I burnt out one of my Sylvania Silverstar Ultra low beam bulbs the other day and replaced it with one of the originals. I choked at the price of a pair of new ones, thinking I could put some DDM HID's in for that price, or close.

But I have a question: I drive to work in the AM in the dark year round on back roads with almost no traffic, and I use my high beams 95% of the time on this 20-25 minute drive. Considering I use the high beams so much, will the HID low beams get cold and not come on instantly when I do switch to low beams?

 

I would say yes, if i run my high beams for an extended period of time and then switch to low beam there is momentary darkness until the HID's warm up, my fog lights are usually suffice enough until the HID's warm up.

 

If you install HID in the low beam position you probably won't need to flip over to high beams. The low beams will produce as much if not more light as your high beams currently are.

 

Yeah you wont need to run high beams with hids there brighter

 

I agree on the low beam only. HID low beams are good enough and you will probably find yourself using them 95% of the time.

 

Don't do it, you will be 'blind' for a small amount of time while the bulb heats up.

You may want to look into a retrofit with a bi-xenon projector, as the bulb and ballast never power down, a shield just lifts.

 

Once you install hid's you will never use your high beams again.

 

^ very true, i almost never use my high beam

 

I have HID's in my highs and lows, the HID lows are bright, but the highs actually allow them to project much farther. I drive a lot of empty dark back roads at night and the highs are absolutely necessary. If I can see another 100 feet, that is another 100 feet I have to stop if there is a deer in the road.

As for the time in between, you can pull the level back half way and let the low beams charge until you flip it all the way.

Also, DDM is being very very slow on shipping. You still will get your HIDs, it'll probably take a good 2 weeks though. So be prepared to see them sit for a while, don't think they are lost.

 

X1000 on not really using the highbeams,