arc capsule.
b) lower standards in the HID ballasts.
The price of OEM equipment is on the order of 3-5 times higher than aftermarket kits. This an OEM kits are usually not offered in re-based type bulbs.
Aftermarket HID kits generally are not built to the same exacting standards. The flickering and long warm up time of aftermarket bulbs are the result of 2 key factors:
a) a wider tolerance of salt and mixtures in the bulb arc capsule.
b) lower standards in the HID ballasts.
The price of OEM equipment is on the order of 3-5 times higher than aftermarket kits. This an OEM kits are usually not offered in re-based type bulbs.
Le Mans Master
Joined: May 2006
Posts: 5,747
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From: Hillsboro Oregon
A factory-installed HID system uses OEM equipment that's usually provided by higher quality manufacturers. The warmup time for these are about 4-5 seconds and rarely flash.
Aftermarket HID kits generally are not built to the same exacting standards. The flickering and long warm up time of aftermarket bulbs are the result of 2 key factors:
a) a wider tolerance of salt and mixtures in the bulb arc capsule.
b) lower standards in the HID ballasts.
The price of OEM equipment is on the order of 3-5 times higher than aftermarket kits. This an OEM kits are usually not offered in re-based type bulbs.
Aftermarket HID kits generally are not built to the same exacting standards. The flickering and long warm up time of aftermarket bulbs are the result of 2 key factors:
a) a wider tolerance of salt and mixtures in the bulb arc capsule.
b) lower standards in the HID ballasts.
The price of OEM equipment is on the order of 3-5 times higher than aftermarket kits. This an OEM kits are usually not offered in re-based type bulbs.
BTW, the use of a battery based relay harness does not slow the warm up of the HIDs. If anything it would shorten the time as the larger wires used will deliver the voltage/amperage faster to the ballasts.
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Drifting
Joined: Oct 2003
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From: San Antonio TX
Supporting Vendor
Joined: Jul 2010
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From: Republic of Texas
The long answer:
Most HID setups draw steady 35w of power to maintain the light source. Your typical headlight is a 55w bulb. Some new HID kits use a 50-55w kit.
The short answer: No, HIDs will not draw any more power than the stock halogen bulbs.
Race Director
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From: Kali
St. Jude Donor '11
I have a little bit of "flicker" when the pavement is uneven i my drivers side bulb. Besides that I was one of the first converts nearly 4 years ago. And still running just fine.
Supporting Vendor
Joined: Jul 2010
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From: Republic of Texas
The Gen I ACA kit used a D1S HID kit with Genuine Philips ballasts and bulbs (OEM equipment).....this was the reason they were significantly more expensive than the current kits that use H9 bulbs.
CF Veteran
Joined: Aug 2005
Posts: 1,429
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From: Northern CA
St. Jude Donor '10-'12, '25
No flickering and/or dimming here either! Takes about 4-5 sec. and they are warmed up and on. I love the amount of light they produce and would never go back. 
Melting Slicks
Joined: Jun 2007
Posts: 2,172
Likes: 1
From: Sartell Minnesota
i had HID's in my car in the stock lenses. I loved them until i noticed them bounce/flicker when i hit bumps. I'm not sure why they did it but stock style bulbs didn't do it. So i am eventually gonna look into ACA's with HID's and be done with the HID conversion stuff 
