quick Q for you guys with HIDs

Supraboy89

New Member
Oct 25, 2006
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Hampton GA
dont really know alot about them but i got a set for my supra. what i want to know. is it ok to mount the ballast under the headlight. the reason i ask, because it doesnt tell me in the instructions if they are waterproof or not.
 

mirage83

Member
Mar 21, 2008
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Georgia
There's a thread around here somewhere concerning HID's and some testing of them. From that thread, iirc, most ballast's they tested weren't waterproof at all, perhaps only 1 or 2 out of like 6 manufacturers had ballasts which were waterproof and/or shock-resistant.

What brand do you have?
 

shaeff

Kurt is FTMFW x2!!!!
Staff member
Super Moderator
Mar 30, 2005
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Don't bother with the crap PnP HID's. OEM retro, quality aftermarket, or get some good Osram bulbs, Hella E-code housings, and rewire. You'll be surprised what a good rewire will bring to the table. ;)
 

mirage83

Member
Mar 21, 2008
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Georgia
Found the link in case you want to do some reading on the subject.

http://www.mobilehid.com/philips-review.htm

Whatever you find or decide, if you don't shell out for quality on these units you're definately going to be disappointed in your lights performance and potentially unsafe for other drivers as well since some of the cheaper systems tend to really scatter their light.
 

Clip

The Magnificent Seven
Oct 16, 2005
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i had a plug and play one from here, mounted one ballast under the power steering reservoir (NA) and the other between the battery and headlight on the engine bay side. neither saw water, and my relays in the hi/lo unit went out. working on replacing them soon.
 

Clip

The Magnificent Seven
Oct 16, 2005
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if they aren't OEM or quality ($$$) pay close attention to everything, all the time.
 

arizzle

Lov'in the boost.
Nov 1, 2006
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burnaby, BC
i mounted mine right under the headlight, and still works after 6months thru snow/rain/hail etc. but mine were water proof, so double check im pretty sure aftermarket brands are water proof, as they usually mount the OE ballast under the headlight housing.
 

suprarx7nut

YotaMD.com author
Nov 10, 2006
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www.supramania.com
mattsplat72;1234655 said:
So you can put HID's and not ave to have projectors? I am still a NOOB. I know that Mark (JZA70) has HIDs and HID FOGS as well.

HID is simply just a type of bulb. HID projectors (decent ones, at least) work very well to focus the light produced by said bulbs.

Most cheap HID kits found online are AWFUL and SPRAY light in EVERY direction. They WILL blind everyone else on the road with most stockor cheap aftermarket housings. Again, just referring to the cheap kits from ebay and the like.

If you want HID's, do it right. That probably means spending more than a few hundred bucks on quality housings and ballasts....
 

Clip

The Magnificent Seven
Oct 16, 2005
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most of the guys that have the h3 HID bulb (fog light bulb) have had to make modifications to the fog light housing. i think i remember some installing a reflector or shield to throw the light better.
 

sneakypete

Regular Member
Jul 18, 2007
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Central NJ
i mounted my headlamp hid ballasts right on top of the foglight brackets. they fit perfectly and see little to no water.