HID Kit Bulb fitment issue

Discussion in 'Gen 3 Prius Accessories and Modifications' started by maoira, Dec 12, 2011.

Page 1 of 3
  1. maoira

    maoira Junior Member

    Joined:
    Dec 12, 2011
    79
    14
    0
    Location:
    St Paul, MN (formally from San Diego, CA)
    Vehicle:
    2011 Prius
    Model:
    II
    Hey guys,

    I'm new to the forum and this is my first post! So I bought a HID kit from DDM tuning. I got the 55W kit. Has anyone else had issues with the fitment of the bulb? I found it very difficult to turn the bulb to its correct position. I actually had to get a small wrench to get enough torque to put it in place. Even then it's hard to say if it's in the proper 12-6 position. Anyone else have this problem? What did you do if you did modify it? Thanks

    -Mark
     
    #1 maoira, Dec 12, 2011
  2. Volstylexx

    Volstylexx New Member

    Joined:
    Dec 3, 2011
    20
    1
    0
    Location:
    Knoxville
    Vehicle:
    2010 Prius
    Model:
    Four
    Sometimes the bulb housing has to be modified. Take a look at this video, about halfway thru.

     
    #2 Volstylexx, Dec 12, 2011
  3. Feri

    Feri Active Member

    Joined:
    Jun 25, 2011
    761
    144
    0
    Location:
    Maldon Victoria Australia
    Vehicle:
    2010 Prius
    Model:
    III
    I'm presuming you are installing the H11s? Sometimes the rubber seal is al little too large. It can be removed from the bulb and then very carefully trimmmed. No more than a 16th inch less if you can.
     
    #3 Feri, Dec 12, 2011
  4. maoira

    maoira Junior Member

    Joined:
    Dec 12, 2011
    79
    14
    0
    Location:
    St Paul, MN (formally from San Diego, CA)
    Vehicle:
    2011 Prius
    Model:
    II
    Yes the H11's. The rubber seal itself is fine. I believe its the plastic tabs that are slightly too large. Are there other bulbs other then the DDM tuning ones that fit in without having to dremel them down to fit?
     
    #4 maoira, Dec 12, 2011
  5. Volstylexx

    Volstylexx New Member

    Joined:
    Dec 3, 2011
    20
    1
    0
    Location:
    Knoxville
    Vehicle:
    2010 Prius
    Model:
    Four
    I'm sure there are bulbs that may work but will probably be a trial by error approach in seeing which work with your setup. Probably easier, quicker, and cheaper to just carefully use a dremel or utility nice to slightly trim down the ones you have.
     
    #5 Volstylexx, Dec 12, 2011
  6. Feri

    Feri Active Member

    Joined:
    Jun 25, 2011
    761
    144
    0
    Location:
    Maldon Victoria Australia
    Vehicle:
    2010 Prius
    Model:
    III
    I don't know the DDMs. I had my problem with Phillips.
     
    #6 Feri, Dec 13, 2011
  7. SuperchargedMR2

    SuperchargedMR2 Diehard Rams Fan

    Joined:
    Feb 13, 2011
    673
    179
    0
    Location:
    Vancouver, WA
    Vehicle:
    2010 Prius
    Model:
    III
    Just a karma issue since you should never install HID bulbs in a halogen housing anyway. Do a proper HID retrofit & you will have a perfect fit, better lighting with zero glare. :D And 55w HID bulbs in a halogen housing is even worse.
     
    #7 SuperchargedMR2, Dec 13, 2011
  8. Feri

    Feri Active Member

    Joined:
    Jun 25, 2011
    761
    144
    0
    Location:
    Maldon Victoria Australia
    Vehicle:
    2010 Prius
    Model:
    III
    Have had mine (55 watt)in my 2010 GenIII for six months. Use them as DRLs and no problems. ;)
     
    #8 Feri, Dec 13, 2011
  9. maoira

    maoira Junior Member

    Joined:
    Dec 12, 2011
    79
    14
    0
    Location:
    St Paul, MN (formally from San Diego, CA)
    Vehicle:
    2011 Prius
    Model:
    II
    I do notice quite a bit of glare. I was thinking of getting a 35watt kit instead so it's not as bad (i know it's still bad). What halogen bulb would you recommend instead? Sylvania bulbs simply don't last long enough to my liking.
     
    #9 maoira, Dec 13, 2011
  10. EdyJun

    EdyJun Junior Member

    Joined:
    Oct 28, 2011
    58
    1
    0
    Location:
    Los Angeles
    Vehicle:
    2010 Prius
    Model:
    II
    Can you explain the "glare" a little more, please?
     
    #10 EdyJun, Dec 13, 2011
  11. F8L

    F8L Protecting Habitat & AG Lands

    Joined:
    Aug 14, 2006
    19,011
    4,081
    50
    Location:
    Grass Valley, CA.
    Vehicle:
    Other Non-Hybrid
    Model:
    N/A
    The glare is not so bad on the 2010+ Prius since they use projector style headlamps. True they are designed for halogens but it's nothing like putting an HID kit inside of a reflector style housing which is a big no-no.

    The glare he is talking about is the light that is not concentrated into a specific beam pattern which can be controlled so that it doesn't blind oncoming traffic. Next time you are on the road look at the high end luxury cars like BMW. Notice how they have bright headlights but they don't blind you? That is an HID inside of projector. Now watch out for modified import cars (Ricers) or modified trucks and look for a blinding headlight, usually blue or purple in color. Those are HIDs in a reflector style housing. They are stupid and dangerous.

    This is probably what the HID in a reflector housing will look like when it pulls up behind you.
    [​IMG]

    This is what an HID projector would look like when shining on a wall. Notice there is no light above the cutoff? They are aimed low so that no light shines above the trunk of most cars and thus do not blind people.

    [​IMG]

    Here is another beautiful shot of an HID projector casting light against a wall.
    [​IMG]
     
    #11 F8L, Dec 13, 2011
    2 people like this.
  12. GaR619

    GaR619 Junior Member

    Joined:
    Nov 30, 2011
    41
    4
    0
    Location:
    san diego
    Vehicle:
    2013 Prius
    Model:
    Four
    I also live in San Diego, would love to see how your HID upgrade turned out. Im considering doing HID upgrade myself.
     
    #12 GaR619, Dec 15, 2011
  13. F8L

    F8L Protecting Habitat & AG Lands

    Joined:
    Aug 14, 2006
    19,011
    4,081
    50
    Location:
    Grass Valley, CA.
    Vehicle:
    Other Non-Hybrid
    Model:
    N/A
    #13 F8L, Dec 15, 2011
  14. maoira

    maoira Junior Member

    Joined:
    Dec 12, 2011
    79
    14
    0
    Location:
    St Paul, MN (formally from San Diego, CA)
    Vehicle:
    2011 Prius
    Model:
    II
    I actually took out HID kit. I thought the 55w 5000k kit was a tad too bright for my tastes. I was actually gonna get the 35w kit instead. The pictures that F8L posted pretty much sums it up. If your interested in the kit, PM me ;) I also have it posted up on CL
     
    #14 maoira, Dec 15, 2011
  15. GaR619

    GaR619 Junior Member

    Joined:
    Nov 30, 2011
    41
    4
    0
    Location:
    san diego
    Vehicle:
    2013 Prius
    Model:
    Four
    OK, Ill go check it out.. I've been lagging on posting my GS400 exhaust on CL.
     
    #15 GaR619, Dec 16, 2011
  16. EdyJun

    EdyJun Junior Member

    Joined:
    Oct 28, 2011
    58
    1
    0
    Location:
    Los Angeles
    Vehicle:
    2010 Prius
    Model:
    II
    How do you guys feel about the 55 wat vs 35 wats?

    TIA
     
    #16 EdyJun, Dec 18, 2011
  17. SuperchargedMR2

    SuperchargedMR2 Diehard Rams Fan

    Joined:
    Feb 13, 2011
    673
    179
    0
    Location:
    Vancouver, WA
    Vehicle:
    2010 Prius
    Model:
    III
    The brighter the bulb the shorter the average life of the filament.
     
    #17 SuperchargedMR2, Dec 21, 2011
  18. SuperchargedMR2

    SuperchargedMR2 Diehard Rams Fan

    Joined:
    Feb 13, 2011
    673
    179
    0
    Location:
    Vancouver, WA
    Vehicle:
    2010 Prius
    Model:
    III
    Glare is produced to oncoming traffic & can be blinding. I see it all the time & it drives me crazy. When you install a HID into a halogen housing the focal point is different & the halogen reflector can't handle the light properly. Since there is too much light for the reflector is appears as glare to oncoming traffic. This will help even more....

    HID Kits: What You Need To Know
     
    #18 SuperchargedMR2, Dec 21, 2011
  19. maoira

    maoira Junior Member

    Joined:
    Dec 12, 2011
    79
    14
    0
    Location:
    St Paul, MN (formally from San Diego, CA)
    Vehicle:
    2011 Prius
    Model:
    II
    UPDATE

    Got my xenonsupply 35w kit. Bulb fitment was perfect. No issues. I guess it was just the DDM bulb. Not nearly as blinding, so I feel comfortable driving around without worrying about being flashed or blinding anyone else.
     
    #19 maoira, Dec 22, 2011
  20. GaR619

    GaR619 Junior Member

    Joined:
    Nov 30, 2011
    41
    4
    0
    Location:
    san diego
    Vehicle:
    2013 Prius
    Model:
    Four
    Should i have to worry about the bulb being too hot? I was told by my mechanic that some people melt the plastic housing because they upgraded to HID's and it literally started to melt the plastic.
     
    #20 GaR619, Dec 23, 2011
(You must log in or sign up to post here.)
Page 1 of 3