ze2o

Hey folks, there's only 200 miles on my 08 TL and I want to start modding already...

the first thing I want to do is a fog - HID convrsion. I believe the 08 base fog bulb is H8. I looked around in the forum but majority of discussions have been on upgraded halogen bulb (MTEC, Nokya)

So what's the top notch HID conversion kit I can get for my fog light? 6000K. I was looking at the MTEC kit for about $260 but I think that's a little more than I would like to spend.

Name me some reliable brand and online stores so I can have fun next week!!! Thanks!!!

ze2o

bump

blue99

+1 for 08 TL-S

chuanger

Do a search for HID fog light. There's plenty of information already posted.

ze2o

I've read

https://acurazine.com/forums/3g-tl-2004-2008-93/hid-foglights-617837/

https://acurazine.com/forums/showthr...hlight=hid+fog

https://acurazine.com/forums/3g-tl-2004-2008-93/h8-fog-light-bulbs-638740/

https://acurazine.com/forums/3g-tl-photograph-gallery-96/hid-6000k-fogs-638734/my favorite so far...

https://acurazine.com/forums/3g-tl-problems-fixes-114/hid-fog-lights-638554/

https://acurazine.com/forums/3g-tl-photograph-gallery-96/mtec-super-white-fogs-silver-star-drls-634729/

https://acurazine.com/forums/3g-tl-2004-2008-93/3000k-12000k-foglights-636479/

If I missed any major thread please let me know. How do I search?

chuanger

Go to the main forum, right corner there's a button "Search Forum" click on that and type in the key words for whatever you want to search.

ze2o

thanks chuanger, did the search but most came back as half jobs... not much more than what I read already

I'm looking at 3 sets of kit so far and any input will be appreciated..

Texon
http://www.texonstore.com/hid-conver...rsion-kit.html

VHID (ebay)
http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/V-HID-35W-SLIM-BALLAST-XENON-HEADLIGHT-KIT-H8-5000K-W_W0QQcmdZViewItemQQ_trkparmsZ39Q3a1Q7c66Q3a2Q7c65 Q3a15Q7c240Q3a1318QQ_trksidZp3286Q2ec0Q2em14QQhash Zitem260299249681QQitemZ260299249681

EFX (ebay)
http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/HID-FOGLIGHT-FOG-LIGHT-KIT-9006-9145-H10-H8-H3-H1-893_W0QQcmdZViewItemQQ_trkparmsZ39Q3a1Q7c66Q3a2Q7c 65Q3a15Q7c240Q3a1318QQ_trksidZp3286Q2ec0Q2em14QQha shZitem170263970783QQitemZ170263970783

to me the EFX looks pretty good but again give me some input please. thanks!!!

chuanger

To me, there's basically 2 kinds of aftermarket HID Kits. You can either go with a name brand kit (known for their quality) such as ones packaged with Philips ballasts/bulbs, McCulloch, or Kaixen etc. (excelerate is a vendor here on AZ and sells Kaixen kits). Those kind of kits will run you around $300+.
Then there's the no name kits that run you around $80-100+, depending on where you buy from. The majority of these kits are manufactured in China/Taiwan for wholesale and then relabeled to whatever brand name. Here are some links to different kinds of kits with varying prices.


http://www.xenonpros.com/
http://www.shopxenon.com/
http://fashtek.com/
http://www.v-leds.com/Shop/Control/f...3416/SFV/32481

These are just a few random links, there are TONS and TONS of websites with HID kits for sale, including ebay.

Most kits are advertised as "plug and play" however, i'd get a kit that comes with a relay harness. The relay harness taps in directly to your car battery and provides reliable power for your HID kit. Some say you don't need the relay, some swear by it. Both of my kits have had relays and i've never had problems once with lights flickering/dimming etc... Make sure to get bulb size H8. Hope that helps...

ze2o

thanks again chuanger. i'm thinking about going with the http://www.xenonpros.com McCulloch. It's probably the best bang for the $.

I read about the relay harness for direct power from the battery but where can i get one specifically for 08 tl and the hid kit if it's not already in the kit? can i add the relay harness later if necessary? i assume high quality hid kit doesn't require the harness or already come with one...

do i also need to upgrade the fuse from 10 to 15/20? thanks for your help...

greco9885

iTrader: (1)

i had a no name brand HID conversion kit for my jeep liberty, i installed it about last october and have had no problems at all, and i drove that car all the time, average 25k miles per year.
also im pretty sure most kits you plug the factory wiring harness into the amp then plug the light into the harness that comes out of the amp

ze2o

hey greco9885, how much did you spend and what k?

greco9885

iTrader: (1)

$80 for a pair, 10k kelvin

greco9885

iTrader: (1)

alittle FYI, they are low beam only, NO high beam, therefore they will not pass inspection unless you know someone... also brand is xentec, the 10000k said it was a deep blue but it isnt, it is a light purple tint, if you want blue get 8000k

ze2o

hey greco9885 do you have a pic of the light in action? what's the brand? did you use a relay harness ?

lenjaiah

iTrader: (5)

http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll...tab%3DWatching

do the 30% livecash and this thing comes out little bit over a bill!!!!

greco9885

iTrader: (1)

ze2o

thanks greco, 10k doesn't look as bad as i thought. i just picked up an efx kit from ebay tonight and will let you know who it goes. did you use a harness or upgrade fuse?

greco9885

iTrader: (1)

no problem, you cant really notice the purplish tint unless your really looking for it. and nope, just plug and play'd it and no problems

greco9885

iTrader: (1)

also id rather have a cheap fuse burn out instead of an expensive bulb

ze2o

i have a 6000k coming so i think it will look nice with the lowbeam and it will be white with slight blue. can't wait to get my hands on them

ze2o

instead of making another fog light thread. I'll continue with the old one.

I have the EFX H8 HID kit bought from ebay. I tried to install it today any the fog light fuse blew. i read the manual and it says using high amp fuse is not suggested and can be problematic.

for those of you have the HID fog who is not running a relay? I just want to install mine as plug and play without the relay.

can i safely replace the burnt fog light fuse with a high rated one?

08 base TL

thanks

chuanger

Should have just got a relay to begin with.

ze2o

I'm unfamiliar with HID kit at first so I didn't know and the kit I bought states it's plug and play.

Higher fuse & plug and play or factory fuse & relay ?

Another thing I want to add is that the ballast I have does not indicate the positive and negative so I had to try different combination connecting the wires...

Is there a way to try out the HID safely outside of the car first before installation?

Thanks

R*D*X*

I have rdx and i just changed my fog lights with this... http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/XTEC-...Q5fAccessories

its the same look as my HID bulb (low beam) and its cheaper and safer rather getting HID Kit..

ze2o

I would but then I just wasted all the money for the HID kit. Can I buy those fog light fuses at a regular auto part store?

Can you guys suggest me a good relay to buy ?

Thanks

R*D*X*

if its fuse, yes u can buy those in regualr auto parts, make sure you use the same amp..

Skywayca

I have an '08-TLs and I purchased a plug and play H8 kit from here:

http://www.kbcarstuff.com/Xtreme_HID..._2001_s/21.htm

Save some extra $$ and search around the net for a discount coupon. ;-)

I purchased the 4300K kit to match the light output color of the car. For me they add valuable light at night, as I thought the stock setup (halogen) did almost nothing to improve visibility. FYI, I seldom drive in foggy conditions.

The bulbs that arrived in the kit were H11, which at first threw me off, but they fit fine with the most minor of trimming on the edge of the HID bulb housing.

All of the components seemed good quality, and Kbcarstuff does answer the phone for any help you might need.

Very easy install directly to the battery, and I even connected them without disconnecting the battery! How you ask? Just purchase another 2 nuts that have the same thread as the battery clamp screws. There is more than sufficient threads left to add the HID light harness and the addition of a nut to each of the battery terminal screws. Voila! Remember to have the ignition turned off when connecting them.

Whichever way you go you will have to power them outside the normal fog light wiring circuit, as they draw to much power on initial firing. Save time and effort looking for parts and buy the plug and play kit from a single source.

BTW - I'm not affiliated with the above company in any way.

ze2o

This might be a dumb question but do I need 2 relays or 1 would do?

i'm looking at this one:
http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/HID-Fuse-Relay-Harness-Wire-H1-H8-H10-H11-H13-880-889_W0QQcmdZViewItemQQ_trkparmsZ72Q3a1205Q7c66Q3a2 Q7c65Q3a12Q7c39Q3a1Q7c240Q3a1318QQ_trksidZp3286Q2e c0Q2em14QQhashZitem260304018274QQitemZ260304018274 QQptZMotorsQ5fCarQ5fTruckQ5fPartsQ5fAccessories

Skywayca

1 relay will work. The product you're linking to will work. However, by using a single wiring harness (fuse & relay) to power both lamps such as the link shows, if the fuse or relay goes bad you will lose both lights at the same time.

If you use a separate wiring harness for each light, if a fuse or relay goes bad in either harness, you will still get usable light out of the remaining lamp.

FYI - If you decide to use a single wiring harness for 2 HID bulbs, you will need a 20 amp fuse. (10amps per bulb)

R*D*X*

I dont think you need to add relay on your fog lights, your fog light has fuse already, just use them coz HID bulb has lower watts compare to halogen... your fuse should be ok..

Skywayca

When adding an additional circuit for the lights or any other device that's outside the factory harness, you will have to use a relay. Otherwise, how else can the lights be triggered on when you flip the switch on the dashboard?

If you don't use a relay, the lights will be constantly on, unless you wire an additional switch in the circuit, which would not make sense since a fog light switch already exists in the car.

The purpose of the plug and play kit is to tap into the existing factory wiring loom, to know when the fog light switch is being triggered.

Maybe I'm missing something here?

ze2o

direct tap for power is safer than going through factory harness. I bought 2 relays and they are on the way. I hope this will work.

I'll replace the factory 10 fuse and what should I use in the relay? 20 amp?

Skywayca

40 or 50 amp heavy duty.

ze2o

Thanks Skywayca. Is there anything else I should know ? Is turning on the HID fog after low beam warming up better than turning both on at the same time?

Skywayca

It won't matter to fire them up together. My lights are set to auto, with the fog lights set to on.

The output of the TL's alternator is more than adequate to handle 2 pairs of HID's firing simultaneously. The increased power draw of HID bulbs (vs. 55 watts each of halogen bulbs - 110 watts per pair) upon firing lasts only a few seconds, they will then settle down to around a 35 watt draw each (roughly 70 watts per pair).

So in the long run you will actually put less draw on your alternator if you use your fog lights on a regular basis. As savings of around 40 watts.

Skywayca

Just lay any/all wiring harness outside the car and test everything here, before you spend a lot of time with clean wiring routes. It will make your life a lot easier to diagnose any bad connections etc.

Skywayca

I would not recommend using the factory harness for any HID replacement bulbs, due to the increased power draw required when they are first fired.

Re: the factory fuse.

You should not have to change anything here. By adding a separate wiring harness to power the HID bulbs, it is here that you need to add a 10amp fuse per bulb, in-line on each positive circuit that runs back to the battery. The factory fog light fuse will no longer offer any protection to the HID bulb because you are now essentially wiring a whole new circuit.

when correctly wired, you will only be using the factory harness to trigger the relay which happens when you turn the fog light switch.

ze2o

Thanks for all the help. It took me a while due to the ballast mounting, but it's all worth the effort. I can't wait until it's dark... I need to swap out the HID bulb to 6000k soon so they will match up nicely, but they look pimp as is already...

I do have a question. There is a blub shield in the fog light housing. Do I need to remove it for better lighting??? Thanks!


click to enlarge

chuanger

Looking good!! I would not remove that shield. You're just going to cause glare for oncoming traffic.

So which kit did you end up going with?

stillhere153

iTrader: (1)

pm richie v6... he'll be getting the h8 kits in a few