New HID Fog bulbs
- Thread starter b737mx
- Start date
I'll be ordering the kit soon. I did remove the mudguard right under the fog light just to check it out, and it was pretty easy. There sure is a lot of room in that space.
Not sure where would be the best place to stick the ballast though. I did see what looked like water spots on the inside walls coming down just under the headlights. Should I just stick it right under the fog light bulb housing?
I took pics just for reference if anyone wanted to see what it looked like in there.
I mounted the ballast to the side area beside the front assembly, the inside area of the side moulding. The double sticky tape worked just fine. Just make sure the surface is clean.
Its a really easy install proccess - should only take 15 minutes, and the reults are great!
Its a really easy install proccess - should only take 15 minutes, and the reults are great!
Cool. Will definitely make sure the surface is nice and clean.
Kit is ordered and should get here sometime after christmas.
I went ahead and also picked up the https://www.amazon.com/dp/ (commissions earned) just in case. It was less than $5 and ships free as an add-on to a qualifying $ amount purchase on amazon. (The HID fog kit itself doesn't count toward the qualified amazon $ amount ordered. But I was already ordering other stuff at the same time.)
Early Christmas for me. The kit came in today. Much earlier than expected. It really does take about 15 or 20 minutes to install. But it took me about 2 hours since I like to work slow and get everything right the first time. The instruction manual leaves a lot to be desired. Luckily it really is all plug and play.
It was a challenge getting the new bulb secured into the socket since I didn't want to scratch or break the bulb getting it in. Turns out I was being way to gentle and needed to push it harder into the socket so I could turn it in the socket to lock it in. The plastic tabs on the new bulb make it a little harder to get into the socket compared to the metal tabs on the old bulb.
The other issue was that both lights didn't work the first time I got it all installed and plugged in. Took me about 20 minutes to figure out that I had the power harness plugged in the wrong way. I thought it fit in only one way. Turns out it fits in both ways, so I just had to flip the harness.
I didn't attach the HID Kit Computer Warning Canceller & Anti Flicker since it's being shipped separately and I didn't get it yet. But I suppose I won't need it since the lights seem to work fine.
It was a challenge getting the new bulb secured into the socket since I didn't want to scratch or break the bulb getting it in. Turns out I was being way to gentle and needed to push it harder into the socket so I could turn it in the socket to lock it in. The plastic tabs on the new bulb make it a little harder to get into the socket compared to the metal tabs on the old bulb.
The other issue was that both lights didn't work the first time I got it all installed and plugged in. Took me about 20 minutes to figure out that I had the power harness plugged in the wrong way. I thought it fit in only one way. Turns out it fits in both ways, so I just had to flip the harness.
I didn't attach the HID Kit Computer Warning Canceller & Anti Flicker since it's being shipped separately and I didn't get it yet. But I suppose I won't need it since the lights seem to work fine.
veyl_oiuja
Member
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- 2007 Mazda CX-9
i got mine from retrofitsource. same temp for headlight and (fog light hid bulb + harness and ballast).
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- 2013 CX-9 Grand Touring
What is the temp of the headlight? I've seen people say the 4500 are more blue but the 6000 are the same. I thought the higher the number the more blue it got.
Mine is a 2013 model too, but for me, I wonder if the 4500 or 5000 might match my headlights a bit more closely. If you take a look at my pics above, the 6000 fogs are a tinge bluer than my stock HID headlights.
There's a bunch of color charts online. Just google...hid temp light color... or similar. One description did say 6000 is pure white with a very subtle hint of blue. Most of the charts do show that blueish color in the 6000.
Stryker medic
Member
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- 2016 Mazda CX9 Signature White Pearl/ 2013 Mazda CX9 GT
Thanks for sharing this Chance72
. This will be my next project on mine. So you think 5000k might be as close as it can be compared to 6000k? Is this the kit that you had bought and had installed?http://www.ddmtuning.com/Products/DDM-HID-Kit-Slim-Ballast-35W-or-55W
Thanks for sharing this Chance72
http://www.ddmtuning.com/Products/DDM-HID-Kit-Slim-Ballast-35W-or-55W
Unfortunately I can only guess that 4500k or 5000k might match better. 5000k maybe being the safe middle between 4500 and 6000? And that's just going from the color charts online. I've never seen lights in the 4500 or 5000 range in person myself. Hopefully someone with firsthand experience with those temps can chime in.
SBAnt13 got his lights from ddmtuning. Bob2525 and I got it from amazon (https://www.amazon.com/dp/ (commissions earned)). Just looked back at that one from amazon and don't see them offering 4500 or 5000, only 4300, which they describe as OEM White. It describes the 6000 as diamond white.
Maybe someone knows what the color temp of our HID headlights are on the 2013? I never thought to search for it myself.
Stryker medic
Member
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- 2016 Mazda CX9 Signature White Pearl/ 2013 Mazda CX9 GT
It would be nice indeed if someone with the 5000k will chime in and confirm that its as close as the OEM headlights.
I did some googling, and here's what I found:
http://www.mazdas247.com/forum/showthread.php?123817017-HID-s-and-DRL-s-on-Halogen-CX-5-(w-out-Tech-Package)-HELP!&p=5985010&viewfull=1#post5985010
https://www.diodedynamics.com/store/index.php/catalog/product/view/id/3607/s/2007-2013-mazda-cx-9-replacement-oem-hid-bulbs/category/83/
blog.hidextra.com/the-complete-2013-hid-bulb-type-guide-hidextra/
So anywhere between 4300K and 5000K would be near factory OEM HIDs.
http://www.mazdas247.com/forum/showthread.php?123817017-HID-s-and-DRL-s-on-Halogen-CX-5-(w-out-Tech-Package)-HELP!&p=5985010&viewfull=1#post5985010
https://www.diodedynamics.com/store/index.php/catalog/product/view/id/3607/s/2007-2013-mazda-cx-9-replacement-oem-hid-bulbs/category/83/
blog.hidextra.com/the-complete-2013-hid-bulb-type-guide-hidextra/
So anywhere between 4300K and 5000K would be near factory OEM HIDs.
Stryker medic
Member
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- 2016 Mazda CX9 Signature White Pearl/ 2013 Mazda CX9 GT
And so I guess 5000k which I will be googling to buy is the closest to OEM of them all.. So how do I choose for the brightness or intensity?
Only from what I read online, it's a bit confusing. Everyone has their own descriptions. Just read another site that said 4300K is generally OEM which is bright white with a slight hue of yellow, and 5000K is close to pure white as you can get. If no one else can provide an answer, you may just have to be the guinea pig, pick one, then let us know how it matches (lol2).
Again, only from what I've read online, the brightness is determined by the wattage of the ballast (not the bulb temp). 35w is what i have. Then there's 55w ballasts. But some say that the higher wattage could possibly create enough heat to melt the bulb housing. And also a lesser lifespan for the bulb. And depending on which bulb color you choose, the intensity of the light might be so bright that it ends up being washed out. Then some say the 55w kits are awesome.
Here's the one other site you can read up on: http://www.delonixradar.com.au/hid-xenon/
Stryker medic
Member
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- 2016 Mazda CX9 Signature White Pearl/ 2013 Mazda CX9 GT
Stryker medic
Member
- :
- 2016 Mazda CX9 Signature White Pearl/ 2013 Mazda CX9 GT
So any pros and cons between the 35w and 55w?
A few years ago i installed a 55w in our Infiniti and it ended up charring the reflective area around the bulb. I put the factory bulb back in. Shortly after I had it in for an oil change and the dealership replaced both fog assemblies on their own since it was still under warranty - i never even said anything to them about it. The light intensity is really good - just have to be cautious of the heat.
Stryker medic
Member
- :
- 2016 Mazda CX9 Signature White Pearl/ 2013 Mazda CX9 GT
Thanks for the heads up Bob2525. Might be safer to go 35w.
