Best HID/projector headlights for the $$
Thread Starter
Drifting
Joined: Jan 2014
Posts: 1,285
Likes: 164
From: MA
Best HID/projector headlights for the $$
I am debating on pulling the trigger on some replacement headlights for my '03 C5Z as I continue to improve on the car's small list of shortcomings vs. modern sports cars (replaced the stereo/speakers added bluetooth etc).
I know there are alot of good reviews on the Radioflyer products, but I see other vendors selling sets that appear just as goof (JWM & corvette mods for instance) @ nearly 1/2 the price.
Anyone have a set of the cheaper lights that can comment on fitment/install/function vs. the radio flyer pieces?
Tough to justify that kind of $$$ for them when there are other cheaper alternatives from reputable vendors.
I know there are alot of good reviews on the Radioflyer products, but I see other vendors selling sets that appear just as goof (JWM & corvette mods for instance) @ nearly 1/2 the price.
Anyone have a set of the cheaper lights that can comment on fitment/install/function vs. the radio flyer pieces?
Tough to justify that kind of $$$ for them when there are other cheaper alternatives from reputable vendors.
Racer
Joined: Mar 2014
Posts: 345
Likes: 86
From: Goodlettsville Tennessee
I went with the Corvette Mods lights and love them. Such an improvement over stock. I also went with the 35W ballast as I wanted light not blueness. They fit well with no issues, put them in myself. It wasn't too hard to install, and have been on the car for almost 2 years with no issues. I haven't upgraded the brights to HID and would do that If I were you.
Pro
Joined: Oct 2016
Posts: 523
Likes: 90
From: Los Angeles, CA
I went with JWM ACA projectors with 55w HIDs at 5000k color temperature and couldn't be happier. Much better light output than stock, pure white color and great fitment. Did the install myself in under 2.5 hours taking my time.
Burning Brakes
Joined: Aug 2016
Posts: 1,000
Likes: 283
From: New York
Doing it again I would get the housings, those are good and I would get the ballast / lights from theretroshop or lights from ebay and make my own harness using quality weather packs and a true fit harness. Will cost less and fit better with better components.
No knocks to JWM like I said good responsive service and I would do business with him again any time!
Drifting
Joined: Jun 2013
Posts: 1,971
Likes: 343
From: Shell Point (Crawfordville) Florida
There are two harnesses in the kit, both are the same length, so you might say that the passenger side harness is too long, so tuck it in somewhere out of the way, very easy.
I put my HIR 9011 bulbs in the high beams and with the 4-on relays in the harness, there is LOTS of light.
Last edited by mrlmd; Dec 19, 2016 at 11:50 AM.
Melting Slicks
Joined: Mar 2009
Posts: 2,300
Likes: 115
From: Odessa FL
St. Jude Donor '10-'12-'13-'14-'15-'16-'17
I bought my original set of ACA housings on Ebay about 5 years ago. Built my own harness with component pieces sourced from what was Radio Shack at the time. Replaced the ballasts with Philips 35 watt thin lines. I did not use HID bulbs in the high beams because the reflector housing just scatters the light. I used HIR bulbs instead in the highs and HID 6000K in the low beams. Ran these without issue (except for adding a resistor to allow the lights to go down without having to turn on the high beam) for 3 years. I replaced them with a set from Radio Flyer with angel eyes and the high beams realigned to be effective. I still use HIR in the high beams and HID 6000K in the low beams and still using the harness I originally made. I changed to Miromoto XB55 (50 watt ballasts and HID bulbs) and have no need for the resistor any longer.
Burning Brakes
Joined: Aug 2016
Posts: 1,000
Likes: 283
From: New York
I just got a set of those and did not find that to be the case at all. It all fit well and there was no problem with the harness or the connectors.
There are two harnesses in the kit, both are the same length, so you might say that the passenger side harness is too long, so tuck it in somewhere out of the way, very easy.
There are two harnesses in the kit, both are the same length, so you might say that the passenger side harness is too long, so tuck it in somewhere out of the way, very easy.
Its on my car now so doesn't matter.
Just giving my 2 cents.
Race Director
Joined: Jul 2008
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From: The Sunshine State
2022 C5 of the Year Finalist - Modified
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2018 C5 of Year Finalist
Same here just last week in fact. JWM ACA projectors customer service so far has been good. However, the harness that is included is CRAP, its to long on one side and the connectors are CHEAP! It's a Chinese special.
Doing it again I would get the housings, those are good and I would get the ballast / lights from theretroshop or lights from ebay and make my own harness using quality weather packs and a true fit harness. Will cost less and fit better with better components.
No knocks to JWM like I said good responsive service and I would do business with him again any time!
Doing it again I would get the housings, those are good and I would get the ballast / lights from theretroshop or lights from ebay and make my own harness using quality weather packs and a true fit harness. Will cost less and fit better with better components.
No knocks to JWM like I said good responsive service and I would do business with him again any time!
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Melting Slicks
Joined: Mar 2001
Posts: 2,671
Likes: 852
From: New Jersey
I have the cheaper JWM kit, with the un-modified (un-aimed high-beams) ACA housings and the 55W HID ballasts. Works fine, much more light than stock halogen system, but the cut-off pattern is a little crappy, there is some pattern above the cutoff line which I have heard is due to internal reflections off of the clear front lens (it is not a flat lens). No oncoming cars have flashed-me for my headlight glare, so it seems the semi-good cut-off is OK. They are the best bang-for-the buck in lighting upgrade, but you can have better lighting if you spend significantly more $.
Also, I had to add the 2 diodes to the kit, to keep the low-beam HIDs ON when the High-Beams are engaged. And I used plenty of RTV silicone to seal-up the connectors and the housing seams.
Also, I had to add the 2 diodes to the kit, to keep the low-beam HIDs ON when the High-Beams are engaged. And I used plenty of RTV silicone to seal-up the connectors and the housing seams.
Last edited by ersatz928; Dec 19, 2016 at 04:30 PM.
Supporting Vendor
Joined: Jul 2010
Posts: 8,550
Likes: 903
From: Republic of Texas
Our kit uses the same housings as other vendors, but the difference is in the hardware.
Our system features:
- Bi-xenon projectors (HID low and High functions from the same light source)
- LED high beam (instant-on/off and color-matched to the HID bulb)
- True 55w ballasts (no need for headlight resistors to maintain correct raise/lower function)
- Uses factory connectors with no long relay harness
- Radioflyer's Hi-4 harness keeps low beams on with high beams.
The result is a kit that
- lights up FAR more area (26% more width than the standard ACA)
- Has a better focused beam for longer-distance vision
- Substantially more effective high beam function.
Our system features:
- Bi-xenon projectors (HID low and High functions from the same light source)
- LED high beam (instant-on/off and color-matched to the HID bulb)
- True 55w ballasts (no need for headlight resistors to maintain correct raise/lower function)
- Uses factory connectors with no long relay harness
- Radioflyer's Hi-4 harness keeps low beams on with high beams.
The result is a kit that
- lights up FAR more area (26% more width than the standard ACA)
- Has a better focused beam for longer-distance vision
- Substantially more effective high beam function.
Burning Brakes
Joined: Aug 2016
Posts: 1,000
Likes: 283
From: New York
Our kit uses the same housings as other vendors, but the difference is in the hardware.
Our system features:
- Bi-xenon projectors (HID low and High functions from the same light source)
- LED high beam (instant-on/off and color-matched to the HID bulb)
- True 55w ballasts (no need for headlight resistors to maintain correct raise/lower function)
- Uses factory connectors with no long relay harness
- Radioflyer's Hi-4 harness keeps low beams on with high beams.
The result is a kit that
- lights up FAR more area (26% more width than the standard ACA)
- Has a better focused beam for longer-distance vision
- Substantially more effective high beam function.
Our system features:
- Bi-xenon projectors (HID low and High functions from the same light source)
- LED high beam (instant-on/off and color-matched to the HID bulb)
- True 55w ballasts (no need for headlight resistors to maintain correct raise/lower function)
- Uses factory connectors with no long relay harness
- Radioflyer's Hi-4 harness keeps low beams on with high beams.
The result is a kit that
- lights up FAR more area (26% more width than the standard ACA)
- Has a better focused beam for longer-distance vision
- Substantially more effective high beam function.
Racer
Joined: Feb 2016
Posts: 291
Likes: 68
From: Texas
2022 C7 of the Year Finalist - Unmodified
C7 of the Year - Unmodified Finalist 2021
St. Jude Donor '17-'18-'19
I highly recommend RadioFlyer. Easy to install, great support, look really really good. and they light up the night.
Melting Slicks
Joined: Jan 2007
Posts: 3,021
Likes: 133
From: Conejo Valley CA
I have the Radio Flyer kit and I am tremendously pleased. The install is clean without a bunch of wires everywhere. Performance of lights is great and customer service is impeccable.
Race Director
Joined: Apr 2007
Posts: 19,793
Likes: 523
From: Ideals are peaceful...History is violent...St.Charles, MO.
2020 Corvette of the Year Finalist (appearance mods)
C5 of Year Winner (appearance mods) 2019
St. Jude Donor '08-'09-'12 thru'22
I have the RadioFlyer ACA version, and I just can't describe in words the vast improvement over stock it has. I can't comment on the JWM ACA edition but, having dealt with him on a number of other purchases, I imagine it's great quality as well.
You can take a 1000 pictures of these headlights at work and it won't ever come close to experiencing it first-hand, the first time you pop your headlights up, you'll be like "good God, what a huge improvement!!! Why didn't I get these sooner!!...It really is that good
You can take a 1000 pictures of these headlights at work and it won't ever come close to experiencing it first-hand, the first time you pop your headlights up, you'll be like "good God, what a huge improvement!!! Why didn't I get these sooner!!...It really is that good
Thread Starter
Drifting
Joined: Jan 2014
Posts: 1,285
Likes: 164
From: MA
Thanks for the replies.
Corvette tax is a PITA, but like I say in business need to draw a line somewhere & everyone needs to make a buck, so its OK to be a pig, just don't get caught being a hog lol!
Drifting
Joined: Jun 2013
Posts: 1,971
Likes: 343
From: Shell Point (Crawfordville) Florida
"Another benefit is that with the Radio Flyer kit, the 4-on harness is located in the battery/fuse box den and you don't need to run the 4-on harness from each individual light."
I'm not promoting any product over any other, but what difference or benefit does that make? It's not like you have to do anything or go out of your way to install those, they're in the included wiring harnesses. And is there a difference in having 2 smaller relays than the one larger one for the 4-on harness? It was a bigger job to install the original 4-on harness in the fuse box when I had that than to hook up the 2 wiring harness for the headlights. I don't see your point.
I'm not promoting any product over any other, but what difference or benefit does that make? It's not like you have to do anything or go out of your way to install those, they're in the included wiring harnesses. And is there a difference in having 2 smaller relays than the one larger one for the 4-on harness? It was a bigger job to install the original 4-on harness in the fuse box when I had that than to hook up the 2 wiring harness for the headlights. I don't see your point.
Last edited by mrlmd; Dec 20, 2016 at 01:27 PM.
Le Mans Master
Joined: Jul 2011
Posts: 7,429
Likes: 974
From: Morristown New Jersey
Oldtimer
I have looked at the Miromoto site a few times, but I'm not sure how much of a nightmare I want to create for myself. Why do you no longer need the resistor? When I had my cheapo HID bulbs/ballasts, I had lots of trouble with the popups working correctly. After a ballast went, I pulled it all out and went to PIAA.
Le Mans Master
Joined: Jul 2011
Posts: 7,429
Likes: 974
From: Morristown New Jersey
Oldtimer
I just got a set of those and did not find that to be the case at all. It all fit well and there was no problem with the harness or the connectors.
There are two harnesses in the kit, both are the same length, so you might say that the passenger side harness is too long, so tuck it in somewhere out of the way, very easy.
I put my HIR 9011 bulbs in the high beams and with the 4-on relays in the harness, there is LOTS of light.
There are two harnesses in the kit, both are the same length, so you might say that the passenger side harness is too long, so tuck it in somewhere out of the way, very easy.
I put my HIR 9011 bulbs in the high beams and with the 4-on relays in the harness, there is LOTS of light.
Did that kit include lowbeam projectors?