opinions on 3k HIDs in fogs
#1
Supporting Maxima.org Member
Thread Starter
iTrader: (5)
Join Date: May 2005
Location: Louisville KY
Posts: 728
opinions on 3k HIDs in fogs
Im looking at swapping my fogs out. I have so sylvania silverstars in there and they arent worth crap. Id like to get some 3k's cause of the look. I had some PIAA yellow ion H3s in my 97 max and i really like the light output but ive never run HID's in the fogs so Im wanting some insight on the output.
Thanks
B
Thanks
B
#2
I have/had a set in my fogs (one of my ballasts failed after three months ) and the output is pretty good.
They're definitely a lot brighter than the stockers, or even the silverstars. The only catch is that if you do pick up a set, remember a few things:
Most kits claim to be P/P and are, but usually need a little wiggling and fidgeting to work. Mine needed no modification, it was just an odd install.
If you pick up the H3 bulbs, get the long bulbs, not the short ones. They'll provide a more even pattern. The short bulbs tend to scatter, and not project very well.
The long bulbs are going to require you to either bend or remove your glare guards. I just bent mine down a bit, and the bulb fit in perfectly fine.
I'm not sure on this one, but if you're going to run HIDs in your fogs, I don't think it's healthy for them to be turned OnOffOnOffOnOff, so you'll have to refrain from using high-beams in suburban settings, flashing your high beams, etc. But the light output when they're aimed properly is good enough that you shouldn't need to use your high beams. At least I didn't.
Edit: Oh, one more thing I forgot to mention...My P/P install is slowly failing. Apparently the factory fog wires aren't powerful enough to handle charging the ballasts so they can properly fire. IMO, if you're good with wiring in basic electronics such as relays, you'd be safer to wire them directly to the battery and then run a relay so they can get full power.
They're definitely a lot brighter than the stockers, or even the silverstars. The only catch is that if you do pick up a set, remember a few things:
Most kits claim to be P/P and are, but usually need a little wiggling and fidgeting to work. Mine needed no modification, it was just an odd install.
If you pick up the H3 bulbs, get the long bulbs, not the short ones. They'll provide a more even pattern. The short bulbs tend to scatter, and not project very well.
The long bulbs are going to require you to either bend or remove your glare guards. I just bent mine down a bit, and the bulb fit in perfectly fine.
I'm not sure on this one, but if you're going to run HIDs in your fogs, I don't think it's healthy for them to be turned OnOffOnOffOnOff, so you'll have to refrain from using high-beams in suburban settings, flashing your high beams, etc. But the light output when they're aimed properly is good enough that you shouldn't need to use your high beams. At least I didn't.
Edit: Oh, one more thing I forgot to mention...My P/P install is slowly failing. Apparently the factory fog wires aren't powerful enough to handle charging the ballasts so they can properly fire. IMO, if you're good with wiring in basic electronics such as relays, you'd be safer to wire them directly to the battery and then run a relay so they can get full power.
Last edited by Mr. Brett; 01-18-2010 at 09:04 AM.
#3
Supporting Maxima.org Member
Thread Starter
iTrader: (5)
Join Date: May 2005
Location: Louisville KY
Posts: 728
I have/had a set in my fogs (one of my ballasts failed after three months ) and the output is pretty good.
They're definitely a lot brighter than the stockers, or even the silverstars. The only catch is that if you do pick up a set, remember a few things:
Most kits claim to be P/P and are, but usually need a little wiggling and fidgeting to work. Mine needed no modification, it was just an odd install.
If you pick up the H3 bulbs, get the long bulbs, not the short ones. They'll provide a more even pattern. The short bulbs tend to scatter, and not project very well.
The long bulbs are going to require you to either bend or remove your glare guards. I just bent mine down a bit, and the bulb fit in perfectly fine.
I'm not sure on this one, but if you're going to run HIDs in your fogs, I don't think it's healthy for them to be turned OnOffOnOffOnOff, so you'll have to refrain from using high-beams in suburban settings, flashing your high beams, etc. But the light output when they're aimed properly is good enough that you shouldn't need to use your high beams. At least I didn't.
Edit: Oh, one more thing I forgot to mention...My P/P install is slowly failing. Apparently the factory fog wires aren't powerful enough to handle charging the ballasts so they can properly fire. IMO, if you're good with wiring in basic electronics such as relays, you'd be safer to wire them directly to the battery and then run a relay so they can get full power.
They're definitely a lot brighter than the stockers, or even the silverstars. The only catch is that if you do pick up a set, remember a few things:
Most kits claim to be P/P and are, but usually need a little wiggling and fidgeting to work. Mine needed no modification, it was just an odd install.
If you pick up the H3 bulbs, get the long bulbs, not the short ones. They'll provide a more even pattern. The short bulbs tend to scatter, and not project very well.
The long bulbs are going to require you to either bend or remove your glare guards. I just bent mine down a bit, and the bulb fit in perfectly fine.
I'm not sure on this one, but if you're going to run HIDs in your fogs, I don't think it's healthy for them to be turned OnOffOnOffOnOff, so you'll have to refrain from using high-beams in suburban settings, flashing your high beams, etc. But the light output when they're aimed properly is good enough that you shouldn't need to use your high beams. At least I didn't.
Edit: Oh, one more thing I forgot to mention...My P/P install is slowly failing. Apparently the factory fog wires aren't powerful enough to handle charging the ballasts so they can properly fire. IMO, if you're good with wiring in basic electronics such as relays, you'd be safer to wire them directly to the battery and then run a relay so they can get full power.
B
#4
Here's mine output pics are in there. Install wasn't that bad I just spliced the oem harness into the kit. The worst part was getting the wires through the dust cover I had to cut them put them through the hole and splice them back together and use silicone sealant to seal the hole up. Like SLC one of my balasts blew but there is some kind of relay you can use to keep this from happening.
http://forums.maxima.org/5th-generat...3-hid-kit.html
http://forums.maxima.org/5th-generat...3-hid-kit.html
#5
It was a kit I ordered off of eBay back in February of '09. I don't remember the seller, but I think I paid $64 shipped, and the brand is "Xentec." I think it's just a logo they put on the side of the box to make it look official, though.
#7
So I just went outside to see why one of my HIDs wasn't firing. Turns out the bulb nuked itself. Now to figure out who carries just the replacement bulbs...
As far as HIDextra goes, I've heard nothing but good stuff about them.
As far as HIDextra goes, I've heard nothing but good stuff about them.
#9
I had a DDM Tuning kit and one of the bulbs went bad after about 6-9 months. I bought a really cheap set from an ebay seller and they flickered with the DDM Tuning ballasts. I bought a second set from another ebay seller and got short H3's (H3C's) that didn't flicker, but have a crappy output pattern because the arc is in the wrong place. Finally, I bought a 3rd set of replacement bulbs from DDM Tuning and put those in and everything is good.
I should just bought the replacement bulbs from DDM Tuning in the first place and saved some money.
I should just bought the replacement bulbs from DDM Tuning in the first place and saved some money.
#10
I had a DDM Tuning kit and one of the bulbs went bad after about 6-9 months. I bought a really cheap set from an ebay seller and they flickered with the DDM Tuning ballasts. I bought a second set from another ebay seller and got short H3's (H3C's) that didn't flicker, but have a crappy output pattern because the arc is in the wrong place. Finally, I bought a 3rd set of replacement bulbs from DDM Tuning and put those in and everything is good.
I should just bought the replacement bulbs from DDM Tuning in the first place and saved some money.
I should just bought the replacement bulbs from DDM Tuning in the first place and saved some money.
#11
#12
You have to do something with the wiring. You can't just plug and play. The connectors on the end of the bulb won't fit through the hole in the back of the housing with the rubber grommet removed. So, you either have to drill out the back of the fog light housing to allow the stock connectors on the bulbs to go through, or you have to cut the leads on the HID bulb put them through the existing hole and then solder and heat shrink the leads back together and silicone up the hole.
I've always spliced the leads, soldered, used double heat shrink, and then used silicone to seal the housing where the wires went through.
I've always spliced the leads, soldered, used double heat shrink, and then used silicone to seal the housing where the wires went through.
#13
I've had good luck with DDM Tuning.. I've been running my 6k hid fogs for over a year now, but plan to switch to 3k soon. My brother purchased his hid fogs from them as well and everything seems to be working for him (its been around a month or so)
And it also comes with lifetime warranty so for $50, you cant go wrong with that
And it also comes with lifetime warranty so for $50, you cant go wrong with that
#14
Sounds to me like getting a good set of bulbs makes more sense then wasting time and money on an HID kit that isn't made to work efficiently with the stock harness. Unless you're capable of making yourself a harness with a relay, bulbs it is IMO.
#15
#16
#18
1) The wiring on the HID bulbs isn't compatible with the foglight housings and requires some modification either to the housing or the bulb wiring.
2) You've got to connect the ballasts to factory harness.
Neither is hard if you're handy with a soldering iron and have some heat shrink tubing or have someone who is who can do it for you.
#19
A properly functioning fog light pattern won't work for high beams.
Sounds to me like the fog lamp dispersion pattern was wrecked, and you were using them as driving lights.
#20
personally i have stock bulbs wiht lexus retro-fit capsules in my fogs im going to be instaling a 4300K kit on my fogs to get the most output i can. ive never had a problem with installing HiD kits in fogs with wires messing up or anything of that sort. the reason might be that ur ballast messed up is that its not water proof!! i sell water proof hid kits. and none of my customers have ever had problems u can stick the whole kit in water and itll still work properly!! 03VIPMAX Tuner-Innovations (626)393-4513 Chrystian
#22
Here. This should give you a better idea of what the pattern was like. This is my 3000k HID setup with just the fogs on, and not the headlights.
#23
personally i have stock bulbs wiht lexus retro-fit capsules in my fogs im going to be instaling a 4300K kit on my fogs to get the most output i can. ive never had a problem with installing HiD kits in fogs with wires messing up or anything of that sort. the reason might be that ur ballast messed up is that its not water proof!! i sell water proof hid kits. and none of my customers have ever had problems u can stick the whole kit in water and itll still work properly!! 03VIPMAX Tuner-Innovations (626)393-4513 Chrystian
One, you can get banned for this. Two, talk to the mods about setting up a group deal if you're serious about selling HIDs on this site. Three, posting your phone number for everyone to see on a website accessible to anyone is a horrible idea.
#26
O.k o.k... noob question, the H3 HID bulb does not fit in the H3 fog???? I don't get it... ikve got two ballast that I'm not using and bought the H3 HID bulb, never knew there had to be cutting and splicing???... ill try em out when I get them but if I gotta cut then these won't be going on.... goin on sale rather
#27
#30
#31
O.k o.k... noob question, the H3 HID bulb does not fit in the H3 fog???? I don't get it... ikve got two ballast that I'm not using and bought the H3 HID bulb, never knew there had to be cutting and splicing???... ill try em out when I get them but if I gotta cut then these won't be going on.... goin on sale rather
As far as P/P, you can do so if you so choose. Other members are just giving ideas of how to clean up the install, because if you just plug and play these kits on the Max, the install is extremely awkward and messy.
#33
no glare my friend. never been pulled over and ive never even been flashed once. also i do not have the short bulbs, and my glare shields are in 100% factory positioning. think abou tthat one lol
#37
sorry for this off-topic question but where did you purchase yellow lamin-x? just trying to find different places that carry them..
#38
We'll have to see how much brighter my fogs are once I run the direct battery line.
Last edited by Mr. Brett; 01-19-2010 at 07:52 PM.
#39
Supporting Maxima.org Member
Thread Starter
iTrader: (5)
Join Date: May 2005
Location: Louisville KY
Posts: 728
ive read through this entire thread and i have some questions:
1.) DDM tunning or hidextra.com is apparently the way to go...correct?
2.) apparently if i want this done correctly with the most possible light out put i need to do some wiring/cutting and crap...correct?
3.) someone wanna post some pics with a write-up? im not the best but with good solid directions and pics i can do just about anything
thanks for the input
B
1.) DDM tunning or hidextra.com is apparently the way to go...correct?
2.) apparently if i want this done correctly with the most possible light out put i need to do some wiring/cutting and crap...correct?
3.) someone wanna post some pics with a write-up? im not the best but with good solid directions and pics i can do just about anything
thanks for the input
B
#40
ive read through this entire thread and i have some questions:
1.) DDM tunning or hidextra.com is apparently the way to go...correct?
2.) apparently if i want this done correctly with the most possible light out put i need to do some wiring/cutting and crap...correct?
3.) someone wanna post some pics with a write-up? im not the best but with good solid directions and pics i can do just about anything
thanks for the input
B
1.) DDM tunning or hidextra.com is apparently the way to go...correct?
2.) apparently if i want this done correctly with the most possible light out put i need to do some wiring/cutting and crap...correct?
3.) someone wanna post some pics with a write-up? im not the best but with good solid directions and pics i can do just about anything
thanks for the input
B