Warning about fake HID Kits

[LIV 2 RLY]

I've been looking for the perfect HID kit for quite some time now, and stumbled across Bosch HID kits online. I am a Bosch employee and figured I could get a decent discount on the kits. I called Bosch Automotive to find out the price and the lesson is Bosch doesn't even make HID aftermarket kits. He explained that most likely a chinese manufacturer is making fake Bosch HID kits and using that name to look like a reputable brand.

Lesson learned is to do some research before buying anything, if you even look at some of the Bosch HID kit pictures online you can tell something is off.

[snowflowmfg]

Thanks for the head's up on those.
wow.

So what about those websites that sell their own kits. they seems pretty good and people have said good things about their products?

[Twigman503]

Did you find a kit that you ended up liking? I've been looking for a set for a while and there is just so much to chose from. The price ranges are insane also. I found kits for $135 and some up to $700. How much were the 'fake' HIDs?

[LIV 2 RLY]

I knew something was up, Bosch products are typically in the very expensive range, and to see Bosch HID kits for $250 looked strange to me. I have seen quite a few "knockoff" no name kits that look decent, and some others that I would stay away from. I have always believed in spending a few dollars extra to get a name brand product, and HIDs are no exception.

I would say the best looking kit on the market are the kits offered by "mobile hid". The kits come with a wiring harness to run the ballasts directly off the battery, and are rubber injected. There is a picture of the ballast operating underwater.

I have been researching for a while, and the kit is more expensive than most, but the wiring harness is typically another $40 or so. Is the wiring harness necessary? probably not, but I would prefer to run a high voltage ballast off the battery directly with a smaller gauge cable, than run it off the stock harness with 16 gauge wires. The wires in the stock harness aren't designed for that voltage.

When I get a kit I will probably purchase either the bavtoys Prolumen kit, or the mobile HID kit.

I also know a few people with kits that were between $150 and $200 and they haven't experienced any problems, but to me the actual lights don't look much brighter than stock when sitting in the driver seat.

Phillips is the OEM supplier on several european cars, and if cost is no option this is the way to go. I am in no way affiliated with any of these companies, I am just recommending components based on my research.

[LIV 2 RLY]

Also, those fake Bosch kits are probably very similar to the $130 kits, they are just put in a fancy Bosch box and sold for a higher price due to the name on the box. What a shame, I hope there aren't a bunch of people out there with broken "Bosch" HID kits blaming a German company for problems with Chinese knock-off products.

[LIV 2 RLY]

More info,

There is a .pdf file available on www.bosch.co.jp but it is only in Japanese. It can be found here:
http://www.bosch.co.jp/jp/aa/product...-070810-01.pdf

The only automotive Bosch lighting products are projector assemblies and some lightbulbs. Bosch does not make aftermarket lighting products. I am not sure if the lightbulbs are even marketed in the US, so be weary of the light bulbs posted on auction sites, etc being sold as Bosch products.

Here are some pictures of Bosch branded fake products. I have seen a few boxes that look better than these, but I can't find the pics now.



Bosch would definitely capitalize Germany!!!!

[Doug05WRX]

I know that I'll probably take a lot of crap for this, but buying any kind of HID kit designed for non-projector type housings is just a bad idea. HID's are only meant to work with projector beams (i.e. the ones with the sharp beam cutoff) and trying to put HID bulbs into a conventional reflector-type housings may look cool, but all you'll be doing is blinding everone else on the road. I had a $300 kit when I had my '05 sedan and I only left them in for about a month because everyone on the road gave me high-beams even when I angled the lights all the way down. If you're going to do an HID retrofit with some actual projectors or unless you have an '06 or later model rex, then that's cool.

[encryptedzion]

Many companies have problems with counterfeits. I worked for a semiconductor company that fabricated transistors, diodes and integrated circuit chips, and a majority of the counterfeits we would come across were made in China, Malaysia and Indonesia. Receiving them as "customer returns" was not a rare occasion either, and it would not take long for us to discover they are counterfeits.

As far as HIDs, mine came off of a 2005 STi and I have the headlight leveling system as well. I had done a lot of research on finding HIDs since I have reflector-type assemblies and did not want to blind anyone. The key thing is that the Subaru Halogen Headlight Assemblies for MY 2004-2005 Imprezas have fewer reflecting angles than the MY 2004-2005 STi HID assemblies. So, I made sure I bought the assemblies that focused the beam correctly and would not blind anyone (like Doug05WRX had problems with) at the same time.

Thanks for the heads-up on this counterfeit Bosch product. Hopefully Bosch will take action on this...

[Twigman503]

Good info. Thnx

[LIV 2 RLY]

The 2006+ have projectors suitable for use with HIDs, they provide a good cutoff that won't blind people. They will focus light differently than a projector designed for HIDs, but that isn't the point of this thread. The point of this thread is buyer beware, and don't purchase a product that is a total fake.

[04.SPT.WRX]

Originally Posted by Doug05WRX

I know that I'll probably take a lot of crap for this, but buying any kind of HID kit designed for non-projector type housings is just a bad idea. HID's are only meant to work with projector beams (i.e. the ones with the sharp beam cutoff) and trying to put HID bulbs into a conventional reflector-type housings may look cool, but all you'll be doing is blinding everone else on the road. I had a $300 kit when I had my '05 sedan and I only left them in for about a month because everyone on the road gave me high-beams even when I angled the lights all the way down. If you're going to do an HID retrofit with some actual projectors or unless you have an '06 or later model rex, then that's cool.

Agreed. The best bulb source that really fit and work properly for your car: http://www.danielsternlighting.com/ All four of my bulbs are from Dan.

Originally Posted by LIV 2 RLY

The 2006+ have projectors suitable for use with HIDs, they provide a good cutoff that won't blind people. They will focus light differently than a projector designed for HIDs, but that isn't the point of this thread. The point of this thread is buyer beware, and don't purchase a product that is a total fake.

I would imagine many more kits like that are out there.

[brfatal]

Originally Posted by LIV 2 RLY

The 2006+ have projectors suitable for use with HIDs, they provide a good cutoff that won't blind people. They will focus light differently than a projector designed for HIDs, but that isn't the point of this thread. The point of this thread is buyer beware, and don't purchase a product that is a total fake.

Not all projectors are suitable for HIDs. I've got Morettes w/ Hella lenses and the cut off and light dispersement is HORRIBLE. I would not have gotten HIDs (OEM setup, not an HID kit) if I'd known it would be this bad. I have eratic "V" shaped cutoffs.

[Twigman503]

Originally Posted by brfatal

Not all projectors are suitable for HIDs. I've got Morettes w/ Hella lenses and the cut off and light dispersement is HORRIBLE. I would not have gotten HIDs (OEM setup, not an HID kit) if I'd known it would be this bad. I have eratic "V" shaped cutoffs.

Its because you have an 02, he's saying the 06+ models have headlights that have a better cutoff and are more suited to HID use.

[Trainrex]

While the kits you posted are Chinese knockoffs, Bosch does produce HID ballasts and components. They are installed in certain BMW's and Mini Coopers OEM. Most Mercedes seem to use Hella, and other German brands seem to use Phillips.