Notices
Lighting A place to ask questions about HIDs & other Lexus lights
Sponsored by:
Sponsored by: CARiD

OEM HID vs. aftermarket HID

Thread Tools
 
Search this Thread
 
Old Apr 11, 2003 | 08:56 AM
  #1  
BLK13X's Avatar
BLK13X
Thread Starter
For Mind Cruising
20 Year Member
Photogenic
Photoriffic
Liked
 
Joined: Jan 2002
Posts: 4,766
Likes: 25
From: NSW
Question OEM HID vs. aftermarket HID

Hi guys,

I'm just pondering the idea of fitting an HID kit to my Soarer. Now, I've heard good stories etc. about higher quality HID kits such as from AutoLamps.Com (for example), but what would the differences be between a custom kit like the AutoLamps and an OEM HID system, say, from a BMW 330ci? Is there much difference (e.g. anyone with pics of the two compared), as I'm leaning towards the AutoLamps HID kit but if there's much difference, I'll just save up to retrofit OEM projector HID assemblies...

Thanks guys

Jose
Reply
Old Apr 15, 2003 | 03:32 PM
  #2  
tzu911's Avatar
tzu911
Lexus Champion
 
Joined: Jan 2003
Posts: 1,963
Likes: 1
From: rip current, CA
Default

OEM pimps it out with auto leveling. no after market can do that, with what i know.
Reply
Old Apr 15, 2003 | 03:43 PM
  #3  
Jlee's Avatar
Jlee
Driver School Candidate
 
Joined: Apr 2003
Posts: 7
Likes: 0
From: California
Default

OEM is better but it's not a plug and play type deal.
Reply
Old Apr 15, 2003 | 11:55 PM
  #4  
Kyle Harty's Avatar
Kyle Harty
Lexus Champion
iTrader: (17)
 
Joined: Jan 2002
Posts: 3,363
Likes: 13
From: MN
Default

An OEM retrofit will have better beam patterns, and you'll get the color flicker; it won't have auto-leveling though. A plug and play will still have basically the same beam patterns as you've got now but brighter.
Reply
Old Apr 16, 2003 | 10:46 AM
  #5  
tzu911's Avatar
tzu911
Lexus Champion
 
Joined: Jan 2003
Posts: 1,963
Likes: 1
From: rip current, CA
Default :)

hi kyle, how much did it cost u to do the beemer 5 serious retro fit??
Reply
Old Apr 16, 2003 | 11:37 AM
  #6  
Kyle Harty's Avatar
Kyle Harty
Lexus Champion
iTrader: (17)
 
Joined: Jan 2002
Posts: 3,363
Likes: 13
From: MN
Default

I paid about $550 for the projectors, bulbs, and ballasts from a guy on E-bay. They could probably be had a little cheaper if you looked around. Pretty comparable in price to an Autolamps kit, but alot more labor. Mine turned out to be a real pain, I think I spent 30-40 hours of labor on it but I'm very happy with them now that it's done.
Reply
Related Topics
Thread
Thread Starter
Forum
Replies
Last Post
2genIS
IS - 2nd Gen (2006-2013)
9
Oct 27, 2011 10:40 AM
GSJDM430
GS - 2nd Gen (1998-2005)
2
May 2, 2009 03:35 PM
truenoboy
GS - 2nd Gen (1998-2005)
14
Sep 21, 2008 11:21 AM
truenoboy
Lighting
2
Apr 5, 2008 07:42 PM
DangGS3
GS - 2nd Gen (1998-2005)
7
Dec 12, 2006 11:54 PM




All times are GMT -7. The time now is 10:45 PM.