Thinking of doing

[fletch]

Here is what I'm thinking, new to the car thing, HID's has been beaten to death but I really like the output color spectrum I guess you can really see better at night I have ran 6k 35w for the last 10yrs without any problems adjusted properly, they are bright, but with this round housing im not sure it would work huge glare. if there is any other non performance mod please add, (need master mod sticky's) so n00bs can see what all have done to their Sonics
Lights Hoen
adding a horn wolo bad boy,
making the fog/driving lights yellow

 

[barch88]

You're going to get a lot of flames from people about having to retrofit your housing before adding HID's. I did HID's with no retrofit and they look great, no glare, and not one single person ever flashed me, including driving past cops at night multiple times. The output, without a retrofit is about the same as stock, or worse - depending what you go with. The correct way would be to retrofit and the output would be better, of course.

For different color lights/fogs, go to Lamin-x Protective Films for the film, best option. Aside from bulbs for your fogs.

If you're adding "non performance mods"

Wheels/Tires
Lower it (this can technically be considered "performance" but not really)
Tint
Shark-Fin antenna
Carbon Fiber pieces (expensive, and I guess "technically" performance since it's lighter)
Body kit/grille

Just don't rice out too much...

 

[fletch]

no rice, how does the HID's Handle the DRL mode, i've cut the #87 pin on the relay on my colorado to run them and soldered a wire to it then ran to turn signal/ park for amber DRL's, on the horn i was going to add it along with the factory one,

 

[barch88]

My DRL "auto" mode works just fine with HID's, as it should. Also, my HID's plugged right into stock connectors. No relay required.

 

[fletch]

Who do you buy from i've had good luck with DDM tuning, but some say they have gone south haven't bought from them in about 5yrs thats how long my HID's have lasted and still going when I traded the truck in.

Thinking of 35w 6k or 5k

 

[barch88]

I have Opt7 ($40 from Amazon.com). Had them a couple months now, 35w. Very happy with the product, honestly. For the price, outstanding. No flickering, very good quality, mounted right into stock wiring, and good customer service. I have 8k, too blue, I would go 6k if I could do it again.

Other good sites, unrelated to HID's.

www.badnewsracing.net
ZZPerformance | 3800 Performance Parts | Largest Aftermarket Supplier!
DDMWorks - Automotive Performance Specialists
www.tirerack.com

 

[ChrisJ]

You're going to get a lot of flames from people about having to retrofit your housing before adding HID's. I did HID's with no retrofit and they look great, no glare, and not one single person ever flashed me, including driving past cops at night multiple times. The output, without a retrofit is about the same as stock, or worse - depending what you go with. The correct way would be to retrofit and the output would be better, of course.

For different color lights/fogs, go to Lamin-x Protective Films for the film, best option. Aside from bulbs for your fogs.

If you're adding "non performance mods"

Wheels/Tires
Lower it (this can technically be considered "performance" but not really)
Tint
Shark-Fin antenna
Carbon Fiber pieces (expensive, and I guess "technically" performance since it's lighter)
Body kit/grille

Just don't rice out too much...

 

[ahtoxa]

I'm with ChrisJ.

 

[fletch]

Sooooooo, H11 35w 6k for the low's correct? adjusted properly

 

[ChrisJ]

Sooooooo, H11 35w 6k for the low's correct? adjusted properly

Sure.

Define "adjusted properly".

Can they meet DOT spec?

 

[ahtoxa]

Of course not. We know that. It's a losing battle.

 

[Chevy2012sonic]

I have Opt7 ($40 from Amazon.com). Had them a couple months now, 35w. Very happy with the product, honestly. For the price, outstanding. No flickering, very good quality, mounted right into stock wiring, and good customer service. I have 8k, too blue, I would go 6k if I could do it again.

Other good sites, unrelated to HID's.

www.badnewsracing.net
ZZPerformance | 3800 Performance Parts | Largest Aftermarket Supplier!
DDMWorks - Automotive Performance Specialists
www.tirerack.com

I have the same hid's i love them


2012 chevy sonic

 

[fletch]

Ha! HID bulbs in a OEM housing (Non HID) is illegal to use on public roadways, but it's not that well enforced, and what I mean by adjusted is lower the beam a little so it's aimed lower than factory, it will still give you better light output than stock

 

[ChrisJ]

Ha! HID bulbs in a OEM housing (Non HID) is illegal to use on public roadways, but it's not that well enforced, and what I mean by adjusted is lower the beam a little so it's aimed lower than factory, it will still give you better light output than stock

Ah,

So now its brighter close to you, but you can't see as far.
Sounds very useful.

 

[fletch]

received my HID's yesterday 35w 6k, but too dang cold to put them in, also thinking of getting a wolo bad boy horn (thinking) and install along with the factory with a relay of course, now is our horns pos or gnd activated.

 

[fletch]

Well installed them (junk) should have ordered the DDM ones, these had no power to the lights, i'm going to give up on HID's not worth the trouble, also whats the purpose of the black caps, w/HID's do you have to keep them off,

 

[Chevy2012sonic]

Ha! HID bulbs in a OEM housing (Non HID) is illegal to use on public roadways, but it's not that well enforced, and what I mean by adjusted is lower the beam a little so it's aimed lower than factory, it will still give you better light output than stock

Can u plz prove to me where it says there illegal. Iv read my codes here for lighting and nothibg say there illegal. It only says that there's a min amount of candle light for low and high beams. Nothing about to much


2012 chevy sonic

 

[Swordsmith]

I don't know about Texas laws on that, but I agree, I don't see anything in the PA law that cares -how- you generate the light, it just says how much and where you point it and what color. If you regularly use a given mechanic to do your inspections, go ask him what he says... the odds of you getting stopped for a light issue are much lower than failing inspection for one.

I guess if there are some states where there's more specific laws, and you drive out of state a lot, there's a little more reason to worry. But I have my doubts about there being something that specific -anywhere- in the US, honestly. ANd even if they are technically illegal, does anyone enforce it?

 

[Isambard]

Legality aside, it's ****ing annoying.

 

[ahtoxa]

Here's a post from another forum, by a member who's a piece officer. Notice clause (2) in the first chapter and clause (1) in the second.

Now I do see these particular laws as possibly not allowing the HID retrofit...

§ 547.004. GENERAL OFFENSES. (a) A person commits an
offense that is a misdemeanor if the person operates or moves or, as
an owner, knowingly permits another to operate or move, a vehicle
that:
(1) is unsafe so as to endanger a person;
(2) is not equipped in a manner that complies with the
vehicle equipment standards and requirements established by this
chapter; or
(3) is equipped in a manner prohibited by this
chapter.

COMBINED WITH

§ 547.3215. USE OF FEDERAL STANDARD. Unless specifically
prohibited by this chapter, lighting, reflective devices, and
associated equipment on a vehicle or motor vehicle must comply
with:
(1) the current federal standards in 49 C.F.R. Section
571.108; or
(2) the federal standards in that section in effect,
if any, at the time the vehicle or motor vehicle was manufactured.


Now the federal standard does not allow for HID with halogen reflectors to be used as they source of replacement bulb light must be halogen for halogen lights and xenon for xenon lights. This would seem to counter the idea that the retrofit is legal. It would also make it an arrestable offense since its not one of the two traffic citations that you cannot be instantered for (speeding and open container).