Alternatives to HID lights

[Arctic-Rodz]

Just wanted to ask what alternatives were available, that have been used by you all, to HID lights.

HID's, especially for my truck with the projector lights are more than i'd wanna pay.

I know Silverstar and some others offer some light bulb upgrades.

I pretty much wanna get rid of the ugly dull yellow factory bulbs for the low/high and fog light beams.

Thanks

 

[iam_canadian22]

once you see the light output from hid's in the factory projectors you will see it was worth every penny

 

[Arctic-Rodz]

I guess just having to bother with mounting ballasts and wiring them in and making sure theyre tucked away...

I guess Im just looking for straight up replacement bulbs that wont look yellow.

 

[Exhausted]

It's so easy. I just did it with out projectors till a good improvement on output

 

[Arctic-Rodz]

I guess because ive had HID's before. Usually had issues with flickering and sometimes one doesn't turn on etc etc.

They start out well but after a year or so that's when, in my experience is when they start.

 

[mangus2k13ram]

Silverstar Zxe is what you are looking for. I had them in my 2001 ram. They pretty damn bright for not being hids.

 

[BlownGP]

HID's, especially for my truck with the projector lights are more than i'd wanna pay.

You cant afford $35 for a HID kit, yet you spend 40K+ for your sport?

 

[JohnD72]

You cant afford $35 for a HID kit, yet you spend 40K+ for your sport?

I didn't see anything in the OP that said he couldn't afford anything. What I read, having spoken English as my primary language for 40 years, was that he didn't WANT to pay what other are paying and that his past experience with HID's was not great.

 

[loveracing1988]

I've had silverstars and silverstar ultras, if you want to replace bulbs once a year go that route. They will give you a little more light output and won't be as yellow. If you already have projectors though HID'S will be your best bet, it might take you a little longer to install them, but you won't be changing bulbs once a year. If you didn't have projectors I would say that silverstars are your only choice because I don't care what anyone says on here if you install hid's in a non projecotr housing you will be blinding people. I have yet to see one truck or car that didn't blind people unless they had projectors.

 

[iam_canadian22]

here too never had brighter bulbs such as silverstar ultras last a year, here they are around 70$ a pair, the 35w morimoto kit has a 5 year guarantee for under 200$, that would be 350 in ultra bulbs, and you have to completely remove the grill and headlight assembly regardless of just putting regular bulb or hid so makes it real easy to tuck away everything for the hid's

 

[Cliff p]

http://www.candlepowerinc.com/products.pib.html

I used these guys above for two reasons:

1. They're somewhat local being in my state
2. Highly recommended bulb importer.

Their prices are also excellent.

Believe they have the Osram Nightbreaker or I think there's a Narva +50, best halogen you can buy.

 

[chuck2417]

Was the HID kit in the past an ebay kit? I too was not wanting to have to constantly change lights. Started with a different bulb in the projector... it didn't change much for me. Put in some HID's and there is a lot of light. I will be installing a set from JJ over christmas and I'll see if I can snap some pictures. 50w, 6000k, 9006 bulb, full wiring harness.

 

[0212353]

can't wait to hear your thoughts on the kit!

 

[Arctic-Rodz]

Silverstar ultras last only 1 year? really!?

The HID kits ive seen specifically for the 2013+ RAM with projectors is like $250-$300 a pair if im not mistaken.

That would be $500-$600 for low beams and fog lights.

That's what I don't wanna pay, $500 for lights. I cant justify that expense. Ive done it without hesitation for performance parts but for lights? I don't know, its not where id wanna blow $500+

 

[Etroze86]

That looks like prices with the actual projector figured in but you already have that so balasts and bulb and wiring is what you'd need.

 

[chuck2417]

that would be expensive. JJ's kit was around $200 everything shipped to my house in Canada with the exchange rate. So if your in the US it would be cheaper for you. For the fog lights, well most people will tell you to order another set from JJ (would run you about the same). My suggestion for the fog lights (since they are not used everyday and not necessary to see in the dark) is you could go cheaper. Now people will talk about harming your TIPM system if you get a voltage spike from your ballast... But if you want simple and straight forward I can help there. Most new ballasts (AC) are all built fairly similar. Fog lights for 2013 run through the canbus system so you'll need to trick the computer if you want to avoid flickering. This can be done through a wiring harness with a resistors, a capacitor or something similar. My fog light HID's cost less than $100 and work great. They've been on the truck for 3 months without a single issue. I am in Canada and the temp they have worked in has varied from plsu 10 to -35 (without a windchill). I have a canbus HID kit from HIDSRUS (35w, 9006 bulbs, 6000K) no issues. Low beams are the same kit but one light flickers a bit. Hence whyI got the kit from JJ. Or you can buy a cheap balalst and a warning cancellor (capacitor, anti-flicker module, whatever you want to call it). They can be anywhere from 7$ to 30$. I have one off ebay and one from DDM. Neither are being used at the moment. You can buy a cheap ballast and plug the warning cancellor in between the factory connector and the ballast. All it does it store power on starup and feed constant power the ballast (avoids flickering) and it sends a singal back to the OEM plug saying everything is ok. That is one option if money is a concern. My kit for my fogs isn't as important to me as my low beams. I can drive without fog lights. I can't drive at night without headlights!

 

[chuck2417]

A full retrofit would run you around $600-700 from JJ. That's projectors being installed in your headlights, HID kit, wiring harness etc.

Fog lights you just need bulbs, ballast and either a relay harness or warning cancellors.

If your running 35w, your factor harness should be able to handle it. Of course I can't gurantee that, but so far mine has held up. A 50W or 55w ballast is always recommended to run a relay harness to avoid stress on factory harness.

Halogen bulbs are designed to produce a certain amount of light and last a certain number of hours. HIDs are more effecient, hense drawing less power (once warmed up, first 10 seconds depending on ballast), producing less heat and providing more light. There is a reason why HIDs and LEDs are starting to replace more and halogen lights. I am only telling you what my experience was. I tried haolgen bulb replacements and wasted $60 on a pair of bulbs... But, if you wanted them to work, they will work.

 

[0212353]

250-300? EEEK.

Ours are 165 for the heads, 135 on the fogs. 300 to your door (in the lower 48) for kits that are covered by a 5 year warranty (35W kits, 3yr on 50W).

 

[iam_canadian22]

lots of good info, as said for fogs you can get a cheaper set for almost same price as good halogen bulbs, my fogs like chuck's also need warning cancelers or a harness with capacitor as they are tied into the canbus system, I don't know if this is just a Canadian ram thing with the fogs as when I talked to jj about it he said he's sold plenty for 13's with just a plain relay harness and no issues, as for highs you can always hold off save a bit and get a set later on, the projectors when opened up on high beam throw ALOT of light, with my high beams on my led light bar barely makes a difference lol

 

[Arctic-Rodz]

250-300? EEEK.

Ours are 165 for the heads, 135 on the fogs. 300 to your door (in the lower 48) for kits that are covered by a 5 year warranty (35W kits, 3yr on 50W).

well that's not too bad... ill have to look into your kits.


I usually drive with my LED parking lights and fog lights on as DRL since my truck doesn't seem to have DRL's?

I think it looks good with the LED parking lights and fogs on, I just don't like the yellowish looking bulb. Is a full blown HID kit really necessary for the fog lights?

What kit would be good for the fogs as mentioned by another member about not needing a big expensive kit for the fog lights.