Before we start, I need to make it clear that all the pics you see below are taken from the Vendor website. Normally I put up my own pics. But this time around, I chose to do this due to a very good reason. More on that later.
Now moving on. I was on the lookout for an HID upgrade for the pathetic excuse of a fog lamp that comes installed in the 2011 Verna. Internationally H27 (881) bulbs are primarily used for aesthetic purposes. They can be used quite successfully as DRLs but that’s pretty much it. As a light source at night, they fail. As fog lamps or driving lamps, they fail miserably.
So it was decided that better lighting is needed. I had a wide array of options to choose from. Especially if I inclined towards Aux lamps. But adding additional lamps wont do any justice to the fluidic design. At least I thought so. Hence my focus shifted to HID lamps. Having used HID in my previous cars, I knew exactly what I wanted and where to look for it.
What I wanted was an HID Kit with 881 type 35W bulbs and a Slim Digital Ballast. A Relay harness is also preferred since the original lamps consume only 27W. I decided I will go with 6000K since Bangalore sees little to no fog. I was also inclined to order an extra set of bulbs in 4300K should the need arise.
Now starts the search. If you’re not aware 881/H27 type bulbs are next to impossible to source in India. Everybody suggests modifying the socket so that a different bulb can be fitted. I did not even bother asking for details because I knew there is no way in hell somebody can do a perfect job of that. It’s almost always guaranteed that the beam pattern will be messed up and I did not want that. Remember, I wanted this upgrade. I did not need it. So there is no reason to settle for less. I had time. Maybe not the patience, but I had time.
So the search began online. I have a PayPal account and have made tons of online purchases. So it was not an altogether alien experience. I decided to scour eBay first and hundreds of vendors popped up with several options. I shortlisted a few who had exactly what I was looking for. They were then filtered by feedback and survey count. That left me with two, maybe three vendors. Two were based in the US and one in China. I sent out an email to all of them detailing my needs. I had decided that the first one to reply will get my business.
Surprisingly, the most detailed reply came from the Chinese vendor. As with all Chinese, this person was extremely polite and helpful. The US guy simply replied that the details are mentioned in the ad. Well I’m glad he pointed that out. Anyways, sarcasm aside, I decided I’ll give China a shot. Moreover the price was 1/3 of what was mentioned at the US vendor for what looked like the same product. So I placed my order and chose Standard International Shipping for $2.99 extra. The other options were Economy Shipping (Free) and Expedited Shipping ($24.99)
The seller asked me to expect the product in 20-30 days. I placed the order on 16th December. So Christmas was just around the corner and so was new year. So realistically I was looking at 30-45 days. There was added pressure because PayPal lets you dispute a transaction if its done within 45 days of purchase. I could wait a couple of weeks till New Year’s and then place the order. But that’s not how we do it now is it? There are some things we do, because we have to do it. Not because it makes sense!
Anyways the order was placed and the wait began. One the second day, I receive an email from the vendor telling me that the product has been shipped. In a few hours he sends me another email with a tracking number and a website where to track it. I was pleasantly surprised for two reasons. 1- This is good customer service. 2- Tracking on cheap shipping? This is great! So I start regularly checking the website for updates and sure enough every now and then it shows me where my package was. I expected things to go well till it entered India and then was prepared for the worst run around of my life. This opinion was to change very soon.
On 23rd December, the update showed that the package had left Beijing for India. Surprisingly, while browsing the India Post website, I chanced upon an International Post tracking portal. And it worked! It actually worked. A link on a govt. page worked! I was on cloud nine. I now knew that I stand a good chance of getting my package from China. The update showed the same Beijing-India status. The next few days tried their best to last more than 24 hours. At least it felt so.
By now it was around 15 days and I decided that I need to start preparing for the Indian side of formalities. I know many of you who has ordered online would have experienced customs hassles, postal delays etc. So I started tracking down phone numbers, addresses etc. so that once the package lands in India, I don’t have to worry and would know exactly what to do. Once done, I went back to the tracking portal and was surprised to see an update which said the package was now in Kolkata! I was ecstatic!
I immediately phoned up Speed Post and before I carry on, I must say that I was shocked at the service. No, not at how bad it was; But at how good they were! The person was so helpful. He could not trace the package, but he explained to me how it works and what I needed to do. He even gave me a direct number for Kolkata Post. I called them up and could not believe it when the person was polite and very helpful. He tried to find the package, could not and was genuinely sorry about it!! He explained that it may be at customs and I should give them a call. He looked up their number and helped me with it.
By now I had stopped worrying. I do not know who these people were. But they restored my faith in our postal system. I expected people who have no respect for customers, are curt and impatient. But I actually find people who are eager to help and sounded genuinely caring! I decided I will wait it out. The package reached Kolkata. A few more days and it should be in Bangalore. Then I may get a letter from customs. Lets just wait.
7th January 2012. I was driving back from a resort in Kanakpura when my brother calls me. He tells me he’s signed for a package that came for me. I calmly ask him to open it and see what it was. And the rest gentlemen, is history!! No letter, No Tax, No Hassle!
Take a look at the pics first. I have posted these from the website simply because you get exactly what you see in the pics. Its not often that online purchases look exactly as described. But this time, it did!
Here's the kit:
The Bulb:
The Slim Ballast:
I must mention that the build quality is simply awesome. It feels solid and sturdy. This is something I have to repeat about the connectors you see below as well. Everything reeks of quality!
The Ballast Power Connector end:
Connectors for the lamps and power:
Last but not the least, the included mounts:
And now, for the links.
This is where I bought this from: 55W HID KIT, 35W items in factorykiss-usa-alpha store on eBay! This is link to India Post to track the item: IPS Web Tracking/Item Tracking Phone Numbers:
Speedpost Bangalore: 080 22861435
Speedpost Kolkata: 033 22120476
Next Post: Installation and working pics. Spoiler: The light output is incredible, beam pattern has barely changed. But it’s almost as if there's a second set of low beams. Plus the lateral view is so much better now. Especially while turning, we can see what's around the corner. If I leave the beam on high, the fogs cover the low! I'm in love! The icing on the cake is that there is absolutely no glare.
Oh yeah, it cost me Rs.2400 delivered!