WTF, HID-kit with no high beams?

[Tinman]

Okay, so my dad just purchased this HID kit for his SL500 that was referred to as a "hi/low" for the 9004 bulb. They then went on to explain that there is no high beam with this kit. That the low beam and high beam are the same thing. When you push the lever forward to the high-beam position, the lights turn off. What the fawk?!? Is this legit? He's checking to see if this is the way it should be. To me, this makes no sense. If you have no high-beams, you won't have as much light on the back roads that you could. If these lights are bright enough to replace high-beams, then you'll be blinding everyone on the road! And what if you have headlights on and you need to signal people by flashing your high-beams? You can't. That's a safety hazard. Does anyone know anything about this?

L8

[Brabus]

Both of my cars (w124 & w202) have aftermarket HID kits on them. You lose the high beam with the kit.

I have my "high beam" rewired to my center fog lights so I can still flash people if I need to get by...

[alen]

that's why you need bi-xenons.

[Tinman]

these say 'hi/low'. I was under the impression that hi/low meant bi-xenon. they don't make kits with high and low beams? What about the kits that aren't hi/low? that's a 50 dollar option on the one kind I was looking at.

L8

[///AMG124]

Additional relays may be needed to have hi beam. Ask the manufacturer if they offer the "plug-play" kit to get the high beam.
What kit did you go with (make/brightness) and how much did you pay?

[craiggotgame]

Some cars dont have seperate bulbs for the high and low beams. When you pull the lever for the high beams the reflectors in the headlight aim differently allowing you to see more ahead. Dont know if this is your case or not.

[Tinman]

Well, these are simply bulbs and ballasts. There's no movement-controls to the best of my knowledge. I really wish my dad wasn't so impatient, because I was really looking forward to those 10,000k HIDs from tommy.

The kit that we got is a 7,500 k Hanabi hi/low in the 9004 for the w129 and an H4 for the w124. The price was 650 a piece, they gave 'em to us for 550 and a reduced price on the install.

L8

[mike690003]

You got suckered! $550 bucks for a set of HID's!!! There is no kit that provides a high/low beam, especially those cheesy hanabai ballasts. You should have shopped on ebay for an OEM HID kit (Hella Ballasts and philips or Osram bulbs). I paid $300 for my 2 ballasts and bulbs. The high kelvin rating is crap, OEM is 4300k-5000k, anything over that is way too bluish/purplish and the light does not travel far. If you want Bi-xenon, get a refund and buy 2 sets of HID's 4 bulbs and ballasts. Put a set in the headlights and add the other set to your fogs.Then wire the second set to come on when you request high beams or request to flash. That is my next mod on my 300E.

[///AMG124]

Originally posted by mike690003
You got suckered! $550 bucks for a set of HID's!!! There is no kit that provides a high/low beam, especially those cheesy hanabai ballasts. You should have shopped on ebay for an OEM HID kit (Hella Ballasts and philips or Osram bulbs). I paid $300 for my 2 ballasts and bulbs. The high kelvin rating is crap, OEM is 4300k-5000k, anything over that is way too bluish/purplish and the light does not travel far. If you want Bi-xenon, get a refund and buy 2 sets of HID's 4 bulbs and ballasts. Put a set in the headlights and add the other set to your fogs.Then wire the second set to come on when you request high beams or request to flash. That is my next mod on my 300E.

Pardon me if I may correct you... but there is a H4 hi/low kit available in 4,300, 5,200 7,500 and 10,000K. I sell these kits (currently on back order and are for instore sale only - no mail order).

I do agree, anything over 5,000K does start to turn colors (purple / white-blue), but there is no reason to purchase two kits (H4) for driving and fogs since the fogs are H3.

Again, for the record, it is not the balast/starter that makes the color, but the bulb quality/K rating. Don't be fooled because the balast says Phillips or Hella, just make sure you get a quality bulb. I have seen alot of people making tons of money advertising these manufactures names, but the customer not getting exactly what they thought it was.

[mike690003]

Whatever, I know a ton about HID. I have done a lot of research and know exactly what I am talking about. Idiots who do not research before they buy end up with those crappy kits you are selling. Philips has the lowest bulb defect rate(2 pre 1000) as opposed to cheap japanese bubbs that are about 300 per 1000. Quality baby! Its all about quality. Ditch the H3 bulb and put a d2s bulb in the housing for a bi-xenon alternative.

Who needs a plug and play kit. look at www.2phast.com (http://www.2phast.com) it shows how to get a d2s bulb to fit perfectly into an H4 housing. It is not that hard. People always want the easy way out, that is why they always end up unsatisfied.

[///AMG124]

Knowledge is power! I need you to come work for me so you could better educate our customers. We sell on the adverage 8 kits a week in store and dozens to dealerships for aftermarket sales. Send me your resume, there may be an opening in our "information dept" :D

[mike690003]

Look, you can hate me for telling it like it is. I am a college student who will be graduating in about a year. I am an Education major. I have worked as a mechanic and as an auto body repairman. I am very knowlegable in the HID area also. I have retrofitted numerous OEM(Hella ballasts and philips bulbs only!) HID kits into many different cars. That "BI-Xenon crap you sell is nothing but the cheap japanese made bulb and a movable glare shield. It gives the effect of bi-xenon, but the high beam does not travel any farther than the low beam. The moveable glare shield just adds more glare to the light and gives it the effect of being brighter. Since a xenon bulb has no filament, the only effective way to achieve true bi-xenon is by having a leveling motor in a projector housing that quickly raises and lowers the entire projector beam. It in turn moves the beam pattern higher. Your kit is a knock off! I feel sorry for the suckers that purchase your kits.

[Dr. ///AMG]

retrofit kits are for poor people. I Got me genuine REAL Mercedes HID's in my new car :D

[///AMG124]

Originally posted by mike690003
Look, you can hate me for telling it like it is. I am a college student who will be graduating in about a year. I am an Education major. I have worked as a mechanic and as an auto body repairman. I am very knowlegable in the HID area also. I have retrofitted numerous OEM(Hella ballasts and philips bulbs only!) HID kits into many different cars. That "BI-Xenon crap you sell is nothing but the cheap japanese made bulb and a movable glare shield. It gives the effect of bi-xenon, but the high beam does not travel any farther than the low beam. The moveable glare shield just adds more glare to the light and gives it the effect of being brighter. Since a xenon bulb has no filament, the only effective way to achieve true bi-xenon is by having a leveling motor in a projector housing that quickly raises and lowers the entire projector beam. It in turn moves the beam pattern higher. Your kit is a knock off! I feel sorry for the suckers that purchase your kits.


No hate at all intended... Again, knowledge is power!!

[mike690003]

Doc, ditch your stock HID bulbs and go with the philips D2S #85122 bulb. Your stock D2R buld is probably a little yellow looking.

BTW ///AMG124 I'll work for ya. What do I have to do?

[///AMG124]

[i]BTW ///AMG124 I'll work for ya. What do I have to do? [/b]


:D I will put you in R&D and you could also assist with consumer concerns about their HID conversions... :D :D j/k