LILBENZ230

I needed everyone's attention with this or I would've certainly posted in one of the millions of HID threads.

I've been running DDM 55W HID in my C230 since January of 2009. It didn't even require resistors or modules to get rid of the errors so I was very pleased. However, I've had my share of bulb problems. Recently, one of the bulbs started having a hard time igniting and grew very dim. Thinking it was just another bulb issue, I pulled the bulb..



The bulb was melting. I caught it just in time to spare myself lots of collateral damage. I pulled the other side, the one still working properly, and discovered it was in a less advanced stage of melting.

I love HID lighting. Though it pains me, I am reverting back to halogens today. It's simply not worth the risk to the overall health of my Benz to press my luck any further. I advise any of you who run aftermarket to keep a close eye on things.

-M

Blk04cobra1

It's weird that you mention this b/c Ive had my kit on the Tahoe for a couple of months and the wife told me this morning that he bulb had already gone out? Anyways, going to contact HIDextra to see what they can do. The one's on the S430 seem to be fine.

Milkm4n

wow that's weird the only problem i have had with my ddm light is i ordered 12k and was unsatisfied with the color (it looks like 8k)

PharmD

I appreciate the heads up.

Dingleberry

ricer

03MBC320

maybe he just likes having pink headlights...
and.... again, R.I.C.E. stands for RACE INSPIRED cosmetic enhancements
translated, that means - **** ON YOUR CAR THAT MAKES IT LOOK FAST WHEN IT ISNT
ferraris, lambos, drag cars, formula 1 cars, nascar, hell even the cars in Fast and the Furious, none of them have purple headlights, hence it doesnt fall under the category as RICE
it doesss fall under the category of annoying mods that people usually do to hondas and other P.o.S. cars, but if your going to drop a 1 word insult you better do it properly
i like Milkm4n's car tho, the reiger bumper looks sexy on white, and he got that awesome cop picture so, stop being a dingleberry dingleberry

back on topic
Thanks for the heads up, i was actually thinking about purchasing a DDM kit... but now i guess i'll wait a little, see if this issue is common with other people or if it may have been just yours, has anyone heard of this happening with the 35 watt kit?

e1000

Why don't you just go with a 35w kit? That's what always scared me about the 55w kit was the heat and if these guys are truly engineering a 55w bulb or just overdriving a 35w bulb.

BTW, I completely agree with DDM. They have the worst customer service and are always super slow to ship products. I've recently had the chance to stop by thier Huntington Beach office and those guys are 1 step away from being scam artists. Eurodyne is also associated with them. I'll admit I've ordered a handfull of HID kits from them before, but I'm never going to deal with them again.

zerocover

For one dont cheap out with a DDM kit, for two just run a proper 35w kit (you know like the OEMs do).

Just because people have gotten away with running cheap HID kits doesnt mean everyone can. I recommend some proper phillips bulbs in the mean time. You can run Ds2 to H7 adapters on any proper HID bulb, its just a spacer and its much more reliable then a plastic rebase like the aftermarket uses.

PS my kaixen kit still runs after I've used it in 3 cars, on the original bulbs, never a problem. They are the ford OEM. While phillips is the luxury car OEM (just saying)

nrg_mike

Holy crap Milk... 12k? If you didn't have that license plate, you'd totally lose all your cool points. LOL

fookoo303

you should just buy morimoto bulbs. OEM quality for a lot cheaper. has a metal retainer unlike the ddm plastic ones that tend to melt off.

NegroC230

im running DDm 35w kit 6K for over 2 years already ...no issues

fookoo303

well i have seen those ddm bulbs melt. The white part that surrounds the base of the bulb will melt and fall out causing the glass section to be tilted at an angle and really messing up the output. Just keep any eye out for it. I dont think DDM quality control is very high, I've also bought a few sets and have had ballasts die on me within a week, but they will send you new ones for free.

LILBENZ230

Originally the DDM kit was fantastic. It was only after a bulb went out last year and I replaced both (thanks to the warranty) that the real issues started. I'm gonna stick with halogens like the car was intended to have from now on. The reason I bought a "cheap" kit (not that I believe there is any difference personally) is because I figured I'd end up throwing it away immediately due to the computer's picky nature. I did eventually throw it away, so I'm glad I didn't spend anymore than I did on it.

TemjinX2

Keep in mind the only real 55watt hid bulb is the Philips DL50's. The rest are overcharged 35watt bulbs. I used the cheap chinese bulbs and they seem to work ok for me. I recently went back to the 4300k philips bulbs because there brighter. Maybe try using oem philips bulbs. I haven't heard any complaints running them at on 55watt bulbs. Keep in mind that hid bulbs are designed to 35watt, and running them at 55watt, you are running them above spec.

03MBC320

^^ a google search shows those phillips bulbs at $165 A PIECE?!?! thats ludacris, are all hid bulbs extremely expensive?? i replaced my stock halogen bulbs at like $10 a piece

fookoo303

yea those are the standard price but if you search you can find them a lot cheaper. theretrofitsource sells them for bout half that

Milkm4n

if it were true it would probably upset me

Milkm4n

thanks for the kind words man and since your not an *** like dingleberry i will tell you the 12k pink i wanted (that are blue) are my fog lights which i only run in the day time hence the reason i wanted pink,cuz when people see a bright pink light coming up on them on the freeway they tend to get the f!@# out the way

Milkm4n

dont forget my stickers they are good for 10 hp each btw my "job tittle" at work is local logistics manager for a independent distributor of dairy and miscellaneous food service products, women love that ish they are lie what can u repeat it, thats when i lean in real close to their ear and hold their shoulder with my free hand ( cuz the other one is holding a alcoholic beverage) and say it again. IT WORKED 95% OF THE TIME EVERY TIME LOL, man when i was single i was the

Milkm4n

so if any one was "wondering dingleberry" these are my Ricer 12k

havoc_vulture

ugh another white w203 that makes me want a wile car good job on your car by the way

Milkm4n

thanks man i appreciate the kind words alot of time and effort went into my car im kinda jealous of the black interior though i got the gray...didnt get to pick lol i saw it was a stick and got it

havoc_vulture

haha its still a very sexy w203
love all parts of her and dont mind the lights

nrg_mike

Imagine how easy I have it when they find out I'm a photographer and work with tv... Man even the ugly ones track the flash down and stalk me. Girls will do unholy things for a photo.
Seriously though... I'm the best wingman. I'm a chubby asian guy with a wedding band (I have to wear it at clubs to keep girls away). Nothing says harmless and unassuming quite like it. Girls don't know what hit em.

But ya... walking up to a girl and saying "I'm the milkman" is not easy to top...

TemjinX2

quality isn't cheap. The import taxes and the fact its only sold in germany that really drives up the price.

But you can find them for $150 for a set once in awhile on hidplanet.com. Philips is the oem manufacture almost all the hids in oem cars...ie lexus, mercedes, acura, infinite.