HID lights
Posting Guru
Joined: Aug 2004
Posts: 2,402
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From: Upstate, NY
I know this is a REALLY old thread, but I didn't really see the point of starting a new one since this thread is directly related to the topic.
I just install a set of DDMTuning HID lights, 55W H13 Hi/Lo 6000K Slim Ballast, and they look great! I did have one concern with the kit however. When flipping on the Hi beams, I don't notice any difference what-so-ever. I did check the bulbs, and it does have the spring/like retracting base on them. Did anyone else see a difference between Hi and Lo beam with this kit?
I will try firing up the bulbs later today and have a friend switch the truck from Lo to Hi beam, so I can visually verify that the bulb does in fact retract properly. I hope I don't go blind
in the process.
PS-I ordered the additional wiring harness for my kit, but during installation I didn't really see where it was needed...so I just used the supplied Relay Harness.
I just install a set of DDMTuning HID lights, 55W H13 Hi/Lo 6000K Slim Ballast, and they look great! I did have one concern with the kit however. When flipping on the Hi beams, I don't notice any difference what-so-ever. I did check the bulbs, and it does have the spring/like retracting base on them. Did anyone else see a difference between Hi and Lo beam with this kit?
I will try firing up the bulbs later today and have a friend switch the truck from Lo to Hi beam, so I can visually verify that the bulb does in fact retract properly. I hope I don't go blind
in the process.PS-I ordered the additional wiring harness for my kit, but during installation I didn't really see where it was needed...so I just used the supplied Relay Harness.
I can drive around all the time with my high beams on and not get flashed, but it doesn't mean it isn't bothering others on the road. It won't be long before you can't legally install these kits in the US. The government is working hard to make it happen. I used to disagree, but not any more.
Cargo Master
Joined: Nov 2011
Posts: 2,946
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From: Northern California
X2..I usually wear latex gloves when putting them in because sometimes when installing them it can be difficult to put bulbs in and not accidentally touch the lens.
Senior User
Joined: Oct 2011
Posts: 295
Likes: 1
From: Youngsville, LA
Well I checked the bulbs, and they do NOT move one bit when flipping the switch between Hi beams and Lo beams. That would explain why there is no difference between the two. As of right now, my Lo beams are angled so I can see a definitive line where my output lite stops along the ground. That should be good enough for the majority of the driving I do. I'll contact DDM to see what the deal is with their bulbs/relay.
Freshman User
Joined: Jan 2011
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RAPR, did you get any clarification from DDM on what the hi low is suppose to do. I installed the 55w hi/low 4500 DDM HID kit on my 2011 and what a huge improvement on low beams. More than worth the costs as long as they are adjusted properly I don't get any flashing lights at me. The high beams on the other hand are useless, they actually put out less light and as noted by others the scatter is large. I have found though that the low beams are so good that I can live without the highs. The install manual was useless as it left off the installation information for the harness that is required. My kit would not work without it for my 2011 6.7. Also the ground wires were too short on the H13 portion of the kit to reach the batteries (2), if I pulled them to reach, the hi/low wires wouldn't reach so I grounded it to the frame. Not sure how long the wiring kit will last up here in the northeast as the salt will definitely take its toll on the uncoated/crimped on wires in the harnessing.The actual jacks are quality waterproofed but the wires on the back side of the jacks are raw.
Senior User
Joined: Oct 2011
Posts: 295
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From: Youngsville, LA
My kit didn't even come with a set of instructions. DDM has not sent me a follow up response after my initial diagnostics. Hopefully they will sent me another hi/lo controller. The way the system is suppose to work is when you activate your hi-beams, the hi/lo controller sends an electrical signal to the magnetically motorize base of the bulbs...causing the bulb to retract a short distance. This is suppose to position the Xenon light arc in the same place as the 'Hi' filament would be with a standard H13(9008) bulb. My bulbs do not move when flipping between Lo and Hi.
Post Fiend
Joined: Apr 2004
Posts: 5,158
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From: North of Salt Lake City
One thing to keep in mind with the DDM products is that they are comparatively very inexpensive HID products. I prefer to think of them as the Walmart versions in the HID world. They provide a lot of value for the money but they do not have the top of the line features like repositioning the bulbs on HI/LO.
Let me throw in some new information. I had the 5000 bulbs installed for a year and a half and experienced the same thing as others in regards to very little difference between the HI and LO setting. The light quality was so much better that it was not a problem. Last January my driver side bulb burned out so I ordered some replacement 4500 bulbs. Turned out the driver bulb wasn't burned out, the connector just needed to be re-seated. When I tried HI/LO with the 4500 bulb, it works much better. There is a sharper horizontal cut-off line on LO and when switched to HI it fills the area above the cut-off with tons of light. Go figure. All I did was switch the bulbs only. I did not change anything else. Call me crazy but that's what is happening. Here was my most recent order:
Let me throw in some new information. I had the 5000 bulbs installed for a year and a half and experienced the same thing as others in regards to very little difference between the HI and LO setting. The light quality was so much better that it was not a problem. Last January my driver side bulb burned out so I ordered some replacement 4500 bulbs. Turned out the driver bulb wasn't burned out, the connector just needed to be re-seated. When I tried HI/LO with the 4500 bulb, it works much better. There is a sharper horizontal cut-off line on LO and when switched to HI it fills the area above the cut-off with tons of light. Go figure. All I did was switch the bulbs only. I did not change anything else. Call me crazy but that's what is happening. Here was my most recent order:
Freshman User
Joined: Jan 2011
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Epic, I agree with regards to the cost and quite honestly you can't beat it, replacement stock Sylvania halogen are 55 bucks a pair, I don't know how they sell the entire HID kit shipped to my door for under 100! I would recommend them as a huge improvement over stock.
But back to your comments with regards to high beam, when I switch mine to high the light is much less bright than on low beam, perhaps it the scattered light that is mentioned. The light definitely is spread out much more but is definitely less bright all around.
I also reviewed the bulb very carefully and these DDM Tuning lights are not intended to retract. I have factory HID lights that are road following (i.e. gyroscopes guided) on several of my vehicles and they retract in and out to produce the high beam. These factory units are much more sophisticated and obviously have the focusing lenses and come at a very different price tag.
What I don't understand is when mine are on the hi beams the light output below the "horizontal line" you mention is actually less less than being on the low beams? I still don't mind because the lo beams are so much better but perhaps I have something incorrectly hooked up or bad bulbs?
But back to your comments with regards to high beam, when I switch mine to high the light is much less bright than on low beam, perhaps it the scattered light that is mentioned. The light definitely is spread out much more but is definitely less bright all around.
I also reviewed the bulb very carefully and these DDM Tuning lights are not intended to retract. I have factory HID lights that are road following (i.e. gyroscopes guided) on several of my vehicles and they retract in and out to produce the high beam. These factory units are much more sophisticated and obviously have the focusing lenses and come at a very different price tag.
What I don't understand is when mine are on the hi beams the light output below the "horizontal line" you mention is actually less less than being on the low beams? I still don't mind because the lo beams are so much better but perhaps I have something incorrectly hooked up or bad bulbs?
Last edited by Ericwlod; Mar 16, 2012 at 01:01 PM. Reason: typo
Senior User
Joined: Oct 2011
Posts: 295
Likes: 1
From: Youngsville, LA
Can either of you guys do me a favor? Next time you are around your truck and have a friend with you, can you get your friend to switch your truck's lights from Lo to Hi while you look at your bulb inside the housing? (the base of the bulb so not to go blind) Since your headlights do change 'some what' from Lo to Hi, I wanted to know if your bulb retracted when switched to 'Hi'....as I don't see any change nor do I see any bulb movement.
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Senior User
Joined: Oct 2011
Posts: 295
Likes: 1
From: Youngsville, LA
Thanks for checking that out for me. I heard back from DDM. They are going to ship me a replacement Hi/Lo controller. I hope it is as easy as just disconnecting the controller from the harness, as I really don't want to take the front grill and headlight back off to swap the harness too.
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