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I think I'm going to upgrade both ballasts and bulbs.

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  #1  
Old 01-04-2008 | 09:52 AM
waijai's Avatar
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i.love.gold
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I think I'm going to upgrade both ballasts and bulbs.

Going to go out on a limb and purchase some 50 or 55w ballasts and matching bulbs to install. I'm going to spring for the digital ballasts, which are better than traditional ballasts.

Anyone have experience w/ 50w ballasts?
 
  #2  
Old 01-04-2008 | 10:58 AM
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Originally Posted by Moog
Going to go out on a limb and purchase some 50 or 55w ballasts and matching bulbs to install. I'm going to spring for the digital ballasts, which are better than traditional ballasts.

Anyone have experience w/ 50w ballasts?
I wouldn't mind having 50w ballasts as well, but do you know if that would cause any issue with the wire harness or the actual housing?
 
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Old 01-04-2008 | 11:07 AM
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e_k upgraded to 50watt ballasts.

the only way to make your headlights brighter without upgrading the projectors is upgrading the ballasts. or you can do both and have super bright lights.

e_k doesn't post much anymore, but still logs on. actually, i saw him around recently...send him a PM.
 

Last edited by Calvin; 01-04-2008 at 11:12 AM.
  #4  
Old 01-04-2008 | 11:20 AM
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i.love.gold
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I wonder if I'd be able to source a set of E-code headlights as well to throw into the mix. I wonder if they'd have the typical cutoff like other E-code headlights have.
 
  #5  
Old 01-04-2008 | 11:35 AM
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Is it going to be brighter to the point that you will be getting high-beamed all the time?
 
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Old 01-04-2008 | 11:41 AM
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Originally Posted by sfgr415
Is it going to be brighter to the point that you will be getting high-beamed all the time?
So long as the projectors are aimed correctly, you won't be blinding anyone...so no one should be high-beaming you.
 
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Old 01-04-2008 | 05:25 PM
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What 50w ballasts are you looking at? The ebay aftermarket kits? Modded OEM bosch ballasts or the Phillips 50w kit?
 
  #8  
Old 01-04-2008 | 09:00 PM
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i.love.gold
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I've read A LOT on this and these seem to be one of the best options with lifetime warranty.

These exclusive kits feature 55 watt high-output DIGITAL ballasts. At 55 watts of true power, these ballasts will offer more light (30 - 40%) than any other HID kit on the market! Ballasts are 100% digitally controlled, which allows extremely high efficiency, low starting current, and low operation current. This all means super reliability, better longevity, and 100% flawless plug and play operation on all cars, trucks, and other vehicles. Ballasts are waterproof, dustproof, and shakeproof and feature hot-retrike technology to protect already warm bulbs from excessive damage when restarting.
Bulbs featured in these kits are the best among all kit manufacturers, with the least variance available on the market, all within +/- 100 lm (brightness) and +/- 200K CCT (color). Average lifespan rating is 3500 hrs, compare to others of significantly less! Focal points on these bulbs are the best we have ever seen in any other kit, resulting in some of tightest and most uniform beam patterns to come from converted lamps. The resulting beam pattern is UNMATCHED by any other kit we have EVER tested!
All items are brand new, packaged in sturdy aluminum cases for ultra-safe shipping!
CE and UL safety listed, ISO registered manufacturing, E4, E11 TUV mark. All genuine parts are individually serial numbered.

Each kit inlcudes:
- 2x DIGITAL waterproof 55 watt ballasts
- 2x 55 watt HID bulbs
- 2x plug and play pigtails for your application
(Bixenon High/Low beam kits include fully integrated plug and play harness)
- mounting hardware
- attractive metal case
- Lifetime warranty on all parts!

All bulbs types available: H1, H3, H3C, H4/9003, H4/9003 Bixenon*, H7, H8, H9, H10, H11, H13/9008 Bixenon*, 9004 Bixenon*, 9005, 9006, 9007 Bixenon*, D2S
* +$10 for Bixenon options

Colors available: 4300k, 5000k, 6000k, 8000k
Less common bulb types and colors are available by request, group buys are welcome and encouraged to receive even better pricing!
http://www.retro-solutions.com/55wattpackages.html

 

Last edited by waijai; 01-04-2008 at 09:07 PM.
  #9  
Old 01-05-2008 | 02:46 AM
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Originally Posted by Moog
I've read A LOT on this and these seem to be one of the best options with lifetime warranty.



http://www.retro-solutions.com/55wattpackages.html

All these people do is tear the stickers off the ebay 50watt ballasts and sell them to you for more.
 
  #10  
Old 01-05-2008 | 10:52 AM
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i.love.gold
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I'll have to disagree with your assumption meatbag. The guy that sells these is extremely knowledgeable in HIDs and does not do this. He's extremely well educated and knows his stuff. Just because the casing looks the same as the cheap China HID kits, doesn't mean its the same thing.
 
  #11  
Old 01-05-2008 | 10:58 AM
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I have ordered from Retro Solutions before and like Moog said, dude is knowledgeable.
 
  #12  
Old 01-05-2008 | 09:07 PM
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That looks like a good price. However, I will say that I took apart the 50W ballasts that they sell, and it was branded with a Taiwanese company's name. On the other hand, I potted the ballasts, and they've been fullproof without any problems at all for more than a year.

I haven't been on the site much, but I bought another G35 coupe 2 weeks ago, so I moved my headlights onto the new-er coupe
 
  #13  
Old 01-05-2008 | 09:11 PM
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Originally Posted by E_K
That looks like a good price. However, I will say that I took apart the 50W ballasts that they sell, and it was branded with a Taiwanese company's name. On the other hand, I potted the ballasts, and they've been fullproof without any problems at all for more than a year.

I haven't been on the site much, but I bought another G35 coupe 2 weeks ago, so I moved my headlights onto the new-er coupe
Yes he has very good marketing skills.
 
  #14  
Old 01-05-2008 | 09:14 PM
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nice..

Moog, what color temp. bulbs are you going to go with? I'm assuming you have the '06+ headlights?
 
  #15  
Old 01-05-2008 | 10:14 PM
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If you get enough people together you can buy the same 50w ballast for $15 each. Just have to place a min order of 5000 ballasts.

http://buysino.com/product/376/14104..._for_cars.html
 


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