PIAA bulbs vs. true HID - [PICS ADDED!]

[SleekGTZ]

I have JDM headlights and I'm deciding right now if I should just get those PIAA bulbs (H7-low beam) or just order those true HIDs with ballast and everything.

I know true HIDs are better but if those PIAA bulbs can do the same job, why not?

This is not a debate about which one is better, we don't want to start a fight here (LOL). I just wanted to get input from those who actually had experience on any of those systems.

Thanks!

[Sillyasianz]

HID. I have 6k low beams and 6k fogs. its amazing.

[S-Line]

I agree w/ sillyasianz....go HID....you won't regret it. I'm running
4300k in my heads and 3000k in my fogs.

[legendx]

Go with the HID. I had the PIAA's and they were good but nothing like the HID's. but don't go crazy 6K tops. You're looking for trouble if you go higher.

[02galant]

I have 8K and love them.

[njjfudge]

H.I.D's don't have to worry about melting your harness

[SleekGTZ]

Thanks for the comments. I think I'll get HIDs then.:)

[SinSere]

PIAA's are seriously same quality as Hyper bulbs. Nothing special. i'd def. go with a good set of HID's for the extra money.

[Sillyasianz]

I can get em pretty cheap, around $160-180 shipped w/ 1 year warrenty. They are Klight brand, but hey, I got this connection from the VIP forums...so if they slap it on their VIP cars, must be trustworthy...

[SleekGTZ]

Aw man, too late, I just ordered a set about an hour ago.
Thanks for lead anyway, maybe some members can order them from you.

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[Reelax]

HID>any halogen bulbs. i have ALL forward beams in HID 6000k: low h7, hi h1, and fog h3.

[SleekGTZ]

HID>any halogen bulbs. i have ALL forward beams in HID 6000k: low h7, hi h1, and fog h3.

Damn! So each one of those HID bulbs has it's own ballast right?
Hehe, I'd like to see how you mounted all of those ballast.



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[Bezzle]

im sure you get it...

HID ftw.

[Reelax]

HID>any halogen bulbs. i have ALL forward beams in HID 6000k: low h7, hi h1, and fog h3.

Damn! So each one of those HID bulbs has it's own ballast right?
Hehe, I'd like to see how you mounted all of those ballast.



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2 behind the bumper and four behind the headlights.

[SleekGTZ]

Thanks for all the input folks!

Well, well, well, I just finished installing the H7 HIDs. They do look far better than my old H7 Xenon bulbs, even under the sun.

The problem right now is I will have to wait until 9:30pm to see how it would look like in the dark (that's 9 hours from now!), oh well. :(

Pics to follow soon...


On a related note, I had to remove my old air horns so that I will have space for the HID ballast. Now I'm in the hunt for new horns.....hmmm, the Hella supertones (part #85115) sounds very interesting. ;)



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[99 galant]

will be waiting for the pics :)

[SleekGTZ]

HIDs are indeed better... :)

Waiting for darkness...
http://img340.imageshack.us/img340/605/dsc00841iw4.jpg

Trying out the HID...
http://img340.imageshack.us/img340/1350/dsc00842rd0.jpg

Add some foggy's...
http://img340.imageshack.us/img340/7167/dsc00843hq2.jpg

High beams...still waiting for darkness...
http://img340.imageshack.us/img340/8408/dsc00844kv8.jpg

Looks good huh?
http://img340.imageshack.us/img340/5381/dsc00847us7.jpg

HIDs baby!
http://img340.imageshack.us/img340/1121/dsc00853fq9.jpg


I feel much safer driving at night now. :)

BTW, my high beam fog lights are almost useless because the HIDs are so bright! I have aligned the low beams such that it won't blind oncoming cars.



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[cbwdevil]

Looks good man. I know everyone dogs 8k but I love 'em. I'll upload a picture of my 8k hid projectors.

[Bezzle]

I feel much safer driving at night now. :)

BTW, my high beam fog lights are almost useless because the HIDs are so bright! I have aligned the low beams such that it won't blind oncoming cars.


GOOD! Aiming HIDs out of oncoming traffic's eyes actually helps you because aiming them on a downward angle in front of you, you'll realize your beam focus makes more sense when you're driving down a forest road with no signs of civilization/street lights and save you from killing bambi.

[cbwdevil]

Here is a couple shots of my 8k HID's

http://i125.photobucket.com/albums/p50/CBWDEVIL/S5030162.jpg
http://i125.photobucket.com/albums/p50/CBWDEVIL/S5030163.jpg

[SleekGTZ]

^^^ That's bright dude, nice. Did you have yellow fogs turned on?

[SkylineG1]

HIDs are the way to go. Looks good Sleek.

[legendx]

SleekGTZ, looks great but what did you end up getting? Brand? Price? Lumens? How long did it take to install?

[cbwdevil]

^^^ That's bright dude, nice. Did you have yellow fogs turned on?

I had the stock foglights turned on.

[SleekGTZ]

SleekGTZ, looks great but what did you end up getting? Brand? Price? Lumens? How long did it take to install?

A friend of mine hooked me up to get the HID kits. It's made in Korea, no brand name on the box, but there is a Siemens logo etched on one side of the ballast. I got it for $150 and he said it has 1 year warranty. I'll post pics of the install later on.

Installation took me about 1.5 hours. It took that long because I was trying to figure out where to move the air horns to. Anyway, without the air horns situation, I could have installed it in about 30 minutes.

- Wiring was easy, plug and play. No relay required.
- "Shiny" ballast installation was also easy, it came with brackets.
- Bulb installation was also easy, but you have to be careful not to touch the bulbs.

My air horns were big and its taking a lot of space, so they had to go. Now I'm shopping for a smaller form-factor horns (Hella supertones), and they will go behind the grill.


Hope that helps. :)

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[S-Line]

looking good. what temp did u go w/?

[SleekGTZ]

6000k :)