HID vs. Stock Lights
Melting Slicks
Joined: Nov 2003
Posts: 2,898
Likes: 5
From: Plainfield, IL
Originally Posted by turboc5
Looks great 
looks like oem or better. Any problems with them not retracting with the hid's? As if their is a bulb out?
looks like oem or better. Any problems with them not retracting with the hid's? As if their is a bulb out?Yup actually I did have that problem. I had to turn my highbeams on for them to go down. Now that I made my own harness the headlights go up and down perfectly normal now.
Safety Car
Joined: Dec 2001
Posts: 4,295
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From: Indianapolis Indiana
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Originally Posted by JTS97Z28
Yeah you can get away with stock wiring. I even did in my Z28 for like 2 years. Its just added piece of mind because if something does happen to the original electrical setup good luck fixing that. Besides, its best to give the HID's the cleanest power which is directly to the battery as a new headlight harness does. My point is, the stock wiring was NOT designed to handle the loads that HID's require at startup and even though it may take a long time for something to happen, you risk damaging your stock wiring. Just a recommendation from me. Its cheap and easy to make your own.
JT
JT
Thread Starter
Instructor
Joined: Jan 2003
Posts: 147
Likes: 0
From: UT
Contacted Bling Lights, and this is what they had to say on some of the things that I addressed (mostly issues in this thread)...
"The costly projector headlamps are not necessary but we can get them for the Corvette special order and the price is around $1500 for the complete setup that includes everything. The regular HIDs or very [high] output HIDs are not going to cause any damage to the C5. Eventhough these HID kits are much brighter then your factory halogen bulbs these kits run on less wattage then the conventional halogen bulbs! Even the very high output HID kit uses less wattage then your current halogen bulbs. The factory C5 bulb size is a 9006. From actual customers I haven't heard any complaints about excessive glare, and if it is an issue just adjust the headlamps. A couple members mentioned the only way to get the headlamps to retract all the way down is to flick the high beams before turning the headlights off. This small issue is rare so it may have something to do with the way those couple members installed the kit because most members did not experience that problem."
Now here's one...how high of an output are you willing to go? He suggested the 6000K, but all I've heard of C5 members is going to 4300K? Thoughts? I'm all ears...
"The costly projector headlamps are not necessary but we can get them for the Corvette special order and the price is around $1500 for the complete setup that includes everything. The regular HIDs or very [high] output HIDs are not going to cause any damage to the C5. Eventhough these HID kits are much brighter then your factory halogen bulbs these kits run on less wattage then the conventional halogen bulbs! Even the very high output HID kit uses less wattage then your current halogen bulbs. The factory C5 bulb size is a 9006. From actual customers I haven't heard any complaints about excessive glare, and if it is an issue just adjust the headlamps. A couple members mentioned the only way to get the headlamps to retract all the way down is to flick the high beams before turning the headlights off. This small issue is rare so it may have something to do with the way those couple members installed the kit because most members did not experience that problem."
Now here's one...how high of an output are you willing to go? He suggested the 6000K, but all I've heard of C5 members is going to 4300K? Thoughts? I'm all ears...
Pro
Joined: Feb 2004
Posts: 718
Likes: 1
From: barrie ontario
Originally Posted by Thrust NYC
- really interested in seeing Molson's setup. I wonder what the light pattern looks like on the road... is it scattered or like horizontally linear like the output out of a projector....?
It is still a huge improvement over stock.
I would love to get a set up like JTS97Z28 has.
Maybe he can make another set for me ????
That is the way HID's are supposed to look - with a sharp cut off.
Last edited by molson; Sep 16, 2005 at 10:05 AM.
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Pro
Joined: Nov 2004
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From: Bartlett IL
I was origanlly going to just ad hid's to stock housings but when I looked into kits, Ones with projectors wern't much more. My buddy has hid's in stock housings and they are much brighter, but the beam pattern is horrible. The light is not focoused. Also with Bi-xenons you get a high and low beam, as compaired to only a low beam. Also at http://hidtech.com/ they will install the bi-xenon projectors into your fixtures for about $300 plus $450 for the bi-xenon kit. I'm still going to do it myself though.
Le Mans Master
Joined: Aug 1999
Posts: 5,411
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From: N Carolina 08 Z51 Coupe
Originally Posted by turboc5
I was origanlly going to just ad hid's to stock housings but when I looked into kits, Ones with projectors wern't much more. My buddy has hid's in stock housings and they are much brighter, but the beam pattern is horrible. The light is not focoused. Also with Bi-xenons you get a high and low beam, as compaired to only a low beam. Also at http://hidtech.com/ they will install the bi-xenon projectors into your fixtures for about $300 plus $450 for the bi-xenon kit. I'm still going to do it myself though.
Successful Plumber
Joined: Feb 2001
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From: Top of the hill, 3rd mailbox on the right. Texas
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St. Jude Donor '06-'07-'08-'09-'10
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I just ordered a set of HIDs from Vette-HID.com a new supporting forum vendor with new OEM type DOT approved light kit with a correct harness. 4200k. For info contact forum member NOT-MEE, He's the distributor and is doing a group purchase, but you have to PM him for the pricing. It's considerably less than the $1500 I've seen quoted.
These are brand new parts just coming in to production. I expect mine October 15. I'll post pics when they get in.
Here are some pics from their website.
Comparison of stock low beams to HID low beams.
The headlamp unit -
The wiring and ballast installation assembly
These are brand new parts just coming in to production. I expect mine October 15. I'll post pics when they get in.
Here are some pics from their website.
Comparison of stock low beams to HID low beams.
The headlamp unit -
The wiring and ballast installation assembly
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 BuckyThreadkiller
Comparison of stock low beams to HID low beams.
The headlamp unit -
The wiring and ballast installation assembly
The headlamp unit -
The wiring and ballast installation assembly
Burning Brakes
Joined: Sep 2005
Posts: 1,208
Likes: 2
From: Long Beach CA
I just recently installed a hid lighting system on my 99frc. I use factory C6 bulbs and ballast into stock C5 housing. Difference is night and day. The beam is alittle scattered. I had to modify to make the bulbs fit securely into the housing, but nothing major. The factory C5 wiring plug into the ballast. I dont have a price on the parts, cause i got them for a body shop that replace the c6 damaged headlites (came as a complete assy with bulbs and ballast
Successful Plumber
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From: Top of the hill, 3rd mailbox on the right. Texas
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St. Jude Donor '06-'07-'08-'09-'10
NCM Member '09
Originally Posted by 99FewteRC5
I just recently installed a hid lighting system on my 99frc. I use factory C6 bulbs and ballast into stock C5 housing. Difference is night and day. The beam is alittle scattered. I had to modify to make the bulbs fit securely into the housing, but nothing major. The factory C5 wiring plug into the ballast. I dont have a price on the parts, cause i got them for a body shop that replace the c6 damaged headlites (came as a complete assy with bulbs and ballast
Some folks have said there are problems with the lack of relays on the stock headlight systems when the ballasts and bulbs are changed out. The lights work ok for a while, but they have mentioned issues with the lights not retracting due to the lack of relays in the stock wiring harness.
That's one of the reasons I waited for a an OEM style kit with a harness engineered for the C5. That and the DOT legal beam patterns.
Safety Car
Joined: May 2003
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From: Vette-hid.com Lost in DFW texas
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St. Jude Donor '06-'07
Originally Posted by BuckyThreadkiller
Here are some pics from their website.
Comparison of stock low beams to HID low beams.
Comparison of stock low beams to HID low beams.
Last edited by NOT-MEE; Oct 8, 2005 at 01:13 PM.
Safety Car
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From: Vette-hid.com Lost in DFW texas
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St. Jude Donor '06-'07
Originally Posted by 99FewteRC5
the headlight doors does close correctly....but i dont have auto headlight feature. I dont need to flick the high beams on to close.
