HID Recommendations Please

[AE1M]

After reading JA's HID recommendation for the V-LED HID kit, I checked their site. They replied to my inquiry that they are discontinuing all HID kits and working on LED headlights

So, I am looking for new suggestions. Would prefer the kits that dont require a battery connection.

Thanks,
Bob

 

[CookieRoe]

Aftermarket LED headlights? Sounds cool! JA website is quite epic with all the mods he did on his truck. Wish I had his skills.

No direct battery connections: I haven't seen any (that are decent) that don't involve direct connection to the battery. The stock wire harness I don't believe can handle enough juice to reliably light the ballasts time after time. Someone correct me if I'm wrong. Anyway, my point is battery connection seems to be the norm.

 

[A_HuL]

Go to DDMTuning.com, they have HID kits for $45 and are now selling LEDs, i got my HIDS from their and they have a lifetime warranty so if a bulb blows or anything they will send you a new one which is wicked, especially for $45, i have a 8000k and they are blue when you are looking at my headlights but when it comes to the light that is being shined it is a bright white with blue tint, what you can do is go to the webiste, click on HID lighting i think is what it is and get the Raptor slim ballast kit, there are other options you can get with it but all you need is the kit no extra add ons. check it out man definitely the best bang for your buck. And its all plug-n-play.
Good Luck

 

[Doozi]

I have two of the DDM kits (low beams and fogs) installed without any extra connections to the battery and love 'em. Both of my kits are the 35 watt units and I originally chose 5000k for the lows and 3000k for the fogs. I wasn't too thrilled with the lows... it was good, but I expected more from HID lighting. I just recently switched to 4500k for the lows and couldn't believe the difference! So much more visible light and they seem to have a much sharper cut-off than the 5000k bulbs did. I am very happy with the lights now! And the yellow color of the 3000k fogs is perfect for fog/rain/snow conditions.

Good luck with your HID upgrade!

 

[riceandpho]

a relay harness is not required, but its a safer option to have tho, i recommend using it, but its really not needed. on hid kits, if you are doing ddm, you might as well go on ebay and get one for about 40, just stay away from xentec, also they all come from china, now in the usa, if the sellers are caught, they get a fine for selling. from what i have read, ddm was going to stop selling hid kits.

 

[ohnoitsthecops]

Xenon depot is what I got, got it before I knew about hid's, has given me zero problems. It plugs into stock locations super easy install

 

[Doozi]

if you are doing ddm, you might as well go on ebay and get one for about 40, just stay away from xentec

The digital slim ballast kits from DDM are $45 with a lifetime warranty and quite a few folks on this forum alone have had good things to say about them.

It's interesting that I've now heard about two companies that are rumored to stop selling HID kits soon... we'll have a to see what happens.

 

[riceandpho]

ddm stuff is from china, so u might as well get an kit off ebay for 40 or less, and its the same product.

 

[black_120]

if you are doing ddm, you might as well go on ebay and get one for about 40, just stay away from xentec,

Finally got my DDM kit yesterday and replaced the crappy xentec kit. I went with xentec initially since DDM has been killing me on the shipping prices.

Even though the DDM kits are made in China and they get bashed alot, they have served me well on several vechicles.

 

[martini]

After reading JA's HID recommendation for the V-LED HID kit, I checked their site. They replied to my inquiry that they are discontinuing all HID kits and working on LED headlights

So, I am looking for new suggestions. Would prefer the kits that dont require a battery connection.

I'm also looking for the same thing. From reading it's the relay that is connected to the battery (not totally sure what it does yet). Do the Xenon depot HIDs still require some modification to fit like in this thread http://www.toyota-4runner.org/acces...depot-4300k-hid-kit-2003-limited-v8-4wd.html? It looks like most kits require the polarity to be reversed due to 4Runners using negative to trigger not positive, which I'm fine with doing. I was also going to copy JA figuring he did all the research to verify the kit won't cause any problems with the electrical system.

I'm extra cautious about modifying anything with the electrical system, since my 3rd gen was improperly re-wired by a shop for a trailer connection. The problems from this ultimately lead to me selling it and getting my 4th gen. If I can copy someone's setup who is an electrical engineer (or just experience) I'd feel more comfortable.

The last decision will be between 4300K/4500K (highest lumens) or 5000K once I figure out which brand to get.

 

[blue4run]

I just installed Lightwerkz for my low beams $135 shipped, and DDM for my fogs $50 shipped.
I really liked the kit from Lightwerkz it included wire harness but that is the way to go and its good quality, plus I got it in 2 days. EASY INSTALL.
My DDM took to long to arrive (2 weeks) and it's cheap YOU GET WHAT YOU PAY FOR!!!
The DDM is okay but I had to modify the factory plug to get a actual connection into the ballast! And the wires are backwards positive is the negative you will find allot of guys mention this. Not such a easy install due to plug and location of ballast.
I will NOT! order from DDM again.


The second pic is the DDM after I wrapped them to better water to proof them. You could see into the ballast I didn't feel they were water tight and they went by the fog's so I wanted a good seal. But see how the plug for the factory light connection is right in the body of the ballast. This leaves no room for the factory plug to clip on and make a connection. Any better quality ballast has a wire attached to the plug, not just part of the ballast body.

When it comes to you low beams don't go cheap it's not worth it in my opinion.

 

[benjammintn]

I just installed a DDM kit on my wife's accord last night. I am happy with the results. I went with the 4500k 35W kit. Install was super easy, just plug and play ! Hardest part was reaching in with one hand blind to get the ballast zip-tied into place... probably not an issue with the 4Runner engine bay, but I don't know yet. I'm gonna order myself a kit now, had to test it on the other car first haha.

I am just trying to decide which kits: I am thinking 5000K 55W for the lows and 4500K 35W for the fogs...

 

[benjammintn]

Ok, I just saw blue4run's post. I don't have experience with the 4runner yet, and I agree that it took a while (couple weeks).
I don't like hearing about the polarity switch up. Is this a problem with everyone? Didn't have that problem last night on the 9006 kit on the accord.

 

[snowbrdr033]

There is reverse polarity on almost all 4Runners, I've got it too. I discovered this when I installed the DDM Tuning HID fogs in my truck. I have an 05 and couldn't figure out why they weren't working....turns out I have reverse polarity, like many others.
It isn't an issue, you simply switch the plug and then it's good to go!

I recommend DDM HIDs, had em on for 5 months now with no issues.

 

[honda_nos]

I have the XenonDepot kit, great service. I have the extreme ballasts with the relays 4300K.

With their base ballasts, I had an issue with the auto-headlight not working properly in the mornings. Basically, on auto-light when I crank to start the engine, they shut off and stay off.

With the extremes no problem. Higher cost but no complaints. I sold the base ballasts to my buddy and put them in his Miata. No problems there (no auto-light)

 

[black_120]

And the wires are backwards positive is the negative you will find allot of guys mention this. Not such a easy install due to plug and location of ballast.
I will NOT! order from DDM again.

Its not DDM fault. Toyotas have the wiring reversed. Every toyota/lexus that takes 9006 or H11 needs the wires flipped. I've done it on 5 other cars i've owned and its simple. A couple mins and a small flat head screwdriver and you can wiggle the pins out of the connector and flip them around.

Its annoying at first, since you think the HID kit you just bought doesnt work.

 

[snowbrdr033]

Its not DDM fault. Toyotas have the wiring reversed. Every toyota/lexus that takes 9006 or H11 needs the wires flipped. I've done it on 5 other cars i've owned and its simple. A couple mins and a small flat head screwdriver and you can wiggle the pins out of the connector and flip them around.

Its annoying at first, since you think the HID kit you just bought doesnt work.

Correct. It's not DDM's fault, as people with other brand HIDs have had the same issue arise. Even if you don't "switch" the polarity by taking apart the OEM plug, all you really need to do is "switch" the plug when you go to install it. It takes no extra time and it's simple, literally, switch the plug when you go to plug-n-play.
Hope that helps clarify....

 

[riceandpho]

when using a relayed harness, polarity dont matter, making it plug and play. now when not using harness, take the pins out the plug and swap it over, on some 9006 connectors, its universal.