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HID fog lamps

Discussion in 'Gen 2 Prius Accessories & Modifications' started by Green Hokie, May 13, 2007.

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  1. Green Hokie

    Green Hokie Member

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    Hello again, folks. Anyone replaced their "yellow" stock fog lamps with HID or near HID to match the headlights? If so, what is a good brand & are there any that don't get so hot?
     
    #1 Green Hokie, May 13, 2007
  2. kdk84

    kdk84 New Member

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    I was actually wondering the same thing. Any info would be appreciated!
     
    #2 kdk84, May 13, 2007
  3. cairo94507

    cairo94507 Active Member

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    I did mine and used the Pilot 9006 4300K Xenon HID Conversion Kit JDM Phillips from pipi_stuff168 which I paid $165 for back in November. Easy job, hardest part (and not hard) was removing the front bumper to mount the HID transformer. Total job less than 1 hour and I love the lights now-they actually make a difference at night.
     
    #3 cairo94507, May 13, 2007
  4. Green Hokie

    Green Hokie Member

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    <div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(cairo94507 @ May 13 2007, 09:47 AM) [snapback]441021[/snapback]</div>
    Thanks, Cairo. If possible, I want to avoid installing an entire kit (with a HID transformer). So, I'm hoping a simple bulb replacement will get me something that will closely match the HID headlamps and at the same time doesn't get terribly hot.
     
    #4 Green Hokie, May 13, 2007
  5. Tideland Prius

    Tideland Prius Moderator of the North
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    HIR bulbs? That's an option but someone here mentioned he had some issues with them (can't remember if it was short lifespan or sth).


    You can try Sylvania Silverstars too.
     
    #5 Tideland Prius, May 13, 2007
  6. cairo94507

    cairo94507 Active Member

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    <div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(Tideland Prius @ May 13 2007, 11:40 AM) [snapback]441083[/snapback]</div>
    In my limited experience with those bulbs, they are junk. They do not do anything to provide better lighting, they make the car look like one of those kid's cars with the large fart can exhausts and neon lights in the fender wells, etc. I guess if that is the look one desires.....
     
    #6 cairo94507, May 14, 2007
  7. Tideland Prius

    Tideland Prius Moderator of the North
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    <div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(cairo94507 @ May 14 2007, 07:54 AM) [snapback]441626[/snapback]</div>
    <shrug> she wanted regular bulbs. Those were the only ones I could think of. Do you have any other suggestions short of going for a kit? I wouldn't mind a nice set of foglights that are actually worth something and don't overheat. The OEM ones are ridiculously hot and I don't know if Toyota replaced the lens on the 06+ models cause it seems like we don't have any more cracked lens issues.
     
    #7 Tideland Prius, May 14, 2007
  8. Green Hokie

    Green Hokie Member

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    Will these Silverstar bulbs make the fog lights look more "white" like the HID headlights? If so and these Silverstars do not get terribly hot, then I'm going to try them. I'm not concerned about the effectiveness or functionality of any replacement fog lamp. In my opinion, fog lights on almost all vehicles are merely cosmetic anyway.
     
    #8 Green Hokie, May 14, 2007
  9. Tideland Prius

    Tideland Prius Moderator of the North
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    My headlights are white-ish. Well, let's just say they make my foglights yellow so I'm sure they'll match the HIDs better than any other bulb. Just note that they don't last long (unless you don't use your fogs very often). With a pair in my headlights (keep in mind we have DRLs), they last a year.
     
    #9 Tideland Prius, May 14, 2007
  10. Green Hokie

    Green Hokie Member

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    Thanks, Tideland. These Silverstars only last about a year? Darn! Guess I won't be trying them afterall. I always have my fog lights on with the headlights. By the way, what does "DRL" mean?
     
    #10 Green Hokie, May 15, 2007
  11. Tideland Prius

    Tideland Prius Moderator of the North
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    Well, at least mine did. Perhaps I had bad luck? heh. My left blew out last Oct and the right a few weeks later.


    At Cdn$70/pair, by the time I go through two, it's almost the same as Cairo's HID kit.

    So you might as well give his method a shot.


    DRL = Daytime Running Lights
     
    #11 Tideland Prius, May 15, 2007
  12. Green Hokie

    Green Hokie Member

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    Thanks again, Tideland.

    I don't turn my head/fog lights on during the day. Therefore, perhaps the Silverstars are worth a try. I'll have to check what the U.S. prices are for these.

    Cheers!
     
    #12 Green Hokie, May 16, 2007
  13. Tideland Prius

    Tideland Prius Moderator of the North
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    np, let us know how it turns out.
     
    #13 Tideland Prius, May 16, 2007
  14. NoMoShocks

    NoMoShocks Electrical Engineer

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    When used as Daylight Running Lights (Full Power) Silverstars only last me 3 months. The life seems fairly cosistant as on two cars, one burns out withing one or two weeks of the first one, so if you are not right on top of replacing them, you can end up with No Lights.

    For my Fog Lights, I am thinking about going with PIAA Yellow for true fog cutting. Not yellowish white, Real Yellow. I don't really care how the look to others as long as they aren't blinding others.

    I had very bright white fog lights on my Honda Civic Hybrid, and they only improved lighting close to the car, not out in the distance.
     
    #14 NoMoShocks, May 17, 2007
  15. Green Hokie

    Green Hokie Member

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    <div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(NoMoShocks @ May 17 2007, 03:19 AM) [snapback]443994[/snapback]</div>
    Thanks for chiming in, Larry. Wow. I guess the saying is true. "They don't make em like they used to". Our other vehicle (4Runner) is over 10 years old and I have yet to have a headlamp go out on me. Before we bought the Prius, I owned/drove a Civic for 14 years and only replaced the headlamps once. Actually, only one lamp burned out but I decided to replace both since the difference in brightness between the old and new lamp was quite significant.
     
    #15 Green Hokie, May 18, 2007
  16. Tideland Prius

    Tideland Prius Moderator of the North
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    Well the regular lamps last as long as you remembered. Our Camry was 5 years old and over 106,000kms. Only one headlight burnt out.
     
    #16 Tideland Prius, May 18, 2007
  17. slair

    slair Ubër Senior Member

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    I just put silverstars in my fogs last night. They do get rid of the yellow color, but they are only 4500k and hids are like 8000k. Not the exact same color, but they are white, not yellow.
     
    #17 slair, May 18, 2007
  18. statultra

    statultra uber-Senior Member

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    u could buy a 9006 HID conversion kit, and mount the ballasts on the radiator rack or something. I was thinking putting projectors in place of the fog lamps but i have no idea if it would fit.
     
    #18 statultra, May 18, 2007
  19. Green Hokie

    Green Hokie Member

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    Thank you, Slair & Statultra. I'll probably try the Silverstars first to see if I like them.

    Slair, Do your Silverstars get any hotter than the OEM fog lights?
     
    #19 Green Hokie, May 18, 2007
  20. Tideland Prius

    Tideland Prius Moderator of the North
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    <div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(Slair @ May 18 2007, 07:54 AM) [snapback]444840[/snapback]</div>
    Stock HIDs are 4300K not 8000K. 8000K HIDs are blue and are dimmer than 4300K or 6000K.
     
    #20 Tideland Prius, May 19, 2007
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