why are the hid kits so expensive?

McVicker · 09-09-2010, 04:55 PM

You do realize the "mini D2" projector that you're using was not available when SBG created the headlight kit right? What you've created isn't really what I would consider a product. But yeah SBG is definitely price gouging....

The projectors SBG uses requires a great deal of customization to the headlight housing (time) time isn't free buddy. Actually those mini projectors seem pretty easy to fit into the sonar lenses, I'll give it a try and post a DIY if it's easy enough

The Mini projectors definitely put out nicer light then many of the other projectors out there.

turboed13b · 09-09-2010, 07:59 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by McVicker

You do realize the "mini D2" projector that you're using was not available when SBG created the headlight kit right? What you've created isn't really what I would consider a product. But yeah SBG is definitely price gouging....

The projectors SBG uses requires a great deal of customization to the headlight housing (time) time isn't free buddy. Actually those mini projectors seem pretty easy to fit into the sonar lenses, I'll give it a try and post a DIY if it's easy enough

The Mini projectors definitely put out nicer light then many of the other projectors out there.

They did have the mini h1 which i basically the same but it only uses h1 bulbs. Why do you think its not a product? I spent time seperating the lens, aligning, bolting, then gluing them in the only difference is i don't have to get a hole saw to cut the housing to get the projector to fit.

If you want to know how to get a fx projector to fit i have a housing already cut it took 1 min with the hole saw but i am sure you already know.

McVicker · 09-10-2010, 02:17 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by turboed13b

They did have the mini h1 which i basically the same but it only uses h1 bulbs. Why do you think its not a product? I spent time seperating the lens, aligning, bolting, then gluing them in the only difference is i don't have to get a hole saw to cut the housing to get the projector to fit.

They had the Mini H1 a year ago? Hmmm, I'm gonna call BS on that one chief. The smallest bi-xenon projector available was the Fx. SBG will be done with the HID headlight game after their current GB anyway so then you don't have to complain anymore.

BTW, yeah you can cut a hole in a housing in a few minutes, but a round hole will not fit the projector into the housing deep enough to clear the lens.

turboed13b · 09-10-2010, 03:49 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by McVicker

They had the Mini H1 a year ago? Hmmm, I'm gonna call BS on that one chief. The smallest bi-xenon projector available was the Fx. SBG will be done with the HID headlight game after their current GB anyway so then you don't have to complain anymore.

BTW, yeah you can cut a hole in a housing in a few minutes, but a round hole will not fit the projector into the housing deep enough to clear the lens.

Just because theretrofitsource.com didn't sell them doesn't mean you couldn't get them with all the connections overseas i am pretty sure you could of got a whole shipment full.

There is also the g1 projector and maybe g3 if it was out at that time. Yes a round hole will fit a fx deep enough i have built one i have also fit a tsx using the same method and it is a tiny bit longer than the fx.

theorie · 09-14-2010, 10:14 PM

All I have to say is: good luck finding the Sonar clear headlights in bulk if you plan on copying the SBG kit. I've looked, everywhere. I even tried to contact the factory directly, more than once. Anyone who claims they sell the Sonar clear headlight housings is either: A) permanently out of stock & hasn't updated their website inventory; or B) a lying bastard trying to scam you out of $300.

As someone who has a group buy going on right now, I can definitely say that labor is EASILY underestimated when thinking about producing a product. Sure, making one set for yourself or your friend is easy enough, but try making 10, 20, 30 or more sets of anything. Then we can talk about the fair price of labor.

The SakeBomb Garage HID Projector kit is the new benchmark. If you want to DIY, go for it, but if you want a plug-n-play kit, that you know is going to be quality, get the SBG kit - it's worth every penny.

turboed13b · 09-15-2010, 12:28 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by theorie

All I have to say is: good luck finding the Sonar clear headlights in bulk if you plan on copying the SBG kit. I've looked, everywhere. I even tried to contact the factory directly, more than once. Anyone who claims they sell the Sonar clear headlight housings is either: A) permanently out of stock & hasn't updated their website inventory; or B) a lying bastard trying to scam you out of $300.

As someone who has a group buy going on right now, I can definitely say that labor is EASILY underestimated when thinking about producing a product. Sure, making one set for yourself or your friend is easy enough, but try making 10, 20, 30 or more sets of anything. Then we can talk about the fair price of labor.

The SakeBomb Garage HID Projector kit is the new benchmark. If you want to DIY, go for it, but if you want a plug-n-play kit, that you know is going to be quality, get the SBG kit - it's worth every penny.

I bought my sonar housings for 77 shipped

maybe thats why sbg kit is more expensive i will have to look into that.

Supernaut · 09-15-2010, 03:17 AM

Turbo, I think its awesome you are making your own kit and I even considered buying the extra you made for a future second FD but you're forgetting something in your cost estimation. When I bought my SBG kit, I bough plug and play installation, labor that I can trust and someone accountable that I can yell at if something goes wrong. If my kit ends up being defective, I can count on someone from SBG to help me. I'm not trying to put you down man. I'm glad you're out there making stuff but the premium that I paid for the SBG kit was well worth it to me.

If you ever decide to start building kits, I'd definitely consider buying them if they were cheap enough but I can tell you that I definitely don't think the money that I paid for the SBG kit went to waste at all. Even more so because I only have a small inkling about what you guys are talking about.

Also about the price and availibility, theorie mentioned bulk. I congratulate you on finding a good price on yours though.

09-09-2010, 04:55 PM	#31
McVicker Rotary Fan in Training Join Date: Feb 2008 Location: Delaware iTrader: (1) Posts: 93 Rep Power: 17	You do realize the "mini D2" projector that you're using was not available when SBG created the headlight kit right? What you've created isn't really what I would consider a product. But yeah SBG is definitely price gouging.... The projectors SBG uses requires a great deal of customization to the headlight housing (time) time isn't free buddy. Actually those mini projectors seem pretty easy to fit into the sonar lenses, I'll give it a try and post a DIY if it's easy enough The Mini projectors definitely put out nicer light then many of the other projectors out there. __________________ Scrubs McBubs! SakeBomb garage.com Last edited by McVicker; 09-09-2010 at 05:06 PM..

09-14-2010, 10:14 PM	#35
theorie VRR PSSH Join Date: Apr 2009 Location: Sarasota, FL iTrader: (0) Posts: 113 Rep Power: 16	All I have to say is: good luck finding the Sonar clear headlights in bulk if you plan on copying the SBG kit. I've looked, everywhere. I even tried to contact the factory directly, more than once. Anyone who claims they sell the Sonar clear headlight housings is either: A) permanently out of stock & hasn't updated their website inventory; or B) a lying bastard trying to scam you out of $300. As someone who has a group buy going on right now, I can definitely say that labor is EASILY underestimated when thinking about producing a product. Sure, making one set for yourself or your friend is easy enough, but try making 10, 20, 30 or more sets of anything. Then we can talk about the fair price of labor. The SakeBomb Garage HID Projector kit is the new benchmark. If you want to DIY, go for it, but if you want a plug-n-play kit, that you know is going to be quality, get the SBG kit - it's worth every penny. __________________ 1993 SSM, 20B (D449), SINGLE-TURBO, DIY-BUILD IN THE WORKS... \|Build Thread\| 1993 BB, 13B, SINGLE-TURBO, DAILY DRIVER \|Build Thread\| MY FACEBOOK PROFILE // BLACK LABEL ENGINEERING // ADVANCED RACE TECH // IR PERFORMANCE // THE BOOST LAB // [url=rotaryaddicts.com] Last edited by theorie; 09-14-2010 at 10:27 PM..

09-15-2010, 03:17 AM	#37
Supernaut Rotary Fanatic Join Date: Jun 2010 Location: Edgewater NJ iTrader: (8) Posts: 265 Rep Power: 15	Turbo, I think its awesome you are making your own kit and I even considered buying the extra you made for a future second FD but you're forgetting something in your cost estimation. When I bought my SBG kit, I bough plug and play installation, labor that I can trust and someone accountable that I can yell at if something goes wrong. If my kit ends up being defective, I can count on someone from SBG to help me. I'm not trying to put you down man. I'm glad you're out there making stuff but the premium that I paid for the SBG kit was well worth it to me. If you ever decide to start building kits, I'd definitely consider buying them if they were cheap enough but I can tell you that I definitely don't think the money that I paid for the SBG kit went to waste at all. Even more so because I only have a small inkling about what you guys are talking about. Also about the price and availibility, theorie mentioned bulk. I congratulate you on finding a good price on yours though. __________________ -93 Spirit R Replica built @ IRP/S1. S1 tuned Last edited by Supernaut; 09-15-2010 at 03:20 AM..