Hey guys,

I'm planning to upgrade my 08 TL stock HID and fog lights. I've searched around and I'm hearing good things about DDM HID's.

I just got my first car about two weeks so I am still very new at everything. I searched and read many threads and info regarding HID's. I was hoping if you guys can help me answer couple questions.

What watt do you guys recommend, 35w or 55w? I read that 55w is brighter but it is not plug and play and rather requires more complex wiring?

Anyone know the bulb type or recommend one for 08 TL?

The raptor and the slim is identical except the size correct?

Do I need any of the other misc things listed HID Harness, Error eliminator, adapter cables, mounting brackets?

Is installing HID/Fog lights something a starting car noob can do or should be left for the shop to install?

Thank you all!

 

Headlight bulb is DS2.

Fog bulb is H8 35watt.
Get a 35watt HID kit for your fogs, unless you like seeing things melt.
https://acurazine.com/forums/showthread.php?p=13223790

 

 

just get the 35w kit and you will be doing just fine.

 

Relay harness = cheap insurance

 

Thank you for the info and pointing out the bulb type.

Would you advise on getting one or should go without one?
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So I'll be getting a 35w. Any major diff between raptor and slim? And you guys think a car newb should DIY or let shop handle it?

Also, would I need to get the full HID kit or I can get the bulbs since 08 TL comes with HID's?

 

HID kits are very simple to install.

Get a relay harness, though for the added safety!!

You will need a full HID kit for the fogs, and just DS2 bulbs for the low beam headlights since they are HID already.

 

Stay the eff away from DDM...total junk.

 

I'll bite. I've heard mostly good things about DDM. Did you have a bad experience with their stuff? Im totally unbiased and have never used them, just intrigued by your opinion.

 

i used them my rsx n motorcycle cars . .. there blub are not the greatest but u get what you pay for. i would never put them in my TL tho. your better off with Morimoto

 

I would recommend you get the harness just to be safe plus it is a bitch to take off your bumper to make a clean install do it once and do it right also with the HID headlight bulbs go with a good quantity brand or you will regret it later with a burnt socket like I did. This is from experience

 

^^^^ That. I did a rx300 retrofit in my 300zx and the output was total crap. I swapped the DDM bulb for a Morimoto bulb and the output was 10x better. The base/capsule was completely misaligned.

I have spent probably $600+ at theretrofitsource.com and have nothing but good things to say about them, and the morimoto kits are pretty cheap.

 

Sorry, it looks like I can't edit my post... Last time I placed an order I also got free shipping with the coupon code: TRSRCFS

Might be worth a shot to see if it still works if you buy something.

 

[quote=ff4930;13695792]Thank you for the info and pointing out the bulb type.



Would you advise on getting one or should go without one?
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quote]

Most definitely. You can make your own or buy one for ~$15, which is a LOT cheaper than the cost of replacing factory wiring

 

the TLs lows are HIDs already...and the stock bulbs are 100x better than the DDM bulbs...

why are you swapping HIDs? different temperature?

I am installing aftermarket HIDs in my fogs on my 04 TL, they are 6k, and the stock lows are 4300k, but I don't want to change the stock lows because they are quality...no?

 

^^1+ what he said.

 

^OP has a 2008 TL...which has fogs in the lower bumper area. the stock fogs are not bright, HID's are...hence, the swap.

OP...get a relay harness.

 

my 04 doesnt have HID fogs either....

hence why i said....why are you swapping the lows out?

don't replace an OEM HID with an aftermarket cheap HID...

if he is just installing HIDs in his fogs, that's fine, which is what I am doing as well...however, if you read the first post, doesn't sound like that's what he's doing here...^...he said he is upgrading his stock TL HIDs and also getting HID fogs....putting DDMs in your lows, is most certainly no upgrade.

 

i have the slim ballasts for my 2004-06 fogs. One went bad, took about 2 weeks to get a replacement in my hands. The return process was pretty straight forward and they were responsive. No complaints other than a slight wait.

 

oh, yeah...i don't know. i just thought he meant his lower fog lights. not his headlights.

you have an 04 with fogs in your headlights, yes? he has an 08 with fogs in the lower bumper.

 

Any links on what relay harness to get with any HID fog kit that can be purchased for the 07-08 TL?

 

http://www.theretrofitsource.com/index.php?cPath=28

H8 blub size

 

Thank you Sir!

 

correct....doesn;'t change anything...

im putting HIDs in m fogs and so is he...which i agree with...

but swapping the stock lowbeam HIDs for DDM HIDS is a bad move IMHO.

 

OP, I changed my stock lowbeams to some cheap HIDs and it was a headache. they started flickering after a few months and it annoyed me so much and by the time i got my stock ones back in, i was amazed by the difference, you'll learn i guess..but if i had to change my bulbs again, I would definitely go for the Osram CBI 5ks

 

keep the stock lowbeam bulbs...and install an aftermarket HID kit in your fogs...

I'm installing an aftermarket Jetttstream kit in my fogs (35w,6k) this weekend.

YAY!

 

Op, if you are going to upgrade your lighting do it right. Don't buy cheap bulbs. You want to make your vision better at night, not worse. I only upgraded my my stock lens to zkw's and that made a big difference to me. And I just bought this kit http://www.theretrofitsource.com/pro...oducts_id=3952 for my fogs. If you get this get type in the coupon code trs/hidp and you will get free shipping!

 

I want to upgrade the stock HID because I want it to be brighter. The reason I am leaning towards DDM is because from the threads I've searched, many people here have it and heard good things. I also know couple of my friends who have used DDM and said good things. I have not fully decided on DDM, I am open to suggestion to good brand HID's.

 

::weird, I couldn't edit my last post but I can with this::

Should I go for Morimoto? Anyone has them or have exp with them?
What should I select wire harness for 08 TL? and what is harness type?

 

you only have two options as when your replacing your current oem hid system..the top two in the
Systems for D2S based Projector Headlights section.

http://www.theretrofitsource.com/index.php?cPath=32

.i'm not sure about the wire harness .email them or wait for someone to clear that up for you

 

Yep, thank you for pointing it out.

I plan on getting D2S bulbs since my TL already has HID no need for a kit.
And getting the H8 HID System for my fogs.

Anyone know which wire harness to get?

 

If you're getting the HID fog kit like the one I posted for you above from the retrofitsource, it comes with the harness you need. If you're going with the DDM kit, you need a H8 relay harness like the one that was posted in post #22.
You don't need a harness for your HID headlights, you can just change out the bulbs to one's that you want. Most are going to tell you don't go any higher than 5k-6k for your headlights and they are correct. Just because it is a higher K doesn't mean that it is better. All it is doing is basically changing the color of the light, but in reality it is putting out less usable light. There is a thread about this somewhere and it shows how many lumens that each puts out. Best choice is to stay at 4300K or 5K.

 

Yep, the fog kit you linked is the H8 kit, the wire harness option has many different options, I just wanted to double check to make sure I need to select H8 harness as well.

And thank you for pointing out the Kelvin, I do plan to stay within 5k-6k max.

 

Morimoto = THE BOMB! Seriously, do it right, top notch stuff there.

 

^If my stock ever dies, I'll go with those.

 

This is what happens when you buy cheap HID go with a high quality product like Kaixen, Phillips or Garax it will save you the headaches in the long run.

 

I've had the kaixen 6k bulbs for a year now and their still bright as hell. Highly recommended.