Opinions on HID kits

[Matt V]

I am buying HID's soon, but I've really narrowed it down to two kits, one is the DDM Tuning Raptor 35W kit and the other is the DDM Tuning 35W Slim Ballast 35W HID kit. Here are the links for both:

http://www.ddmtuning.com/index.php?p=product&id=102&parent=85

Full Kit Includes:
- Raptor Slim ballast (2)
- HID Bulbs (2)
- One Year warranty from time of purchase

http://www.ddmtuning.com/index.php?p=product&id=101&parent=85

Full Kit Includes:
- DDM Digital Slim ballast (2)
- HID Bulbs (2)
- Life-Time Warranty

Besides the obvious one-year versus lifetime warranty, can anybody point out the differences between the two kits? Am I sacrificing quality if I buy the cheap kit?

 

[MazdaSpeeder]

I've got the bottom kit...bought it from Xenon Expert for whatever his sale prices is ($70 I think) and it works great. I would go with the lifetime...that stuff is eventually going to wear out or something, and it's nice to be able to just send it back. That's my 2 cents. Here's the link to the sale http://www.xenonexpert.com/ddm_kit_sale.html.

 

[ganzhimself]

I have the DDM 55w kit and it's amazing. The quality itself doesn't seem to be that different from any other Chinese-made kit I've bought before. The slim ballasts seem to have a case that's built much better than the traditional ballasts, but otherwise the bulbs and wiring appear to be the same. I'd say just buy the cheap-o one, seeing as I've read around here that they're the same kit, just different cases and warranties. I figure that way if you don't like it you're only out $40 (+shipping).

ddmtuning.com is also awesome with the warranty, one of my bulbs was bad and they replaced it with no question. They shipped me a box to return the bad bulbs and they sent me a set of replacements for free. I guess that's the advantage of getting the kit that costs $65 vs the $40 one.

 

[CTt3P5]

x2 on buying the kit from Xenon Expert. You'll be supporting one of the site's vendors and the life-time warranty is a huge plus for piece of mind.

 

[hornsfan10609]

I'm gonna get the slim ballast kit 35W 6000K as soon as I can afford it. And i'm going to buy it from the DDM website, no sense in buying it from someone else and paying more money.

 

[mx-p5]

i'm running the DDM tuning raptor kits in both cars foglights and so far so good

 

[CTt3P5]

I'm gonna get the slim ballast kit 35W 6000K as soon as I can afford it. And i'm going to buy it from the DDM website, no sense in buying it from someone else and paying more money.

Sure there is....$40 from the site gets you a one year warranty. Another $30 spent to a supporting vendor gets you a lifetime warranty. IMO it's worth it as sometimes you never know.

Case in point, I bought my HID kit (Techone) for $90 including lifetime warranty and within a month one of the ballasts took a $hit on me. No problem, I contacted the seller and within a week I had a new one installed.

I'm not saying this would happen to you but with electrical parts, you never know.....

 

[boostngst]

Sure there is....$40 from the site gets you a one year warranty. Another $30 spent to a supporting vendor gets you a lifetime warranty. IMO it's worth it as sometimes you never know.

Case in point, I bought my HID kit (Techone) for $90 including lifetime warranty and within a month one of the ballasts took a $hit on me. No problem, I contacted the seller and within a week I had a new one installed.

I'm not saying this would happen to you but with electrical parts, you never know.....

I think he was referring to the other kit from the site. The exact same kit is $65 directly from DDM and $70 from Xenon Expert.

Both with lifetime warranties.

 

[ganzhimself]

One thing that may sway your decision on where to buy... DDM's shipping is around $16.

 

[carter1551]

I have read on other forums that those kits (ballasts & bulbs) are pretty much the same aside from the warranty

 

[mx-p5]

nearly any and every HID kit is a cheap japanease company

What you're buying by buying from a vendor is good name and the fact they offer warranties.

GL getting your ebay seller to refund you for his ballasts or bulbs.



The only BIG difference is between the Japanese/chinease kits and the OEM kits, and even those aren't perfect


My cheap $35 DDM tuning Raptor kit is solid for me in the fogs so far

But, if they do crap out, they just turned into a $70 kit cause i gotta buy a 2nd set, where as you can just buy from xenonexpert for $70 and have a lifetime warranty

 

[Matt V]

Just bit the bullet and bought a 5000k raptor kit!

 

[Matt V]

Wow, I already got a tracking # from DDM Tuning. I like them so far.

 

[MazdaSpeeder]

nearly any and every HID kit is a cheap japanease company

What you're buying by buying from a vendor is good name and the fact they offer warranties.

GL getting your ebay seller to refund you for his ballasts or bulbs.



The only BIG difference is between the Japanese/chinease kits and the OEM kits, and even those aren't perfect


My cheap $35 DDM tuning Raptor kit is solid for me in the fogs so far

But, if they do crap out, they just turned into a $70 kit cause i gotta buy a 2nd set, where as you can just buy from xenonexpert for $70 and have a lifetime warranty

Tylor, were the DDM fog kits plug and play, or how much wiring did you have to do?

 

[Matt V]

Concerning the install, I shouldn't have to do any modification of any kind correct? From what I've read, the stock H7 low beam plug goes to the ballast, then the HID bulb wiring comes from the ballast. Is this correct?

 

[xJAZx]

also have to hookup to positive on battery and ground it

 

[MazdaSpeeder]

Concerning the install, I shouldn't have to do any modification of any kind correct? From what I've read, the stock H7 low beam plug goes to the ballast, then the HID bulb wiring comes from the ballast. Is this correct?

If it's like my Slimline kit (I think they're very similar) then this is correct, totally plug and play. Just look at all the plugs and it will all make sense. You should not have to mess with the battery or grounds at all.

 

[carter1551]

the battery and grounds are only if you get a relay harness

 

[mx-p5]

Tylor, were the DDM fog kits plug and play, or how much wiring did you have to do?

the only wiring i did was i hack'd the foglight connectors off busted foglights i've managed to get from other members.

Although the stock fogs may be busted, the connectors are still good!

So, i wired those up to the HID kit so they are run through the stock foglight harness.



and about wiring to the battery, Nope, just plug and play into the stock headlight plug and you're done.

If you plug in and it doesn't work, switch the wires in the connector and try again

 

[ganzhimself]

Yeah, it's just plug and play if you don't buy a relay harness... Personally, I felt it was worth the extra money to protect the stock headlight wiring... And I went with the 55w kit, so that also swayed my decision. I've seen people with HID kits that have melted their stock headlight wiring in GM vehicles, and after hearing that Mazdas sometimes have weird electrical systems, it seemed to be a no brainer. I am a little surprised to see so few people here use the relay harness honestly.