Need some info on installing HID bulbs for my fogs.
 

Hey, AZ. I did a search and couldn't really find info on this.

I have an 08' CBP TL and was wondering what exactly I need to have to install HID's for my fogs? I know I need H8 bulbs, but do I need an HID kit with the ballast as well?

I went to a car shop the other day and they guy said all I needed were the bulbs and I should be fine. Is this true?

I was thinking of getting 6000k bulbs from retro-fit. Would these be good enough?

http://www.theretrofitsource.com/pro...oducts_id=4118

Also, one more question--I currently have 4300k bulbs in the headlights and would like to have them as 6000k as well. Could I simply just plug and play with them as well? The car already has HID's so I figured I could just replace the bulbs and be on my way.

Thanks!

you can plug and play for the stock HID one but however you will need ballast and bulb (HID kit) for your fog, BTW don't forget to get a relay harness for your fog while you at it lol.

What do you guys think about this HID kit?


What are some good kits out there? Any good sites?

DDM Tuning is good, thought I heard it takes a while to get it to you.

yeah it take about 2 weeks to get to you because they shipped from China.

if your trying to match the headlights, whats the better W- 55?

35w

35w

Even if you're changing them to 6000k?

Also, I was doing some research and it says the 08 model uses the H11 not the H8. Can someone with knowledge of this or own an 08 tell me which bulb I need.

H8

I have a HID fog kit on my 08. It is an H8 bulb and you SHOULD get them in 35w. If you use the 55w bulbs you will eventually melt the stock housing.

+1
on 55w will melt the housing

Don't mean to hijack this thread but I think it's on par with what the OP is asking.

Assuming the bulbs in our headlights are the original ones from factory, with a 35W HID kit for the fogs, which color temp would best match the headlights?

5000k 35W is what I purchased to match the headlights as close as I could. Don't forget your relay harness!

I have 5k top,3k bottom...don't like the blueish for my wdp

or you can get the 4500k for close match with your stock HID.

so which one?? lol :tomato:

So what does the relay harness do?

When I had HIDs on my Accord foglights I did not get a relay harness and they worked just fine.

Your stock headlights are 4300k so 4500k will be the closest match to them, 5k will be pure white, 6k it starts to get bluish and so on. When most people upgrade they go with 5k. However, the higher you start going the less actual useable light (lumens) there is.

You can use your stock harness for them, but with the surge of power you get from turning the HIDs on, you run the risk of burning them out. It is recommended that you use the relay harness to prevent messing up your factory wiring and having to replace that. The harness is more for piece of mind I guess. A harness really isn't that much and I'd rather use it than not. With all the people buying these cheap HID fog kits, adding $40 extra or less for a harness isn't breaking the bank.

http://www.blindinghid.com/relay-harness/

Getting the relay for the fogs is a good thing then? I don't think I need them for the headlights, considering they already have HID's stock already.

I was doing some research and It looks like the 4300k (ones already on) give the best light output. THe 6000k has a slight blue tint to them, but would I really see much of difference in terms of output? I'm thinking of going with the 6000k for both the headlights and fogs.

Yes, you need the relay harness for the fogs is definitely a good thing. No, you do not need a relay harness when you upgrade your headlights and 4300k is the stock. I've never had anything but the stock lights in my car, but am upgrading to 5k very soon so I can't really say how much different the light output really is. Guy with that have used the 6k bulbs are going to have to chime in here. I'm sure they are still bright, but they don't give off as much useable light.

4500k will look alot closer to the factory bulb and the 5000k will look like 6000k bulb.

Where did you guys mount the Ballast for the fogs?

^I attached mine to the top of the bumper support on each side. The "slim" ballasts fit perfectly there.

Any pictures?

I mounted the driver side ballast on the bumper beam. The passenger side one is mounted in a little space in front of the washer reservoir. But the bumper has to be off to get that spot. Sorry I don't have pics though. And I don't really have to take my bumper off for anything so I won't have any pics anytime soon.

so from DDM tuning 2 5000k bulbs is only like 15 bucks?? so 30 shipped.....are these good quality because any and everywhere else its 60-90. ijdmtoy is 45 but I want 5000k and the lowest kelvin they go is 6000 and I already have 6000 and don't like the bluish tint just want bright and white. There is a vendor on here for 90...I don't mind buying cheaper stuff but I don't want to buy something cheaper if I am going to have to turn around and buy the more expensive one later because the cheaper ones sucked. Anyone who have DDM bulbs how long have they lasted good quality etc..,?? Please and thanks

retrofitsource.com is the only way to go

Agreed. I have their kit and it is awesome. There customer service is second to none as well! :thumbsup:

DDM can last you from three to five years, I have a set of DDM bulb and ballast that lasted me since 2006 until now mean while my friend ballast just burn out after three years, the quality of DDM is now slowly decline and the shipping is slow because they ship from China instead from CA like they used to. But for the cheap price they provide I would buy several ballast and bulb instead of spending on one expensive one.

Ok thanks man! Also on theretrofit website they are 45 bucks but give you 35 or 55 watt I know fogs at 55 will eventually melt housing but on headlights is it the same way??

The most popular color is the 6000K (more sold than any other color temp), and its suppose to be the brightest before getting "too blue"
55w kits are bad because they "overdrive" the 35w bulbs and shorten the life dramatically (the 55w kits still use 35w bulbs!!!!)
Most factory HID are around 4300K to 4500K BUT, the magnifying type glass lense in the HID housing give it a slight blue purple tinge making it look like a 6000K color temp.
And dont forget, when you install HID bulbs in a non HID housing, oncoming traffic will hate you from the ridiculous light spread from the non focused beam of light. If it were me I would go with the extreme LED replacement bulbs... you can pick color temp with those also and it wont be too bright for oncoming traffic

Not if you aim them right. You must be thinking of reflector housings. Reflector housings don't offer the accuracy of projector headlights (glass dome) and as the name suggests they 'reflect' light in all directions. I personally recommend NEVER installing an HID kit into a reflector headlight housing. Projector housings are more suitable for HID kits. The biggest issue with non-hid projector headlights is hotspots or 'disfigured' output since they are built for a differently sized and shaped bulb whereas HID bulbs are typically longer and shaped differently from they standard H1/H8/etc.. bulbs they were designed for. Also even a 55W HID kit would't and/or shouldn't blind oncoming traffic due to their very low mounting location. I wouldn't go with a 55W kit simply for heat dispersion issues. 55W kits tend to run hotter than 35W kits and can deform the housing and become a risk.

It won't be bright at all honestly. The problem with LED bulbs in fogs is that they look bright in the near vicinity of the housing/bulb but they don't really radiate light far ahead like incandescent bulbs do. I say either stick to halogens or the gimmicky "ice blue xenon" bulbs that make the light output closer to white if the color is that important.

just my :2cents:

if you using the 55w kit, it will melt your fog light housing and in the headlight it will melt the chrome inside reflector bowl. Get 35w kit for fog and 35w bulbs for headlight and the color temp is 4500k for both, that should be / thread. don't listen to people get the LED bulb because they are usually dim, expensive to buy.

A relay is not required for the fog on the TL as the factory relay and wiring can handle a 35watt kit fine. A 55 watt kit might require one though. I ran a hid extra 35 watt kit in my TL-S fogs with no issues and have it ready for my 2012 to install when I get time.

A harness is not required and many people have run HID fogs on their cars with no harness and without issues. However it is more for peace of mind to have one instead of something going wrong and having to replace the factory wiring. A harness is really not that expensive anyway, so why not have one in place for the "in case shit happens" scenario?

I am an Electrical/Electronics Engineer and can tell you it is NOT required. The car HAS a relay already for the fogs and the wiring is more than enough for a 35watt kit. The HID lights for that matter PULL LESS current than the Halogen once running.

That scenario will never happen with a 35 watt kit. Not possible unless the user installed it wrong.

^I believe you and respect the fact that you are a professional and know your job. However, using a relay harness with HIDs should be (IMHO) a requirement on any car for several reasons:

1) Many guys have had issues with one or both lights not turning on simultaneously, requiring powering them down and back up again. PITA

2) HID ballasts can draw MUCH more power during initial startup than the stock wiring is designed to handle. While this is just a short burst of power, over time it can degrade the wiring and/or insulation to the point of failure or fire. You do NOT want that! JnC (headlight guy) once posted pics of a car where the guy did not use a harness and it burned to the ground. I'm not saying that is a certainty with no harness, but why risk it?

Fact: I had to replace the connector to my Nokya Yellow bulbs because it burned out. Those are 55W halogen bulbs. If something is not working as it should---investigate it promptly or disconnect it until you have time to investigate.

3) For the $15 a relay harness costs, I'm not sure why you would NOT use one.

OP, 35W ballasts only, in the color temperature you want with a relay harness and your fogs will last a long time. For the headlights, go with the Morimoto bulbs in 5000K for a bright, clean white. If you prefer the slightly yellow look of the OEM bulbs, you cannot beat the Philips 85122+ for brightness. I've also read that the CBI bulbs are very bright, but they are pricey.

Lots of options out there---you just have to research.

My current setup: Philips 85122+ bulbs in headlights and 5000K 35W DDM HIDs in my lower fogs with Nokya Yellows in the stock fogs. Thinking seriously about upgrading to the Morimotos in 5000K for a better color match with the lower fogs and switchback turn signals.