1. Attachments are working again! Check out this thread for more details and to report any other bugs.

xenonsupply.com - H.I.D. kit. My personal review.

Discussion in 'Gen 3 Prius Accessories and Modifications' started by jblackwell, Jun 9, 2012.

  1. deltanh

    deltanh Junior Member

    Joined:
    Aug 14, 2011
    44
    8
    0
    Location:
    Manchester NH
    Vehicle:
    2012 Prius
    Model:
    Three
    How did you get them for $110? Their web site has them at $129.99 today.
     
  2. eyespii

    eyespii Junior Member

    Joined:
    Jan 21, 2013
    48
    11
    0
    Vehicle:
    2013 Prius Plug-in
    Model:
    Plug-in Base
    Use coupon code xsforum15 for an extra 15% off.
     
    Austin5 likes this.
  3. deltanh

    deltanh Junior Member

    Joined:
    Aug 14, 2011
    44
    8
    0
    Location:
    Manchester NH
    Vehicle:
    2012 Prius
    Model:
    Three
    Thanks!
     
  4. eyespii

    eyespii Junior Member

    Joined:
    Jan 21, 2013
    48
    11
    0
    Vehicle:
    2013 Prius Plug-in
    Model:
    Plug-in Base
    So - I ordered the premium kit from xenonsupply on Saturday evening, and received my order on Wednesday. Just got around to installing them in my 2013 base PiP tonight - a few thoughts...

    What was supposed to be a 20 minute job turned into a 3 hour ordeal. Again, I'm a complete noob when it comes to doing any sort of work on cars, so even the simplest of things took me a pretty long time. I couldn't figure out how to unplug the original light bulb using the xenonsupply video at first. After about 15 minutes struggling with it, I consulted the manual, which informed me to twist the bulb out first before detaching the power cable. Finally! The HID bulbs went in easily without muss.

    The next issue I had was trying to figure out how to remove the plastic side panel on the drivers side. Took me about 10 minutes to figure out that the pins need to be pushed together while the entire assembly was pulled away in order to remove it.

    But the biggest issue I had that consumed about 2 hours total was trying to figure out how to get the ballast to fit behind the side panel while leaving enough room for the two large bricks to snake through and around the fuse box cover. Seriously - when I look at my ballast and compare it to the pic in the OP, the wire from the ballast to the small brick is much shorter on mine, and I couldn't figure out how to stuff them behind the panel and leave enough of the remaining wire to reach around the fuse box and into the area behind the headlight. I was never fully able to make it work - the drivers side panel is still only halfway attached and the two small bricks from the ballast are simply resting on the fuse box cover.

    After all this though, the passenger side was extremely simple. No need to even remove the radiator fluid tank - there was plenty of room to work. Passenger side took a total of maybe 10 minutes.

    So now i got both sides working, and the lights look way nicer than the stock halogen bulbs. I haven't road tested them yet, but they don't seem a whole lot brighter than the stock bulbs. Also, the ballasts make a pretty loud whine whenever I turn the headlights on - is this normal?

    All on all, pretty satisfied with my purchase, despite the troubles I had with install.
     
  5. deltanh

    deltanh Junior Member

    Joined:
    Aug 14, 2011
    44
    8
    0
    Location:
    Manchester NH
    Vehicle:
    2012 Prius
    Model:
    Three
    My install only took about 20 minutes. However, I do have the same problem/complaint as you with the left side. I just wasn't in the mood to fight with it today. Also I did not receive a manual with mine, at least the video was pretty accurate. I'm not too happy with the bricks sitting on top of the fuse box cover.
     
  6. eyespii

    eyespii Junior Member

    Joined:
    Jan 21, 2013
    48
    11
    0
    Vehicle:
    2013 Prius Plug-in
    Model:
    Plug-in Base
    Do your ballasts make a whine/buzzing sound?
     
  7. deltanh

    deltanh Junior Member

    Joined:
    Aug 14, 2011
    44
    8
    0
    Location:
    Manchester NH
    Vehicle:
    2012 Prius
    Model:
    Three
    Not that I can hear. Though I haven't listened for it with the hood up.
     
  8. armoredsaint

    armoredsaint Anti-Eco Company Car

    Joined:
    Feb 8, 2013
    92
    28
    0
    Vehicle:
    2011 Prius
    Model:
    Three
  9. eyespii

    eyespii Junior Member

    Joined:
    Jan 21, 2013
    48
    11
    0
    Vehicle:
    2013 Prius Plug-in
    Model:
    Plug-in Base
    Hmm...I'll send them an email and see if the sound is normal or if it's something that I need to worry about.
     
  10. ny_rob

    ny_rob Senior Member

    Joined:
    Feb 28, 2012
    1,968
    813
    0
    Location:
    L.I.- NY
    Vehicle:
    Other Hybrid
    Model:
    N/A
    They all make a little buzz/whine sound- that's normal. In a regular vehicle the sound is masked by the engine running. The Prius is almost silent so the sound from the HID ballasts & transformer is more pronounced.
    You can't hear it when you're driving can you?
     
  11. xliderider

    xliderider Senior Member

    Joined:
    Apr 19, 2012
    7,848
    3,102
    0
    Location:
    Honolulu, HI
    Vehicle:
    2011 Prius
    Model:
    Three
    The seller's feedback on the linked item makes me very nervous. It will be interesting to see what his experience with the seller/product is.
     
  12. eyespii

    eyespii Junior Member

    Joined:
    Jan 21, 2013
    48
    11
    0
    Vehicle:
    2013 Prius Plug-in
    Model:
    Plug-in Base
    I see - just wanted to know if the buzzing was normal. I'd have to really pay attention to hear it while driving, and the noise doesn't particularly bother me. In fact, kinda lends a sort of high-tech futuristic electronic whirring vibe to my PiP :)
     
  13. Dizzie

    Dizzie New Member

    Joined:
    Mar 7, 2013
    2
    0
    0
    Vehicle:
    2010 Prius
    Model:
    IV
    I got the 6000K HID kit with Slim Premium Digital Ballasts from Xenon Supply for $129.99, free shipping and no tax. When the package arrived, the ballasts were the thick regular kind, not the slim premium ones that I had ordered.

    The installation process itself was relatively straight-forward if you followed the online video. When the lights didn't turn on, witching the polarity of the plugs will remedy the issue. Unfortunately, the 6000K lights were too blue and didn't reflect give enough light from the grey asphalt. While others in my family liked the cool-blue look from the 6000K bulbs, I didn't care for the image. My goal was to enhance night time visibility, not just trying to be cool.

    I called up Xenon Supply and asked for an exchange of the bulbs to 4300K and switching out to slimmer ballasts, they said I would have to pay for my own shipping since they considered my return as an exchange. After $15 shipping cost and one week later, the new package arrived. This time they sent the correct equipments but the ballasts were used. They had sticky tape residue all over the back and the cables were clearly scratched. Not wanting to deal with the whole drama of returning it again, I test installed the lights and they worked perfectly. I also emailed Xenon Supply about the used order (which they vehemently denied of ever sending out used products *roll eyes*) and certified that the ballasts would be covered under a 5 years warranty.

    If you're like me and weren't sure about the color temperature, look around when you drive. There are lots of HID aftermarkets out there and the ones that are obvious are those that used higher color temperatures, 6000K+. They do look cool head-on but their color spectrum don't reflect enough lights from the pavement when you're behind the wheel. Drive side-by-side to these guys and see if you like what you see. I personally prefer more light on the road over creating a fashion statement. After having used both 6000K and 4300K bulbs, the 4300K is a clear winner in my book.

    Overall, I am disappointed in the business process at Xenon Supply since it seems like they don't have their act together. On the equipment side, I'm much happier with the bright 4300K bulbs and ease of installation.

    I am hesitant to recommend these guys simply because of their shoddy business practice. If you do buy from them, call and make sure the order is correct before shipping.
     
  14. Dizzie

    Dizzie New Member

    Joined:
    Mar 7, 2013
    2
    0
    0
    Vehicle:
    2010 Prius
    Model:
    IV
    I only hear the buzzing sound when I popped the hood/bonnet. Otherwise I can't hear the ballasts at all even when the car is running on battery mode with windows open.
     
  15. Austin5

    Austin5 Go Bruins

    Joined:
    Mar 3, 2013
    34
    6
    0
    Location:
    Boston MA
    Vehicle:
    2010 Prius
    Model:
    N/A
    Is there a 5000k kit that is as easy to install as this one? I'm worried the 4300k wont look as exotic and the 6000k will look too 'un-stock' and illegal..
     
  16. ny_rob

    ny_rob Senior Member

    Joined:
    Feb 28, 2012
    1,968
    813
    0
    Location:
    L.I.- NY
    Vehicle:
    Other Hybrid
    Model:
    N/A
    Anything hotter than 4300Kelvin puts out less visible light than the 4300k bulbs.
    The 4300k's are whiter than the stock halogen bulbs- with only the slightest blue tinge. Many here have bought supposed "4300k" ebay, etc... bulbs which are cheap low quality bulbs that are actually closer to 5-6k and put out way too much blue to be considered 4300k.
    I would install the 4300k kit from xenonsupply- then experiment with other (ebay,etc...) bulbs afterwords using the xenonsupply ballasts, transformers and wiring harness. They all use the same two plug in leads to the bulbs- so pretty much any H11 HID bulb you get should plug in to the xenonsupply harness.
     
    Austin5 likes this.
  17. Austin5

    Austin5 Go Bruins

    Joined:
    Mar 3, 2013
    34
    6
    0
    Location:
    Boston MA
    Vehicle:
    2010 Prius
    Model:
    N/A
    Thanks for the info, I don't know much about the hid lights and really just learned everything from the thread. The posts about people saying 6000 can look stock make it a tough decision. Ill start with the 4300 thanks for the input
     
  18. Mark Knight

    Mark Knight Junior Member

    Joined:
    Nov 29, 2012
    31
    4
    0
    Location:
    Grand Rapids, MI
    Vehicle:
    2012 Prius
    Model:
    Three
    I got the wiring harness from xenon supply and didnt know where to hook the positive and ground and couldnt find any info on this so i didnt hook it up, would you share how and where you hooked these up?
     
  19. B2FiNiTY

    B2FiNiTY Active Member

    Joined:
    Dec 17, 2012
    979
    226
    0
    Vehicle:
    2012 Prius c
    Model:
    Two
    That's pretty unacceptable...
     
  20. 2fastplus

    2fastplus Junior Member

    Joined:
    Feb 23, 2013
    56
    26
    0
    Location:
    Tampa Bay
    Vehicle:
    2012 Prius
    Model:
    Three
    I just pulled the trigger and ordered the Xenon Supply 4300K Prius kit for $110.49. I spoke to the rep and he assured me that all the new kits have H11 plugs and not the spades. Also, the bulbs will have the plastic tabs for easier installation. Even with all the great info on this thread, I was second guessing myself between 6000K and 4300K. The deciding factor for me was the rep. who said they have more people with 6000K kits requesting 4300K bulbs than visa versa. He also let me know I could change to the 6000K bulbs within thirty days if I wanted.