Reference

This is your number one stop for everything you need to know about choosing the right HID kit for your vehicle.

The two biggest comments we get from customers who have installed our HID kits is that there is more light in front of the vehicle and that the light is less tiring to drive with. HID lighting is brighter than any standard halogen bulb and may offer increased vision ahead of you. HIDs are closer to natural sunlight in colour (when ordered as such) and are thus more pleasing and less exhausting to the human eye. HIDs can also add a unique appearance to your vehicle.

Please view our Gallery for more pictures of our customers' vehicles using our kits. Use our SharpHID Blog to post questions, look for answers, and discuss HIDs with others.

Frequently Asked Questions:

Why should I use HID lights in my car?
HID, sometimes also called Xenon, stands for High Intensity Discharge. HID lights will create a cleaner, brighter more pleasant light. This will allow you to see further up the road, read more clearly the posted traffic signs, and view potential dangers on the road or on the side of the road. Our 35 watt HID kits produce almost 200% more light than a normal 55 watt halogen bulb while consuming less of the vehicle's electrical power. 55 watt HID kits are 35%-40% brighter than our 35 watt HID kits. HID lights will also decrease your risk of becoming tired or losing concentration while driving at night as the light is closer to actual daylight and thus more pleasing to your eyes. Please see below for a legal description.

Our HID kits are completely plug and play meaning they will work together with your OEM wiring harness. Unlike many kits, our kits are able to safely draw power from your OEM harness without the need for a direct power connection to your vehicle's battery. For some vehicles there may be some modification required to the light housing to accept the new wiring. Please read our instructions for the correct way to install our kits.

What type of bulb does my car use?
Please use this fantastic tool provided by Osram Sylvania to find out what type of bulb your car uses in the various bulb locations in the car. As always, however, please refer to your owner's manual provided with car to confirm such information. This information will help determine which HID kit you need to order for your car. As just mentioned please check with your manual or dealership to confirm your bulb type. This tool from Osram Sylvania is merely for reference and isn't 100% accurate.

Click here for the Osram Sylvania tool:

Not sure what colour you want your lights to look like?
Here is a guide of what the Kelvin (K numbers) mean when we are talking about our different kits. Kelvin is a measure of temperature and determines the colour temperature of light. You can use a chart like the one below to see what temperature will produce a particular colour of light.

It is generally considered that temperatures between 5000K and 5500K (the colour of light at noon-daytime) will produce the whitest light and almost the most light output (lumens). A blue light will be between 6000K and 10,000K and thereafter will begin to look purple. 12000K will look purple. Please keep in mind that the further away you get from the 4300K mark the less light output there will be. Most OEM factory HID systems use 4300K/4500K bulbs but it is the reflector or projection lens that causes the light to vary in colours from slightly yellow all the way to purple.

Please check out our Gallery page for pictures of how these lights look installed.

35 Watt vs 55 Watt Kits

What type of modification is required to my car to make these HID kits work?
Each car is different but for headlights there is typically very little modification. Some fog lights can be more complicated. Please review our instructions to see what is required to install our HID kits (instructions are currently only available via email).

I touched the glass part of the bulb, what should I do?
You must never touch the glass of HID bulbs or any automotive bulb. The oils on your skin can cause the bulb to overheat and thus shorten the life of the bulb. Handle the bulbs by the base only. To clean the bulbs use some alcohol on a clean cloth and gently wipe the bulb clean. Please remember that all bulbs contain a gas under pressure - handle all bulbs carefully as they may explode if mishandled.

I am concerned about running these lights in my car. Will my OEM wiring harness be able to handle running these?
There is often a concern that these kits will damage or melt the OEM wiring harness of the car. Our products are designed to work seamlessly with your OEM wiring harness with the exception of some more modern cars where an additional harness may be required. Please follow the installation instructions provided with your kit or provided on this website for the correct way to install our kits. Incorrect installation may cause unexpected problems. The lights will actually draw less electrical power from your vehicle than a standard 55 watt halogen bulb. As with any aftermarket modifaction HID kits are installed at the owner's own risk.

Are these lights legal?
Aftermarket HID kits are for off road and race use only. If your car came with HIDs from the factory then our kits are a great replacement for a bad bulb or ballast. Please check with your local DMV as to whether you can use these lights in your vehicle on the public roads.

How can I extend the life of the lighting kits or bulbs in my car?
One of the most common cause of bulb failures is a power surge when the lights turn on. For this reason it is recommended that you turn on your headlights and auxiliary lights after you turn on your car.