HID/ Projector Recommendations

[genesis]

Hey all,
I have a 99 tahoe (old body style(rectangular headlights)) and am looking to upgrade to HIDs. I am curious to advice as to what to buy, been looking at a DDM kit, 55W 6000K. currently am only looking at replacing the low beams. I am wondering if this is a good kit, can it be considered "plug and play" also wondering if anyone knows if I need an error code eliminator or I have read that people install leveling kits and I know nothing of these. Also eventually looking at switching to a Projector style headlamp. wodnering what a good brand is. found some on ebay for like 90 bucks, also found some IPCW ones which are way more spendy. just looking for a good brand, somewhat on the cheap and also wondering if these style headlights have the clearence to fit a HID bulb in. any help would be appreciated.

 

[AtomicHoe094]

buy a set from a guy on ebay called carpartnation for suburbans. He has hids, 4300k with a 35w ballast. i bought mine a couple of months ago and love them. i paid like 160 for the set or something close to that. only does your low beams, but it also has the 4hi mod. plug and play shit, nothing hard to handle

 

[haks310]

55W is overkill, 35w is plenty.

Yes , the DDM kit is "plug and play" and you will not need an error code eliminator. Our stock headlight housings are not designed for HID bulbs though, they are designed for halogen bulbs. So just sticking a will give you some light scatter and you will have to aim your headlights down a bit so you won't be blinding people.

Other route you can go is what, Atomic mentioned, going with a TYC headlight HID kit. These are HID reflector designed housing that come with a 35w, 4300k HID kit neatly attached to them. Also come with a wiring harness that gives you the 4Hi mod and are DOT/SAE legal. Also "plug and play"

You can also go with the projector headlights you were talking about, but the ones you are talking about are not true projectors and just a cheap lens. True projectors run around $500. You can get the ones on ebay though and stick a DMM HID kit in there also, light output won't be that great, and you will get some scatter.

 

[genesis]

Thanks, I will definitely look into the TYC. I saw them on a website and wasnt sure as to quality and the more research I have done I have found the 55W is overkill. Is it easy with the TYC kits to swap the bulbs if I want to do a 6000K or an other bulb in the color stream? ALSO anyone heard if it is possible to wire in a DRL switch. I know some of the factory 97 tahoes had a DRL switch on the dash by the rear trunk button and rear wiper button and I was wondering if anyone has bought the switch and wired it in ?????

 

[haks310]

TYC is pretty much the pinacle of quality for headlights in our generations trucks. You can easily swap out the bulbs, I would do it before I install the headlights though, and make sure the bulbs are D1R. As far as the DRL, most guys just pull the fuse and forget about them.

 

[genesis]

Yes, I've read a lot on the DRL and people pulling the fuse. I have done this myself and was just thought that if it were as easy as pulling the connector off the relay and attaching to the switch I would, that way I have the option of using them. No big though. Thanks for the info on the TYC lights. I found the guy Atomichoe recommended. looks like he has them for like 250$. When you mention the mod for 4hi...what does this mean I know that most people just use HID on the low beams but is there any reason not to use them on the highs, and how much work is it. I apologize for all the questions but Im the type of person who understands better by doing, and I dont want to spend 300$ and f#*^ it up.

 

[haks310]

Yeah, I have a 95 so no DRL, wouldn't be able to tell you.

Offer him $175. A lot of guys were offering him $170 and he was taking it...recently he has been declining the offer though.

4Hi mod just means that your Low beams will be also be on when you flip on your High beams. The kit comes with halogen High beams, no point in putting HIDs in the Highs, HID Lows are plenty bright.

 

[DenaliAK]

TYC and DEPO are probably the best quality after-market headlights around. If you really want true HID projectors, you're probably looking at a retrofit option, which does start to get pricey, but the output is awesome. That's a whole different ball-game, though, and unless you're willing to invest over $5-600 in lights, I wouldn't worry about it. Get one of the above mentioned after-market lights, some decent PNP HID's (I like DDM and Digital, but there are lots of brands out there), and then adjust your lights so you aren't blinding the crap out of on-coming traffic.

Good luck!

Oh, and to address the HID in the highs question, the main reason most people don't do this is because when you flip to high-beams your lows turn off. HID's take several seconds to brighten up, so you'd be driving blind for a couple of seconds while they warm up. The 4-high mod gets rid of this, however, as your lows would never turn off and leave you in the dark. By and large, your HID lows will be brighter then halogen high beams, so if you leave them halogen there just isn't that much need for high-beams at all.

Eventually I want HID's in my fogs, lows, and highs, and then run a 6-high mod so when I'm on those dark, lonely roads in the winter I will have a ton of light. 95% of the time, though, I would just run the lows and that should be plenty of light for most situations.