HID upgrade questions

[Spykce]

After doing the CC mod this morning I really would like to upgrade my lights. So I am considering a HID kit, well pretty much decided just want to confirm a few things I ran across while searching.

I am planning to order them here: http://www.ddmtuning.com/hidkihidbuhi.html

This is who was recommended along with cq and vvme, anybody see any issues with this company? The slim ballast sounds like they would be beneficial when trying to shield them from heat and water.

Also has anyone ever had the bulb out warning come on? I read a few posts saying it could happen but no one said it did.

Thanks, looking forward to getting some bright light!

[Seerlah]

I ordered the Retro-Solution ones and have no complaints about them. Just as the DDM Tuning, there is a lifetime warranty on bulbs and ballast, as compared to VVME which has a 1 year warranty (I think) and the CQ ones which have either 1-3 year warranty (can not recall which one, and am too lazy to look up). There was one reveiw I remember coming across with bad ratings for the CQ ones, though is recommended in the FAQ sheet. There are many people running with the DDM Tuning ones, so you should not be too worried about those. And get the 55w ones just for good measure.

I had a warning for my light bulb before, and I never knew our cars gave warnings for those. But the reason was when I removed my headlights before, I forgot to connect a plug back into the ballast. So, the warning was very much legit. Not an error warning.

[D's Avant]

I would get the DDM kit over VVME if you are even considering them. One of my VVME ballast's seems to be going bad at my one year mark. You can see evidence of over heating around the edges of the ballast case. Not good... I will be upgrading to the DDM 55w kit soon.

[kf3506]

i'm running the ddmtuning kit, they are awesome. yeah get the 55w when you do order.

[le91688]

im runnin a ddm 6000k 55w kit, Easy as hell to install, and works/looks GREAT.

Plus for 95$ you cant beat the price with the lifetime warranty.

[xraycer2012]

I also have the slim ballast ddm kit and I love them, no problem at all to install and they look and work great. Especially for the price. I made a DIY on how to install them in the main DIY section too since the instructions that come with the kit suck.

[djwimbo]

Since your a facelift car you also don't have to worry about the legality of the projector headlights. Technically (at least in around here) you have to have Projector lenses to run HID's legally.

I purchased the EuroEffect's kit from a friend, I love them. As far as the VVME kit goes, I personally would go elsewhere. The DDM kit, seems more legit.

[le91688]

One downside, is even though they are aimed perfectly (same line as stock) i still get highbeamed by idiots at least twice a night.

[Spykce]

Thanks guys, ordered and on the way! 6000k 55w, very excited.

[le91688]

Thanks guys, ordered and on the way! 6000k 55w, very excited.

Nice, you wont be disappointed. If you need any tips for putting them in, let me know.

[erode]

I have DDMs 55w slim digital ballasts with their 10,000k bulbs in my bimmer. I stand by DDM as a company, the owner, jim, offers great products very cheaply because it pisses off the rest of the vendors whp overcharge. I'm talking to him about doing replica S4 and RS4 bumpers on the cheap.

[le91688]

I'm talking to him about doing replica S4 and RS4 bumpers on the cheap.

That would be great

[Siena]

I have DDMs 55w slim digital ballasts with their 10,000k bulbs in my bimmer. I stand by DDM as a company, the owner, jim, offers great products very cheaply because it pisses off the rest of the vendors whp overcharge. I'm talking to him about doing replica S4 and RS4 bumpers on the cheap.

10,000k heat range??

That must be as purple as hell!
At that heat range, you get less output than decent halogens.

I'm running genuine RS4 HID's, rated at 4300k. Once you go over the 5200k heat range, lumen output drops considerably.

[Spykce]

That would be great

agreed, someone hit my bumper with a shopping cart today. Planning to get a new one and a FMIC in the spring if I can round up the funds.

[Seerlah]

Get an S4 bumper.

[erode]

10,000k heat range??

That must be as purple as hell!
At that heat range, you get less output than decent halogens.

I'm running genuine RS4 HID's, rated at 4300k. Once you go over the 5200k heat range, lumen output drops considerably.

I wanted to experiment since DDM sells bulbs so cheap. The lighting makes the color a bit exaggerated.. it's quite a white color but unfortunately the biggest disadvantage is that there is a higher chance of that nasty "glisten" you see from cars coming at you with this high of kelvin bulb. It isn't any brighter, but it twinkles more.

[rasA4]

not very clear pics but will give you an idea. i agree with siena 4300k provides a much brighter whiter light and very OEM.

[le91688]

not very clear pics but will give you an idea. i agree with siena 4300k provides a much brighter whiter light and very OEM.

Those pictures are terrible references. Notice how the city lights are even purple in the last one... I never knew an hid in a car could change the color of every light in the city.

[Spykce]

I would guess the picture is photoshopped to give an "idea". The whole picture changes shade to blue and then purple. Otherwise they did a great job lining everything back up for pictures!

I'd kinda like to see 10k or even 12k on a car just to see it. I sell a lot of "cool blue" bulbs at work..... mostly to the 16-18 crowd.

[erode]

I would guess the picture is photoshopped to give an "idea". The whole picture changes shade to blue and then purple. Otherwise they did a great job lining everything back up for pictures!

I'd kinda like to see 10k or even 12k on a car just to see it. I sell a lot of "cool blue" bulbs at work..... mostly to the 16-18 crowd.

Not sure it helps but yes mine in that picture are 10,000k.. Just to try it pretty much. I have a set of 6,000K bulbs as well as the 10,000k.

[ahaters46]

does anyone have hid in a the old two piece.
i no its not exactly legal but im considering it soon
any pointers or whatever

[erode]

does anyone have hid in a the old two piece.
i no its not exactly legal but im considering it soon
any pointers or whatever

That's not a good idea. Without the ellipsoid lens there is no way to aim or control the cutoff. Very dangerous.

[ahaters46]

That's not a good idea. Without the ellipsoid lens there is no way to aim or control the cutoff. Very dangerous.

the kid i bought the car off of had hid kit in it. i dont no. how much cutting of the fender and whatnot is need to put a newer one piece lamp in

[erode]

the kid i bought the car off of had hid kit in it. i dont no. how much cutting of the fender and whatnot is need to put a newer one piece lamp in

Well I just bought S4 Xenon housings with hid bulbs and ballasts for $250. The fender trimming is minimal, if you have the tools its not a complicated procedure at all.

[JumboBlack1.8]

This is funny.....I got flamed over on Vortex for recommending DDM Tuning kit over a VVME kit, cuz I called it garbage.....kid's got offended, cuz they didn't know any better.....this is just another example that AZ is a lil more well informed

But u won't be disappointed by the DDM kit. I put in the 55watt 6000K kit and, combined with my Ecodes, its amazing. Perfect visibility in wet and dry conditions. And its not blue at all like the 35watt kits. Its an ideal option

[anmagro]

Anybody got pics of the 6000k and 4300k being used in the A4 for comparison?

[UGwagen]

imo, I would get the Apexcone kit instead of the DDM Slim Ballast kit. There isn't a real benefit with the slim ballast because you still have the bulkier ignitor to mount.

The Apexcone kit DDM offers has the ignitor built into the ballast--- so you only need to worry about the ballast only.

[erode]

imo, I would get the Apexcone kit instead of the DDM Slim Ballast kit. There isn't a real benefit with the slim ballast because you still have the bulkier ignitor to mount.

The Apexcone kit DDM offers has the ignitor built into the ballast--- so you only need to worry about the ballast only.

FWIW, Apexcone is DDM.. but technically it is a previous version that DDM released under their Apexcone name before they came DDM.

[le91688]

FWIW, Apexcone is DDM.. but technically it is a previous version that DDM released under their Apexcone name before they came DDM.

DDM just sells apexcone brand HIDs.

[erode]

apex cone is a site jim ran for many years .. i think some time around 1998. it was a non-monetized brand for a long time. he created DDM Tuning to directly compete with umnitza/bavtoys because matt and habbie were fucking everybody on prices for shitty products. so apexcone and ddm are synonymous.

[Spykce]

I'll document my install and take some pictures when I'm all done. I know a bunch of people have 4300k, as well as 6000k I found while searching on the topic.

[UGwagen]

FWIW, Apexcone is DDM.. but technically it is a previous version that DDM released under their Apexcone name before they came DDM.

That still doesn't address why the "Slim Ballast with separate ignitor" is better than the "Apexcone" smaller style "Hella Gen 3" ballast.

[erode]

That still doesn't address why the "Slim Ballast with separate ignitor" is better than the "Apexcone" smaller style "Hella Gen 3" ballast.

I don't believe I ever intended it to address it. I don't have your answer.

[le91688]

That still doesn't address why the "Slim Ballast with separate ignitor" is better than the "Apexcone" smaller style "Hella Gen 3" ballast.

i think its just smaller.

[rasA4]

here is my install slim ballast however there is another bulky block as well. i think i would have preferred a slightly larger ballast without that block im sure there is enough clearance to take a slightly larger ballast.

[Spykce]

suppose to be here the 24th.
Requested the day off of work, lol. Mostly because of a signature being required

[Seerlah]

If you need assiatance, feel free to PM me . I lurk on here much soaking up very good info.

[Spykce]

If you need assiatance, feel free to PM me . I lurk on here much soaking up very good info.

Will do, I have a ton of write-ups bookmarked so I think I should be ok but you never know.

[UGwagen]

here is my install slim ballast however there is another bulky block as well. i think i would have preferred a slightly larger ballast without that block im sure there is enough clearance to take a slightly larger ballast.

As, I mentioned, the slim ballast also has the separate ignitor (bulky block)

The only real benefit I can think of is the extra cable means you have more length to deal with, so mounting location is more flexible.

[rasA4]

yup what he said ^^^^ if i'd known this before hand i would not have bought this type ah well its all done and out the way