Does anyone have experiences with this kit?

Thanks.

 

These kits are expensive and the site is filled with shameless marketing gimmick. The actual components they supply is hazy from what is written (or not written) on the site. For instance, they never claim what brand of bulb or ballast they are using, which usually means it will vary depending on their supplier and shipments. I would buy from www.suvlights.com or www.autolamps-online.com . Same kit costs only $580-total shipped at autolamps, instead of $750 plus tax plus shipping and handling at hids4less. And why is a "stage 2" kit $200 MORE than a "stage 1" kit when the only difference is the bulbs, which cost the exact SAME. I give a major thumbs down on this site.

 

Im getting the ultinon 6000k that is a full conversion for people that dont have hid's right?

 

Where are you getting this kit conversion from? The 'Ultinon' refers to Philips' cool white HID bulb. It's actually only 5800k, but marketed at 6000K for simplicity. Unless you're going after the bluish look, a standard 4100K Philips bulb will be brighter than the Philips Ultinon bulb (it's a trade off). As long as it's over $500, it's most likely the full kit conversion.

 

I was looking at www.autolamps-online.com or should I do a OEM job? Are you saying get the 4100k?

 

It's all up to you man. If you like the blue light, then go for it. If you can settle with daylight white, you're 400 lumens brighter. If you want to put a lot of research and patience into an OEM retrofit (well actually you can just use a 98+ GS400's HID ) then go that route. The only downside to GS OEM is the cost factor. If you want to get crafty, you can search for other OEM HIDs. That way you can have a GS with HIDs that "throw color", which would be unique. The only thing I have to say is that each route offers different opportunity costs based on your needs. Oh yeah, and the Autolamps kit is a full conversion kit for $580.

 

Do 6000k HID's actually have less light output than the 4100k? I suppose if you ordered a 6000k kit and didn't like it you could just change the bulb to a 4100, right?

-Nick

 

For whoever is interested, I can get you a Phillips' Kelvin (K) blue-temperature compensated HID kit through my sponsor. Wiring is a snap and the item comes with a 90-day warranty from Phillips I believe.

The Phillips kit is a 6100K kit which outputs in the bluish temperature spectrum. Installation is simple. Simply remove the factory 9006 low-beam bulbs and carefully insert the HID xenon bulbs (do NOT touch bulb with bare hands, use gloves). Once the bulb is locked into place, you then need to run the supplied power lines to the ballast/starter (high voltage box). There price is $700 including shipping. PM if interested.

Sofar the kits work fine on NSXs, MKIVs, an I30, GS300s, and a RSX without any problems.

 

I'm pretty sure every bulb is like this, but I'm only positive that Philips 4100K bulbs are brighter than Philips Ultinon 6000K by 400 lumen (2800lu vs 3200lu). Car manufacturers choose 4100K for this same reason. It is pretty logical to assume that daylight white bulbs are always going to be brighter than color-emitting bulbs. The goal is to have a white bulb that throws off different colors of light like the Honda S2000's HIDs do. They are still by far my favorite factory HIDs.

Then again, the brightest of halogens is only 1200 lumen (and most are 800 lumen) so either bulb temperature you choose, you won't lose. You can always swap the bulbs out if you want, no bulb color is a permanent fixture. 4100K users can swtich to 6000K, 6000K users can switch to 4100K.

 

I did a search on Philips' website and the text "6100" only came up twice, both times it was part of a phone number for their distributor OK Electronics. I did a search for "6100K" and there were no results. Philips does not make or advertise to make a 6100K bulb. They only make 6000K bulbs and they only make them in one plant in Aachen, Germany. If your 6000K bulbs aren't made from there, or there is no white writting on the base of the bulb that specifies so, it's probably a clone or fake. The only exception to this rule is if you bought a rebased bulb for kit conversion applications. Nick from Autolamps rebases his Philips bulbs.

 

I did not know that these kits can be had for that much at the two mentioned places. I am only leery about the two payment methods. One takes PayPal (which I do not have an account and have heard horror stories about) and the other WorldPay. I have not heard of the latter.

lex400sc,

What kind of info should I inquire about with hids4less to make sure the parts are OK? Hids4less have group buys periodically that sells the Stage 2 kits for $575. They also just take credit cards directly.

I have a 98 GS300 with no OEM hids. I like the blue tint. I like a bit more light. I just am not sure how these bulbs will look in non-hid headlights. I've heard that the color (to a certain extent) and light pattern depends on the headlight projector. I don't think my headlights have the required configuration. I don't know if I want to just blast light in all diretion at people in front of me.

 

hids4less will sometimes buy kits from autolamps-online and resell them again at a higher price. Autolamps sells their "stage 2" kits for $580 retail shipped--as opposed to hids4less full $820 retail shipped. Try a group buy at autolamps and see what Nick can do for price. The ballasts themselves cost $150ea, bulbs $100ea. The total cost is $500, plus autolamps and suvlights includes a relay harness. If you can present that group buy price to suvlights, Jen at suvlights in LA really hates Nick from autolamps in the UK and will probably meet or beat that price. Hids4less is not a company that anyone respects, mostly because they don't make anything, just resells stuff for more money then it's worth. If you want more details, ask Jen or Nick about them and ask why you should spend your money with either of them as opposed to hids4less. They know more about that business than I.

PayPal is pretty safe. I guarantee you any horror stories you've heard about them has been since fixed. WorldPay is an international version of PayPal. I think they do exchange rates too.

 

After more surfing, it seems like Hids4less may not be the best way to go. Thanks for the heads up guys.

lex400sc,

As for attempting a GP, I am not sure how many others are interested. Should I open a new thread for this? Do you think jen would go for that? Knowing what I have and what I am looking for (color, more light) from above, what are the pieces would you recommend getting? I just know the end result I want but am not quite certain how to get there. Sorry for my ignorance and thanks for the education.