Are HIDs worth it?

[Macattack]

I am about to take delivery of a 2011 Sierra 2500HD Denali (Duramax) and I would like to know if it is worth while replacing the standard low and high beam bulbs with HIDs? I'm after white brightness and penetration for night time travelling in the country, not bling! I'd really like to hear from people who have tried them, thanks.

 

[Z15]

I have them in my Cadillac CTS4 as OE and IMO they are no better than the headlights that came in my 2010 GMC. You can buy replacement bulbs like PIAA (super whites ?name) and get better results for a lot less.


2010 GMC Sierra SLT ECSB Z71 All Terrain
2009 CTS4 AWD Performance Sedan

 

[Macattack]

That's interesting - I may be better off getting a good set of driving lights, would just need to find the best way of mounting them without needing too much bar work.

 

[dirtclod]

I cannot consider myself knowledgeable on aftermarket lights, because I've never installed or trouble shot them. But it seems that most posts I see concerning them, are because of an electrical problem that the installer has encountered. Not to mention the inflated price of bulbs, because they've shorted or burned out. I'm thinking that they put out the bright light when everything goes well, but it looks (in my opinion) to be a 50/50 chance of trouble free service. Now, If'n you're an electrical engineer, all problems encountered, may probably be an easy fix.

 

[dirtclod]

I was speaking of the HID lighting systems, PIAA and such.

 

[nikolaiak2007]

I got a set of them for my 2010 Sierra 1500 and I love them. The set I got ran me about $55 with shipping. Came with the wire harness, bulbs, and ballasts for both. I got the 8k, 35W set up from DDM tuning (www.http://www.ddmtuning.com/Products/DDM-HID-Kit-Slim-Ballast-35W-or-55W) and I love them. They have a blue tint to them, but if you go with the 6K set up you'll have a whiter light. Also, if you go with a 55W ballast, you'll have an even whiter light. Took me about 30 min to install and requires very little in the tools department.

If you do choose to go through DDM to get your bulbs, you'll want to go to the Sylvania site to get the right info on which bulb to order (http://www.sylvania.com/ConsumerProducts/AutomotiveLighting/LampReplacementGuide/)

Attached is a couple of pictures of what mine look like


Hope the info helps.

 

[nikolaiak2007]

I will offer this advice though, i would only change the low beams to HID's. The low beams are bright enough that I never use the high beams, even at night driving in the country. If you really want a little extra light, I would say swap out the fog lights (if you have them) to HID's as well. With the factory fog lights though, I wouldn't go any higher than 6k on the bulb. You can go with 35W or 55W ballasts, but no higher than 6K. With how hot the bulb can get in a fog light housing, I've heard of them starting to melt the housing. You don't have to worry about it with your low beams cause of how much bigger the housing is.

 

[coachman99]

coachman99

I installed the BRIGHT lights pack,(Britelite) a system that turns on all the lights at once, HI,low and FOG lights when you pull the lights switch to high. This worked well on my 2006 Yukon in this Dark country community I live in.

 

[Molson02536]

I am about to take delivery of a 2011 Sierra 2500HD Denali (Duramax) and I would like to know if it is worth while replacing the standard low and high beam bulbs with HIDs? I'm after white brightness and penetration for night time travelling in the country, not bling! I'd really like to hear from people who have tried them, thanks.

The HID lights are great but keep in mind that the standard head light lens system have a different cut in to them and the HID bulbs may be worst then the conventional bulbs due to the no reflective properties the HIDs have.

The arc light source in an HID headlamp is fundamentally different in size, shape, orientation, and luminosity distribution compared to the filament light source used in a halogen headlamps. HID systems cannot effectively or safely be installed in optics designed to take filament bulbs, doing so results in improperly-focused beam patterns and excessive glare, and is therefore illegal in almost all countries.

Our newer tour buses only run HID and LED lights which gives us better light performance for night driving. Hope this helps and keep us posted. http://www.metro-magazine.com/images/news/Prevost-5.jpg

Molson02536

 

[Dirtman09]

Get on eBay and order a 6000k HID kit. Best decision you'll make. Brightest burning lights there are.

 

[NJ Stormy]

Hi,

First Real post here....

I had HID's on my last truck and I was very happy with them.

I swapped the low beams and the fogs.
I didnt do the high beams because HIDs tak a second to come on...and this doesn't work if you want to use flash to pass on your high beams.

I went with HIDs from DDMTuning
(http://www.ddmtuning.com/Product-Categories/HID-Kits-Lighting/HID-Kits)
I'm not affiliated with them in any way other than a happy customer.

I went with their 35 watt kits...the 35 watt kits are lower wattage then the 55 watt kits...they are more like factory HIDs that the car makers are using. I got that advice over on the chevy avalanche forum and it was good advice...very happy.

I chose the 6000k color because that is the brightest white...not much blue.

The ddm kits didn't require any splicing of wire...they plugged right in...

I took them off my old truck before I traded it....I'm planning to put them on the new one this weekend.. Let the modding begin!

for $30 a pair its a great low risk mod...if you don't like them then you can always switch back to the dim yellow bulbs....

 

[Macattack]

Thanks for all the replies.
Molson, I hear what you are saying about the different design characteristics, I will also look into higher performance filament bulbs, such as the PIAA bulbs Z15 mentioned.

 

[canadaeh]

Just installed 6000K HIDs in my lows and highs on my 2007 1500 sierra new body style. overall impression is that i should have done it sooner. drive lots of country roads and hids make a world of difference. Not only longer distance and better light quality but reflective qualities as well, can now see animal eyes reflecting easily 50 feet away on my lows. recommend spending some cash because you really do get what you pay for. your headlights may have not been designed for them but you can control your headlight height and reduce the glare that you are putting out without affecting your ability to light up the night.

 

[msg051086]

Aiming H.I.D.s

I got a question, i installed HID kits in my 2012 GMC Sierra, i put 6k 35watt bulbs in, bought everything from DDM Tuning.

Everything went in fine, but i wanna make sure they are aimed correctly so i dont blind anybody. Where are the vertical/horizontal adjustment screws.

Thanks.