Upgrade Headlight Ballast to 55w?

25988 Views 34 Replies 12 Participants Last post by atlzbest, Feb 9, 2017

amorak

Discussion Starter · Mar 9, 2014

I hate how bad the headlight output is on my JX35/QX60... Has anyone found a ballast upgrade to push 55w through the lights to increase their output?

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Paradox

· #2 · Mar 9, 2014

TheRetrofitSource makes great reliable products and here is theirs: D2S: Morimoto Elite HID System - HID Systems from The Retrofit Source Inc

Just make sure to use the dropdown menu and change the ballasts to Morimoto 5Five from 3Five for the 55w ballasts.

Also, if you want their better bulbs, go with the XB35 bulbs, they will match closer to their respecitve Kelvin rating. Or of course keep what you have or buy better OSRAM bulbs, they have them too although they are pricey.

And finally, I'm sure you know this, but running 55w will increase your bulbs intensity by about 20% but will also reduce the life of the bulb by 20%.

Reactions: 1

amorak

Discussion Starter · #3 · Mar 9, 2014

Paradox said:
TheRetrofitSource makes great reliable products and here is theirs: D2S: Morimoto Elite HID System - HID Systems from The Retrofit Source Inc

Just make sure to use the dropdown menu and change the ballasts to Morimoto 5Five from 3Five for the 55w ballasts.

Also, if you want their better bulbs, go with the XB35 bulbs, they will match closer to their respecitve Kelvin rating. Or of course keep what you have or buy better OSRAM bulbs, they have them too although they are pricey.

And finally, I'm sure you know this, but running 55w will increase your bulbs intensity by about 20% but will also reduce the life of the bulb by 20%.

Thanks! Do we know for a fact that the QQX60 has 35W ballasts? I just assumed, due to the mediocre light output.

Where are teh stock ballasts, so I can see how hard it'll be to swap them out.

amorak

Discussion Starter · #4 · Mar 9, 2014

Does anyone know what kind of connector that is on the bottom (not the bulb connector, the one on the ballast itself) so that I order the right connector?

Young04

· #5 · Mar 9, 2014

amorak said:
Thanks! Do we know for a fact that the QQX60 has 35W ballasts? I just assumed, due to the mediocre light output.

Where are teh stock ballasts, so I can see how hard it'll be to swap them out.

our cars def have 35w ballast. but i also wonder if the projector is the issue. my other car (VW touareg) has 35W ballasts (with d3s bulbs) and is far brighter.

Paradox

· #6 · Mar 9, 2014

Yes it is 35w factory, they won't overdrive the bulbs to 55w.

If people think these hid's are bad, imagine if they went with halogens... I've had LED headlights in two previous cars and these hid's aren't horrible in the qx60.

Young04

· #7 · Mar 9, 2014

Paradox said:
Yes it is 35w factory, they won't overdrive the bulbs to 55w.

If people think these hid's are bad, imagine if they went with halogens... I've had LED headlights in two previous cars and these hid's aren't horrible in the qx60.

I think they are awful. Most dim xenons I have ever seen in the last 7 or 8 years.

Halogen lights in a car like this would have been unacceptable. LEDs are often not as bright but at least they have a better (cooler) color.

Paradox

· #8 · Mar 9, 2014

Color doesn't matter to me, I go by light on the road and I have seen worse hid's.

Higher kelvin, more blue, means less light on the road. 4300k is ideal. 5000k is ok, 6k up is for looks.

harlenm

· #9 · Mar 10, 2014

The lights are awful. Trying to figure out what to do about it. Will look to upgrade projectors or ballasts when the weather gets warmer.

Thorin78

· #10 · Mar 10, 2014

OEM Infiniti QX60 Shrouds - Closeouts

This is interesting. Based on the information TRS wrote, it looks like they've taken apart some of the headlights and may be messing with it. I'm going to email them and ask.

Paradox

· #11 · Mar 10, 2014

I guess quite a few people are bummed about the lack of LED DRLs and making mods to change that, lol. Nice find, I wish I was closer to their GA shop, I'd trust them to mod inside the headlights. But shops around here in NY... nah, I'll pass.

harlenm

· #12 · Mar 10, 2014

Paradox said:
I guess quite a few people are bummed about the lack of LED DRLs and making mods to change that, lol. Nice find, I wish I was closer to their GA shop, I'd trust them to mod inside the headlights. But shops around here in NY... nah, I'll pass.

You can trust these guys. They did some work on a previous car of mine and they did an excellent job.

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foreverJX

· #13 · Mar 11, 2014

if i was truly dedicated to improving the headlights i'd just swap another projector in

the cause of the poor output is likely the bad projector

a few have upgraded to the 85122+ or CBI bulbs with very little improvement.

A swap to a clear lens might help a bit...

55w ballasts will improve things a bit. Your bulbs wont last as long.. And hopefully you wont melt anything.

Post up what you end up doing!

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Paradox

· #14 · Mar 11, 2014

I say we keep an eye out for improved headlights on a possible refresh for 2015 and push infiniti to change out our headlight assembly's if an improvement is made. On a refresh the redesign would fit, it'd just be updated in the housing with probable light focusing improvements.

Thorin78

· #15 · Mar 11, 2014

Paradox said:
I say we keep an eye out for improved headlights on a possible refresh for 2015 and push infiniti to change out our headlight assembly's if an improvement is made. On a refresh the redesign would fit, it'd just be updated in the housing with probable light focusing improvements.

I'd say that's a huge guess. I'd think you have better luck putting in a complaint with NHTSA on the light output and if sufficient people do the same, there may be a recall for it.

Paradox

· #16 · Mar 11, 2014

I dont think either will happen nor accomplish anything but I'd rather go for a refresh headlight than waste my time with the NHTSA. YMMV, do what suits you of course.

Thorin78

· #17 · Mar 12, 2014 (Edited)

So I got an answer from The Retrofit Source

"The QX60 actually uses the same projector as the G37 Sedan which is quite good from a performance standpoint."

Can someone compare this the G37 with the QX? I don't own a G37 or have anyone near me that does.

I'd like to provide a picture of the two lights on the same wall if possible.

I see Harlemn's picture against the RDX but not G37. Help?

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Young04

· #18 · Mar 12, 2014

Thorin78 said:
So I got an answer from The Retrofit Source

"The QX60 actually uses the same projector as the G37 Sedan which is quite good from a performance standpoint."

Can someone compare this the G37 with the QX? I don't own a G37 or have anyone near me that does.

I'd like to provide a picture of the two lights on the same wall if possible.

I see Harlemn's picture against the RDX but not G37. Help?

my previous car was a 2011 G37x. i really have a tough time believing that they are the same projector. the QX is noticeably dimmer and the cutoff isn't nearly as sharp as the G. can't provide a side by side pic though.

harlenm

· #19 · Mar 13, 2014

Here is a close up of our wonderful headlights and their awesome beam pattern.

This is with osram nightbreakers, which are supposed to be the brightest bulbs you can get. Gonna put stock bulb in one side to compare output.

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djwonder

· #20 · Mar 13, 2014

I bought a pair of Osram 66240 CBI, 5000K/5500K from TheRetrofitSource. I'll try to do a before after shot for this weekend's project.

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