Jump to content

HID Headlight Shootout - All three options tested

Dangerdick

By Dangerdick
in Modifications & Accessories

 Share

Recommended Posts

Mountainboy Enthusiast

Mountainboy

Posted
Posted (edited)

Bright Source came to troubleshoot the HID problem with my truck and determined it is in fact that the truck has a hidden electrical problem. Time to fight SHAW GMC again on the 14th issue with this new truck, lets see .... replaced transmission as it decided to shift into 1st at a 100 kph, replaced radiator due to numerous pin holes, integrated trailer brake assembly indicates that its not functioning (sometimes even when I have no trailer attached it warns me) and gm tells me its my trailer, which functions fine on other trucks. Infotainment system doesn't read devices though USB or SD and navigation system occasionally has major highways disappear that were there before. SHAW keeps saying " no codes no problem". Skid plates left hanging on by a couple of threads after oil change. When they worked on the HIDs and they gave up I drove home and then opened hood and air box was not attached to manifold.........The list is long my friends....DON'T USE SHAW'S SERVICE OR BUY TRUCKS FROM THEM, ONCE THEY HAVE YOUR MONEY YOU DO NOT EXIST!

Edited by Mountain Devil
  • Replies 148
  • Created
  • Last Reply

Top Posters In This Topic

Popular Days

Top Posters In This Topic

Popular Days

Popular Posts

Dangerdick
Dangerdick

We have three trucks lined up. All 2015 Sierras, 1 SLT and 2 Denalis. Stock Headlights Morimoto Sierra-Spec HID kit in factory housing FX-R Retrofit with XB35 bulbs courtesy or a popular retrof

Spurshot
Spurshot

DD, Thanks much for posting this.   But, while the efforts to compare these is honorable, the information to the reader is anecdotal.   In order to tell how well a driver can see with each, the

BootyHunter86
BootyHunter86

Both with and without fogs. Brighter pictures are with both on. The lower light pics are just headlights     Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

Posted Images

morrislee Enthusiast

morrislee

Posted
Posted

Bright Source came to troubleshoot the HID problem with my truck and determined it is in fact that the truck has a hidden electrical problem. Time to fight SHAW GMC again on the 14th issue with this new truck, lets see .... replaced transmission as it decided to shift into 1st at a 100 kph, replaced radiator due to numerous pin holes, integrated trailer brake assembly indicates that its not functioning (sometimes even when I have no trailer attached it warns me) and gm tells me its my trailer, which functions fine on other trucks. Infotainment system doesn't read devices though USB or SD and navigation system occasionally has major highways disappear that were there before. SHAW keeps saying " no codes no problem". Skid plates left hanging on by a couple of threads after oil change. When they worked on the HIDs and they gave up I drove home and then opened hood and air box was not attached to manifold.........The list is long my friends....DON'T USE SHAW'S SERVICE OR BUY TRUCKS FROM THEM, ONCE THEY HAVE YOUR MONEY YOU DO NOT EXIST!

Is shaw GMC your dealership? you dont have to get the same dealership you bought the truck from for warranty. Other dealership will try harder so you can change your preferred dealer to them.

pitts12driver Enthusiast

pitts12driver

Posted
Posted

I just did the FX-R upgrade. It wasn't bad. I machined two different aluminum spacers and it bolted right up. I also installed the Rigid grill with LED light bars. All works well.

post-137255-0-20212200-1426873285_thumb.jpg

post-137255-0-20212200-1426873285_thumb.jpg

post-137255-0-20212200-1426873285_thumb.jpg

post-137255-0-20212200-1426873285_thumb.jpg

  • Like 1
  • 4 weeks later...
BootyHunter86 Enthusiast

BootyHunter86

Posted
Posted

I installed an LED kit on my Denali

 

will post some night time pics as soon as it gets dark.

the stock lighting SUCKS!

 

20150413_162055_zpsjrucz7j9.jpg

20150414_130100_zps3z6e2oym.jpg

20150414_130100_zps3z6e2oym.jpg

20150414_130118_zpsql04jxm7.jpg

20150414_130131_zpsdlrvwqy0.jpg

20150414_130127_zpsospnzatd.jpg

  • Like 2
Mike1220 Senior Enthusiast

Mike1220

Posted
Posted

I did my FXR upgrade a couple days ago, after having halogens, 55W HIDs, 45W LMZ LEDs, all in the stock projector, and then now finally doing my FXR upgrade, I can confidently say that the FXR upgrades are far beyond being worth the cash and work to put them in (for the Sierra guys, the Silverado guys have it much easier to install). I love my FXRs. Already have a few friends with non projector housings wanting me to take a stab at retrofitting lights into their vehicles haha

BootyHunter86 Enthusiast

BootyHunter86

Posted
Posted

Just snapped a couple of more pictures. Hopefully better. cea972798c7a8b0a8215cebb835c47e3.jpg2d4f96c6d4617ac6c54de2abf6921c27.jpg7f203f1c106e5582d76860f5e98451a9.jpge5a7a72abfac9ff491745eb41d5d6c51.jpg

I did my FXR upgrade a couple days ago, after having halogens, 55W HIDs, 45W LMZ LEDs, all in the stock projector, and then now finally doing my FXR upgrade, I can confidently say that the FXR upgrades are far beyond being worth the cash and work to put them in (for the Sierra guys, the Silverado guys have it much easier to install). I love my FXRs. Already have a few friends with non projector housings wanting me to take a stab at retrofitting lights into their vehicles haha

What's FXR? If you don't mind me asking.
BowHunter1 Enthusiast

BowHunter1

Posted
Posted (edited)

Regular name = Cristian

Forum name = BootyHunter

 

Nice!!

 

FXR is a specific projector from 'The Retrofit Source' (link below) that alot of people are swapping out inplace of the OEM projector in conjuction with an HID system. Most using the Moimoto brand also found at TRS.

 

Where did you order your LED's from? I'm on the fence bewteen going HID or LED and I change my mind everyother day lol

 

 

http://www.theretrofitsource.com/components/projectors/morimoto-fx-r-bi-xenon-projector-48316.html

Edited by BowHunter1
  • Like 2
BootyHunter86 Enthusiast

BootyHunter86

Posted
Posted (edited)

Regular name = Cristian

Forum name = BootyHunter

 

Nice!!

 

FXR is a specific projector from 'The Retrofit Source' (link below) that alot of people are swapping out inplace of the OEM projector in conjuction with an HID system. Most using the Moimoto brand also found at TRS.

 

Where did you order your LED's from? I'm on the fence bewteen going HID or LED and I change my mind everyother day lol

 

 

http://www.theretrofitsource.com/components/projectors/morimoto-fx-r-bi-xenon-projector-48316.html

Lol. I bought the kit locally in downtown LA. I'll upload a picture of the kit tomorrow. Seems solid and took about 20 minutes to install. The fogs were a bit harder. Hardest part is removing the air box intake. :)

 

Oh and they gave me a 1 year warranty. Kit cost me 70 +30 for the fog HID kit. So 100 will get you way better than stock lighting.

Edited by BootyHunter86
BowHunter1 Enthusiast

BowHunter1

Posted
Posted

Lol. I bought the kit locally in downtown LA. I'll upload a picture of the kit tomorrow. Seems solid and took about 20 minutes to install. The fogs were a bit harder. Hardest part is removing the air box intake. :)

 

Oh and they gave me a 1 year warranty. Kit cost me 70 +30 for the fog HID kit. So 100 will get you way better than stock lighting.

 

Cool deal! Definitely interested in your take on them especially for that price so keep us posted! Does this company in LA have a web address or just a walk in store??

Mike1220 Senior Enthusiast

Mike1220

Posted
Posted

Just snapped a couple of more pictures. Hopefully better. cea972798c7a8b0a8215cebb835c47e3.jpg2d4f96c6d4617ac6c54de2abf6921c27.jpg7f203f1c106e5582d76860f5e98451a9.jpge5a7a72abfac9ff491745eb41d5d6c51.jpg

What's FXR? If you don't mind me asking.

Like BowHunter said, it's an HID projector from TRS. They DD posted output pics of it vs HIDs in the OEM projector at the beginning of the thread

BootyHunter86 Enthusiast

BootyHunter86

Posted
Posted

 

Cool deal! Definitely interested in your take on them especially for that price so keep us posted! Does this company in LA have a web address or just a walk in store??

It's a walk in store. I doubt they have a website. If you guys want a kit I'll happily go and purchase one and ship it out. :)
  • 2 weeks later...
Dangerdick Enthusiast

Dangerdick

Posted
  • Author
Posted

Worked with MorrisLee at my shop today. Changed out my ballasts to Morimoto 5five and Morris adjusted his LMZ fog lights

 

Really nice wide spread on those LMZ lights and a good cutoff coming from that factory housing

 

My lights responded well to the 50w upgrade it the stock projectors. I'm still working on the RX350 retrofit so this will do for now.

 

QNbM8gO.jpg

Om13Yb2.jpg

4yZFPMw.jpg

51UUhI0.jpg

maaaa5g.jpg

bY8t4e3.jpg

  • 4 weeks later...
szalkerous Enthusiast

szalkerous

Posted
Posted

Was thinking of doing this to my Silverado LTZ, but was concerned with failing inspection (seeing how aftermarket HID kits are illegal for on-road use in every US state).

Hmmmm..... you'd need to hide those ballasts real well.

Create an account or sign in to comment

You need to be a member in order to leave a comment

Create an account

Sign up for a new account in our community. It's easy!

Register a new account

Sign in

Already have an account? Sign in here.

Sign In Now
 Share
Go to topic listing

  • Latest Articles

  • Posts

    • Grumpy Bear
      OCI, not when but why?

      By Grumpy Bear · Posted

      10 Ford and Chevy engines proven to reach 300,000 miles   You may note a common 3K OCI on this list of gas motors. I skipped over the diesels. Dh'O. 
    • jake111
      Gasser Subforum Has Been Quiet - - So, Regenerative Braking and Using L10

      By jake111 · Posted

      Thanks newdude!  By the time manual selection is needed, I'm probably too much of a control-freak to depend on the transmission sensing braking to activate automatic downshifting.  I would be anticipating the situation and already be manually downshifting.   This truck replaced a 2004.5 LLY diesel with the Allison 5-speed.  Putting it in T/H made noticeable differences (when the torque converter locked, upshift points, downshift behavior).  On this 2024 gasser with the 10L1000 I haven't been able to detect much, if any, difference.  Ok, I can never tell now when the torque converter locks up.  But I also don't notice differences in shifting.  For downhills, I've probably already manually downshifted by then anyway.  Since it's also more awkward (than the 2004.5) to engage/disengage I don't even bother.  Or maybe it doesn't really matter with just a 3k lb. camper in the bed?   Thanks also for the list of reasons the charging system might select various voltages.  However, what I am seeing doesn't fall into any of those categories.  It very definitely, and very consistently, rises after coasting/braking.  Maybe not immediately, but not very long after coasting/braking.  Very consistently drops voltage when no longer coasting/braking.  It might also be interacting with the camper battery charging (I might disconnect the camper and see if it changes the charging behavior).  I also need to recheck turning on headlights for when I want to force it to charge the camper.   Another JR, in June I converted the camper to LiFePO4.  Since it's not a good idea to try to charge lithiums directly using truck, I installed a Victron Orion XS DC-DC charger (which BTW is AMAZING!!).  Being cheap, I only had to buy that one item (besides the battery, of course) to do the conversion.  The camper OEM 120v battery charger (only 19 years old and works perfectly) and the truck feed the input to the DC-DC charger (not at the same time).  But I didn't want the camper charger feeding back to the truck so I kept the old separator.  I considered replacing the separator with a 30amp diode but that means more work and might add another 1/2 volt drop.  One thing that surprised me was the voltage drop over the long 10awg wire run, so I can only charge smoothly at 8 amps (because the DC-DC charger is completely configurable).  Another reason I don't want an added voltage drop with the diode.  I might also be a little lazy but all this work is being done under the sink with a small cabinet opening.    
    • davester
      cam upgrade in CA

      By davester · Posted

      apparently CA smog is (or at least was)  checking that the vehicle is using the oem and/or a ca smog approved tune, so I expect you'll fail inspection doing it.
    • davester
      Possible lifter tick after DOD delete

      By davester · Posted

      yes, leaking exhaust will mess up o2 sensor readings, which in turn messes up fuel trims.
    • Grumpy Bear
      Sugar Bears 2015 GMC Terrain SLE-2 2.4 AWD

      By Grumpy Bear · Posted

      286,740 Mile Services   8/6/2026   New AC Compressor. Refrigerant oil and dye, evacuate and charge system.  New exhaust system from cat back.  New Iridium plugs plus replace #3 coil Repair/rewire headlamp wiring (passenger side) and replace all forward bulbs. Polish lenses of both assemblies.  Pull rear rotors, clean and adjust parking assembly. Inspect, clean and grease front calipers. Check pads and shoes.  4 wheel power bleed of brake system. Dot 4 Reset idle speed 50 rpm higher New Serpentine belt.    Will need new pads in the rear in about 5K more miles.    Tax Title and License out the door just short of a grand.    AC clutch had bitten the dust. 1 year warranty on the pick and save replacement. Thing will make a Polar Bear cry Uncle.  He spent quite some time on the wiring. It was in the harness and he does nothing half. I got off cheap. I have considerable more light down the road. Sylvania Silver Star replacements.  Gas seal between the porcelain and shell of plug #3 was blown, cooked the coil. That was the cold miss.  Love the new exhaust. I can sneak into the neighborhood again.  Nice to have a working parking brake again. Belle Tire never got it done. That was disappointing.    This was one of her bigger bills and still way cheaper than a payment even given the oil consumption. This thing cost me under a hundred a month in repairs and normal routine costs. What is my incentive to replace it? 🤔           

  • GM-Trucks.com Clubs

  • Popular Contributors

×
×
  • Create New...