Ready to pull the trigger on HIDs. - Need Help Deciding

[lilsalmon]

Ok fellas. After purchasing my Tahoe last week the first mod I am going to do is upgrading my lighting to HIDs. I have been all over the net and back again lookign for honest reviews on HID kits and I have seen everything from fake review sites to a ton of first person reviews on vehicle specific forums like TYF.

So I think I have come to the conclusion that the Slim Digital DDM Tuning kits are the way to go unless you guys can convince me otherwise. I'd like to place the order today but wanted to make sure my research led me in the right direction. I know there are a ton of threads here and there about HIDs but wanted to get a more recent impression of your thoughts.

I am also on the fence about wether to go with the 55watt kit or the 35watt kit. I am definetly going to order the harness with the kit so there is no worries there. I am concerned that if I order the 35watt kit, I will then wish I went bigger to the 55watt and if I get the 55watt I am concerned it will be overkill.

Lastly I really want that stockish pure white with a hint of blue. If I get the 35watt kid I am leaning towards the 6000K and if I go with the 55watt kit I am leaning towards the 8000k because supposedly the wattage washes out the blue a bit.

I value all your opinions as I am new to the Tahoe scene so please any and all suggestions are welcome info.

Thanks everyone.

-Lil'

 

[bigblue]

i have the DDM slim ballast 55 watt with 12000k bulb, the bulb is too blue for my liking i wish i would have went with 6ks or 8ks. I got the wiring harness and everything, mine are back at ddm office getting warranty work on them.. ddm is a good buy for the money. I wish i would have saved and bought McCullouch brand hids, but they cost 249$ vs $80 or so

 

[lilsalmon]

i have the DDM slim ballast 55 watt with 12000k bulb, the bulb is too blue for my liking i wish i would have went with 6ks or 8ks. I got the wiring harness and everything, mine are back at ddm office getting warranty work on them.. ddm is a good buy for the money. I wish i would have saved and bought McCullouch brand hids, but they cost 249$ vs $80 or so

Two questions Blue... first what happened that they needed warranty work and how long have you had them... and two would the 6000K 55w be too yellow? Should I go with the 8000K if I 55? I dont want a 'tuner' look going for a more stock HID look.

 

[bigblue]

Two questions Blue... first what happened that they needed warranty work and how long have you had them... and two would the 6000K 55w be too yellow? Should I go with the 8000K if I 55? I dont want a 'tuner' look going for a more stock HID look.

First let me start with it took them 3 weeks for me to recieve the items, they was on back order and they didnt tell me, but now they have some kind of tracking thing on there website where it tells you if they are on back order or not. I purchased them about 3 or 4 months ago. I believe i recieved a faulty ballast because i could only get one light to fire up, so mostly i used them with only one headlight. Sometimes both lights would work but not always. If you go and search on any forums, which iam a member on lots of car and truck forums EVERYBODY says DDM. If i was you a would get the 8000k bulbs with the 55watt kit. DDM has great prices.

 

[taho26]

get the 55 watt ballast...you wont be dissapointed. I can get them to you for $120 shipped. Here is the kit on my SS. Its 55 watt 12k:

 

[DwDrummer]

I've had 5,6,8,10,12,30K HID's and honestly if you want the BEST light output get 5K hands down that's my favorite. If you've gotta have some blue don't go over 8K to keep good light ouput! Just my 2 cents!

 

[Conor]

You can get the full set up from DDM for $50. I would highly recommend a 35 watt ballasts with a 6K bulb. Just make sure you order the wire harness/relay at the same time as you will need the harness for sure.

 

[lilsalmon]

What units are you running in your fogs.... I wish DDM had a 5202 kit.

---------- Post added at 12:46 PM ---------- Previous post was at 12:34 PM ----------

I've had 5,6,8,10,12,30K HID's and honestly if you want the BEST light output get 5K hands down that's my favorite. If you've gotta have some blue don't go over 8K to keep good light ouput! Just my 2 cents!

DW I was thinking 6000K.... will I be sacrificing a ton of light versus the 5000K?

 

[tx07tahoe]

I had 6k and 8k's. But mine where from a guy that lives around here. At times I miss the 8k cause of the blue. But I like the 6k because I dont get flashed now. I went to 6k cause the 8k had a wierd growth on the bulb kinda like a fungus. I would get 35watt 6k.

 

[2 E L O]

I really dig my 6000K 35w lows and 3000K 35w fogs. If I had to do it all over again I'd probably stick with this combo....but MAYBE go down to 5000K 35w lows.

 

[DwDrummer]

What units are you running in your fogs.... I wish DDM had a 5202 kit.

---------- Post added at 12:46 PM ---------- Previous post was at 12:34 PM ----------



DW I was thinking 6000K.... will I be sacrificing a ton of light versus the 5000K?

No not alot but you will get more white usable light with the 5K's vs. the 6K's

 

[lilsalmon]

I really dig my 6000K 35w lows and 3000K 35w fogs. If I had to do it all over again I'd probably stick with this combo....but MAYBE go down to 5000K 35w lows.

What kit are you using in your your fog lights?

 

[2 E L O]

What kit are you using in your your fog lights?

The DDM Raptor kit....H16/5202 bulbs. I bought them in December '09.

 

[lilsalmon]

You guys have all been awesome.... one last question before I place the order.

As of right now I am thinking:

1 - Digital Slim Ballast - 35W - 6000k (H11/Low Beams) or 1 - Digital Slim Ballast - 55W - 6000k (H11/Low Beams)
1 - Digital Slim Ballast - 35W - 6000k (H16/5202 Fogs)

2 - Wiring Kit Relay Harness

Does this seem like an ideal setup for my 07 LTZ after all is said and done?

Is the consensus that the 55watt kits are overkill if I am doing the fogs too?

Can anyone recommend replacement Halogen bulbs for my high beams that would match in color to the rest of my setup?

Thanks again for all of your recommendations and comments.

-Brian

 

[Conor]

DO NOT PUT 55 WATT IN THE FOGS OR YOU WILL MELT THE HOUSEING OR CAUSE A FIRE! Also, remeber with a 55 watt kit you are going to loose color compared to a 35 watt kit. In my opinion, you can't go wrong with
35 watt ballasts and 6K bulbs for lows/fogs. For me, it is the perfect amount of color and function.

You also need to keep in mind that the HIDs in the fogs get warmer than the OEM bulbs, so you do not want to run them for extended periods of time. You also need to be very carefull installing the fogs so you dont break off the retainer clips that hold the bulb onto the back on the housing. If you break one off the bulb does not seat correctly and you will melt the housing.(I know this from my own experience.lol)

As long as you buy the wiring harness/relay, you should have no issues for the lows. You will not need a harness for the fogs.

As far as Halogen bulbs go, DDM Tuning also carries a really good halogen bulb that has a life time warranty for $15 and is 4500K color. DDM is wierd about shipping, so do yourself a favor and buy everything at the same time. Good luck bro, let me know if you have any questions about the install.

http://www.ddmtuning.com/Products/DDM-HID-Kit-Slim-Ballast-35W-or-55W
http://www.ddmtuning.com/Products/HID-Kit-Wiring-Harness
http://www.ddmtuning.com/Products/Halogen-Driving-Bulbs

 

[lilsalmon]

DO NOT PUT 55 WATT IN THE FOGS OR YOU WILL MELT THE HOUSEING OR CAUSE A FIRE! Also, remeber with a 55 watt kit you are going to loose color compared to a 35 watt kit. In my opinion, you can't go wrong with
35 watt ballasts and 6K bulbs for lows/fogs. For me, it is the perfect amount of color and function.

QUOTE]

Thanks Conor... I never planned on the 55watts for the fogs... I know thats way too much... I think I am leaning toward 35watts for both at 6000K.

---------- Post added at 03:31 PM ---------- Previous post was at 03:11 PM ----------

As long as you buy the wiring harness/relay, you should have no issues for the lows. You will not need a harness for the fogs.

So I dont need a harness for the fogs? Why not?

Thanks again.

-Lil

 

[Conor]

Someone might be able to answer this better than I can. But one of the reasons you need a harness for the lows is that they come on automatically which causes one or both to have intermittent firing problems. For example, you might start your truck and only one headlight will fire, so you may have to turn off the lights and turn them back on and they will work.
With the fogs, you manually turn them on, so you don’t run into the issue of having one or both lights not firing. Sorry if that is confusing, like I said someone can probably explain it better. All I know is you don’t need one for the fogs, but you do for the lows.lol

 

[lilsalmon]

Thank you to everyone! This is a sweet community... and everyone has been super helpful....

I think I have decided on the following:

DDM Tuning:

1 - Digital Slim Ballast - 35W - 6000k (H11/Low Beams)
1 - Digital Slim Ballast - 35W - 6000k (H16/5202 Fogs)
1 - Wiring Harness / Relay Kit

If anyone objects ... speak now or forever hold your peace!!!!

-Lil'

 

[zach2011]

DDM sounds really good. I want a set, but I have no need to replace my current ones.

Are you going to do exterior LED's too? As in license plate lights and stuff? It's a definite must. Especially in the reverse lights!

 

[lilsalmon]

Well if you guys say its must then I better get on that too.

It looks like its going to take a bit to track down the roof rack to swap, so I might as well work on something in the meantime.

What lights can I swap other then The license plate ones? Since I don't have the right mirrors I can't do the puddle lights yet.

Do tell fellas.

-lil