HID Question

[G3LO]

Hello Everyone,

I am new to this forum and plan to stick around for quite a while. I am a new proud owner of a 2010 EX35 Journey Package Automobile. I can't say how much I love this car the more and more I drive it. I searched around and noticed a topic on HID already created. After reading through various posts, I came to a conclusion of purchasing HID Kit from DDM Tuning website. My questions are as follows:

1) Has anyone installed DDM Tuning HID Kit for the normal lights as well as the fog lights? If so, how well does it look?
2) Do you recommend installing HID Kit for fog lights, or just leave it at the normal lights?
3) If I decide to install both fog and normal lights, I can just plug and play them, correct?

Thank you for your time,
G3LO

[G3LO]

I forget the mention that I am in Canada. Canadian cars must have fog lights always on. Thus, my fog lights cannot be turned off manually. Fog lights always on.

[Marconelly]

I'm from Canada as well, and yes, Fog lights are on during daytime, but I could swear at the nighttime only short beams are lit?

[G3LO]

Hm . . . I definitely did not pay attention to that. I will wait until it gets dark to see if it actually is on or not. If it turns off, than it is perfect. I do not need fog lights in HID. Thank you for that.

[Marconelly]

To be honest, even if fog lights stay on at all times during the night, you should think twice before installing HID kit onto them.

The only reason I'm going to install the plug and play HID kit into short beams is because I've seen in pictures that the EX35s projector housing offers very good cut-off line and an acceptable looking pattern, that from the looks of it will not blind oncoming drivers. It's not AS good as with OEM HID projector housings, but it's much closer than I though it would ever be. If you put these HIDs into a reflector housing like what's used for fog lights, I'd imagine the glare would be all over the place, making your car dangerous and probably illegal (especially in Canada where they seem to be über-strict with aftermarket stuff on cars)

[G3LO]

Yeah, I agree with you on that. Thanks for your input. I believe I will go with the HID Kit for regular lights. I did hear it looks very close to OEM HID, since its a big price different, I think I will enjoy the HID Kit a lot more than not having one at all. Even if it is not the OEM HID.

[Marconelly]

My only question now is whether to go with 4500K bulbs or 5000K. I'm not sure which ones will look closer to OEM 4300K, as OEM bulbs I think are 55W and the aftermarket ones I'm getting are 35W. Looking at some pictures, it looks like 35W goes a bit more towards yellow spectrum for the same temperature rating.

[G3LO]

I read a post earlier, they recommend 5000K or 6000K I will be going with 6000K. Reason is, I had Acura MDX before EX35 and I had 6500K on it and loved the color. DDM sells 6000k not 6500. I think 6000K will be great.

[mikemax99]

Hello and welcome! I'm in canada also and i've install hid kit on both fog/day lights and short beam everything work real well and the look is awesome. I've install 8000k on both and i know that i've less light output but it's more than enough. The only think i've notice is that the short beam doesn't shut when i put the high beam??

[G3LO]

I see, what you think of 6000K?

[G3LO]

Well I just ordered 2 HID KITS of 35W 6000K H11 Bulbs for the EX35 2010.

[mikemax99]

I see, what you think of 6000K?

better light output and a bit more whiteish but never compared.

Well I just ordered 2 HID KITS of 35W 6000K H11 Bulbs for the EX35 2010.

Personally i've ordered h8 and h11.

mike

[AWGD8]

I have a DDM 35W with 6000K installed. If you like a hint of blue or whitish blue, then get the 6000K. It looks good on the EX35 bec. it gives a unique look and makes it more luxury looking

It`s really white with just a tiny bluish tint which is very cool looking and not ricer.

If you want to just blend in the OEM HID crowd and stay low profile, get the 5000K- It has more lumen (brighter).

I have a backup BULB that is 5000K and haven`t tried it yet.

[G3LO]

I see, I am really excited for the 6000K. How long does it usually take for them to ship it out? I heard they slow due to high demand. Would it be weeks, months?

[G3LO]

BTW, Marconelly was right, the fog lights turn off at night. So all you really need is the short beam HID Kit. And I agree with AWGD8 that above 6000K may look like a ricer. Which is not the look I am going for.

[G3LO]

Hey AWGD8,

When you installed you HID 6000K DDM Tuning for short beams, are you using a relay harness? I did not order that since I read posts elsewhere that mentioned it is not needed for short beams. When I looked at another post, one had issues connecting the HID's due to blowing too many fuses. Thus, one member replied saying he may need a relay harness. May you ease my confusion?

Thank you!

[AWGD8]

Hey AWGD8,

When you installed you HID 6000K DDM Tuning for short beams, are you using a relay harness? I did not order that since I read posts elsewhere that mentioned it is not needed for short beams. When I looked at another post, one had issues connecting the HID's due to blowing too many fuses. Thus, one member replied saying he may need a relay harness. May you ease my confusion?

Thank you!

I have a feeling that the HID KIT connection might be switch polarity when it was assembled by the manufacturer. Not sure, but it can happen. I have a relay harness on my low beam and a direct oem connection on my fog lights. I don`t have a problem with blown fuses on my fog lights. Maybe you guys need to separate the 2 lights? Either a relay harness on the low beam and direct connection on low beam or vice-versa... If only installing HID on low beam , then no relay harness is needed.

[G3LO]

Yeah, that is what I mean, just LOW BEAMs. So no relay harness is needed for low beams. That is great.

[G3LO]

Hey AWGD8,

I will be doing the installation of the short-beams from DDM Tuning today. I read your instructions as per previous post and pretty confused. I am no electrician but have all the time in the world to do it precisely and accurately. Do I have to remove the battery prior to installation? Also, what kind of gloves would I need to wear to handle the HIDs. The rubber latex is not a good choice? Cotton?

[AWGD8]

Sorry, I was out of town and this response is probably late now.

Non powdered latex is good. You really don`t have to remove the battery.

[G3LO]

Hello AWGD8,

Thank you for the reply, I have successfully installed the DDM Tuning. I am so pleased with it, thus far. I hope it will last a long time and my dad and I did the installation together. Took us about 6-7 hours. The first wheel was the hard one, the second went smooth and took under 40minutes. Next step is to clean it inside out using the stuff I bought from Zaino. I will be sure to post some pictures really soon!

Another thing I noticed is, the front plate does not have a full plate cover. I cannot put the front plate cover from weather tech since it is not a full plate. It looks like it is half of it, which means I have no where to screw in the bottom part.

[ramprun]

i am also thinking about putting HID for my fogs but afraid that it will blind oncoming traffic. i am thinking about cut up some black paper or anything non reflective and tape it on the bottom half of the the mirror looking opening.

[AWGD8]

G3LO : Congrats on the HID installation. Did you buy an extra kit? Just in case it fails prematurely... Mine is over 2 years now, but I have an extra kit.

ramprun: I have a DDM fog 3000K installed. I hardly use it bec. it`s unique and attention getter i guess, bec. it`s deep yellow. I only use it when visibility is less than 1/4 mile. Last weekend, coming from Chicago and heading home to Wisconsin, I was cruising at 70MPH on the interstate and it was a bit foggy so I turned it on. While cruising down the highway with both LOW and FOG DDM HID on, there was a tropper who got into the highway and I was behind him doing 55MPH. I was like %#$#%#!#$, he was cruising at 55 on 65 limit. I decided to pass him at cruising speed of 65MPH and hoping he would not care about the fog.

Maybe it`s me who thinks it`s very yellow ? Or maybe that`s how it looks like seeing the fog light color and beam from the inside? (driver`s view)
I only turn it on if necessary though. I think you`ll get away if you use the same Kelvin temp same s the low beam. The fog is way to low to blind the oncoming traffic.
When I drive with the fog on, I could only see the fog beam just a couple meters on the ground in front of the hood. The only problem is if you drive in a hilly road where the oncoming traffic is on the lower part of the hill and you are on top....

[Marconelly]

Finally got my HIDs from DDM. They were fairly quick to ship them, but it took forever for the postal service to deliver them here.

Nevermind that, I have them in my hands now. Still not sure how I feel about drilling the holes in the grey plastic covers, but it's too late to worry over that now. Thinking about it, what should I use to drill a one inch hole in those caps. Hole saw? Spade bit?

G3LO, you have 2010 EX, so did you have to drill the holes in grey covers or did you figure something else out? Someone said in another thread that for 2010 they sealed the headlight assembly completely, and there's no 'hidden' hole anymore to put the HID wires through, like you could in 2009 and 2008 models.

One thing I noticed about these HIDs that I kinda don't like, the wires that I'm supposed to plug in car's original short beam connector are just two naked contact wires :\ DDM's PDF installation manual lists a normal connector as one option, and these two naked wires as another option. Is it really safe to install this like that, just by plugging those two wires into car's lights connector? Everything else has nice rubbery weatherproof insulated connectors.

[G3LO]

Finally got my HIDs from DDM. They were fairly quick to ship them, but it took forever for the postal service to deliver them here.

Nevermind that, I have them in my hands now. Still not sure how I feel about drilling the holes in the grey plastic covers, but it's too late to worry over that now. Thinking about it, what should I use to drill a one inch hole in those caps. Hole saw? Spade bit?

G3LO, you have 2010 EX, so did you have to drill the holes in grey covers or did you figure something else out? Someone said in another thread that for 2010 they sealed the headlight assembly completely, and there's no 'hidden' hole anymore to put the HID wires through, like you could in 2009 and 2008 models.

One thing I noticed about these HIDs that I kinda don't like, the wires that I'm supposed to plug in car's original short beam connector are just two naked contact wires :\ DDM's PDF installation manual lists a normal connector as one option, and these two naked wires as another option. Is it really safe to install this like that, just by plugging those two wires into car's lights connector? Everything else has nice rubbery weatherproof insulated connectors.

Hello Marconelly,

I did not drill any holes anywhere. I understand if you do drill them you could in the gray caps. I decided to keep everything factory and stock since mine is a lease. There is a hidden hole in my EX 2010 Journey package. It was difficult to find at first, all you have to do is pull out this rubber piece that insulates the stock lights and the whole will appear. The same thing that comes with the wires of the DDM kit, you have this circular rubber piece around the wires. The factory lights have that too. If you pull it out, there is a hole. I cut the rubber piece from the DDM kit to separate the wires, for ease of installation. It is insanely tight space, so it will take some time getting those wires through.

Hope that helps,

G3LO

[ramprun]

i didn't see any holes that i could access the light housing. it would be great if you could take a pic of the secret access hole to the housing

[G3LO]

Don't know if I will have time to disassemble the wheels anytime soon. Follow these steps to see if it works for you:

Step 1) Open the gray cap
Step 2) Follow the wire the stock bulb goes. Do not disconnect it. It like goes deeper in and than down
Step 3) You will see it goes down and if you pull the wire from below the housing, outside the gray cap area, from right under neath, that rubber piece will pop out.

Let me know if you can find it and the whole will be revealed! If you cannot I will try my best to take a picture. BTW, pictures coming soon for other things just need to upload them.

[AWGD8]

Marconell:

You mentioned about 2 bare wires that hook up to the OEM low beam? I don`t remember any bare wires on my kit ?

[Marconelly]

Thanks G3LO, I think I understand what to look for and how to handle it.

Marconell:

You mentioned about 2 bare wires that hook up to the OEM low beam? I don`t remember any bare wires on my kit ?

Yes, there's two wires with bare ends that you are supposed to plug into the connector that normally goes onto the stock halogen bulb. It's on the second page of their instruction manual.

https://www.ddmtuning.com/support/index ... 14&nav=0,1

I guess it's not a big deal now because if I understand correctly, this connectors and wires going into it will be housed inside the light housing, sealed in there, so they won't be exposed to elements.

[Marconelly]

After all this time, I still haven't found enough free time to install these things :\

At least the other day I found some time to look at the wheel wells, and I was thinking that I'm not even sure how to remove those clips that hold most of it. Do I just pop them out using a flat head screwdriver? Then just push them back in when the work is done? Are these clips sturdy enough so that I don't have to worry about breaking them with the screwdriver. Also, if I don't plan to remove the whole wheel well, but just enough to make some accessible space to lamps, which of these clips and screws should I remove?

Ah yes, another question - when installing HID lamps, does it matter how they are screwed in? Is there a specific up or down position for the filament or does it not matter?