Alternatives to HID lights

[chuck2417]

fogs, you just need any HID ballast and bulbs with a warning cancellor. Check DDM tuning, they are less than $30 for a kit. warning cancellors are less than 15$. Could get everything for less than $50. Also stick with 35w for the fogs. Canadian rams have the DRL coming through the LED's (orange, should be white). I read in several other places that for 2013 the fogs are going through the canbus system. I used a canbus ballast (built in capactior). Color is up to you, white go with 5000k, white with some blue go with 6000k. I have 6000k and I wish I would have gone 5000K. Reason I went with 6000K for the low beams with a 50w ballast from JJ is because it's a 35w so it should look whiter? I think.

HIDSRUS.com - cheap canbus ballasts with 9006 bulbs (can get for well under $100 shipped)
DDMtuning - can get 35W ballast, 9006 bulbs and error eliminator for less than $50
ebay - you can get error eliminators and HID kits for really cheap

I can't drive with the fog lights on in the city, too bright! Depends on what you need the fog lights for, driving out of town in the dark, HIDs are great. If you just want to get rid of the yellow light, well a cheap HID kit will run you as much as high end halogen bulbs. Kits from the retroshop are a big step up in quality and price. I think if I could do it again, I would have ordered a kit from JJ for the fog lights. The ones I have work now. When I have to replace them I know I'll be calling JJ. But that's me.

9006 bulbs - fit 2013 ram fog lights, of course always double check before ordering!

 

[Arctic-Rodz]

Thanks Chuck, that's a good explanation and reasoning. I guess $300 for fogs and low beams from JJ isn't too too bad.

I guess the best bet is just get it all from one place with the same warranty.

On my 2013, it has 4 headlight bulbs right? Like the Projectors don't do highbeam as well right?

My wifes GLI, the same pair of HID's control the high and low beam, my 2008 BMW was the same.

 

[0212353]

yeah, you have 4 bulbs up top there.

HIR2/9006 for the projectors, 9005 high beams.

As mentioned though, the projectors will drop their cutoff in high beam mode, I don't see the need for HIDs in the highs unless you just drive a LOT with highs.......

 

[Arctic-Rodz]

no not really, I don't use the high beams a lot...

so when you switch the highbeams on, the HID's will turn off? or what do they do, you said they drop their cut off, what does that mean?

 

[0212353]

HIDs stay on.

the projector has a cutoff inside, to keep light from blinding oncoming drivers. When you hit the highs, that cutoff lowers, giving FULL output from the projector. That light is supplemented with the extra high beam bulbs too.


low beams

highs, see how much brighter the projector looks there too?

thats all stock halogen, but you get the idea.

 

[0212353]

hmm, wonder if its RF in motion this morning.......

I just sold 2 2013 Ram kits.

Headed over to do some shipping here (my cutoff on pickups is creapin' up!!)

 

[Arctic-Rodz]

haha, glad this thread may have helped some sales.

may be my computer but the images you posted don't show up for me.

I wonder how my wifes VW does it and my old BMW did it to project a highbeam out of the same bulb?

 

[chuck2417]

The projector stays on but the cutoff changes in the projector beam (you will see a metal bar type thing acorss the top of the headlight, creates the cutoff so light focuses on the road I think and not up into the sky and blinding everyone else). Our low beams always get 100% power. Some vehicle in Canada use Low beams with DRL (bulb uses 50% power, doesn't work for Hids). That's fine for a halogen bulb. It doesn't need constant power. It's a filament. HId's have a gas along with salts inside and in order for the light to stay on (arc forms inside bulb creating plasma light yada yada) they need constant power. Some cars have bi-xenon, older rams did. The bulb actually moves up and down for high beams and low beams. I believe so anyways. Those require special bulbs and relay harness to work with after market hId's. Our 2013's just use low beams either on or off. Making it easier. What gets complicated is the canbus system. Monitors voltage in the bulb to give you a lamp out error. Also it can send pulsed power (pulse with modulation I think). That's why the capacitor is there. To absorb the pulse and supply constant power. With halogen bulbs, you don't need to worry about it, it's a filament that emits the light, it can handle a pulsed signal. It's used to extend the life of the halogen bulb. Pain in the butt for hId's though (get flickering). That's why jj is so popular on this forum and others. The harness and hId's work on our trucks.

 

[BlownGP]

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+

Nahh, there a lot cheaper than that. Just get a 9006/HB4/9012 kit and your good.

 

[Arctic-Rodz]

Nahh, there a lot cheaper than that. Just get a 9006/HB4/9012 kit and your good.

But I cant afford it!!!

just f'in with you

 

[iam_canadian22]

like mentioned, no need for the highs if you don't use them that much, the projector itself when in high beam mode throws a lot of light, heres a quick comparison with the factory projectors with 50W 4300k hid's from jj
low beams

[/URL][/IMG]
highs