HID's!!!! Returned from SEMA

HID

From what I found out about them they seem to claim some good things about their products, but most companies do. None of my coworkeres have heard too much about them. The warranty seems a little short (1 Year) for HID, which could be a testament to the quality. I also couldn't find any web site for a company named Helios except for a company that makes household lighting.

Legality is an issue to take into account before purchasing them. Here is a link from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA). Also they have other good info on these if you search HID on their site.

http://www.nhtsa.dot.gov/nhtsa/announce/press/pressdisplay.cfm?year=2004&filename=pr43-04.html

Jason
 
Thanks for helping out on the legal issue and looking into it for us. It is always good to have somebody in the industry looking out for the rest of us. As with most things on the web, if it sounds to good to be true, it usually is. Of course there are some things that will work out. That is the good thing about T4R.ORG. There is always somebody helping out. Thanks guys.
 
:eek: :eek: :eek: :dammit: :goinposta WOW

Thanks Jaemc. Forget them then..it was a learning experience. I guess you DO need an all new reflector etc...

Thanks bro.
 
Hey guys I saw you discussing Helios HID.

I just thought I would tell you something about them.

Helios is an oversea based company as most companies are. Philips just signed a contract to produce 70,000 ballasts with Helios technology inside a philips ballast every month starting Jan 2005.

HID are considered illegal however they were made illegal from the beginning because they were too bright and would blind the upcoming traffic. You are likely to get pulled over for blinding people not because you have HID. It is all the competitors fault this happened in the first place. It started off that HID bulbs would output 200watt, by 2003 there were kits which gave out approx 900 watts which really was blinding. Helios HID give output of 550watts comparing to 50watts halegon bulb. It does not glare or blind the upcoming traffic. Low beam bulbs are designed to point to low beam area only not all around.

Hid are still legal if you have a projector light. As you see for yourself nothing is being restricated from importing like BMW and Merecedes which have HID eqipped. The reason projecter HID are legal because they consentrate on one area and dont give any glare at all.

Basically, what I am saying is if you use Helios HID you won't have a problem with the authority.

In regards to 1 year warranty. Everyone offers the same thing, including Philips themselves. Its only standard since the bulb lasts 3000 hours so who knows how many hours you actually used it.

However 1 year warranty with everyone is not the same. If it is a little company selling the HID, they will make sure you to give you the hardest time if something does every happen to the HID. They will request an 8 month old receipt or tell you they cant find you in the system, or even tell you that you owe them $100 for using the old ballast and now getting a brand new one like Optima batteries do.

Helios warranty is nice and easy. Anything, absolutely anything goes wrong within 1 year. With no hassle it will be replaced the next day.

So we'll leave it up to you to decide who to go with.





Our website is www.mimousa.com if you need it.
 
btw, I read one post and forgot to add something.

The difference between this kit and the hella with built in igniter is huge.

Helios HID ballast come with a seperate igniter which plugs in and out from the ballast. That means if something ever goes wrong you can easily pinpoint the problem with having to send the whole thing back.

If down the line after warranty the igniter goes bad you dont need to buy the whole ballast for $200 you can buy the igniter for $40. Usually its the igniter that needs to be changed the same as spark plugs need be changed during maintance.

The Hella built in igniter was paid to make money on people right after a year of use. They literally designed them to break after 12-16mo. because you can only get so much business to become that big.

Helios was designed to last, that why you got those little extra options that will reduce cost if it will need maintance.
 
Hello All,
I too was at SEMA, I have never seen so many sick rides in my life. I was a shame I did'nt see any 4Runners.

I have done an HID conversion on my 4th Gen the kit I used is made by a company called Bright-Star www.brightstar.com.tw/ . They had a booth at SEMA. The kit came with (2) Ballasts, (2) Ignitors, (2) Bulbs and all other misc hardwear and good instructions required to do the install. The kit is not vehicle specific but is bulb specific. I have had the kit since April and have had no problems with it. I have countless compliments and questions. The only thing I dont like about the kit is the wire colours. There is a picture on this link with them on my Runner. It isn't the best picture because its in the light but its the only one I have. www.cardomain.com/memberpage/711895
I mounted one of the ballasts between the battery and the fender. The other behind the washer fluid fill there is a bracket that I mounted it to. It looks clean except for the bright colours

The distributor I bought them from a has sold lots of these kits to individuals and to shops. I called him and asked what he would sell them for. He said about $450 USD to your doors. They do come with a one year warranty. He has about 7 8000k 9006 kits in stock. He does also brings in the 6500K kit which is about 2 weeks away if he orders them. He doesn't do anything less then 6500

The reply about the legality is very true but we all have new vehicles and its quite possible for our vehicles to have come factory with them. They're more concerned about the guys with 94 civic's and stuff doing it. Being up in Canada we don't have to deal with that BS.

Anyway there's my two bits. If anyone is interested let me know or any questions?
Thanks
 
hey mimo,

i see you're business is strictly wholesale, but is there any chance we can organize a group buy? maybe if we have at least 10 people that are interested? or more?
 
okkin seems to see us at SEMA if he is a dealer we can work together with him to organize a group buy. Otherwise I would have to have one of retail division reps organize it.

It is defintely possible to get an extremely good price if you guys get together a group of 10.
 
Ok then so these are NOT Illegal and WILL NOT blind anyone?? Hmmm do you guys offer a money back guarantee?

Also wondering if it would be better to just upgrade my current Halogen Bulb to a more efficient, brighter bulb that shines 30% brighter for $45 per bulb from autolampsonline.com. I know it won't give me the same results, but I am sure it will help a little?
 
Legality

If these bulbs are street legal they would be DOT approved, and they would also need to be put into a lamp specifically made for the HID bulb, and that lamp would also need to be DOT approved.

Also they admit on their web site they are not street legal. If you go to:
https://www.mimousa.com/home.asp?dir=products&sub_id=18&cat=6&prod=479

and then click on the "Why chose Helios on top of other brands?", and at the bottom of the screen under the second bullet point it states:

"* Due to recent regulatory developments, DOT/NHTSA will penalize the use of HID Retrofit system on highway or public road in USA."

Another issue to legality is the color of light output. Headlamps in N. America have to be in the white spectrum of light in order to be legal. So any lamps that emit a light with blue or purple would also not be street legal.

All in all it comes down to legality, and the only legal headlamp products will be DOT stamped on the product. I would also recommend researching these with NHTSA as they are here for our safety only, and have nothing to gain by going after these companies that are selling HID conversions in N. America. And if someone isn't concerened with legality then HID lamps are a really good product to go with. If fact they are the best current automotive lighting product available.

Jaemc
 
Look, I am not trying to push you guys in any wrong direction. I never said HID were legal. All I said is there is a lot of stuff that is not DOT approved but they do not cause you any problems with the authority. HID do not need a special housing to be put in they are direct plug and play replacement bulbs.

In regards to what kind of difference you will see with the bulbs is a huge difference. The regular halgeon bulb puts out approx 400 lumens as a xenon bulb will put out 600. A 5000K hid kit puts out 3200 lumens. Its a difference between night and day.

Thanks.
 
i along with many others know about legality of HID's and I still want them. As long as we can get a good deal, i'd get a set.
 
Ok Guys, I will help out with the negotiating. with so many people lawsuit happy these days I don't want to risk it. I love the way it looks, but who knows what might happen? I am sales for a living so I hope I can everyone a good deal with my automotive connections.

All I would need from everyone is if you want them FOR SURE or not and the color of the HID's 5000K, 6000K etc...



SO far we have 4 it seems.
 
i am for sure interested if the price is no more than $300 (i've seen other forums do groups buys on these for $250). if the price is right, i'd want the 7000K iceberg blue ones. thanks for helping out okkin!
 
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