BuffaloSS

iTrader: (3)

Since most of you Impala guys aren't yet members of www.NAIOA.com, I figured I'd post what I had over there (and at GPONA) about my HIDs. Not sure who's debating getting HIDs, and at what temperature/color, but here's some first-hand info from my experiences with the different temps.

I started with a $240 McCulloch kit off eBay with 8000k bulbs. Kit was nice, but no relay. I then swapped bulbs with a 6000k set from HigherLevelAuto (aka mikejohnson - Supporting Vendor @ www.NAIOA.com). Recently, I sold my 6000k kit to another member and bought a complete 4300k kit with relay from HLA. I like the color of the 6000k, but the light output from the 4300 is much better. I think 5000k is where I need to be to be 100% happy...little bit more color, negligible loss in output.

Here are some comparative photos, both during the daytime and nighttime. The majority of the daytime photos were mid-day with overcast skies (don’t know how I manage to do every install in crappy weather ) If you’d like more photos of the 4300k lighting, let me know what you’d like to see. As soon as I remember, I will try to get a better head-on shot of the 4300k setup, as well as better in-car views. I obviously cannot get more shots of the 6000k or 8000k kits, as I no longer own them.


8000k - daytime



6000k - daytime



4300k - daytime



8000k - nighttime



6000k - nighttime



4300k - nighttime (sorry for the dirty headlight)



6000k vs. 8000k nighttime:



8000k head-on



8000k from drivers seat



6000k from driver's seat



6000k on a wall, early evening



4300k from driver seat (while driving...little blurry)

Semper91-RS

That's a good little bit of information, there. That's one of the main visual mods I plan on doing to the Monte. How much do you think a 5000k kit will run me? Also, don't the 5k's give a bit more of a purple-ish tint to the light, without really losing any brightness?

BuffaloSS

iTrader: (3)

5000k would be right between the 4300 and 6000k. Slightest hint of blue (purple isn't until 10k-12k) and still 10x better than stock. Sign up at NAIOA and check out Higher Level Auto (sponsor) - $149 + 15 shipping. That's where I got mine. He's a good guy and has excellent cust. service.

...that is, of course, if there is not a sponsor here that can give you a deal


Also, I've never once been flashed by oncoming traffic for these being too bright or "out of focus"

Semper91-RS

Hm. I'll check in to it. Thanks man.

EmersonHart13

iTrader: (3)

Those 6000s look nice!

Semper91-RS

Here's my question.. Are there any HID kits for the fogs? I'd love to be able to use JUST the foglights as my main lights.. That would look wicked..

EmersonHart13

iTrader: (3)

H11s on the GP, not sure about the Impala and Monte.

mike690003

iTrader: (2)

H11's for the headlights and foglights on the 06+ Monte Carlo. Use sylvania.com as your automotive bulb lighting guide.

I think 5000k is the best of both worlds.

Semper91-RS

Can I use the stock harness with some 5000k bulbs in the fogs?

SSWS6

Buffalo, I've been wanting to do this forever but hadn't because of price and because its technically not legal here and the cops are dicks. But $149 is a great price and now I'm considering it, but I have a few questions. First, is the $149 + shipping for the whole kit with everything I need, and can I pick any output I want? Second, what would you recommend as far as light output? Anything too colorful and/or too bright will get me pulled over, but I do want a little color. My Mom's lexus has about the perfect light output and its not too colorful. 6000k seems perfect from your pics and what I've read. What do you think? And last, how hard is install, and removal if need be, and whats involved? I've only changed bulbs before so I'm an HID newbie you can say. Any info would help.

BuffaloSS

iTrader: (3)

Yes, like mike said the lows and fogs use the same H11 bulbs, but the projector fogs project like **** in my opinion. Don't know if HIDs will really be as good down there.

Yes, you can. HLA's harness utilizes only one of the OEM bulb connectors for the "on/off" signal and a relay to the fuse box/batter for power and ground. It would be the same for the fogs.

$164 to your door, I believe. You want nothing higher than 6000k if they;re that picky about this stuff, but as you can see in the pics, even 6000k "looks" blue in the housing. I'd say go for 5000k if you're worried, or spend another $40-50 for a second set of bulbs from HLA and see what you like.

I did a writeup at NAIOA as well....I'll have to dig up the thread for you. It's really quite simple, although mike (HLS) does not have the specialty connectors for the H11's, so it does require a small amount of electrical taping, but he said he will be getting some very soon.

BuffaloSS

iTrader: (3)

Here's the install thread. http://www.naioa.com/v2/modules.php?...wtopic&t=19821

Regarding the "rogue" connection that i mentioned above, if you look at the bundled harness in the second pic, the two bare leads are what I'm talking about. Those plug into the passenger side bulb connector and get taped in place. He is working on getting those connections, though. He's "new" to the 2006+ Impala community, so he hasn't been able to get that set up yet. I know what type of connector it needs to be, just don't know where to find it.

Count of Monte Carlo

You car has eye brows!!!!!!

I don't know....I like the lights as they are....But If I had to get a kit I think I id want something that was white in color..color being irrelevant...

How do these kits affect the DRL operation?? I'd like to think there would be a problem with that....

BuffaloSS

iTrader: (3)

You'd want 4300k then. Very, very small hint of blue when they're kicking on, but then pure, white light. I have DRL disabled, so IDK how it (the new kit) affects it. My previous install without a relay harness did not allow DRLs to function.

My car HAD eyebrows! Now the housing is painted black.

Count of Monte Carlo

I think I want your black eyezzzzzLOL. That realy looks great! You must be a master of the rattle can

"I have DRL disabled, so IDK how it " I'm sorry I guess I'm having a mental block, what does IDK mean?

So let me ask, the power of the head light runs through the DRL system?As electronically controlled as these cars are, how do you disable the drls?

Semper91-RS

IDK = kiddy text speak for "I don't know". Also; you guys keep making my (now postponed) modification list longer.. Awesome headlights. You should post up a guide on how you did that.

mysupersportss

I Really Like Hids But I Just Dont Know Which Ones To Go With Thanks For The Help

20SS07

Aside from manually turning them off everytime the only way to disable them is to pull the DRL fuse, which is what he did. I've done it as well. However, there have been a few people which this hasn't worked for. We never figured out why it worked for some and not others.

Count of Monte Carlo

Well I guess that would be a good thing to test before going though with all of this...

20SS07

The ones that have had just pulling the fuse work only had one fuse. The ones that haven't had it work have 2 fuses. There is a DRL1 and a DRL2 fuse, only one should be occupied, but for whatever reason some people have a fuse in both.