DDM Tuning HID Kits - Don't waste your time or money

[jamers99]

Folks, yes the DDM Tuning HID kits are cheap and they may look good but in the end if you have any issues don't expect DDM Tuning to stand behind the product. I have 2 separate tickets opened with them for issues and after much back and forth I can tell you that they try very hard not to accept warranty returns. They go as far to state that any product returned for warranty tested and found to be working will be returned at the Customer's expense plus an additional testing fee of $2.50 per item. This simply put is not a friendly warranty return policy. You might think it sounds fair at first but what if your issue is intermittent like mine? What if one of your bulbs is ever so slightly dimmer than the other like my other set? What if some minimum wage DDM Tuning warranty tester who is encouraged not to accept warranty claims doesn't take the time to thoroughly test the products returned? You will get them back and be charged for it too. This is only after much back and forth via there screwy ticketing system trying to convince them to open a RMA warranty return in the first place. It hardly seems worth it for $30 a set.

I remember seeing one poster say to just buy a 2nd set as a backup because return under warranty was cost prohibitive. I have a better idea, save your money and spend a little more on a better quality set. Preferably one made in the US or Germany. I know spending $100-$150 per HID set my sound like a lot but driving down the highway at night with one or both headlight(s) or fog light(s) out isn’t so desirable either. Think of this happening during an out of state road trip, or during severe weather. Think of the hassle you will likely experience trying to get DDM to stand behind warranty. Is it really worth it? That’s up to you.

 

[13Sport]

there is always weight to the saying "You get what you pay for".. however most of us have had no issues w/ ddm tuning, and for the price it is cheaper to just buy a replacement bulb than to deal w/ trying to ship it back and forth for warranty repair.

I could buy 9 replacement bulbs before I'd make up the cost of a 150$ kit. I've had zero issues w/ my DDM tuning kit going on 5 months now. My only issue so far was needing to purchase a delay relay due to one of the ballasts not firing while the engine was cranking.

Your argument about bulbs going out on a trip or in bad weather doesn't really make sense. Any bulb has the ability to go out at any time, there's no way to predict the reliability. I've had stock bulbs burn out on vehicles while I'm out of state, and there's nothing to say your 100$ kit won't have a bulb fail while driving on an extended trip.

People don't really buy 15$ bulbs for their warranty backing

 

[MikeCallery]

I agree with you 100%. I ordered a kit, tried it out and the light pattern was terrible. Easy install and all, but terrible light pattern. I decided to order a second kit to try out and keep one of the first kit for a spare. Same exact results.

I then tried a 2nd company, "The Retrofit Source" which had gotten a few recommendations here. They were a bit more pricey, but I really only needed the bulbs and let me tell you, it was worth the investment!! I did not check the patterns against the original but the bulbs were slightly shorter and that small difference must have made a big difference inside the housing as the pattern was much better, I'd almost say the same as the stock bulbs, and the light was nice and brilliant.

 

[IAmTodd]

I have a DDM Tuning setup in my fogs on the Saab. They've been going 3 years without issue and I use them quite a bit. I recommend them quite often.

 

[MikeCallery]

Maybe I need to amend my statement in that I also put the DDM kit in my 2011 Explorer's fog lights and they work good in that location. In fact, much brighter then before and my neighbor says they look great. The headlights, however, were a much, much different scenario with the beams simply terrible. I do not think that anyone else would look at what I was experiencing and feel any different. I wanted to rule out it being "a" bulb or "a" ballast, hence the second set.

In as much as I would have liked to join the few and say they worked out great, they did not. They were terrible in the headlight position.

 

[IAmTodd]

If you're using an H7 bulb, not sure what they use, you may need a bulb spacer in order to get the optimal beam pattern.

 

[_RELENTLESS_]

I guess it's a matter of opinion on DDM. I've had them installed in 2 of my bikes that I had in previous years and never had a problem. I currently have them in my headlights and fogs and have had no problems. Sorry to hear about your customer service/warranty problems. They were very friendly with me. I had to exchange a set due to wrong bulb number and they shipped them out and I received them within a week.