Need Help Sourcing HID Kit

[vt_maverick]

Now that I've upgraded my fog lamps and "horn" lights to LEDs, the factory headlights look TERRIBLE by comparison - very yellow and dim. I've been doing some research through various old posts but have reached an impasse; the following look like two excellent options, yet they are WAY apart in price. Sue or Jack (or anyone else) can you help me understand the difference?

Option #1: XenonRider.com H4/9003 Bi-Xenon Hi/Lo HID Conversion Kit (Dual-Lamp) - $199



Sue's testimonial from another thread:

Dub was a real champ and installed the Xenonrider.com HID hi/lo kit for me while we were in Moab. Same kit Rowhard & LittleBeast have.

I love them, they're crazy bright!!! You can see any type of street sign light up way ahead. Awesome!

Option #2: DDMTuning.com HID Kit Slim Ballast (55W) - $82.50 including Hi/Lo option, HID harness, and LIFETIME WARRANTY





Jack's testimonial from another thread:

http://www.ddmtuning.com/Product-Cat...hting/HID-Kits

that site above has full kits ^^^^^^

thats who i use for all of my vehicles...they are very reasonably priced and have GREAT warranty and customer service!!!

i purchase the lifetime warranty versions every time... definately work the extra $30 or whatever...i had one of my ballasts go out one time, called em... they sent me a whole new kit (2 ballasts and bulbs)...with no questions asked.
also- they do packages if you purchase like 3 or more kits at a time. so talk to each other and order em together.

differences-
35w ballast- most basic charging system, works fine but your lights wont be as bright (maybe a 20% improvement in light)
55w ballast- $10 more, and worth it in my opinion (this is the main difference between a good set and a crappy set) (maybe a 50% improvement)
H4 bulb- standard VX bulb
9003-VX sized bulb without the hi/lo abilities (cost is much less)
- and after many HID conversions on various vehicles, i refuse to order the H4's, i prefer to save the ($20-30) and buy some aftermarket driving lights... for some reason the high beams on the HID conversions just arent enough.. but a cheap set of Hella's ($60 at walmart) and they will definately light up the night when needed.
bulb color-
3000k- yellow
4500-10,000k - tints of blue and white (4500 being most blue and 10,000 is white)
12,000k - purple that you often see on acura's and older lexus'

this is all info that i've accumulated over the years and from personal experience.
the kits off this site are right around $100 for all the bells and whistles, and can get as low as $50 for a complete kit.

So hopefully you can see my confusion. Option #2 looks to be the better choice, but the price just looks too good to be true. Can anybody clear it up for me?

[VX KAT]

I'd like to know too Mav! Want to get some for Dave's FJ ...but put it off cuz I don't know which kit to get. Keep thinking there must be some difference in these two kits' quality or something... Jack, can you see any difference between the two kits in build quality?

[vt_maverick]

Might be best to email Jack since he's not on the board every day. I'll ping him.

[LittleBeast]

Currently I feel the best product for your money will be found at: www.v-LEDs.com
http://www.v-leds.com/Exterior-HID-H...-p9274554.html

[MSHardeman]

I have the Xenon Rider Hi/Lo kit in my VX and haven't had a problem with it. I don't know the difference in the quality between the different kits, but I know the guy at Xenon Rider is super helpful, gave me a bit of a discount (and a baseball cap) and I've heard that his customer service is second to none.

My two cents.

[vt_maverick]

Currently I feel the best product for your money will be found at: www.v-LEDs.com
http://www.v-leds.com/Exterior-HID-H...-p9274554.html

Looks like all they offer are 35W kits. I'd be afraid they wouldn't be as bright as the 55W kits, as per Jack's post.

[vt_maverick]

You know now that I reread the XenonRider website I don't see where they say 35W or 55W either.

And maybe this is a differentiating factor between option #1 and #2? This is a quote from the XenonRider site:

3. You don't have to wait 5-7 seconds for the light to come on when you switch from low-beam to high-beam

[rowhard]

I have the Xenon Rider Hi/Lo kit in my VX and haven't had a problem with it. I don't know the difference in the quality between the different kits, but I know the guy at Xenon Rider is super helpful, gave me a bit of a discount (and a baseball cap) and I've heard that his customer service is second to none.

My two cents.

X2 plus I converted the Hella Micro DE's to them too. Joesph at Xenon Rider has always been been prompt and helpful whenever I had any issue's

[Moncha]

You know now that I reread the XenonRider website I don't see where they say 35W or 55W either.

Originally Posted by XenonRider
3. You don't have to wait 5-7 seconds for the light to come on when you switch from low-beam to high-beam

And maybe this is a differentiating factor between option #1 and #2? This is a quote from the XenonRider site:

Since the HID kits come with a Xenon capsule for producing the light, it is not the standard 2 filament design as we are used to. The capsule actually moves in and out (by way of a solenoid) of a shield, directing the light in a low/hi pattern. I too, have the XenonRider's kits replacing a kit previously purchased at a MUCH higher price. they are great! Very solid build, and the light produced is exceptional.

Speaking with Joseph, he threw in the smaller ballast packs for the same cost as the larger ones as a Christmas special. These definitely made mounting options more flexible.

Jack will have to be the one to attest to the brand he's used to be able to make comparisons.

[vt_maverick]

So while we're waiting on Jack, how difficult are these kits to install? I'm naively wishing that it's a matter of just plugging a ballast in-line and replacing the standard bulb, but somehow I have the feeling more significant electrical work is required.

[Moncha]

No, not really. Plug and play is it. The devil is in the details. How you run your wires, and place your ballasts is the part that takes the most time. I did Moncha and Laura's Pilot in about 3hrs.

[VX KAT]

So while we're waiting on Jack, how difficult are these kits to install? I'm naively wishing that it's a matter of just plugging a ballast in-line and replacing the standard bulb, but somehow I have the feeling more significant electrical work is required.

Remember Dub put one of my ballasts on top of the fuse box. It ain't pretty, but it's secure.

Also, Dub did ALL of it without taking the front bumper off... I think some guys did remove it. Not sure if it makes it easier or not. I think Dub did it all within 2-3 hrs.

[etlsport]

I did my kit in about 2 hours, maybe 2.5. I removed the front bumper completely and removed the headlights as well. mounted the balasts under each headlight, so they are completely hidden. I used double sided tape and zip ties to hold them in place, after about 2 years its still secure.

[atilla_the_fun]

So, I did mine from an e-bay kit:

http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/ws/eB...ht_5493wt_1167

50W/55W Output Bi-Xenon HID KIT H13 H4 9004 9007 9008
Seller: Mydepots

The kit was really VERY high quality, and the install was relatively easy. I did it on the coldest day in Jan. and it went fine. The only issue was getting to the driver's side headlight, and I don't recommend REMOVING the front bumber. It is MUCH easier to remove the intake box (its three bolts).

I don't recommend spending that much on one of these kits, there are only two or three manufacturers of the ballasts in the world. Everything else is wires and cheap bulbs.

[rowhard]

I did my kit in about 2 hours, maybe 2.5. I removed the front bumper completely and removed the headlights as well. mounted the balasts under each headlight, so they are completely hidden. I used double sided tape and zip ties to hold them in place, after about 2 years its still secure.

onto the bottom of the light assy, ...sweet. I fought with mine and installed them on the front of the radiator bulkhead.