Rochester

iTrader: (3)

Very likely. Although the large dot LED's (for lack of the appropriate term) put out lots more light than a full stalk of little ones. Do you know what I mean by "larger" vs. "smaller" LED's? For example, I'm using a single LED BAS9 bulb in my map lights, and they're silly bright.



I'm not getting these H3's or anything, I just thought it was a neat design. I think I'm all bulbed out at the moment, and need to step back for a while.

hot_wax_tree

So I am finding it hard to get good info on the 5.5gen fog it met and such so I am just gunna ask and take the wrap from all you.

So my questions are:
1.so no matter if it is a fog size H3 or a headlight sized H3 it will fit in my fogs?(mind you i've never had fogs before

2.and what if I want yellow ones? is there actual Yellow HId fogs or just this cheap crap?

3.Is there a good kit on Ebay that I can trust will work for a conversion?

4.On my actual head lights do I have to do anything before I put in 6000k head lights?

Im sorry I am doing it this way but I am finding it hard to find things on my time frame I start looking then have to go before I can really get into it.

Thank you
Jake

TallTom

1) H3 is H3. You want, H3.

2) They make 3000k HID kits Which are yellow.

3) Look in the group buy forum for deals on HID kits before hitting ebay.

4) I wouldn't recommend sticking HID bulbs in a halogen housing, but do as you wish.

Nate218

Got me a pair of PIAA Intense white H3 bulbs in now and they have a good white clean look. A good $42(ebay) upgrade from the stock bulbs that were in.

Rochester

iTrader: (3)

I can't answer your headlight questions, Jake. You should create a new thread for that, or dig deeper. Research has its own rewards if you invest the effort. All I speak to are your fogs...

"H3" designates the bulb and connector design. All H3 bulbs share that design, but they don't all have the same wattage. The 5.5 gen is spec'd for a 55w H3 bulb in the fog lenses.

Higher wattage can translate into a stronger, brighter light, but it also generates a lot of heat. That's less of a problem for the 5.5 gen, because those have glass lenses. The 5th gen lens is plastic. Also, even though the bulb is rated at higher wattage, that doesn't mean the wiring can support it fully.

Color is measured in kelvin, as in 3000K, 5800K, etc. The lower the kelvin rating, the more washed out and yellow the light. The higher the kelvin, the light becomes more white-into-blue. OEM bulbs are 3000K (I think). A good white light would be between 4000 and 6000K.

LED H3 bulbs typically use 1w and have zero heat. They're interesting, but they don't generate much light intensity, and are totally useless as functional "fog" lights.

"HID" (High Intensity Discharge) is a bit of a marketing term. A true HID bulb (think Xenon) will require a conversion kit. I've given lots of thought to that over the last month, and decided not to pursue it at this time. My thinking is, they're fog lights, not "secondary headlights". But that's just me. However, the only way you're going to perfectly match your fogs with your 5.5 gen Xenon headlights is to get a kit.

The 5th gen and 5.5 gen fog lenses are not interchangeable... different mounting, different bumpers. Buy your replacement lenses on eBay, because OEM lenses are 2x or 3x the price, and the eBay lenses are virtually identical. Sometimes even better quality.

Yellow bulbs? Meh. Too rice, IMO.

Laminate overlay? Meh. Too tacky, IMO.

If you read through this thread (and I think by your own admission, you didn't), you'll see I started this thread not really knowing much of anything and leaning as I went along. I went from the OEM bulbs, to 4000K 100w bulbs, to LED ambers, to what I'm using now... 5800K 55w bulbs.

My current bulbs were only $4 on eBay, and the light looks fantastic! Now, they may bust shortly, at which time I'll find I got what I paid for. But that hasn't happened yet, so I'm pretty pleased with where I ended up. You can spend up to $75 for a pair of PIAA bulbs. The more you learn about bulbs, the more foolish is seems to pay a premium price like that.

Good luck.

vball_max

iTrader: (5)

I believe the stock fog color is probably more along the lines of 3500k.

3000k gives you a deeper yellow than stock which looks pretty nice. 2500k like the luminics yellow bulbs is an even deeper yellow, similar to the color of the lexus fog lights. I have yet to see an hid kit in the color though. Operatic sells a "custom color yellow" kit that I think may come close.

From what I have read on here with different people's experiences, the ebay fog housings are cheaper in both cost and quality. I have had a couple sets of the ebay housings and within a couple months they are cracked again. Most on here insist that the OEM fogs have thicker glass which hold up better. You can get a OEM kit with 2 housings and stalk for around $175 which isnt too much more than 2 ebay housings. I might have to get these as i have a cracked driver side ebay housing on my car right now

Rochester

iTrader: (3)

That's a different consensus opinion than the one I came to, but that's OK. Opinions are like Life Savers. I like grape.

My eBay lenses are identical to OEM. I have one of my original OEM lenses right here in my hand; (odd, but true, it's still on my desk.) Except for the lettering "DEPO" rather than "nissan", it's identical.

Kquezada28

vleds.com not too expensive but very good quality

1991tsi

iTrader: (2)

Rochester - I'm leaning toward cheaping out for whiter H3 fogs as well (seems the more expensive ones are not worthwhile cosmetically, nor from a reliability standpoint)... can you offer some followup on your Ebay 5800k H3s? Still working? Would you go with the same color again?

Stereodude

I put 35W 3000K H3 HIDs (which were a tad long) in my fog's with a DDM Tuning digital kit last year. I rarely use them (only on wet roads in the rain and snow) and I've had one of the bulbs go bad already.

I've ordered replacement 3000K H3 bulbs from ebay and now have to rework the lights when the new bulbs get here. I get to do this again.



They do look nice though.

bigpopaj369

iTrader: (2)

those have great output stereodude

Merovingian7

iTrader: (1)

nice lights stero

icukev

That's what i was looking for but settled on some bulbs from auto zone which just looked like stock (not mad because one of mine was out). It was only 5 bucks a bulb. What I am looking for is a reasonable place to get a fog light lense from (i had a crack in one and now there is a hole in it after a long highway trip)?

Stereodude

I don't think you can get a new lens. My old ones were trashed.



I bought a new foglight kit (two complete lights + stalk) from ABC Nissan (for GXE's) since it's cheaper at $165 -5% than buying a single new fog light assembly at $180 each from Courtesy Parts. I put the 40mil Lamin-X film on them to protect the new ones from developing the same problem as the one that came in the car.



So far so good on that front.

VQtHuRtY

iTrader: (3)

Im rocking the 10k HID's on top and bottom.

<=== Too bright

Stereodude

Holy glare batman!!!

02nismaxlegnd94

iTrader: (6)

PIAA Plasma ION= Yellow light output

MIK3

iTrader: (12)

Quote of the month right there!

9SMD Amber setup FTW! Of course, I am aberrant in my fog choice, as I go for aesthetics, not shine. No fog = no real reason.


And VQtHuRtY: I hope to never, ever, ever meet you on the road on-coming. Dear god man...redonkulous!

LA02MAX

iTrader: (3)

Alright I've had these since early 2005 and the right one finally called it quits 5 years of service was good, but now it's time to upgrade to some HIDs.

Prophecy99

iTrader: (1)

Wow, I thought yours would never go out.... I have had PIAA Xtreme Whites for 1.5 years now hoping they last as long as yours. I also have a small crack in one lense. They match pretty close not as good as yours but good enough.
thats prolly the only set of pics i have no night.

Rochester

iTrader: (3)

Wow, a whole bunch of activity on this old thread. Weird.

1991tsi, I'm still using those insanely inexpensive ebay 5800k H3's. They've not blown (yet), and are probably "on" about 80% of my driving; (what with it being so dark and all... damn winter.)

They aren't HID-match-perfect, but they're better than those 100w bulbs I was using for a few months, and they're MUCH better than the stock bulbs. (So that you know... my sig picture is with the 100w bulbs, not the ones I'm currently using. Um, and the running lights are with the old amber LED's, not the 9SMD's I'm currently using... same design as in MIK3's fogs... which are awesome, btw.)

I'm really kind of amazed these H3 bulbs are working so well, and look so good, considering how stupidly cheap they were. I definitely recommend them. Hope this helps.

Rochester

iTrader: (3)

Dude, you colored your font and posted a massive, out-of-focus picture.

WTF? Learn before you burn.

Stereodude

I just got a pair of 3000k H3's off ebay for $17 shipped.

That's almost as cheap as halogen bulbs.

1991tsi

iTrader: (2)

Pair of 5000K H3's shipped from hong kong for $3.29.... FTW!! I feel like a 3rd gen owner...

Rochester

iTrader: (3)

It does feel weird, huh? Buying H3 bulbs so cheap.

But the way I looked at it, if it doesn't work out, you're only out the cost of a drink with lunch. And I get ice water half the time anyway.

No, wait, I don't know what that means.

03VQMAX

iTrader: (46)

Philips 5000K CM H3 Rebased HID Bulbs.

Rochester

iTrader: (3)

You missed where I said...

...but that's OK. You're digging those Philips 5000K bulbs. Cool.

1991tsi

iTrader: (2)

Rochester, question: can you use your parking lights WITHOUT the fogs on? Meaning, does your stalk fog switch still function to turn them off?...

The6spdMax

iTrader: (23)

Yes, I think so. I have my fog re-wired and it works for me.

ButtaMax

iTrader: (7)

I dont know how you beat the HID's in the group buy....

6k in the heads & fogs, crispy white and bright

almost pulled the trigger on the Lexus fogs but glad I didnt.........thats until till I see a Lexus coming the opposite direction.

if I had to do it over I still would put the 6k's in tho

1991tsi

iTrader: (2)

Thanks 6spdMax, I just confirmed it on my car -- unlike the 6th gen cars (why do they change these minor things??) our stalk switch supplies a ground to the fog circuit regardless of any other lights being on or off. This is similar to my old 4th gen. All that is needed to make this work is a 12v supply that comes on with the ignition but without any other lights, as was used in the 00-01 writeup on vqpower.com. Its too cold to go back out there right now...

Rochester

iTrader: (3)

Yes. With the wiring described on shiftice.com, the fogs will function with the running lights on, with or without the low beams. And the running lights can still be turned on all by themselves, just like normal.

showstoppa01

Using straight stock. Looking for something to match the stock HID's and sidemarker lights

Prophecy99

iTrader: (1)

LA02MAX did you end up gettin those HID replacements?

..yeah one of my PIAA xtreme whites just went out in the last few days. I had a decent horizontal crack across the driver side fog. 1.75 Year Life...
I am kinda guessing it was the crack more than anything, I am still a PIAA fan though and debating to just get a new pair of the xtreme whites so I have 1 extra replacement this time instead of switching completely.

I am thinking of just using sealant on the crack and see if that holds up (the same sealant you use on headlights but clear) instead of replacing the whole housing,
How are these holding up? I am ready to purchase them if they are worth while? Thats about as cheap as you can get.

NissanMan97

iTrader: (5)

im running silverstars...they suck..

now...working on retro fitting some h3 projectors in the stock housings...ill let you know

B

Rochester

iTrader: (3)

Read through the thread some more... I only used the Litechs for a few months, because they were so hot being 100w bulbs and all. I replaced them with these silly inexpensive bulbs of ebay that actually look better. Because of that fog-switch rewire mod, I drive all the time now with my fogs on (well, unless its brutally sunny, which it never is in Upstate, NY) and those $5 bulbs are still rocking.

My experience with fog bulbs last year has led me to an opinion that 95% of the bulb market is a flat-out scam. My $5 bulbs look awesome.

[edit]

My bad, I think you were asking me about the replacement lenses, not the bulbs. In which case, they're holding up just fine. No cracking (yet).

Grand_hustle17

iTrader: (22)

cant wait to get my car back from the dealership to install my yellow fogs..

My fogs are a little too stocky for my 8000K bulbs



Quick question, for the guys who went HID fogs, where is a good place to mount the ballast???

Revs2Hard

iTrader: (7)

3k 50watt hids

Rochester

iTrader: (3)

OK. Good to know.

Man do I regret my wording of this thread title.

cmd26

iTrader: (6)

soon to b 8k hid fogs