I also have the HIDs from KBcarstuff in both headlamps and fog lamps. VERY pleased with the look and better visibility.
Installed the HID conversion kit. Real HID, not blue bulbs. 9005 for headlights, H11 for foglights on the RT. STs are different.Did you just replace the bulbs or install the whole HID kit. Can you give us the part numbers. I also have a 2013 RT.
For older design open element headlamp assemblies on most cars until recently I would agree with you. On the newer Spyders, like the 2013 RT that have Hella projector beam housings from the factory and proper beam patterns, just replacing the elements is a great upgrade and perform as well as the BRP replacements. The only 'advantage' of the BRP upgrade is that the ballasts are incorporated into the headlight housing, the lamp beam and optics are the same. I do not consider an 'all in one' non serviceable unit to be an upgrade. With HID lamps, both OEM and aftermarket, the ballasts have a roughly equal failure rate as the bulbs themselves. To each their own though. $900 for just head lamps from BRP (they do not offer fogs) or less than $300 for all 4 lamps from KBcarstuff with the high quality kits. (there are cheaper kits but do not recommend them for several reasons on the bike)I've done both aftermarket and now the BRP HID's. IMHO don't waste your time or money on the aftermarket kits. They are (flame suite on) junk.
Personally, I'd say stay with the stock lights vs aftermarket HID's and Keep an eye out for the BRP kit. They go on sale through different dealers from time to time. I paid $350 for mine through a local dealer that was clearing out their shelves.
Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
They are NOT the same. The electronics in the aftermarket kit are notorious for causing problems with the Spyder. Where the BRP kit is truly a seamless plug and play setup.
Cost is a moot point if your wasting time chasing electrical gremlins.
I've been down that aftermarket HID road and would never recommend it. To hodgepodge for me.
Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
Don't understand the desire to replace perfectly good headlamp optic assemblies. BRP does not sell replacements for the FOG lamps.I have the BRP kit we'll worth the money , has new headlight assemblies along with the ballasts. They are a install plug and play for the most part.
Have not done the for lights yet but gonna in the near future.
Don't understand the desire to replace perfectly good headlamp optic assemblies. BRP does not sell replacements for the FOG lamps.
That is the difference between the slim digital ballast and the cheap Chinese ballasts and also why I recommended not going with a cheaper kit. The digital ones from KBcarstuff with the Phillips lamps work GREAT and there are no electronic problems at all. They plug into the factory wiring. I have also had problems with lesser HID kits on other vehicles. Not these. Have them on other vehicles as well.
I don't have HIDs. I do have a current model car and am a member of a forum for that also. A number of our members there have engaged in forum discussion on factory HIDs (standard on some models, and optional on others) vs aftermarket HIDs. Sound familiar? Anyway the upshot of those discussions has been factory HIDs are great, but very pricey, especially as an after purchase retrofit (no one is giving deals on those puppies!), and more relevant to this thread; there are some very good aftermarket HID kits out there. There are also................................"the other kind of aftermarket HID kits". :yikes: The kind to avoid like the plague. This dovetails exactly into what jcthorne is saying. PAY ATTENTION to what brand of aftermarket HID kit you're considering. Choose wisely, and you can get factory HID functionality and efficiency at a greatly reduced cost. Buy the "wrong brand" HID aftermarket kit though, and you've just :cus: yourself over. Good luck with your upgrade!That is the difference between the slim digital ballast and the cheap Chinese ballasts and also why I recommended not going with a cheaper kit. The digital ones from KBcarstuff with the Phillips lamps work GREAT and there are no electronic problems at all. They plug into the factory wiring. I have also had problems with lesser HID kits on other vehicles. Not these. Have them on other vehicles as well.
Thanks, exactly what I was trying to get across. You stated it well.I don't have HIDs. I do have a current model car and am a member of a forum for that also. A number of our members there have engaged in forum discussion on factory HIDs (standard on some models, and optional on others) vs aftermarket HIDs. Sound familiar? Anyway the upshot of those discussions has been factory HIDs are great, but very pricey, especially as an after purchase retrofit (no one is giving deals on those puppies!), and more relevant to this thread; there are some very good aftermarket HID kits out there. There are also................................"the other kind of aftermarket HID kits". :yikes: The kind to avoid like the plague. This dovetails exactly into what jcthorne is saying. PAY ATTENTION to what brand of aftermarket HID kit you're considering. Choose wisely, and you can get factory HID functionality and efficiency at a greatly reduce cost. Buy the "wrong brand" HID aftermarket kit though, and you've just :cus: yourself over. Good luck with your upgrade!
I can only comment on first hand experience with BOTH the BRP kit and what is sold as, and supposed to be a high quality aftermarket kit on this forum. Keep trying to convince yourself that your aftermarket kit is quality.....haha. Ride on!
I do believe the HID Kits offered from KBCarStuff are different for the RT compared to the RS Kit that you've obviously had a bad experience with. I can't speak of the RS kits from personal experience, but have read some of the same threads that discuss all kinds of early problems on the RS's when trying to plug them directly into the Spyders systems & many ppl reported the problems you speak of. After talking personally with Steve from KB, and bringing to his attention my apprehension, he explained that they now include Relays in all kits for the Spyders so that they can be directly wired if an owner so wishes, and that should solve any issues with causing potential electrical 'gremlins' as you put it. He said the some of the early Kits (08-10) being installed on RS's did present some issues, but the Relays (if used) should take care of them.
Personally, we got the HID Kits for the Headlights first & loved the much better & brighter light output so we recently also got the HID Kit from KB for the Fogs as well for our 2011 RT-S & you can see for yourself the change between the OEM & the aftermarket HID Kits offered from KB. After talking with Steve, we decided NOT to use the included relays & wired them into the Spyders system, and after almost 2 years for the HeadLights and about 6 months now for the Fogs, we haven't had any problems related to this mod to report, but much satisfaction & would personally Highly Recommend to anyone else with an RT that asks us, of course, In Our Humble Opinion![]()