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  #1  
Old 04-11-2010, 06:23 PM
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SoCal LS-L SoCal LS-L is offline
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DDM Tuning (Apexcone HID's)

So I wont get into why I canceled my PREVIOUS order, but I foolishly tried again for 2 pairs of their Raptor HID kits..... with "2-3 day shipping" its 3 weeks later, I called them a week n a half ago and they said no we cant refund them they have been sent out. I get an email 5 days ago that they finally sent them out THAT DAY. There goes their refund excuse.....Ok, whatever gimme my lights. They havent shown up, from the next state, in 5 days (+2 weeks) with supposed 2-3 day shipping. I click on the tracking number, it shows the package for the tracking number they gave me was delivered to Northridge, CA. WTH??!

Now I get to call them tomorrow AGAIN and find out why the package was delivered there (their site lists my correct address), gee maybe they wont give me a refund even now.... since they already been sent out and all.....

Avoid, this is the 2nd time I got the runaround, the guys there are rude and dishonest about shipping time, stock, refunds, anything. I have 5 different separate emails from them, all on different days, saying my order was shipped out that day. So after 3 weeks of something that was supposedly IN STOCK shipped "2-3 days" here I still wait.
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Last edited by svxcess; 07-10-2018 at 09:11 AM.
  #2  
Old 04-11-2010, 07:11 PM
92 SVX 92 SVX is offline
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Re: DDM Tuning (Apexcone HID's)

Wow that is terrible, I have ordered from them multiple times and have never had a problem. I think the longest I waited was a friday order that shipped out tuesday morning I received no later then 5 business days after ordering.
  #3  
Old 04-12-2010, 10:58 AM
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Re: DDM Tuning (Apexcone HID's)

Finally got ahold of someone there (after 17 1/2 min hold), lo and behold my order had indeed shipped to Northridge.... even though my correct address was listed on their site. So 3 weeks later no lights..... refunded my money though, sans interest. This is almost the EXACT same thing they did before..... minus the ship to the wrong address thing. They are NOT honest about stock or shipping time.
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"A person convinced against their will, is of the same opinion still"

New?? Find the downloadable SVX Online Service Manual Here
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  #4  
Old 04-13-2010, 02:02 AM
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Re: DDM Tuning (Apexcone HID's)

I am having a prob with 1stsubaruparts also. This is the first time I buy from them, ordered on the 3rd of April, "On Order" status up until now.

A couple of days after my order I asked them about ballpark time, they said they should ship them on thursday (last week). I emailed them on friday, no answer. Again on monday (yesterday morning), no answer... is this normal?
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  #5  
Old 04-13-2010, 02:15 AM
1986nate 1986nate is offline
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Re: DDM Tuning (Apexcone HID's)

Quote:
Originally Posted by SilverSpear View Post
I am having a prob with 1stsubaruparts also. This is the first time I buy from them, ordered on the 3rd of April, "On Order" status up until now.

A couple of days after my order I asked them about ballpark time, they said they should ship them on thursday (last week). I emailed them on friday, no answer. Again on monday (yesterday morning), no answer... is this normal?
Danny, I have so far only used 1stsubaruparts.com when I have made parts orders other than small things from the local dealership. I have had nothing but great experiences with them on all 3 occasions that I have dealt with them. I am wondering if its due to the fact that it is international shipping. Just curious.
  #6  
Old 04-13-2010, 05:17 AM
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Re: DDM Tuning (Apexcone HID's)

Quote:
Originally Posted by 1986nate View Post
Danny, I have so far only used 1stsubaruparts.com when I have made parts orders other than small things from the local dealership. I have had nothing but great experiences with them on all 3 occasions that I have dealt with them. I am wondering if its due to the fact that it is international shipping. Just curious.
Not international Nate, rather local to Bobby's in MA.
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2013 Mercedes-Benz SL350 Euro Specs, White/Red. Mint... Another step into SL Collection.
  #7  
Old 11-28-2016, 07:27 PM
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Re: DDM Tuning (Apexcone HID's)

Just want to say I have 6000k HIDs from DDM and have had absolutely no issues. I haven't gotten flashed by other drivers for them and I haven't been harassed by cops for them and believe me, my local police love to give you a hard time for whatever they can think of.
  #8  
Old 11-29-2016, 08:07 AM
SoobCrazy SoobCrazy is offline
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Re: DDM Tuning (Apexcone HID's)

Quote:
Originally Posted by slowner44 View Post
Just want to say I have 6000k HIDs from DDM and have had absolutely no issues. I haven't gotten flashed by other drivers for them and I haven't been harassed by cops for them and believe me, my local police love to give you a hard time for whatever they can think of.
  #9  
Old 11-29-2016, 08:37 PM
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Re: DDM Tuning (Apexcone HID's)

Quote:
Originally Posted by SoobCrazy View Post
SoobCrazy, you do know our low beam housing is a projector not a reflector housing, right?...
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  #10  
Old 11-30-2016, 07:00 AM
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Sean486 Sean486 is offline
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Re: DDM Tuning (Apexcone HID's)

I put HIDs in mine and was pretty happy with the improvement. Nobody flashed me thinking I had brights on, but that doesn't mean that much. Not everybody will flash, and also the car is very low while most cars and SUVs have gotten taller. After a few months I started having some weird intermittent issues with them failing to turning on, which turned out not to be the HIDs but a bad alternator. I ended up taking them out and going back to standard bulb as a troubleshooting measure and decided not to put them back due to the uncertainty of whether they should be used or not.

It would be interesting if someone who knew about this stuff could actually test the SVX's light patterns with and and without HID and give us a comparison. I am really curious if it really is a problem or not. They are a pretty common upgrade and it would be nice to see better at night.
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  #11  
Old 11-30-2016, 08:11 AM
SoobCrazy SoobCrazy is offline
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Re: DDM Tuning (Apexcone HID's)

Quote:
Originally Posted by Svx95 View Post
SoobCrazy, you do know our low beam housing is a projector not a reflector housing, right?...
Did you read the link I posted in my original post? If not, go back and read that first, I'll wait...

OK, now I'll lay this out for you as simply as I can: It does not matter the physical style of lamp, whether it is a reflector, projector, free-form reflector or anything else. If the lamp was designed for a halogen bulb, you CANNOT simply swap in an HID or LED bulb and go.

The problem with swapping in bulbs of different construction is that the lamp housing was designed for the specific shape of the light source produced by the bulb. Halogen lamps use filaments, shaped like a line "l". HIDs produce an arc of electricity ")". LEDs produce a single point of light "."

So, when you put a HID/LED bulb into a halogen lamp what happens? As the light leaves its source the first thing it will hit is the reflector. Now this reflector was specifically designed and tuned to bounce the light and re-aim it to the correct spot down the road. IF the light hits the reflector from a new angle, there is no chance the light will be re-aimed properly.

"But my lamps have projectors!" you cry. That doesn't matter at all. The projector and its reflector, and the geometry designed into the assembly, are still designed for a halogen bulb.

Quote:
Originally Posted by Sean486
It would be interesting if someone who knew about this stuff could actually test the SVX's light patterns with and and without HID and give us a comparison. I am really curious if it really is a problem or not. They are a pretty common upgrade and it would be nice to see better at night.
Being employed as an engineer at a major vehicle manufacturer I can tell you, there is no testing necessary. Provided the required angles and dimensions form the SVX's headlamp I can prove this "theory" with simple math. Physics will not allow PnP kits to "just work".

If you honestly want to improve your night vision here are your options:

1) Install better halogen bulbs.
2) Bake open your headlamp housings and retrofit in an HID or LED lamp assembly from a vehicle with those lamps factory-installed.
3) Add appropriate auxiliary lighting and cover when not in use (Driving lamps, etc.)

We are all "the other driver," so be thoughtful and courteous with your modifications.

I highly suggest everyone look a little deeper at lighting "upgrades" in the future. Just because it's cheap, easy to do and everyone around you is doing it, doesn't mean it's correct or safe.
  #12  
Old 11-30-2016, 08:38 AM
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Re: DDM Tuning (Apexcone HID's)

What are the "better" halogen lamp options?
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  #13  
Old 12-01-2016, 03:58 PM
wdb wdb is offline
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Re: DDM Tuning (Apexcone HID's)

Quote:
Originally Posted by SoobCrazy View Post
If you honestly want to improve your night vision here are your options:

1) Install better halogen bulbs.
2) Bake open your headlamp housings and retrofit in an HID or LED lamp assembly from a vehicle with those lamps factory-installed.
3) Add appropriate auxiliary lighting and cover when not in use (Driving lamps, etc.)
4) Install HIR bulbs. More light output, same filament location as halogen, very very long bulb life -- unlike the "better halogen" bulbs I've tried, which tended to burn out in a matter of months. The SVX has the great good fortune of allowing both low and high beams to be upgraded with HIRs.
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Last edited by wdb; 12-01-2016 at 04:01 PM.
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