cheap HID's
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From: Phoenix, Arizona, US
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i got my Philips HID for $387.95 
at GroupCenter.com
at GroupCenter.com 
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From: Rockford, Illinois, US
Rep Power: 0 << there's a groupbuy with the Catz Zeta system. it's 225 shipped but i don't know anyone with it so i couldn't tell my opinion about them
>>That would be a cool deal if the Catz Zeta was actually a HID system. Unfortunately, all the Catz system does is boost the power going to whatever bulbs you happen to have in your headlights. If you read their info on their site, the system will even work to boost your stock bulbs (I'd give you a link, but I'm not really motivated enough to track it back down again...sorry man!) Of course, the thing that should immediately pop into your head is "hey...if I jam more power than was intended into my bulbs to make them burn brighter, aren't I making their expected life significantly shorter?" The answer, of course, is yes. Now if you really want the HID look to go along with that newfound brightness you have, you're prolly plopping down $65+ a pair for some sort of decent ultrawhite HID lookalike bulbs (which have a notoriously short lifespan anyway). That means that you will be replacing bulbs much more often and in the long run, you will prolly be better off just buying the real deal HIDs for only $150 more. There is a reason that they call the Catz system the "poor man's HID." Personally? I think if you're not gonna do it right, you shouldn't do it at all. Then again...it's your money!
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From: Alabama, US
Rep Power: 0 I've had my Catz in for over 3 months with no sign of bulb problems. I'm using the bulbs that come with the system. There is about a 1 second delay before the higher voltage kicks in. The Catz bulbs are also a hybrid zenon/filament system as I understand it. You also keep your high beams with Catz.
My previous experience (without Catz) with PIAA bulbs was very poor.
My previous experience (without Catz) with PIAA bulbs was very poor.
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From: Portland, Oregon, US
Rep Power: 0 just an FYI, according to this phillips themselves don't make HID kits. http://www.autolamps-online.com/gasdischarge/index.htm
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From: Rockford, Illinois, US
Rep Power: 0 << On another point, aren't there some state laws that if your car didn't have HID as an OE optiion, that aftermarket HID is illegal? >>
It's my understanding that SOME HID kits are legal. The major problem is that if you just put HID capsules in factory headlamp assemblies, the beam projection pattern is illegal. You need a kit that replaces some of the optics, or has the proper shields in them to make sure that the beam pattern isn't too broad so that it won't blind other drivers. Your guess is as good as mine, though, as far as which lighting kits actually meet that requirement.
And Barkat, regarding your Catz system. That comes with the Galexy White bulbs, right? Had you ever used those before w/o the Catz system? They are supposed to be more reliable than the PIAAs? I have PIAAs now that are about 2 months old and they are still surviving, but I figure hey...from what I hear, it's only a matter of time until I will be needing to replace them....
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From: Alabama, US
Rep Power: 0 uicmedruss,
I had a set of PIAA ultra plasma somethings and the first set turned pink the first night I drove with them. I was coming home from a 600 mile trip and had the lights on maybe the last two hours. By the time I got home I coulnd't see well, but thought it was eye fatigue. When I pulled in the garage I saw that the bulbs were pinkish instead of blue. I replaced those on warranty and same thing happened to the second set. That is when I got the Catz system.
Catz says to use the bulbs that come with the kit or you can use the OE halogens. If their bulbs work with the higher voltages, then I think they would be fine in a stock system, just not as bright.
Overall the best bulbs I had before Catz were the Sylvania Cool Blue 9003 (H4). They were the whitest and seemed to give the best light to see by. Also they are pretty cheap compared to PIAA and some others.
I had a set of PIAA ultra plasma somethings and the first set turned pink the first night I drove with them. I was coming home from a 600 mile trip and had the lights on maybe the last two hours. By the time I got home I coulnd't see well, but thought it was eye fatigue. When I pulled in the garage I saw that the bulbs were pinkish instead of blue. I replaced those on warranty and same thing happened to the second set. That is when I got the Catz system.
Catz says to use the bulbs that come with the kit or you can use the OE halogens. If their bulbs work with the higher voltages, then I think they would be fine in a stock system, just not as bright.
Overall the best bulbs I had before Catz were the Sylvania Cool Blue 9003 (H4). They were the whitest and seemed to give the best light to see by. Also they are pretty cheap compared to PIAA and some others.
I also have the catz system, it is a little brighter and look nicer than normal xeno bulbs i used such as piaa BUT no where near HID brightness, i also test it with the OE halogens. It really bright up the bulbs more and give out some types of brighter yellowish color. Once the bulbs that come with the catz system blow up, i am just going to stick with OE halogens.
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