HID Headlights

[DeBiasio]

You have me concerned now. I have a set of 6000k HID low beam bulbs on order from Diode for my 2017 with the anti-flicker modules for projector housings (Link to kit ). I'm now worried these may not be a good choice if you're having the issues you described.

My 2015 doesn't agree with the Diode Dynamics HID lights around 20% of the time so I removed them. When they worked they were fantastic, but when they both shut off simultaneously while driving, not so much.

I'm going with lights from The Retrofit Shop that incorporate a resistor bank to fool the computer into thinking that the halogens are in place. I'm hoping this will solve the issue. These lights in the projector housings have a clear and distinct cut-off that I adjust to keep the road lit up appropriately in front of the truck at 60mph. I haven't ever had another driver flash me their high beams with this setup.

The LED's in the fog lamps are another story though...:-laf

 

[brcbruiser]

DD is a good company to work with, they have a two or three year warranty and pay shipping for all returns with no restocking fee. Don't get me started on PUTCO and their 20% restocking fees though...#@$%!

 

[BimmerAgent]

I'm really interested in these HID options. I just can't stand the lousy headlights....I guess I'm spoiled by my 13 year old bimmers xenons, and my 5 year old Jeeps xenons...they work so well that anything else is inadequate. I've been looking into this, and I've pretty much narrowed it down to Diode Dynamics, which uses Hylux, and Retrofit, which uses Morimoto. It seems that one of these two is the way to go. Has anyone been through this or have input they can share regarding either of these systems? I'd sure appreciate it. Thanks. Bruce

 

[brcbruiser]

I'm really interested in these HID options. I just can't stand the lousy headlights....I guess I'm spoiled by my 13 year old bimmers xenons, and my 5 year old Jeeps xenons...they work so well that anything else is inadequate. I've been looking into this, and I've pretty much narrowed it down to Diode Dynamics, which uses Hylux, and Retrofit, which uses Morimoto. It seems that one of these two is the way to go. Has anyone been through this or have input they can share regarding either of these systems? I'd sure appreciate it. Thanks. Bruce

If you have a 2015 and up avoid the Diode Dynamics system. I'll report back once my Retrofit Source lights with resistor banks are installed.

 

[BimmerAgent]

Thanks, bruiser. My truck is a '16.

 

[Deleted member 995608]

For anyone who says the 4th gen headlights are awful, I'm guessing they never had a 2nd gen with the faceted lens headlights! THOSE were horrible until I did the sport headlights upgrade!

Oh so true. Before I bought my 3rd gen, I left my high beams on 100% of the time for the last year before selling it. No one even noticed!

 

[Deleted member 995608]

I just pushed the center of the head light knob shortly after purchasing the 2015 which turns on and leaves on the fog lights. No head light issues. Without the fog lights there is a horizonal cutoff line in the low light beams that is really bad. SNOKING

I do the same thing Sno, but I get flashed all the time. If the fog light are off, it's never an issue. Do you experience the same?

 

[ABrown6091]

If you have a 2015 and up avoid the Diode Dynamics system. I'll report back once my Retrofit Source lights with resistor banks are installed.

What lights did you order from Retrofit? And did you get their HD relay or the canbus harness? I want to buy the Morimoto Elite 9012 kit with 5500k's for low beams, and the Elite 9005 kit with 4500k's for high beams, but I don't know what style harness would be best for my 2014 Longhorn 3500...

 

[watersupply189]

I have the Diode Dynamics HID 35W 6000K installed on my 2016 3500 Laramie with the projectors and absolutely love them! No issues at all after a year on the truck! Light output is 200 times better than the stock bulbs and they do not blind on coming traffic. Just make sure you purchase the canBUS adapters and you should be fine. DD is an excellent company to deal with.....

 

[Dogpatch]

My Story, *I swapped out the 9012 Projector bulbs with Morimoto HID 35w ballasts and 4500k bulbs. This kit comes with the capacitors and required harnesses for my 2015. I didn't put HID's in my brights as they aren't recommended due to the amount of heat they put off. So, as a work around, I put PIAA Extreme White*Plus 9005 Halogens in. In addition, I put the same PIAA 9005's into my Bumper flood lights.

I have to say, the difference in my trucks lighting, has been nothing short of drastic. The Projector lights are bi-functional and completely open up along with my Halogen brights. On low beam, I run my fogs on all the time in conjunction with the HID low beams. The only time I get flashed on low beam is when I'm coming up over a rise and meet oncoming traffic.

I've taken my lighting to a new level with the addition of a light bar and flood cubes.
I've added a 20" 120w BrightSource all spot LED Light Bar as well as a set of Aurora 3" 40w LED Flood Cubes.
I've added a trigger wire from my brights and I'm just in the process of adding an "on-off-on" switch so I can have the LED's come on with my brights and go off with the auto-dimming feature my Laramie has. With this switch, I can also turn the LED's off completely, or have the advantage of turning them on separate of the truck lights.
I've angled the flood cubes towards the sides to fully light up the ditches so I can see brainless 4 legged animals coming from my peripheral.

The Light Bar is 10,800 Lumins and the Flood Cubes are rated at 3200 Lumins each.

That's a total of 17,200 Lumins of light coming from my bumper alone.
*I can honestly say I can count the hairs on a deer's arse at 5280 ft.

 

[Cummins12V98]

Dog, good to see you back on here. *I would like to have my fog lights stay on with my brights. *That would be plenty of me. *I have mentioned this before, the location of your lights are blocking air flow. *Will it hurt anything? *Who knows.

Nice integrated system, much better IMHO than some of the ones stuck to the top of the cab.

 

[Dogpatch]

Oops. Dual post.

 

[Dogpatch]

Thanks Cummins12V98.

I like the nice clean look and airflow hasn't been an issue yet. I don't expect it to be either.

 

[JPM]

So what is the verdict for a 2017 with projectors? DD or Retrofit?

If you have a 2015 and up avoid the Diode Dynamics system. I'll report back once my Retrofit Source lights with resistor banks are installed.

 

[brcbruiser]

So what is the verdict for a 2017 with projectors? DD or Retrofit?

To answer your question, use both. I'll explain.


I've been very happy with the Retrofit Source HID's I installed. At one point they shorted out, frying the fuse that's between the battery and the relays. The Retrofit Source folks only require a picture showing you've cut the old harness as per their specifications and they send out a new harness. I also had a bulb start to dim, and they've replaced that as well. The HID's are great. They take a minute to get to full brightness, so avoid them in your high beams. I've recently installed the Diode Dynamics SL1's for high beams and I'm amazed at the light output. With them on I have a hard time seeing my bumper mounted light bars output. If you have fog lights I'd recommend reaching out to 4x4x4doors and renting his equipment to enable the fog lights on with high beams option. I love this as I can have the high beams searching down the road for deer, and the fogs lighting up the bar ditches nearer to the truck so I can see them in there as well.

https://www.diodedynamics.com/high-beam-led-headlight-for-2009-2018-dodge-ram.html

 

[JPM]

these HIDs?

https://www.theretrofitsource.com/2...500/3500&preselect=47338&preselect_restrict=1

To answer your question, use both. I'll explain.


I've been very happy with the Retrofit Source HID's I installed. At one point they shorted out, frying the fuse that's between the battery and the relays. The Retrofit Source folks only require a picture showing you've cut the old harness as per their specifications and they send out a new harness. I also had a bulb start to dim, and they've replaced that as well. The HID's are great. They take a minute to get to full brightness, so avoid them in your high beams. I've recently installed the Diode Dynamics SL1's for high beams and I'm amazed at the light output. With them on I have a hard time seeing my bumper mounted light bars output. If you have fog lights I'd recommend reaching out to 4x4x4doors and renting his equipment to enable the fog lights on with high beams option. I love this as I can have the high beams searching down the road for deer, and the fogs lighting up the bar ditches nearer to the truck so I can see them in there as well.

https://www.diodedynamics.com/high-beam-led-headlight-for-2009-2018-dodge-ram.html

 

[brcbruiser]

Yes, those are the ones. I went with the 35 watt system first, then upgraded to the 50 watt system. They both work really well though. If you buy that system be sure to follow the instructions to the letter. I used large hose clamps to hold my resistor packs to the frame rails for heat dissipation. It's really important to secure the relay harness with the ground prong to a solid ground point, not to the negative terminal of the battery. I can't remember exactly where I attached it but I can take some pictures if you'd like. I released the four plastic latches that hold the fuse box in place and put the relay harness in there to keep it protected from water intrusion. One other trick is to be sure none of your connectors have the female end pointing up when secured to make sure water doesn't stay inside them once installed.

 

[Busa Dave]

I have a few LEO friends. Not going to post the federal reg but they are not legal. It is a legal excuse to get pulled over AND if you are a jerk or maybe not they CAN keep you from driving on a public road with them.