| MDXtrous |
I got the highs, lows, and fogs bulbs made by Plasma Industries found at www.plasmaindustries.com . I purchased the three pairs for $49 from www.platinumprices.com but they have subsequently gone out of business. After a lot of research, they were the closest to real HIDs. The lows and fogs use the 9006 bulbs, and the the highs are the 9005s.
I got them because someone on the site posted that after he installed them and compared them with his wife's Lexus GS400 HIDs, that he couldn't tell the difference between the two.
Anyway, they can still be purchased on eBay, and they have a 10 year warranty. One of my bulbs actually went out in about 2 days, but they replaced it after I shipped it back to plasma industries. The other bulbs have gone on for 4 months without a problem.
These bulbs have higher wattage than factory, but no one that i know of has yet to have a problem with them. The 9006 is 80w and the 9005 is 100w.
You can buy the same bulbs from eBay. Attached is one of the auctions going for $19.99 for one pair of 9006 and one pair of 9005.
http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/ws/e...item=1839588182 |
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| MDXtrous |
| Here's a pic of the low beam and fog turned on. |
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| MDXtrous |
| Here's a pic of paul123's StageII HID 6000k Ultinon Low Beams for comparison. Of course the conditions and cameras are different, but just to give an idea. |
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| MDXtrous |
| Front view, noticed the blue on the high beams. Adds a little something during the day:p |
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| MDXtrous |
| Paul123's again for comparison. |
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| MDXtrous |
| Beam pattern with lows and fogs... |
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| paul123 |
| Very nice, especially for bulbs. They look pretty bright and for the money saving a good deal. |
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| MDXtrous |
| Beam pattern with highs |
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| MDXtrous |
| Beam pattern without fogs... |
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| MDXtrous |
| All in all, I'm pretty happy. Paul123's got it right, it's a pretty good replacement for the price. Plus the 10 year warranty assures you'll get a replacement as long as the company doesn't go down:p |
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| Drew |
Ever read the following article? I'm afraid that you can't get something for nothing...those bulbs are significantly less as far as lumens are concerned. There is no way that a halogen bulb will be able to reach the same colour temperature as a HID Xenon bulb:
http://lighting.mbz.org/tech/info/bulbs/blue/bad/ |
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| MDXtrous |
I have read that article before. Again, I don't hope to be able to achieve the same results as the Xenon bulbs. If I did I would buy the true HIDs. But, I personally find that the road signs are much brighter than stock. Additionally, I like the "white" look, and as far as I can tell and from the pictures I've attached, it's close enough for me for the amount that I've spent.
Speaking about the glare issue of the halogens mentioned in the article, I find that the true HIDs are often very bright and provide a strong glare that is sometimes distracting. It's a great feature providing safety for the car owner, but nothing's really perfect, even at $500. |
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| DaleB |
| The best use I could see for bulbs like this are to complement an HID system, where you turn on your highs or fogs while using your 9006 HID. A better color match. |
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| MDXtrous |
| For me, the halogens are good enough for now. It's got the "cool" factor and it is brighter than stock. What looks good may not always be times better in functionality. Just look at the rear deflector, and the grille guards. Grille guard MAY provide additional safety, but it raises concerns about airbag deployment. Additionally it may add to the danger for the other car during an accident. But the "cool" factor is more important to the driver. |
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| DaleB |
Well I was hoping the bull-bar would put some degree of fear in the other driver when they are backing into a parking space. I don't want to hurt anyone.
Besides, that kind of smacks of the old SUV vs. sedan argument where it is wrong to be safer if it means more damage to the other guy.
Most accidents are the result of bad judgement and not to create intentional mayhem.
I could drive a mini Cooper up on a sidewalk and create all kinds of mayhem, I don't need an SUV for that.
Sorry, up early this morning, need more coffee.. don't get me wrong, I am not against cool, or I never would have bought an MDX! |
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| MDXtrous |
Agreed Dale. I was more responding more to the article. The reason I got an SUV, was exactly for safety. Since there are so many SUVs are out there, it's better to be in one if ever there is an accident than to be in a small sedan. I understand it's more dangerous for other sedans, but they are making the SUVs much more crash friendly for the sedans.
If my wife lets me, I'd also get the bull bar. But my point was just that sometimes we buy things for the cool factor, and it may not be better "functionally". For the halogens, I find it much nicer looking than stock, although it may not get 3 times the light output like the true HIDs do. So that's why the price made sense for me. Just answering to the article... |
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| DaleB |
I understand totally. I just really got caught up on this light test of mine, taking pics of illuminated roads and whenever someone mentions a new bulb or system I am anxious to see how much light gets splashed on the road. Not a very scientific venture, but seems to add some credibility. I definitely like the color better of those bulbs. By the way, that link shows the auction dead. There was no 'Buy Now' option.
I would like bulbs like that myself for hi beams and fogs. I plan to keep the Silver Stars as low beams and may go to HIDs eventually. |
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| DaleB |
| Thanks, I may go for those! |
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| paul123 |
quote:
Originally posted by MDXtrous
For me, the halogens are good enough for now. It's got the "cool" factor and it is brighter than stock. What looks good may not always be times better in functionality. Just look at the rear deflector, and the grille guards. Grille guard MAY provide additional safety, but it raises concerns about airbag deployment. Additionally it may add to the danger for the other car during an accident. But the "cool" factor is more important to the driver.
Once you've actually driven with an HID system you will never want to go back. It makes it so much more safer for the driver of the MDX. You could see everything on the road ahead and much wider. If driving up a city street at night and a child was on the side you would see the child like daylight. This would also go for any type of animal even a rat. The beams make it like daylight in the evening. I really enjoy that I can see every pothole, piece of glass, or any potential dangers on the road and can avoid danger way in advance. In addition other driver can see me far in advance and aviod if I should loose control of my vehicle. I feel driver tend to move as they see the hid comming from behind. It tends to light up the rear of there vehicle so much they would rather move aside, which assists in getting thru traffic. The grille guards IMO are for parking purposes in city area where people tend to back up until they hit your car, and go forward until the hit your car. The guards would prevent from scratches and nicks on the front and back when parking. I was never thinking of additional protection during an accident. Actually I've been hearing they may cause addition front fram damage because they are directly bolted to front fram. I never even considered the air bag issue, I would assume if the hit was hard enough to make the bar hit the bumper the air bag would deploy. The main purpose for the bull bars are for slow bumps to prevent scratches and nicks. The bar could possibly save your life if the hit was hard enough, it may give an additional degree of safety in the front would not crush in as much. Just my 2 cents. |
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| MDXtrous |
| Maybe one day the wife will let me upgrade to the HIDs;) |
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| emperorish |
Hi, I was wondering if the hid bulbs have the same throw(length) as the regular halogen lights. I got the bulbs, but im not sure if i want to put them in or not. Also, is there any concern with the heat in the wirin gof the headlights?
By the way, love your car. Yours is my favorite!!! |
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| MDXtrous |
quote:
Originally posted by emperorish
Hi, I was wondering if the hid bulbs have the same throw(length) as the regular halogen lights. I got the bulbs, but im not sure if i want to put them in or not. Also, is there any concern with the heat in the wirin gof the headlights?
By the way, love your car. Yours is my favorite!!!
The best comparison for the (length, brightness) is to just switch out one of the headlights and compare it side to side. It actually would be a great test for everyone on this site. If you could even take a picture comparing the two, it would be great. I haven't had a problem with overheating the wiring, and quite a few people on this forum have done so with no problems.
It will take you literally 2 minutes to switch out the bulb. If you don't like it, you can take it out real quickly too. Just open the hood, reach down towards the housing, twist the harness with the bulb counterclockwise, unplug the bulb and plug in the new bulb. Just make sure you hold the base of the bulb and don't touch the bulb;)
Thanks for the complements:D |
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| fvince |
How are the Plasma bulbs working out? I have two sets installed and they are still doing fine. I halfway expected an early failure in at least one, but nothing yet.
I assume the extra wattage has not done any damage to the wiring or plastic cover. My plastic headlight cover gets rather hot, but apparently not enough to do any harm. It also gots hot with stock bulbs, but I don't thing as hot as the Plasma.
I will say that they do put out more light on both lows and highs than the stock bulbs. |
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| MDXtrous |
| I had a problem with one out of four bulbs, but Plasma Industries replaced it, and eversince I haven't had any problems. I sure like them for the price. |
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| DaleB |
| The Plasma Glows work out fine as high beams for me. But I only use High Beams for flashing my lights, so they should last forever, I have HIDs for low beams, and Silverstars for fogs. Works out just great! |
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| Fireblade6 |
The only thing that is really disappointing about these dyed halogen bulbs is that the dyed glass bulbs filtered the yellow/orange/red color spectrum which is the actual color in the halogens that puts out the lumens and keep the white light spectrum making it "xenon" looking.
Illumination is horrible actually. Cosmetically it looks cool. But when you seriously need lighting at night and the actual object depths and projections of the object you need to see at night...it is impossible to clearly see them.
HID on the other hand actually brings out the color, object depth...3-D and distance depth of the object(s) on the road when driving at night using HID lighting system.
I currently use the Dyed halogen bulbs for the high beams to cosmetically make the high beans have that blue reflection during the day. I dont even use highs when driving at night using HIDs for my lows. |
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| 02SSmdx |
quote:
Originally posted by MDXtrous
I had a problem with one out of four bulbs, but Plasma Industries replaced it, and eversince I haven't had any problems. I sure like them for the price.
Hey MDXtrous!
How long before one of your bulbs went out? One of mine have gone out after 2 months and I'm going to send it back. My only problem is that PlasmaGlow wants $7 for return shipping. Did you have to pay for the return shipping on your bulbs?
Let me know your experience.
Thanks.
-WL |
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| doggiedog |
quote:
Originally posted by 02SSmdx
Hey MDXtrous!
How long before one of your bulbs went out? One of mine have gone out after 2 months and I'm going to send it back. My only problem is that PlasmaGlow wants $7 for return shipping. Did you have to pay for the return shipping on your bulbs?
Let me know your experience.
Thanks.
-WL
Same here. My bulb went out after 2 weeks.
I think I am going to put some yellow fogs in. Any suggestions? |
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| MDXtrous |
| One went out within 30 days, I had that replaced, yes I paid $6.95 for return shipping. One just went recently after about 5 months. That's out of a total of 6 bulbs. |
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| 02SSmdx |
Well, here's what I did...
I called them up to complain. For me to pay to ship the bulbs back to them and then pay again to have the replacements shipped to me, I told him I might as well order a new set off ebay.
He told me the only way to avoid the return shipping charge is to pre-pay for my own shipping.
I know it's only $6.95, but don't forget we have to pay to ship it to them too, which will be about $3 on average. So we're looking at $10 to get a set of bulbs replaced.
The way I look at it, if one bulb goes out every 2 months for the next 10 years and I have to pay to have them shipped back and forth, I might start looking into the actual HID conversion.
I think the $7 covers more then just the shipping cost for the bulb. If you ask me, I think we're just buying a new set of bulbs at the wholesale price. If my next set of bulbs goes out within 2 months, I'm not going to bother with the warranty. I'll just go with the HID conversion or buy a set of SilverStars. At least I know they will last longer then 2 months.
Just had to vent a little. |
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| MDXtrous |
| You are right about the $7. But I'm not quite ready to shell out $400 for HIDs yet. Maybe in another six months to a year, we may see the HIDs prices coming down with more market penetration. I think $200 sounds more reasonable for a car lighting system... Maybe some of the Asian countries will start picking up some of the production to cut the costs just like they have done for things like DVD players. Just a year ago, DVD players were around $300 - $400. You can get them for $70 now... |
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| Fireblade6 |
I think the $7 covers more then just the shipping cost for the bulb. If you ask me, I think we're just buying a new set of bulbs at the wholesale price. If my next set of bulbs goes out within 2 months, I'm not going to bother with the warranty. I'll just go with the HID conversion or buy a set of SilverStars. At least I know they will last longer then 2 months.
Just had to vent a little. [/B][/QUOTE]
Get the HID...You will get MORE than just better lighting and "coolness." I have my HID lighting system for almost two years now and I run it EVERYTIME I get in my MDX to drive. NOT one single electrical or technical problems with it.
In addition to this- the lighting system takes the TOTAL Strain OFF of your electrical system because the electrical draw is SO low. This frees you up for AC, Entertainment system, other lighting and sources within the MDX that requires electricity.
I notice the radio performs better. The AC runs better etc etc etc...Just...my feed back and observation. |
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| DaleB |
I use similar bulbs for my high beams, in other words, only for flashing. Plus they look cool when you stare at the headlight reflector straight on, and see the blue reflection.
Since I have real HIDs on the low beams, I never have to drive with my highs on. And the extra current draw is academic the few times I flash my high beams. |
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| MobileFanatics |
No commercial posts in the forums.
(edited by TW) |
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