School me on HIDs... what do I need?
Thread Starter
Advanced
Joined: Jul 2012
Posts: 88
Likes: 0
School me on HIDs... what do I need?
I've been looking at the kit from Corvette mods for the high and low beam HIDs. It lists the option for 35w and 55w ballasts. From doing a little research I've read that I need a resistor so the headlights will raise up and down properly and I've also read that the 55w doesn't require the resistor. Pretty much what I need to know is what is my best option for a reliable as stock set up with the best lighting possible? I'll be running the stock housings. 04 Z06
Former Vendor
Joined: Dec 2007
Posts: 22,135
Likes: 2
From: Ft Worth TX
St. Jude Donor '12-'13
I've been looking at the kit from Corvette mods for the high and low beam HIDs. It lists the option for 35w and 55w ballasts. From doing a little research I've read that I need a resistor so the headlights will raise up and down properly and I've also read that the 55w doesn't require the resistor. Pretty much what I need to know is what is my best option for a reliable as stock set up with the best lighting possible? I'll be running the stock housings. 04 Z06
Melting Slicks
Joined: Nov 2007
Posts: 3,475
Likes: 10
From: Wake Forest NC
I went the whole three-banger: HID highs, lows, and fogs from corvettemods and I like them a lot.
Be forewarned, though. If you go both highs and lows, you may want to check out the Hi-4 Harness from radioflyerinnovations.com.
This lets the lows stay on through the delay for the highs to come to full brightness so you're not left stranded with no light in the transition.
Corvettemods: what's your take on the harness? Do you supply your own version?
[CanOfWorms] You'll get some responses from those who believe projectors are the only way to go. They're not. Please see paragraph one. [/CanOfWorms]
.
Be forewarned, though. If you go both highs and lows, you may want to check out the Hi-4 Harness from radioflyerinnovations.com.
This lets the lows stay on through the delay for the highs to come to full brightness so you're not left stranded with no light in the transition.
Corvettemods: what's your take on the harness? Do you supply your own version?
[CanOfWorms] You'll get some responses from those who believe projectors are the only way to go. They're not. Please see paragraph one. [/CanOfWorms]
.
Racer
Joined: Oct 2011
Posts: 375
Likes: 18
From: Farmington Hills MI
I agree with the comments above.
Me and a friend of mine each installed Radioflyer Bi-xenon kits with 55 watt ballasts. His kit (03 Z06) worked fine, mine (04 Z06) didn't (lights would go up but wouldn't go down). I upgraded to Radioflyer's 70 watt ballast and now it works fine.
Having the Hi-4 harness is a workaround if the 55 watt ballasts don't work. Hit the hi-beams and the system draws enough load to lower the lights. I used this method until the 70 ballasts were available. The things are as bright as the sun on high beam so it's not good to do in traffic...
Me and a friend of mine each installed Radioflyer Bi-xenon kits with 55 watt ballasts. His kit (03 Z06) worked fine, mine (04 Z06) didn't (lights would go up but wouldn't go down). I upgraded to Radioflyer's 70 watt ballast and now it works fine.
Having the Hi-4 harness is a workaround if the 55 watt ballasts don't work. Hit the hi-beams and the system draws enough load to lower the lights. I used this method until the 70 ballasts were available. The things are as bright as the sun on high beam so it's not good to do in traffic...
Race Director
Joined: Mar 2008
Posts: 12,413
Likes: 502
From: Rio Rancho NM
How about a real projector and not a stock housing? Ricer crap and blinds oncoming traffic. Can't stand people who put hids in stock housings. Do it correct at least and get some ACA or other projectors housings if not don't do it.
Melting Slicks
Joined: Dec 2012
Posts: 2,312
Likes: 8
From: Frisco Texas
Exactly why I went with Radioflyers. HID's in the stock reflectors are just spotlights they don't necessarily make it easier to see.
Corvette Stories
The Best of Corvette for Corvette Enthusiasts
Top 10 Most Expensive Corvettes Ever Sold on Bring A Trailer
Brett Foote
10 Things Every Corvette Owner Needs (2026 Edition)
Michael S. Palmer
8 Most "Only Corvette Owners Understand" Quirks and Problems
Pouria Savadkouei
10 Reasons the C6 Z06 is Still A Performance Benchmark After 20 Years
Joe Kucinski
How Much Horsepower Every Corvette Engine "LOST" in 1972
Joe Kucinski
Top 10 DOs and DON'Ts for Protecting Your Convertible Top!
Michael S. Palmer
Top 10 Most Explosive Corvettes Ever Made: Power-to-Weight Ratio Ranked!
Joe Kucinski
150 hp to 1,250 hp: Every Corvette Generation Compared by the Specs That Matter
Joe Kucinski
8 Coolest Corvette Pace Cars (and Replicas) of All Time
Verdad Gallardo
Pro
Joined: Aug 2010
Posts: 518
Likes: 36
From: Indiana
Thank You. Reason #1 why I f--king hate HIDs
Supporting Vendor
Joined: Jul 2010
Posts: 8,550
Likes: 903
From: Republic of Texas
I've been looking at the kit from Corvette mods for the high and low beam HIDs. It lists the option for 35w and 55w ballasts. From doing a little research I've read that I need a resistor so the headlights will raise up and down properly and I've also read that the 55w doesn't require the resistor. Pretty much what I need to know is what is my best option for a reliable as stock set up with the best lighting possible? I'll be running the stock housings. 04 Z06
The best lighting possible retaining the flip-up style headlights is our Bi-xenon ACA headlights. The projector functions as both high and low beam with the high beam reflector acting as a supplemental signaling device for other drivers. The output from these is nothing short of phenomenal. Compared to (clean) factory headlights, the Bi-xenon ACA illuminates 6-10 times as much area.
They take about an hour to install and are completely bolt-on, plug and play. No special tools will be needed and aiming can be accomplished with the factory adjusters.
You can order them here:
http://shop.radioflyerinnovations.co...lights-015.htm
For more information on headlights look here:
http://forums.corvetteforum.com/c5-g...at-doesnt.html
Melting Slicks
Joined: Jan 2009
Posts: 3,181
Likes: 286
From: Puyallup Washington
Projectors from JW
I bought my HIDs from Jonathan at JWMotoring. I got the low beam 55W 5000K HID projectors and the Hi-4 harness to let the lows stay on when I put the high beams on. They are great. There was no resistor used and the headlights go up and down as they should. They also put out a great amount of properly focused white light.
Low beams
Low and high beams together.
Low beams
Low and high beams together.