My StealthAuto 6k HID's installed w/ PiCS!

[jasonb20]

**UPDATE**
NEW PICS...

I recieved my HID kit yesterday after what seemed like eternity. The installation was easy IMO and you need a #10 Torx bit for the job. GoofyTim stated you needed a #2, but that was a mistake. I didn't take pic's of the actual install, but I did get some before and after pic's.

I have mixed feelings about the end result. The light color was to my expectation and was a perfect choice for me. The light distribution however is poor and revealed too much scattering of the light pattern. The pattern runs short on the driver's side and discharges in a more vertical direction. I'm pretty sure the OEM projectors are too blame because they were designed for Halogen bulbs. Look at the pic's and judge for yourSELVES.

OEM BULB




NIGHT SHOTS










FINALE!!

[GoofyTimL]

First of all... where are the pics? The little one doesn't expand to something we really can see.

{edit} Ok... now I can see one pic...

When I did my '05 300C headlamp work, I used a 2mm allen wrench (shown as the "missing" wrench from the kit)... so I just assumed the #2 torx reference was the same... I could be wrong I suppose. A 10mm would be WAY too big... more the size of the socket to remove the lid of the stock air box.



Guess I'll have to check my Torx sizes again... and will tonight.

Regarding the misalignment of the light... you might check to ensure that the new bulb is fully turned into the security ring. I found, with the Magnum, that when the halogen bulbs aren't turned in completely the light is aimed high... so this might be a problem with your new bulb as well.

[jasonb20]

comparison with before and after pics.


HID 6K slim kit...yes my garage door needs paint!!!!!!


OEM Halogen

[jasonb20]

OK. Below are some pictures of the "scattering light" issues I have. The light output appears scattered in all directions and pattern breaks up 2 feet from the car. The drivers side view is significantly shorter than the passenger. The lights seem like they are aiming further up that they should be. I think this is a problem with my projectors..any suggestions??

LOOK at the pattern on the garage door.

[GoofyTimL]

Do you have any "before" pictures of the halogens on the road? I think that's a pretty normal illumination pattern for low beams. In other words your low beams "should" look further down your lane and less across the lane into on-coming traffic. I'm pretty sure my 4500K OEM Projector HIDs on the Heritage Edition do the same thing. I know the 6000Ks do on the Magnum (non-projector).

Here is my "light line" from the H.E. on my garage door... same chopped pattern with a couple of blips up... the lower portion is filled by the fogs.


And a similar shot from my MagnumSRT8


I discern a slight difference in the dispersal pattern uniformity on the garage door, but it hasn't made a noticeable difference in use on the road.

[89quattro]

First off, the view down the road looks noticeably better than the standard halogen projectors.

Fuzziness would most likely be caused by the non-HID spec projectors. Looking at Hermino's projector comparison picture, there is a difference in the overall length of the housings, which would cause issues with focusing the light. I guess the bottom line is that each projector housing type is optimized for the correct specification bulb. Any changes will result in a lower level of performance.

[jasonb20]

How long do the HID bulbs usually last? They are expensive and I was wondering what the life on them were with regular usage?? Any answers appreciated.

[GoofyTimL]

The OEM HIDs on the Heritage Edition are going on a year and a half and 24k miles... no issues whatsoever. The Strealth bulbs on the MSRT8 are only a few weeks old and probably right around 1k miles now. The driver's side light went "out" once during the return of a weekend trip to Dover, MD... Actually I don't know if it went out or didn't turn on after a restart from stopping at McD's. But once we noticed it at a rest stop later, it came on again upon restart of the car and hasn't been a problem since. So I don't know if that's a fluke or not.

Personally, I think the bulbs are, or should be, nearly indestructible except for crash damage, etc. There is no filament to burn out. Maybe the arcing electrodes to create the gas plasma may erode, but I think the weak links are the ignitor and/or the ballast in any HID system.

[jasonb20]

I love the 6000k the more I drive my car at night. I think I made the right choose and don't regret it at all! Anyone agree with the 6000k????

[300CSRT]

Originally Posted by jasonb20

I love the 6000k the more I drive my car at night. I think I made the right choose and don't regret it at all! Anyone agree with the 6000k????

I can't see any of your pics all RED Xs