Xtreme HID vs McCulloch

[si_civic]

My g/f has decided, for my main Christmas gift, to get HIDs for my "being built as we speak" 2007 TW Civic Si.

Both of the choices below are plug and play. Both are from reputable companies. So, what should I get?
NOTE: prices are quoted in Merican dollars

Two choices
CHOICE #1
from xenondepot.com:
Xtreme 6500k HID Conversion $309 + $25 s/h
The Xtreme HID 6500k HID Conversion Kit is geared for an intense purple output

I contacted xenondepot and they said this item "uses Asian components". No namebrand, but from a reputable company

CHOICE #2
from hidexpert.com
McCulloch 6000k HID Conversion $278 + $15s/h

I really like this kit, because McCulloch is a good brand.

Any thoughts?

Thanks!

[Tim]

Numero dos.

[Izzy]

+1 to #2. However, I'd have said #1 if you were going to get their regular Xenondepot 4300k stuff...

[si_civic]

Thanks peeps.

I like the look of the 6k. 4300 would be nice if I had the $ to shell out for retrofits, but....

[Cryton]

I'd have to agree that the Hidexpert name brand stuff is probably a better quality than the 'no name' Xenondepot stuff. I will say that I ordered a set of 4300k from Xenondepot and have been very happy with the service and should be getting my conversion tomorrow (it was on backorder when I ordered it a little over a week ago).

hidexpert I've heard good things about and would consider buying from them too, but I still don't like 'shops' that use free e-mail clients like hotmail or yahoo. That's jsut one of my pet peeves tho.

Another thing to consider is location. I couldn't find anything on hidexpert's site about where exactly they are located. My guess in USA which would mean the customs will probably want some extra $$ and the shipper will probably charge some duties on top of that too. Just something to consider.

[si_civic]

^ Very true. It should add up to the same in S&H. Duties on this shouldn't be more than $10. All in all, should be really same price.

Xtreme from depot is more purpley than hidexpert. hmmm

Think I'll stick with McCullochs.

^ two more weeks Cryton! TWO!!

[Cryton]

Hope you get some sleep then!

Duties depends a lot on who they ship with. USPS being the cheapest most the time and UPS being the most expensive.

[Tim]

Why not a cheaper kit from ebay though? They're all about the same non-OEM standard.

[8thciviccoupe]

What about this?
http://cqlight.ca/index.php?cPath=23...ffe4a386093fff
Anyone has any experience from here?

I have 1 silly question about the bulb size. Basically, I know the difference between D2R & D2S. I will just stick to a PnP kit not retro.
So, which one should I order for the bulbs? D2R or 9006? No difference?
D2R & D2S are subordinate from 9006?
Thanks

[Izzy]

You want a 9006 rebased D2R bulb. :)

[8thciviccoupe]

Originally Posted by Izzy

You want a 9006 rebased D2R bulb. :)

Ok. now I got it.:)
Thanks Izzy for the incredible & super fast answer.

[si_civic]

Originally Posted by Izzy

You want a 9006 rebased D2R bulb. :)

That is a common misconception.

Excerpt from an HID professional:

In terms of D2S or D2R, [our - xenondepot] HID conversion kits use a D2S bulb. We have done various experimentation over the past year and for a retrofit application or OE application out side of Europe the D2R bulb is not required. The stripe on the D2R lamps helps hide the salts which would appear as parasitic images in the light dark transition area of the European Assymetric dip pattern. On a retrofit or DOT beam pattern (Your headlight) you do not have this light dark transition requirement therefore the D2S bulb is just fine for any application.

[Izzy]

Ah, I stand corrected. I would have thought they'd help a little, not on upwards glare, but the glare leaking from the sides. My old car would literally leak light out the sides and hit the top of semi's...and those were reflector bowls made for HIDs! I thought at least the ceramic plate on the side would alleviate some of that.

[JeShUa]

its a good thing those are mexican dollars.. cause if it was in can.. it would be like.. free..

[8thciviccoupe]

[quote=8thciviccoupe]What about this?

http://cqlight.ca/index.php?cPath=23...ffe4a386093fff

Anyone has any experience from here?
Nobody? or anyone wants to try so u can tell me about them before I buy mine.
Yea, I am & I dont have balls.

I dont want my hedlight glare. whenever I see the car glaring their head lights (especially HID), I feel... u know. I wanna kick the driver's a**.
I dont wanna people to get angry and pissed off.

Originally Posted by JeShUa

its a good thing those are mexican dollars.. cause if it was in can.. it would be like.. free..

What do u mean by mexican dollars? you mean hidexpert.com?

[Mikey6p]

Originally Posted by JeShUa

its a good thing those are mexican dollars.. cause if it was in can.. it would be like.. free..

Dude, its Merican dollars. The Merics love to buy HIDs.

[si_civic]

Merican, not Mexican lools

[06NighthawkSi]

Get the McCulloch!!! I have had my 10,000K for 3 years and 2 different cars and still no problems. There great

[si_civic]

^ Yep. 100% going for those. I will tell my g/f www.hidexpert.com

[clver]

Just some thoughts,


I had been looking for a while for HIDS and was stuck between those two brands. i went with the xenondepot for a few reasons.

1) The last forum I was on (acurazine.com) had MANY people who bought and installed their lights and had 0 issues.


2) The color of the HID's we/are important to me. I didnt want to get the 4300 as the color was too close to standard headlights, and I didnt want to go with the 10-12k lights just for some color but with crap output (can i say crap on this forum?) Anyways, I saw some pics of the output of the 6500k kit and it looked exactly like what I was looking for. A mostly white beam with an oh so slight purple tint (not blue mind you).

hang on, looking for my order....

PayPal Shopping Cart Contents
Item Name: 9006 6500k Xtreme HID Conversion Kit
Item Options: product option:
Promotion Code: global_site_promo
Item Number: XT-65k-9006
Quantity: 1
Total: $284.99 USD


Cart Subtotal: $284.99 USD
Shipping: $25.00 USD
Sales Tax:
Cart Total: $309.99 USD

I received the HID's in under 3 days from order, and installed them in an hour. NOT because I am fast or well tooled, but because these kits are put together and layed out VERY well. The installation of my previous kit was no where near as easy as this one.

The ballasts mounted perfect, all fittings were precise, the bulbs fit perfect...everything worked together.

So here comes the moment of truth......

clicked on the headlights and...


The color was dead on, the brightness was awesome and most importantly (especially for a pnp kit) the cutoff was damn close to the stock lights.

There was no excessive glare, the beam pattern was very tight and even, and did I mention the color?

So now I'm probably going to have to take pics to post but till then keep an open mind.