I have a 04 Tahoe and have been looking at HID's. They all look pretty sweet, and everyone says they can't imagine going back to standard bulbs. Should I install a kit in my stock headlamps? If so, do hi and low or just low? Is it going to be insanely blinding to oncoming traffic or not so bad? Is there a replacement headlight that has the HID's already in them? I want to get all my options before i drop some $$ on this and end up getting pulled over or something. I think the foglights I just have to buy an 880 kit.(where does the ballast go? the bottom of the rad support?) Any good brands out there or ones to stay away from?? are the cheap kits on Ebay worth a poo? (like the $59.95 shipped ones?) Just wondering if there is a reason that some kits are $150+ and yet some on ebay are only $60.(my first thought is u get what u pay for). Also the age old question of what color temp?? I was thinking anything between 4300-6000k, is that usually the best?
Suggestions on a HID kit??
- Thread starter odie301
- Start date
Disclaimer: Links on this page pointing to Amazon, eBay and other sites may include affiliate code. If you click them and make a purchase, we may earn a small commission.
Big Tap
Full Access Member
I don't have any experience with them, but several people on here have used the kits from VVME with some success. I think they're kit go for under $50.
i have a DDM 55w slim ballast HID kit in my lows. i dont see a reason to put HID in my high beams right now but will later down the road. the 55w kit in the lows puts plenty of light on the road especially compared to stock. as far as blinding other drivers i have yet to be flashed and driving behind cops isnt a problem. i have a 880 HID kit from DDM on the way for my fogs too. i personally wont buy a kit that is over the 6000k color temp. i have 5000k in the lows and the same temp was ordered for the fog kit.
heres the link to DDM
http://www.ddmtuning.com/hidkihidbuhi.html
they have a section in a bmw forum
http://forums.bimmerforums.com/forum/forumdisplay.php?f=286
hope this helps you out.
heres the link to DDM
http://www.ddmtuning.com/hidkihidbuhi.html
they have a section in a bmw forum
http://forums.bimmerforums.com/forum/forumdisplay.php?f=286
hope this helps you out.
I get my DDM Slim ballast today!! I'm just waiting for the UPS man now.
I did the the 55W in my fog lights with awesome results!
What year is your Tahoe?
I want to use DDM for my fog lights but they don't have anything that doesn't require modifications.
you mean you put 55w in your low beams? i have a 2004 LT. dont think you will need to modify anything to your fog light as long as you order a 35w 880 HID kit. i dont think it will handle a 55w kit with out melting.
heres a link to my post on my 04
http://www.tahoeforum.com/showthread.php?t=11478
mikeb33
Full Access Member
- Joined
- Oct 17, 2008
- Messages
- 67
- Reaction score
- 0
Hey E, good info. I am about to order for my 2005 Tahoe. If I get 55W for my lows, they don't seem to have anything higher for highs? And since the lows can't be on with the highs, does that make the highs useless? If money weren't a factor, would getting 35W for low and 55W for high be the ideal choice?
They show "BOW3 and HID HARNESS sold separately". Do we need these?
They show "BOW3 and HID HARNESS sold separately". Do we need these?
you could just put 55w HID kit in both low & high. but if you just do the 55w in the lows for now, im pretty sure you wont be in a rush to put a set in your highs. i will eventually put some in my highs but im not in a rush. i just have a set of 100w halogens in my high beam but never need to use them, unless im flashing someone that has their brights on. we do not need the BOW3 for our vehicles, that is only for cars such as BMW, Mercedes, Audi & some Chrysler/Dodge cars that have the bulb out indicator, i dont have that on my 'Hoe and dont think you would either. The HID Harness would have to be determined by you, i will be ordering one for my lows because sometimes my driver side light does not always start up, i have to sometimes flip my light switch to on for it to turn on, then i put it back to auto. your 'Hoe may not need it, each 'Hoe is different.
one thing i should mention is that when i installed them at first they would not turn on. this is because our 9006 plug has the + & - reversed or the kits input plug has them reversed, who knows. but you will have to flip the plug around for the kit to receive the correct polarity, or it could just be my 'Hoe, just dont panic when they dont come on at first just double check that connection. i will try to get pics of this tomorrow when its daylight again.
one more thing for those who dont know you will need a
9006 kit for your low beam
9005 kit for your high beam and a
880 kit for your fog lights
Rollin Thunder
Full Access Member
The wattage does affect the brightness. But remember your beam paddern is different. Your highbeams are designed to project light far, your low beams are designed to project it close and wide. A perfect set up is 55 for both and put a diode in the relays that keeps them both on. Then you have hids for your lows that project a shorter wider beam and a 55 watt high beam that projects narror and super far.
good point, i forgot about that.
I have read some stuff saying that the difference in 35w vs 55w is not that significant?? Mainly that 55w is a bit brighter but will produce more heat (possibly causing melt down of the housing). Any one know about this?? Is digital better than ??? (what else is there besides digital? analog?)
Rollin Thunder
Full Access Member
I had 55w 4300k hids kits in my denali projectors on my 06, and 35watt 4300k in my fogs, had diodes on the relays that kept them all on and when i went down to NC to go to the vacation home I would arrive after work for a long weekend and it would be dark, so once I got off the road and on the beach there are no lights, so it helped great, but I would leave them all on for 2 hours at a time. NO trouble with melt down with stock denali projector headlights.
If you do get 55W HIDS i highly reccommend upgradeing your lights to some type of projector beams, you dont have to go all out and get Denali ones, But atleast get projectors to. 1 help your beam paddern and take advantage of every lumen of light possable in an HID, and 2 to not blind other drivers and get the cops on you. If you keep them in the stock reflectors I would get 35W and aim your housings down.
actually there is a very noticable difference between the two. i have 55w and a friend of mine has 35w in his 02 silverado. mine are alot brighter than his, he even agrees. but it could also be that his are very blue, i think he has 10,000k which are really blue mine are 5000k and are a pure white. the higher in blue color you get your light output significantly drops. as far as heat 55w HID bulb actually burns cooler than your standard halogen bulb so no worries as to melting your housing. and also the actual hid ballast dont get very hot. most full size HID kit are digital/analog mix such as the Apexcone kit on DDMTunings site. and most slim HID kits are full digital. but you cant go wrong with either
Sorry I posted in the wrong year! I have an 07 and it was a PITA to get to them Lights, Simple to plug in the DDMs and another PITA to put everything back together.
Here's pics.
Before
After
well in the NBS Tahoe there are only two retaining pins that hold the headlamp in place, take those out and they come out and there is plenty of room to put the HID ballast. i believe in the NNBS Tahoe you had to take off your whole front cover, but i maybe wrong. Nice ride by the way
mikeb33
Full Access Member
- Joined
- Oct 17, 2008
- Messages
- 67
- Reaction score
- 0
I ordered the 55W low beams like E. How and where did you guys secure the ballasts?
If everything goes OK, I will get the highs and fogs so they match.
I like the idea of both high and low staying on at the same time, but won't that draw too many amps?
If everything goes OK, I will get the highs and fogs so they match.
I like the idea of both high and low staying on at the same time, but won't that draw too many amps?
Polecat
Full Access Member
makes me wonder, will the 55w help the start up issue, over the smaller and lower 35w? Doesn't the trucks computer supposed to see a 55w bulb, like a stock bulb, and some have tripping issues if it see's a 35w?
boostaholic
Full Access Member
Ordered my 6000k from vvme.com, here are some pics of the ballasts and color output (keep in mind these are on my denali which comes with factory halogen projectors which explains the sharp cutoff)
Rollin Thunder
Full Access Member
NAW. Gm is the only company i know of that shut off the lows with the highs. Its such a simple mod that it does not matter. Plus remember, HIDS take up less power. So your actully still about even (or even less) with both low and high HIDS on then you are with just your low beams.
i have my ballast mounted in the same spot that Boost does. having your lows & highs both on at the same time wont hurt anything, the most current draw is when HIDs first startup once they warm up they actually draw less current then halogen bulbs would, even with the 55w ballast.
i will have pics up tonight of my HID
i will have pics up tonight of my HID
