Retroshop HID Headlights/Foglights install photos.

User · Oct 12, 2014

Got these in on Friday, finally got around to the install today. First and foremost, I must say this was an effortless install. After installing HIDs on my 2001 Dakota, this was nothing.

I enjoyed the fact that the CANBUS adapters bypass the harness and allows you to use the factory connection to the headlight with no wires hanging anywhere.

I was also able to kick up my Tetris skills and fit all the connectors and parts in the headlight housing, even the CANBUS adapter, regarding this, I noticed on the other harness the youtube video states that the solenoid/resistor gets very hot. I'm assuming the CANBUS adapter doesn't? I didn't see anything stating not to install it in the headlight. On the same note, I was able to get the dust cover to seal too.

I went with 50W 6000k headlights and 35W 6000k foglights.

Here are the photos;

0212353 · Oct 12, 2014

boom!

Yeah, tetris is about right!

And no, the canbus adapters won't get hot like the resistors. Warm, sure. not hot.

And thank you for your order! I appreciate it!

Hemi_Express2013 · Oct 12, 2014

They look great. Gives me a good Ideal of what mine will look like. Thanks for posting.

Munky · Oct 12, 2014

Night time pics!!! I think you just sold me on exactly what to get for my 2013 Blackout Express!!!

0212353 · Oct 12, 2014

Munky said:
Night time pics!!! I think you just sold me on exactly what to get for my 2013 Blackout Express!!!

Check out Mike's post here - http://www.ramforum.com/f96/blackout_edition_13_projector_upgrade-55597/ has some great shots!

and when you are ready, our kits for your truck can be found here!

Heads - https://shop.retroshop.us/ProductDetails.asp?ProductCode=4G.13.HIDs
Fogs - https://shop.retroshop.us/ProductDetails.asp?ProductCode=4G.Fog.HIDs

User · Oct 12, 2014

0212353 said:
boom!

Yeah, tetris is about right!

And no, the canbus adapters won't get hot like the resistors. Warm, sure. not hot.

And thank you for your order! I appreciate it!

That's great, I'm a bit of a pessimist when things go "too" smooth, and was expecting someone to say you cant put them in there.

Thanks for the kit.

Hemi_Express2013 said:
They look great. Gives me a good Ideal of what mine will look like. Thanks for posting.

No Problem.

Munky said:
Night time pics!!! I think you just sold me on exactly what to get for my 2013 Blackout Express!!!

I'll get more pics as the day progresses, right now I'm about to go play some corn hole. :3638400157_e7de35b0

BlackRamHemi · Oct 12, 2014

I hate messing around with wires on the new computer controlled vehicles,
So I've been a bit gun shy about HID upgrades on my Ram.

The new canbus adapters were one of the main reasons I finally jumped in with both feet.

I've had my RetroShop murdered out 13' heads in for 2 weeks now
but the upgrade bug bit again and I placed another order today for the full FXR upgrade on some TYC's

:crazy:

fogs and tails are next

LB3711 · Oct 12, 2014

nice. jealous for the 13+ lights. Love to upgrade lol

Hemi_Express2013 · Oct 12, 2014

BlackRamHemi said:
I hate messing around with wires on the new computer controlled vehicles,
So I've been a bit gun shy about HID upgrades on my Ram.

The new canbus adapters were one of the main reasons I finally jumped in with both feet.

I've had my RetroShop murdered out 13' heads in for 2 weeks now
but the upgrade bug bit again and I placed another order today for the full FXR upgrade on some TYC's

fogs and tails are next

Oh yeah, the tails will seal the deal. Sign me up

danmp · Oct 12, 2014

I love so much those projector headlight. I will make the switch for sure, if someone one day find a way to put the drl on the amber led like the factory canadian truck. I really love the look of the led drl and the projector for the hid.

clgrandorf · Oct 13, 2014

Looks good! How are the fog lights done? Do you go through the fender liner?

User · Oct 13, 2014

clgrandorf said:
Looks good! How are the fog lights done? Do you go through the fender liner?

Nope, I'm not sure what it's called but 2 square beams sit about 9 inches away from the fog light housing, since the CANBUS adapters let you use the factory connection for power, I just mounted the ballasts on those beams, they already have pre drilled holes that fit the factory hardware that comes with the ballast, I just double nutted the threads and zip tied everything back up into the factory wiring location.

Works great, like I said, easy install.

Here are some other photos from last night.

clgrandorf · Oct 13, 2014

User said:
Nope, I'm not sure what it's called but 2 square beams sit about 9 inches away from the fog light housing, since the CANBUS adapters let you use the factory connection for power, I just mounted the ballasts on those beams, they already have pre drilled holes that fit the factory hardware that comes with the ballast, I just double nutted the threads and zip tied everything back up into the factory wiring location.

Works great, like I said, easy install.

Here are some other photos from last night.

Okay, sounds pretty straight forward. It definitely looks a hell of a lot brighter than stock

User · Oct 13, 2014

Ahh, you want me to solve for Hella?

1100/(3500 - 1100) = Hella
1100/2400 = .4583
Hella = 46% brighter than stock
(This is estimated, output varies with different variables like ballast wattage, and Kelvin Temps.) The above is based on 5000 Kelvin Temp and 35W ballast.

I am using 50w ballast and 6000 Kelvin Temp. The higher Kelvin temp might moot the extra wattage, which could possibly return roughly same percentages.

So, I would say it's almost 50% brighter than stock. Big difference, that's for sure.

Jack Archer · Oct 14, 2014

I've been wanting those lights for the past few weeks. If only I had the money. I'll have them by early next year for sure.

Sent from the past five days ago in the future just now.

11BPSMIKE · Oct 15, 2014

How do you find the color, is there any blue to them? Also are the fogs and headlight a bit different color. I am worried about this with the different wattages. I'm ordering soon and was happy to see your post.

User · Oct 15, 2014

11BPSMIKE said:
How do you find the color, is there any blue to them? Also are the fogs and headlight a bit different color. I am worried about this with the different wattages. I'm ordering soon and was happy to see your post.

Color is based on the Kelvin Temp. scale, see below. 6000k has a tint of blue, but is mostly white in color when directly looking at it straight on. The blue tint makes it harder to see in the rain, so I would stay below 6k if you drive in rain more on a regular basis.

Wattage output from the Ballast does increase lumen output along with heat, as the Kelvin temp gets higher than 6k you lose lumen output, but if you increase ballast wattage it should moot the results, I have not sat down and done the math on it, but I think it's safe to theorize that the differences are miniscule (not easily noticed by the human eye). However projector lenses and normal halogen reflective lenses disburse light differently, which may give the illusion that one is brighter than the other due to excessive glare from the other. Since the fogs are not projectors and the heads are you can see how this may effect the view point depending on the location you're standing, which is called an illusion.

PS: here are some photos of in cab while driving with the fogs and heads on.

Warl · Oct 16, 2014

I really want to pull the trigger on buying the HID kit and the fog light kit but the color not matching is making me second guess myself. Are the headlights really as white as it seems in those pictures? I'm looking more toward the color of the fog lights to match.

BlackRamHemi · Oct 16, 2014

The perfect color match will be difficult to achieve
mainly because the amber LED's are distorting the appearance of the color temperature from the projectors

Personally I would just go with 35/5000k for all lamps and call it done!
it will all look perfectly matched from your drivers seat

Warl · Oct 16, 2014

BlackRamHemi said:
The perfect color match will be difficult to achieve
mainly because the amber LED's are distorting the appearance of the color temperature from the projectors

Personally I would just go with 35/5000k for all lamps and call it done!
it will all look perfectly matched from your drivers seat

But the blue!

hah. Too bad he doesn't go above 6000k and maybe mix/match the bulbs. I think I'll be able to deal with the minor differential.

Retroshop HID Headlights/Foglights install photos.

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