My HIR2 foglamps finally died, what next?
 

As the title states. One of my Philips HIR2 bulbs burnt out, and now I'm trying to decide what to get next. I should point out that I have my foglamps wired to be on constantly, just fyi.

I really loved my HIR2 bulbs, but I've been thinking of mixing it up. I was looking at the Cree 3rd, 4th and 5th gen 9006 LED bulbs that are on this site: http://www.autolumination.com/headlights.htm. One drawback is the price, especially compared to $40 for a pair of HIR2 bulbs, and I'm not sure how well they'd reflect in a housing made for halogen bulbs.

I've also been looking at the Morimoto Elite kit, but I'm really against putting rebased HID bulbs in halogen reflectors. Mainly because foglamps shouldn't be 5000k+, and the 3000k aren't uniform in their yellow color.

Or, should I just get some Nokya or Hella yellow bulbs?

If anyone has any experience with the Cree LED 9006 or the Morimoto 3000k, I'd appreciate any insight.

try these out

Those actually pretty nice, thanks. I still am curious to see how wide the beam pattern is on those.

The more I look into those bulbs. The bulbs only put out 600lu, hell my reverse LEDs put out 1200lu. My old HIR2 put out 1875. I even thought of putting in HIR1 bulbs with 2530lu.

Link to your reverse light leds? 1200 lumens is a lot

He makes his own LEDs.

https://acurazine.com/forums/3g-tl-photograph-gallery-96/made-some-new-led-reverse-lights-908185/

I'm seriously considering a 3000k HID kit off ebay for like $30-$50. As I'm not totally sold on HID foglamps, and I don't really want to spend $150 for the Morimoto kit incase I'm not satisfied.

Yeah, 1200lu is a lot. Especially for the person behind me when I reverse. If our headlamps weren't so confining I'd almost be tempted to try and make my own LED foglamps. Plus, the heat would be killer compared to the couple minutes max reverse lights are on for.

If you get HID fog lights than I would recommend for you to purchase from this seller.

http://www.ebay.com/itm/HID-kit-with-Relay-Harness-880-H1-H4-H7-H8-VVME-/260679774321?pt=Motors_Car_Truck_Parts_Accessories&hash=item3cb1b9b071&vxp=mtr
It's from China but it will be delivered to your door in 3 business days after sending payment. Shipped via DHL

I purchased 1 for a friends Accord (5k low-beams)
1 for my brothers Camry (3k fogs. He has 5K morimoto elite HID kit for low-beams)
1 for my TL (5k fogs wired independently of headlights)
and 1 for my girlfriends Corolla (5k low-beams)

I used to buy nothing but DDM Tuning. I've purchased almost 10 DDM kits for friends and family for the past 3 years but hated how shipping took almost 2 weeks from sending payment just to receive it.. That's when I discovered this seller thanks to another Acurazine member.

All 4 were purchased at separate times but all arrived within 3-4 business days which is really fast.

Not only does it ship fast but these kits are really good quality compared to a lot of other Amazon/eBay HID kits. These ballasts are big and has a good weight to it unlike some eBay ones that look big but weigh almost nothing.

I know you said you don't like 5k+ but the main reason I even purchased from this seller is because his 5K HID bulbs are true 5K and not bluish white like most cheap kits. I can't stand the look of 6K bulbs. I hate the bluish-white color. I like a clean pure white and this kit delivered.

Oh and the most recent kit was the one I purchased for my girlfriends corolla. The ballast worked during testing but quickly died after a test drive. A quick e-mail with the seller resolved the problem. He asked me to take the ballast and cut the wires going into the ballast and to send them a picture and they would send me a new ballast no cost to me. The new ballast arrived within 3 days. Once again, from china..

I see they sell a 9006 in 3000k. That's definitely something I'll look into.

Here are pictures of my brothers 3K VVME fogs compared to my Hoen Endurance <--- Not cheap. $39/pair - ( http://www.hoen-usa.com/fog.htm ) fogs I had at the time.

Low-beams only
http://i1098.photobucket.com/albums/...223_205035.jpg

Fog lights on
http://i1098.photobucket.com/albums/...223_205055.jpg

My fog lights on the left (you can barely see any yellow on the ground) vs his HID 3k fogs on the right

http://i1098.photobucket.com/albums/...223_205003.jpg

In these last 3 pictures pay attention to the light output of the fog lights on the ground.

http://i1098.photobucket.com/albums/...223_204934.jpg

http://i1098.photobucket.com/albums/...223_204906.jpg

http://i1098.photobucket.com/albums/...223_204848.jpg

I have admit that your brothers 3K VVME kit has really impressed me. I think I have found my next foglamps.

Is he using a yellow film?

Once I added the yellow film, the color of my 3k foglight hids went from mehh to a bright yellow.
Get the DDMtuning slim ballast hid kit with 3k bulbs, the 10$ ebay harness, some yellow film, & some extra wire to make them independant from the headlights. You can get all of that for about 75$

No he is not using a yellow film for his fogs. They are clear factory fog light lens.

Like I said, I've been using DDM since 2010. I have a ddm kit installed in my mom's car. DDM is good but their 5k is more like 6k.

Also you have to wait 2 weeks minimum for shipping. They are super slow. Oh and don't get me started on their warranty. I had a bad DDM ballast. I contacted DDM about it.

They required me to ship the bad ballast (I PAY FOR SHIPPING) to their headquarters in CALIFORNIA.

Once they receive the bad ballast they had to test it out to make sure.

After verifying it was a bad ballast they shipped me a new one BUT IT SHIPPED FROM CHINA INSTEAD OF CALIFORNIA.

So to get a replacement ballast took almost another 2 weeks.

VVME shipping took 3-4 business days.

Need warranty? Send them a picture of the defective part with the wires cut and they'll send you a new one that will be at your door within 4 business days.

You pay nothing out of pocket and don't have to wait 2 weeks...

Been there and done that.

VVME > DDM Tuning

I may be who Viet was referring to to, but if not, I concur with him. My VVME kit has been going strong now for at least a year now I'd guess, no issues whatsoever. I am using a relay harness with it as well.

Also, the 5000k matches my CBIs very nicely for anyone interested in that detail.

Yes! It was you KJ TL-S that referred me to this kit. I couldn't remember who it was at first lol.

I'm glad that you did. I first noticed how your fog lights matched so perfectly with your headlights and that immediately sold me.

I have nothing against yellow fog lights. Hell I used Hoen Endurance for 2 years or more. When I decided to get HID fogs I wanted to get something different. Every JDM fan boy around here drives around with intense yellow fogs and I wanted to stand out.

There are also lots of people driving with 8k blue low beams and 8k blue fog lights to match. Same with 6k headlights and fogs. I can't stand the blue color so I went with 5k which is crisp and clean white.

My front side markers, front switchbacks, low beams, LED DRLs, fog lights, license plate lights, interior/door lights, trunk lights, reverse lights are all 5K. Pretty much every light on my car is 5K white. I wouldn't have it any other way.

Check this out.

That eBay HID kit comes with everything you need including mounting brackets, zip ties & screws for $45.89 shipped.

This is how much DDM costs just for HID kit and relay harness (no zip ties, no mounting brackets and screws)

http://i1098.photobucket.com/albums/...antran/DDM.png

So by buying the VVME kit from eBay not only are you saving ~$10, you will also get the kit in 3-4 business days vs 12-15 business days (DDM). Did I mention the warranty was better? lol

Also I have to give credit to VVME for packaging. I was a DDM Tuning customer since 2010 and when they send you your kit it's in a plain white box that has no writing on it at all. 1 white box contains bulbs. 1 white box contains ballasts. That's it.

Look at how this VVME kit is packaged in comparison.

http://i1098.photobucket.com/albums/...206_071915.jpg
http://i1098.photobucket.com/albums/...205_200150.jpg
http://i1098.photobucket.com/albums/...205_193520.jpg
http://i1098.photobucket.com/albums/...205_194030.jpg
http://i1098.photobucket.com/albums/...205_194429.jpg

Sure DDM works great but VVME is better. My goal is to convert all DDM users to VVME. I once praised DDM but have jumped shipped since than.

I'm even contemplating 5000k since my foglamps on constantly. I just don't know how 3000k would look, but then again they're are called foglamps for a reason. With 5000k+ foglamps you're better off with no lights in the fog.

Does anyone with and 04-06 have a shot of their stock foglamp location shining against a flat wall. Preferably, with just the fogs on as I'd like to get an idea of the cutoff. My HIR2 cutoff was awesome. My friend said it was better than his 02 e46 M3

Ive gotten 2 ebay hid kits both had color differences side to side and both werent nearly as powerful as my morimotos i have now.

Sorry, but yellow lights is not JDM. It is at it's oldest French who are responsible for yellow lights. When I believe in 1939 manufacturers were required by law to have yellow headlamps. They only allowed white lights I believe in 1992. I also every single German mark offering yellow fogs. Even my 1986 190e 2.3 16v had yellow fogs and sealed beam headlamps.:rolleyes:

Does VVME do replacement HID bulbs?

I had a pair of 6000k DDM bulbs in my s2000 when I had it and loved them. Not a big fan of the stock 4300k bulbs, so looking for 6000k bulbs

I've never had issues with DDM's kit so I wouldn't know how bad that lifetime waranty is. I've installed over 5 pairs in both headlights & fogs and not one issue in the past 5 year (now i probably jinxed myself). If the VVME is just as reliable and it's cheaper, well than I wouldn't disagree to not go with them. Either way, I do prefer HID's fogs over regular anyday. Also i do agree DDM's 5K are more like 6K's.

I think you might have read what I said incorrectly.

I never said that yellow fog lights were originated from the JDM world.

I simply said that every kid around here with a modified car whether it be a civic, prelude, integra, corolla, sentra, etc all love having yellow overlays or yellow HID fog lights.

I am very aware that yellow fogs is not a "JDM" only thing, however a lot of people that drive modified imports (euros included) love yellow fog lights.

I myself ran with them for 2 years or so but wanted to stand out so I opted for 5k HID fogs now.

Go to any import car scene and I'm willing to bet you that 75% of the cars there that have HID fogs are running 3k yellows with or without overlays.

You will hardly see anyone with 5k pure white fog lights... It's either 3k yellow or 6k/8k blue.

Once again, I am not saying yellow fog lights came from the JDM scene. It just so happens that every JDM crazy person is in love with yellow fogs.. I simply just wanted to stand out and be different..