Bi-Xenon HID kit installed in 07 H3
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Bi-Xenon HID kit installed in 07 H3 - 7/9/2007 8:01:09 PM
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jng1226
Posts: 86
Joined: 6/25/2007
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Hi all,
I am an ecstatic new owner of a 07 H3 5-spd Adventure. I took advantage of the 0%/60 month + $1950 incentives offer and picked it up last week. I ended up giving all that money back though as I worked the crossbars, side steps and factory light bar into the deal. However, the best upgrade is the Starr Bi-Xenon HID kit that I ordered from Clarence at G-Style. I had a 03 Nissan 350Z Track and my wife has a Boxster with factory Litronic lights and once you have good HID lights it is tough to drive with anything else.
I went with the Starr kit because as far as I know it is the only one designed from the ground-up for the H3 application. There are a few threads on here that rightly point out that putting an aftermarket HID kit in the stock halogen reflectors results in a poor light pattern. I can tell you first hand that the Starr kit with included projector-type housings is on par with the Porsche Litronic HIDs - about the best there is, IMHO. Maybe even better actually because the H3 with Adventure package sits twice as high as the Boxster with Sport package so the lights have a better angle to shine on the road. The beam pattern is very even and the cutoff is very sharp, so you can adjust them just a bit high to get maximum distance projection without being an A$$ to other drivers. The stock halogen lights are actually pretty decent, especially with the fog lights on, but these HIDs are just another league of lighting. The HID high-beams are fantastic and the best part is that they come on WITH the low beams so you get a really nice pattern.
Now lest you think I'm a shill for Starr or G-Style, I will tell you the negative points. Sadly I'm not a tinkerer or DIY-type so I had my kit installed at Hummer of Orlando (Cougar is the best tech there!) and it took them about 3-4 hours. He showed me the instruction manual and said that the suggested mounting positions for the ballasts and wires were "a bit ghetto" so he took it upon himself to do a super-sano job of hiding the ballasts and wiring so you can't see anything different with the hood open. I've read that Starr thinks it should take 2.5 hours to install the kit and I guess if you did what they recommend then it would probably take that long, but Cougar really did a great job and removed the grill and other parts to make a super-clean install. Even with the Starr instructions some dremeling of underhood plastic is necessary. The other negative is that when plugged back in to the factory connectors, the automatic running light system turns on the HIDs when you start moving. I remember reading in my Nissan Z manual that the HIDs should not be turned on and off a lot during quick trips because that can cause premature wear. If that's the case then I need to look into getting that part disconnected so they only turn on when switched to the "On" position. However, this is how Starr shows they should be connected and they have a 3-year guarantee so I'll hold them to it should anything break from the constant on-off.
Here is what it looks like installed - they replace the stock headlights completely and look like a skin-less Terminator skull with my stock chrome grill.
Now I can't say enough about Clarence at G-Style. I ordered a few other things from the G-Style website and he gave me a shipping discount in addition to the 10% sale prices his store had at the time. Plus, I'm in FL and they're in CA and I got the stuff in less than 5 days - that is superior price and service. I've got to gas up so I'll go take pictures of the light pattern on the garage door and post them.
Jeff
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< Message edited by jng1226 -- 7/9/2007 8:02:42 PM >
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RE: Bi-Xenon HID kit installed in 07 H3 - 7/9/2007 8:09:28 PM
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tjrcs
Posts: 1
Joined: 6/6/2007
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Could you post some night time cut-off shots and underhood shots???
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RE: Bi-Xenon HID kit installed in 07 H3 - 7/9/2007 8:59:33 PM
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jng1226
Posts: 86
Joined: 6/25/2007
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quote:
ORIGINAL: tjrcs
Could you post some night time cut-off shots and underhood shots???
Just got back from filling up (16.49 mpg mostly highway at 75 mph), your wish is my command:
Pic 1: Low Beam pattern (no fog lights) @ approx. 10 feet - notice "step-up" to the right. I think this is to allow the furthest projection while not blinding oncoming traffic.
Pic 2: High Beam pattern @ approx. 10 feet - not as focused as I initially thought with some flaring noticeable, but you don't notice it at all in practical driving.
Pic 3: Close up of projector housing
Pic 4: Front end at night
Pic 5: On the road shot with Fog Lights also on
I forgot to mention that Starr claims to be the only SAE/DOT approved HID kit on the market for the H3 and you can see the "DOT" marking on the projector housing. This was another big factor in my decision to go with these. Overall, I am VERY pleased. I forgot to get a shot on the garage with the HIDs and the Hummer dual 60-Watt light bar on - those things are bright too!
Another observation: at least with the Adventure package, there is a lot of pitch when accelerating and shifting gears (I've got a 5-spd), so you can see the lights pitch up and I imagine they are momentarily directed at eye-level of oncoming traffic. In normal crusing they are aimed just fine (using the stock Torx screw adjustment) so I try to mitigate the pitching by accelerating less aggressively at night. This is where the Porsche Litronics are the best since they are auto-leveling and adjust automatically to pitch changes. I think this is a requirement for European DOT and I don't think the Starr kit would be legal there. Do they even export H3s to Europe?
Jeff
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RE: Bi-Xenon HID kit installed in 07 H3 - 7/10/2007 1:03:40 AM
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HummBob
Posts: 16117
Joined: 5/6/2006
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SWEET!!!! And Congrats on the HUMMER!!!
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2007 Black Escalade
 
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Underhood Pics - 7/10/2007 5:19:52 AM
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jng1226
Posts: 86
Joined: 6/25/2007
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Here are the underhood pics:
Pic 1: Looks completely stock (thanks again Cougar!)
Pic 2: Ballast tucked neatly away behind lamp assembly
Pic 3: Close-up of Ballast - notice red 3M tape for suggested "ghetto" install - obviously not used.
Pic 4: Looking down at tucked-away ballast
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RE: Underhood Pics - 7/10/2007 11:25:47 AM
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tmoody
Posts: 69
Joined: 7/10/2007
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will be interested to see the thread updates on how they continue to work out. i've had cars with HID's for the past 5 years or so, and just picked up the H3. i can confirm that the HID's definitely spoil you over the halogens. Now, if they'd just make aftermarket HID kits that swivel around turns as well........
anyway, from the pics, you're correct in the "step up" but the PIC 5 road shot actually looks like the lights are adjusted "reversed" as normally, the longer light field path is on the passenger side with the shorter field on the drivers so as to prevent blinding oncoming traffic.
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RE: Underhood Pics - 7/10/2007 12:35:32 PM
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CerberusSVT
Posts: 377
Joined: 7/30/2006
From: Pittsburgh, PA
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wow, GREAT write up!!
and they come in black!!
Sucks that they're $1100 though. You get what you pay for I'm sure
_____________________________
Bo
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Black 06 H3
SMA Brushguard
Black Grill
Black factory rims
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RE: Underhood Pics - 7/10/2007 1:37:25 PM
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jng1226
Posts: 86
Joined: 6/25/2007
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quote:
ORIGINAL: tmoody
anyway, from the pics, you're correct in the "step up" but the PIC 5 road shot actually looks like the lights are adjusted "reversed" as normally, the longer light field path is on the passenger side with the shorter field on the drivers so as to prevent blinding oncoming traffic.
I noticed that after I posted the picture. The right side of the road was wet from some sprinklers and it makes it look like the light pattern is favoring the left side (oncoming traffic side). However, on the road it is indeed like the light pattern in the shot on the garage with the "step-up" to the right - the technician even aimed the right lamp a bit higher for this purpose. I'll take another shot at night on a dry road so the beam pattern is more clear.
Jeff
< Message edited by jng1226 -- 7/10/2007 1:51:18 PM >
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RE: Underhood Pics - 7/10/2007 1:48:23 PM
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jng1226
Posts: 86
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quote:
ORIGINAL: CerberusSVT
wow, GREAT write up!!
and they come in black!!
Sucks that they're $1100 though. You get what you pay for I'm sure
Did I plug Clarence at G-Style enough? Seriously, he beat that price by a considerable amount, you should check with him if you're interested. Let him know that you learned about it from Jeff in FL on HummerForums.com.
Indeed they are one of the most expensive upgrades for an H3, but considering what GM would charge you for the option (Porsche charges about $2K) and that it would likely be bundled with an option package with other things you may not want, it is a reasonable upgrade cost especially given the performance.
Jeff
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RE: Underhood Pics - 7/10/2007 2:27:09 PM
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JDJoe
Posts: 98
Joined: 1/19/2007
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GREAT writeup and Congrats on the H3 and the upgrade... My last vehicle had xenons, so I'm right there with you on missing them. It's one of the few things I miss about the last suv (along with automatic climate control)... The H3 lights are really good for halogen, but the HID's are just a different league, as you said. That is definitely the first upgrade I'd make to my H3 if I hadn't leased it.  (If they let me out of this lease to order an Alpha, I'll definitely order the Starr kit - if I have any cash left over!) Keep us updated on how they're working out for you over the next few months...
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RE: Underhood Pics - 7/10/2007 2:46:35 PM
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CerberusSVT
Posts: 377
Joined: 7/30/2006
From: Pittsburgh, PA
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quote:
ORIGINAL: jng1226
quote:
ORIGINAL: CerberusSVT
wow, GREAT write up!!
and they come in black!!
Sucks that they're $1100 though. You get what you pay for I'm sure
Did I plug Clarence at G-Style enough? Seriously, he beat that price by a considerable amount, you should check with him if you're interested. Let him know that you learned about it from Jeff in FL on HummerForums.com.
Indeed they are one of the most expensive upgrades for an H3, but considering what GM would charge you for the option (Porsche charges about $2K) and that it would likely be bundled with an option package with other things you may not want, it is a reasonable upgrade cost especially given the performance.
Jeff
No, you certainly gave him quite the good plug, if they were a couple hundred bucks I'd buy them because, what the hell they look sweet, they're HIDs and they're a couple hundred. I'm pretty happy with my truck the way it is right now and ontop of that I've got about 28 months left on my lease, so I'm starting to save up a mod fund for a car I may or may not get in the meantime. I've been taking a really close look at the saleen S281's since a little over a month ago Sun Ford got their franchise revoked, along with my 2008 GT500 allocation  Those S281s are pretty slick for sure though. Absolutely gorgeous in my eyes... I'm sure blackstang would agree 
< Message edited by CerberusSVT -- 7/10/2007 2:51:18 PM >
_____________________________
Bo
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Black 06 H3
SMA Brushguard
Black Grill
Black factory rims
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RE: Underhood Pics - 7/10/2007 2:58:04 PM
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jng1226
Posts: 86
Joined: 6/25/2007
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I'm not a fan of the new-retro look, although the Saleens look much better than the Roush and Steeda packages I've seen. The last generation S281s were the best-looking, IMHO. I actually rented one from Budget at LAX a long time ago and got a ticket on Sunset Blvd. - how touristy is that?! I was really impressed with how well it handled (it was convertible 5-spd no less) and the sound was fantastic.
It's a good thing that you lost your GT500 allocation, since the GT500KR was confirmed and I just read about the GT500 Super Snake (725 hp) in the new Automobile. I guess Ford is milking the last few franchises they have left in order to stay alive. I wish they would re-start the Ford GT (and that I could afford one!).
Jeff
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RE: Underhood Pics - 7/11/2007 7:11:58 PM
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tmoody
Posts: 69
Joined: 7/10/2007
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i saw that STARR is running a "promotion sale" for their HID's through several Hummer parts dealers. apparently if you order the HID lights before end of july, they will give you some $350-$450 in additional accessory. http://www.starrhid.com/index.asp?PageAction=Custom&ID=10
i might need to reconsider moving this to the top of the mod list.
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RE: Underhood Pics - 7/12/2007 4:57:44 AM
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jng1226
Posts: 86
Joined: 6/25/2007
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Isn't that just the way it goes, right after I order mine...
Anyway for a new owner like me that is planning a bunch of upgrades that is a smokin' deal. For the H3 Bi-Xenon kit it is a full $450 coupon to one of several of their online resellers. For me that would have been getting the lights plus the roof racks and step bars for free from Clarence at G-Style!
Jeff
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RE: Underhood Pics - 7/12/2007 7:09:39 AM
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CerberusSVT
Posts: 377
Joined: 7/30/2006
From: Pittsburgh, PA
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quote:
ORIGINAL: jng1226
I'm not a fan of the new-retro look, although the Saleens look much better than the Roush and Steeda packages I've seen. The last generation S281s were the best-looking, IMHO. I actually rented one from Budget at LAX a long time ago and got a ticket on Sunset Blvd. - how touristy is that?! I was really impressed with how well it handled (it was convertible 5-spd no less) and the sound was fantastic.
It's a good thing that you lost your GT500 allocation, since the GT500KR was confirmed and I just read about the GT500 Super Snake (725 hp) in the new Automobile. I guess Ford is milking the last few franchises they have left in order to stay alive. I wish they would re-start the Ford GT (and that I could afford one!).
Jeff
Thats pretty cool you got to rent one! I could care less about the KR and Super Snake. Thats just Ford milking the market. The Super Snake is a pretty crappy imitation of what some owners are doing to their GT5's to make them how they want them.
I'm sure you don't follow that car much, but its an absolute monster when it comes to mods. The only drawback is that Ford put cheap ass crack forged rods in it that are "rated" at only 733 HP @ 6250 RPM.
Why is that crappy? Simple. A $3800 Kenne Bell 2.8H supercharger, a smaller pulley and some race gas has made 810rwhp @ 21psi (thats at the tires, through stock exhaust and everything). The GT500 has the heads from the Ford GT, which is a big reason why it can put down such big numbers compared to the relatively crappy flowing 03/04 cobra's heads
Stock: ~440rwhp
intake & tune: ~ 500rwhp
intake, tune, & midpipe/catback ~ 525rwhp
intake, tune, exhaust & pulley ~ ~590rwhp
these numbers aren't a golden rule by any means, there are some running higher or lower numbers. (variables in the car/conditions/dyno/tune)
GT500 KR my ass
_____________________________
Bo
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Black 06 H3
SMA Brushguard
Black Grill
Black factory rims
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