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Old May 28, 2008 | 08:14 PM
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i have the mcculloch hid kit in my car and today for the second time the bulbs blew out first one and then an hour later the other. what gives. this happened to me in december and now it just happened again. any ideas why this would happen
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Old May 29, 2008 | 04:57 AM
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Now the easy direction is...if it's a direct plug n play ( no additional fuses were required for your setup - a direct swap for your stock lighting ), make sure that all your connections are solid - no shorts. Make sure that any wires that need to be grounded, are. If everything looks good, contact the seller you got the kit from. If you keep blowing bulbs, they should replace the kit for a new one. Now you'll probably have to pay to return the kit, but at least you should get a new replacement kit.
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Old May 29, 2008 | 08:39 AM
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It's what you get for putting illegal HID kits in your car. Those kits make me want to key cars when I see them, and I am not a person that keys cars (and I haven't, just that I've wanted to)
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Old May 29, 2008 | 10:44 AM
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Originally Posted by dragonrage
It's what you get for putting illegal HID kits in your car. Those kits make me want to key cars when I see them, and I am not a person that keys cars (and I haven't, just that I've wanted to)
what makes them so illegal? i have a kit on my bike, and plan on putting one on my camaro as well. If all the high end cars can have them, why cant we?
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Old May 29, 2008 | 10:57 AM
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The "high end cars" use Projector housings that were designed for HID (there were a few rare HID Reflector housings early on).

Halogen Reflector housings cannot properly distribute HID light and create a terrible beam pattern that presents glare to other drivers.
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Old May 29, 2008 | 01:45 PM
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I have NEVER had oncoming cars flash me with their lights. True, I have mine pointed down just a bit to reduce glare. What gets me is when people complain about being binded by oncoming cars with apparently aftermarket HID kits, but you know what, what I hate is when I have those big phucken SUVs with HIDs behind me...being 8 to 12 inches higher than regular cars, their HID headlights shine right into my side and rear view mirrors.
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Old May 29, 2008 | 01:49 PM
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Originally Posted by VIP1
The "high end cars" use Projector housings that were designed for HID (there were a few rare HID Reflector housings early on).

Halogen Reflector housings cannot properly distribute HID light and create a terrible beam pattern that presents glare to other drivers.
This is true, but does this make them illegal? I have had them on my bike for 2 years now, been pulled over my fair share of times, never had a cop even mention them... even when the state trooper walked around my bike and gave it an "onsite inspection" i think he was short on his fix it tickets for the month.
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Old May 29, 2008 | 02:37 PM
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Yes, they are illegal. Every component of them needs to be DOT certified, including the overall package, to be legal. The DOT has raided brands producing these kits and put the smack down on them from time to time.

HIDs on SUVs annoy me, too, even if factory. But kits annoy me at least as much if not more.
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Old May 29, 2008 | 06:09 PM
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Originally Posted by 69lemansguy
This is true, but does this make them illegal?
Yes, according to the DOT.

Originally Posted by 69lemansguy
I have had them on my bike for 2 years now, been pulled over my fair share of times, never had a cop even mention them... even when the state trooper walked around my bike and gave it an "onsite inspection" i think he was short on his fix it tickets for the month.
You got lucky. Most police don't notice.
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Old May 29, 2008 | 06:46 PM
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Originally Posted by VIP1
You got lucky. Most police don't notice.
I'd be pulling them all over if I were a cop. Haha.
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Old May 30, 2008 | 06:55 AM
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so besides buying projectors out of a TSX or something, and making them work on your car, are there any DOT approved aftermarket HID?
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Old May 30, 2008 | 08:06 AM
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Originally Posted by 69lemansguy
so besides buying projectors out of a TSX or something, and making them work on your car, are there any DOT approved aftermarket HID?
That still wouldn't be legal, but I'd have no problem with it when it's done responsibly ("retrofitting" the projector assemblies from another car). There are no DOT approved aftermarket HIDs because the "whole package" (I.E. as installed) needs to be DOT approved to be legal. It is even more unlikely that you will get a ticket with them.
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Old May 30, 2008 | 08:22 AM
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Originally Posted by dragonrage
That still wouldn't be legal, but I'd have no problem with it when it's done responsibly ("retrofitting" the projector assemblies from another car). There are no DOT approved aftermarket HIDs because the "whole package" (I.E. as installed) needs to be DOT approved to be legal. It is even more unlikely that you will get a ticket with them.
oh ok, i see what your saying. when its all installed, it must be DOT approved as one, not just lights, housing, etc... It makes sense, i just had never thought of it that way. Thanks for explaining it.

Ill still most likely put a kit on my camaro at some point. when i put a kit on my bike, i have my low beam aimed down, and the "high beam" aimed higher so i can see further down the road. I know the actual brighness doesnt change. I plan on doing the same with my camaro. low beam aimed low, and then my high beams will be standard bulbs.
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Old May 30, 2008 | 09:20 AM
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Although retrofitting may not be technically legal, installing HID projectors from another car is the best route to go (although the most work). The HID projector housings will spread the light much better. Which means that you'll see better and you wont blind other drivers with glare. If you want more detail, check out the Lighting FAQ (link in my sig) and other threads in which I've discussed this topic. I've posted plenty of suggestions elsewhere. If you can't find them, let me know and I'll post links in here. Also www<dot>hidplanet<dot>com/forums/ is a great place for information. I'm on there too with the same screen name.


EDIT: I linked some more threads in the "Projectors - & Other Headlight Upgrades" section of the Lighting FAQ.

Lighting FAQ:
https://ls1tech.com/forums/appearance-detailing/710357-lighting-faq.html

Last edited by VIP1; May 30, 2008 at 09:39 AM.
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Old May 30, 2008 | 10:43 AM
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^^^ thanks for the links and clearing up some misconceptions i had. Past two days on here have been a big help.
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Old May 30, 2008 | 11:36 AM
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What kind of kit are you using?

From what I know, HID bulbs last quite a long time.

Also my 01 IS300 has HID's without projectors stock.


If you like them use them.
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Old May 30, 2008 | 11:57 AM
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Originally Posted by samson_420
Also my 01 IS300 has HID's without projectors stock.... If you like them use them.
D1R (the HID reflector bulb package) has already been mentioned in this thread. It is rare. It's not as good as the projector ones, and it still needs a housing designed for it.

And other drivers? Who cares about them? I'll just do what I want to my car. I'll run straight-through exhaust and bump my dual 18" LMS-Ultra subwoofers down residential neighborhoods at 3AM too because I just don't care! Grow up and realize that these laws have very good reasons for existing.
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Old May 30, 2008 | 01:19 PM
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Originally Posted by samson_420
Also my 01 IS300 has HID's without projectors stock.
That is one of the rare occasions where an OEM designed a D1R (or D2R) HID Reflector. That reflector was designed for HID, its not a Halogen Reflector.
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