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PLP, thank you for your comments. I'm not familiar with the automotive industries jargon therefore, some of the terms used in posts I read in various forums makes me unsure what I my problem really is.
For as the light bulb, according to the KIA original spec called for H11B. From what I can tell, no one provide such direct HID bulb/connection. (I'm guessing because the way these bulb's connectors are setup which makes it different.) I ordered the HID Kit from SimplyHIDKits.com, HID conversion kit 35 Watt/6000K. The site said support for H11B (that's why I ordered from them), but turns out it is the same solution (I think) everybody else provide is to insert the wire into the original harness connector (square) to get power.
For the bulb sucket, the one provide from the HID kit goes right into the original socket, I can use the original spring like clamp to lock it in place. I think it is as far as it can go without making any modification.
For the type of head light assembly, what I read from various forums seems to suggest the ones from Kia maybe projection. The way it was described the major differences is the head light does not have a big reflector around the bulb. When I look in the head light (from the front) it seems to be looking at a bottom of soda bottle.
For the self alignment, I downloaded the tech specification from Kia and it described the distance between the center of the low beam (56.x") and height w/o drive where the cut-off light should be etc. I measured that the best I can on a large card board against the wall to maesure lights. disassembled the assembly in order to make the U/D, L/R adjustments.
These are steps I took to adjust the light. What I see tho, is the light seems to be 'more' brighter at the most left and right of the car when it is travel on the road. On the highway, I'm not really impress with what I have so far as I do not see the normal bright lights ahead of the car like the original light would. Maybe it is because I used 6000K, the color of my lights are white not yellow. The lights are visible when I drive on my street and when it is making a turn as I can see the cutt off line very clear when the spray across the houses.
When I see the lights in front of me while driving, it does not forming/resemble a typical 'W' partern where there's a cross light section in the middle, which make it 'brighter'.
It is from these observation, where I have question for:
(1) does Kia have the 'projection' type of head light assembly? I didn't see anything so far in owner's manual or tech specification.
(2) if they do, is there a specifc HID bulbs for them?
(3) maybe I need to change from 6000K to 4300K instead?
For my car profile. 2007 Kia optima v6 EX, in Austin TX
Thanks in advance for any comments.
My goal to switch from original to HID was to increase visibility and safty measures.
Last edited by courtroom74; 12-09-2012 at 09:34 AM.
Ok, finally waited to get dark and found a place (reasonable dark w/o much street lights) to take these pictures. I didn't have a tri-pod and had to use maunal mode in order to get something other then black (it was a little chilly out too). It's not perfect as you can see (my hand moved). I can retake them later again if that would help. As I looked at the pictures, they look brighter then it really was in real life.
(a) I have 2 cut-off pics, one from about 12' and one from 3' (against my garage).
(b) I took pic from driver seat with cone layout about 20 and 40 ft from the bumper of the car to give relevance.
(c) Couple of pics from the front, one from about 50 ft and one from 20.
I have a pic for closeup of the light but already max out to 5 files uploaded already. Didn't get the chance to look at the bulb to see which type (1, 2) I have, maybe I can do that tomorrow.
Last edited by courtroom74; 12-09-2012 at 08:19 PM.
Driver side looks OK, but passenger - recheck the HID lamp position. Is it seated properly?
to confirm, try to completely cover, or better yet - disconnect - one side and take pic of the cut off. If you used manual settings, decrease the shutter and/or increase aperture so that the pics get darker. This way you can tell where the hot spots are.
Yes, chilly in Texas. Believe or not, it will be snowing in Dallas area today and temp will be below freezing tonight in Austin area.
I'll retake the pictures, most likely not tonight
I'll look at the bulb type again in more details but from the picture, I only noticed the difference in the position of electrode where one is located on the left and other on the right. I also noted there's a tab call UP, is that significant information I missed? I uploaded your image with my comment.
I opened the assembly, look at the bulb and the bulb socket.
1. the way this assembly lock the bulb using a spring like clip.
2. the notches (3 legs) on the base of the bulb is too small and I don't see any "locking" on the socket itself
3. there's no specific indicators on the socket itself to tell how the bulb should be place. Unless the big retangle on the right is the marker for UP in the previous post image? (what is UP stands for anyone know?)
4. I see my bulbs are definitely type 2. Is that the correct one to be using?
Last edited by courtroom74; 12-13-2012 at 08:49 PM.
2. the notches (3 legs) on the base of the bulb is too small and I don't see any "locking" on the socket itself
3. there's no specific indicators on the socket itself to tell how the bulb should be place.
Damn it.
You got the EARLY model of 2007 Optima with H7 bulb, not H11B.
Does your halogen look like that?
If yes, you indeed do have H11b, but the socket says H7.
Yes, chilly in Texas. Believe or not, it will be snowing in Dallas area today and temp will be below freezing tonight in Austin area.
I'll retake the pictures, most likely not tonight
Yeah, I heard cold is coming down south...
I guess nobody knows how to drive in snow over there, huh?
Quote:
Originally Posted by courtroom74
is that significant information
Yes, it is.
Actually, I just got a pair of the HID lamps with location of the electrode just like halogen has. Now, the only thing is to take pics of the opposite one versus the correct on.
I will update soon.
Michigan is slightly colder... so I will do my best.
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Rondo PLP
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