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Disappointed with eBay HIDs - Very Dim

Discussion in 'Gen 3 Prius Accessories and Modifications' started by sbddude, Dec 8, 2012.

  1. sbddude

    sbddude Junior Member

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    I purchased Xentec HIDs from eBay for around $35 with 5000k bulbs. I installed them without using a relay in the factory projectors. The beam pattern and cuttoff is good but the overall light output (lumens) seems very low. Compared to other cars I have driven (BMW/Infiniti/Honda) with factory and aftermarket HIDs, this is by far the worst.

    Thinking the kit I bought was defective I asked for another set of bulbs to be sent. They sent me another set of bulbs and I didn't notice any improvement in brightness.

    I've thought about adding a relay to draw power directly from the battery, although I don't know if that will make any difference. I'm willing to spend more to get significantly brighter output but not sure which kit to get. I was hoping to spend under $100.
     
    #1 sbddude, Dec 8, 2012
  2. cwerdna

    cwerdna Senior Member

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    It'd be nice to update your thread title (if possible) to include the brand and what you bought.

    Your title at first confused me, thinking you'd posted in the wrong area since no Gen 3 Priuses even come w/factory HIDs.
     
    #2 cwerdna, Dec 8, 2012
  3. peterjmc

    peterjmc Ping pong in Ding Dang...

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    Do you have a picture of the cut off beam? Maybe the blubs aren't igniting fully?
     
    #3 peterjmc, Dec 8, 2012
  4. RxGATOR

    RxGATOR Go Gators!

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    you get for what you pay
     
    #4 RxGATOR, Dec 8, 2012
    sfv41901, WE0H and KK6PD like this.
  5. Dawit

    Dawit Active Member

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    I have DDM kit installed in my prius 5000k bulbs and it's bright enough.
     
    #5 Dawit, Dec 8, 2012
  6. KK6PD

    KK6PD _ . _ . / _ _ . _

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    Color temperature is not the only number you need to look at! The Lumens Output of the bulb is VERY important! Buying bulbs off ebay is hit or miss anyway, unless you get the ones that others here have already used. Yours is the first post I have seen about bulbs with low output! Usually it's color temp K° problems. Do a search, there is plenty of info!
     
    #6 KK6PD, Dec 9, 2012
  7. SuperchargedMR2

    SuperchargedMR2 Diehard Rams Fan

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    #7 SuperchargedMR2, Dec 10, 2012
    wotcher likes this.
  8. wotcher

    wotcher Member

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    i recently picked up theretrofitsource's quick prius retro kit because i was disappointed in light output from hid kit.
     
    #8 wotcher, Dec 10, 2012
  9. sbddude

    sbddude Junior Member

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    I received and installed the VOLT kit from xenon depot and I am very happy with the result. They are bright and white like HIDs should be. Worth the extra $60 easily. I paid $89 shipped.

    Here's a pic of eBay kit (passenger) vs xd (driver).

    Its blurry but you can see the brightness difference.
    [​IMG]
     
    #9 sbddude, Dec 18, 2012
  10. F8L

    F8L Protecting Habitat & AG Lands

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    There appears to be much more light on the ground in front of the car. Did the bulbs really make that big of a difference?

    My DDM (generic) bulbs are pretty dim too. I have a set of Morimoto bulbs waiting in SoCal for me. I'll find out this weekend if they are any better.
     
    #10 F8L, Dec 18, 2012
  11. sfv41901

    sfv41901 Masta S

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    F8L, did u get those bulbs installed yet?
     
    #11 sfv41901, Dec 24, 2012
  12. F8L

    F8L Protecting Habitat & AG Lands

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    Yup! Got them in last night but didn't take it for a drive. I swapped the drivers side first so I could compare the color and the Morimoto looked like a true 5000k and the DDM bulb looked like a 6000k despite being originally labeled a 5000k.
     
    #12 F8L, Dec 24, 2012
  13. sfv41901

    sfv41901 Masta S

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    Yeah, well we know tat DDM is pretty much garage anyway
     
    #13 sfv41901, Dec 24, 2012
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