why are the hid kits so expensive?

[Force13b]

Originally Posted by turboed13b

Well after searching for a few days i finally found out what the sport tuner headlights are made of. They are china made projectors with pretty poor lighting compared to OEM projectors.

Yeah they don't have the same quality look to them that Sake's kit does. From the pics of the low beams it looks like a good cut off though. I haven't seen any pics of high beams.

[turboed13b]

Originally Posted by Force13b

Yeah they don't have the same quality look to them that Sake's kit does. From the pics of the low beams it looks like a good cut off though. I haven't seen any pics of high beams.

I found a picture of someone comparing the light to an oem housing and you can definatly tell the difference the cutoff is pretty good they would make awesome fogs.

[Force13b]

Originally Posted by turboed13b

I found a picture of someone comparing the light to an oem housing and you can definatly tell the difference the cutoff is pretty good they would make awesome fogs.

Post it!

[turboed13b]

g1 projector the line isn't really straight and overall dim light output.


OEM fx projector this is what sake bomb uses.

[McVicker]

Some people are DIYers others aren't and would rather have a complete product, neither is wrong...

[Miata_mx5]

Originally Posted by turboed13b

So if i sold HID's for like 600 you guys won't buy it? I think i am going to make some to sell since these things are a big hit.

I would buy it if i was dead broke and could not afford the Sakebomb kit. IMHO the Sakebomb kit is the benchmark that all FD3S HID retrofit kits will be judged by. Their kit has received international recognition from customers in the US, and abroad. Their kit (and all their products for the matter) has also received recognition for quality and detail by even top rotary shops in Japan.

[turboed13b]

Originally Posted by Miata_mx5

I would buy it if i was dead broke and could not afford the Sakebomb kit. IMHO the Sakebomb kit is the benchmark that all FD3S HID retrofit kits will be judged by. Their kit has received international recognition from customers in the US, and abroad. Their kit (and all their products for the matter) has also received recognition for quality and detail by even top rotary shops in Japan.

Your one of those people who say the more expensive the better if you haven't seen my other thread of my prototype take a look i use almost all the same componets but i can offer a lower price. So pretty much the same product but without the big name behind it. It's like buying a shirt from abercrombie and fitch you buy it because of the name on it but you know you can get a shirt that has the same qaulity at jcpenny for 1/4 the cost.

I would love to compare my kit to sake bomb i gaurantee mine will be on par or even better in light output and qaulity.

[McVicker]

Originally Posted by turboed13b

i use almost all the same componets

I would love to compare my kit to sake bomb i gaurantee mine will be on par or even better in light output and qaulity.

Really? So you found a large quantity of Sonar housings huh? From what I hear they're pretty hard to come by. Also if you'd like to work for free then I highly recommend it, you'll save people a lot of money... Labor usually costs money. The projector pictured in your "HID for RCC" thread is a "Mini D2S" projector that is easily installed in any H4 headlight housing. How long did it take you to install that projector, about an hour? I'm actually really curious, seems like it's a lot easier then an FX projector.

You should also try getting the price right. The SBG kit is not over $900.

Edit: just saw this....

taken from the chat box at the top of the screen:

[05-09, 05:32] turboed13b I need someone to buy a hid kit from me and test it i will take 100 off so the price will be 550 shipped. I would like a review on them.

You really need a comparison not a review. Any projector based headlight will be better then what mazda considered headlights in the early 90's.

[Miata_mx5]

Originally Posted by turboed13b

Your one of those people who say the more expensive the better if you haven't seen my other thread of my prototype take a look i use almost all the same componets but i can offer a lower price. So pretty much the same product but without the big name behind it. It's like buying a shirt from abercrombie and fitch you buy it because of the name on it but you know you can get a shirt that has the same qaulity at jcpenny for 1/4 the cost.

I would love to compare my kit to sake bomb i gaurantee mine will be on par or even better in light output and qaulity.

You don't use the same components because the housings are almost impossible to get these days. I don't say the more expensive the better, I just said Sakebomb set the standard. You have a tall ass order to match that. Everyone will want the Sakebomb kit, and if they are too broke to afford it, maybe they will get yours IF THE PRICE DIFFERENCE is deep enough. But since Sakebomb, and their members have been long time rotary heads and big in the community, people will probably spend a little more for a quality kit. Even you said it, you want to match their kit's quality and output with a lesser cost. They already set the benchmark. Why? Because they are not using a projector that fits the H4 slot, any joe schmoe can do that. The product is well thought out, and offers some of the best that can be offered without cutting corners.

[turboed13b]

Originally Posted by Miata_mx5

You don't use the same components because the housings are almost impossible to get these days. I don't say the more expensive the better, I just said Sakebomb set the standard. You have a tall ass order to match that. Everyone will want the Sakebomb kit, and if they are too broke to afford it, maybe they will get yours IF THE PRICE DIFFERENCE is deep enough. But since Sakebomb, and their members have been long time rotary heads and big in the community, people will probably spend a little more for a quality kit. Even you said it, you want to match their kit's quality and output with a lesser cost. They already set the benchmark. Why? Because they are not using a projector that fits the H4 slot, any joe schmoe can do that. The product is well thought out, and offers some of the best that can be offered without cutting corners.

The sonar housing is not hard to come i don't know why everyone is saying that. It's not simple as a drop in fit i had to do some shaving on the projector and i am talking to a friend who does some machining to see if he can make me some new mounting brackets.

Sakebombs kit is 850 shipped plus paypal fees and such and it is pretty close to 900 never said it was over.

[Mobius]

Originally Posted by Miata_mx5

You don't use the same components because the housings are almost impossible to get these days. I don't say the more expensive the better, I just said Sakebomb set the standard. You have a tall ass order to match that. Everyone will want the Sakebomb kit, and if they are too broke to afford it, maybe they will get yours IF THE PRICE DIFFERENCE is deep enough. But since Sakebomb, and their members have been long time rotary heads and big in the community, people will probably spend a little more for a quality kit. Even you said it, you want to match their kit's quality and output with a lesser cost. They already set the benchmark. Why? Because they are not using a projector that fits the H4 slot, any joe schmoe can do that. The product is well thought out, and offers some of the best that can be offered without cutting corners.

Exactly this. I was all set to pull the plug on doing my own retrofit, and then I clicked on their GB thread for shits and giggles. I was surprised to see that they were actually going to make a full retrofit kit using the best materials available. The amount I had to pay on top of what it would have cost me to do it myself was quite worth it IMO. I am quite glad I bought them, best purchase I've made for my car to date.

[turboed13b]

Originally Posted by Mobius

Exactly this. I was all set to pull the plug on doing my own retrofit, and then I clicked on their GB thread for shits and giggles. I was surprised to see that they were actually going to make a full retrofit kit using the best materials available. The amount I had to pay on top of what it would have cost me to do it myself was quite worth it IMO. I am quite glad I bought them, best purchase I've made for my car to date.

I just don't think the labor should cost that much i'm on a miata forum and a member over there is providing retros for 400 or somewhere in that range.

[Max777]

What's so bad about the $50 drop in kits? For a 20yocar like the FC, getting a set of ebay H4 housings and a cheap HID kit upgrades the lighting so much already, that I really dont see the point of dropping a grand on lights...


And the cut off isnt THAT bad if you aim the lights down a little.

[turboed13b]

Originally Posted by Max777

What's so bad about the $50 drop in kits? For a 20yocar like the FC, getting a set of ebay H4 housings and a cheap HID kit upgrades the lighting so much already, that I really dont see the point of dropping a grand on lights...


And the cut off isnt THAT bad if you aim the lights down a little.

There is no doubt that you can see a lot better but the problem is the other drivers in oncoming traffic won't be able to see because of the stray glare.

You are right there is no point in dropping a grand in lights that why i offer hid retros for hundreds less yeah i am not a big name but why waste money on basically the same product?

I just checked the miata forum a guy has a group buy price of 325! He uses cheaper hid kits to get the super low price and retros the stock housings but the projectors are legit.

I can offer fc retros cheaper than the fd retros as the housings are cheaper but there isn't much interest in them.

[turboed13b]

Originally Posted by McVicker

Really? So you found a large quantity of Sonar housings huh? From what I hear they're pretty hard to come by. Also if you'd like to work for free then I highly recommend it, you'll save people a lot of money... Labor usually costs money. The projector pictured in your "HID for RCC" thread is a "Mini D2S" projector that is easily installed in any H4 headlight housing. How long did it take you to install that projector, about an hour? I'm actually really curious, seems like it's a lot easier then an FX projector.

You should also try getting the price right. The SBG kit is not over $900.

Edit: just saw this....

taken from the chat box at the top of the screen:

[05-09, 05:32] turboed13b I need someone to buy a hid kit from me and test it i will take 100 off so the price will be 550 shipped. I would like a review on them.

You really need a comparison not a review. Any projector based headlight will be better then what mazda considered headlights in the early 90's.

here is a comparison of the projector SBG uses and what i use.

SBG on left and the projector i use on the right.