2015 Sierra HID install

196335 Views 388 Replies 104 Participants Last post by ron mexico75, Dec 20, 2018

smoked you

Discussion Starter · Dec 2, 2014

Installed my Morimoto Sierra Spec 35W 5K HID kit last night in my 2015 Sierra Denali HD Duramax. I absolutely love this kit from The Retrofit Source! Amazing build quality and they work spot on. I had zero issues installing them and they put out extremely good light.

The airbox will need to be removed during installation of this kit.

You do need to drill a hole in each of the two light covers that must be removed to gain access to the factory bulbs. These spin off by turning counter clockwise. Make sure not to drill the hole too large to where the grommet will no longer seal. Once the hole is drilled you can now run the supplied HID bulb wires and extension through the hole and seal it up with the supplied grommet.

Once these are ran and sealed you can now install the HID bulbs and re-install the covers by turning clockwise.

Next will be running the harness and mounting the ballasts and igniters. This is your preference to where you want them but I have shown pictures where I mounted mine. Make sure to install the relays upright so no water can sit in them. The HID harness will get its source power from the drivers side factory bulb connector. There will be a supplied extension attached to the HID bulb grommet that you will use to connect, the passenger will not be used.

Here are some pics after install..

Low Beam only

High Beam only

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smoked you

Discussion Starter · #2 · Dec 2, 2014

GMC Sierra Morimoto Elite HID System - HID Systems from The Retrofit Source Inc

Chevy Silverado Morimoto Elite HID System - HID Systems from The Retrofit Source Inc

jellis

· #3 · Dec 2, 2014

Love mine, head and shoulders above the stock sh*t.

I drilled holes in the drivers side panel and used pop rivets to secure the ballast, then I ran everything else under the plastic cover panel, including all wiring, relays, pass side ballast etc, the right side light was a pain with the air box removal, after unplugging the MAF, I got a CEL but was able to clear it with the CTS.

jsho13

· #4 · Dec 7, 2014

Pieces of the kits are already back ordered from there

smoked you

Discussion Starter · #5 · Dec 7, 2014

No suprise! Great kit, when I ordered mine I had to wait a couple days for ballasts.

jsho13

· #6 · Dec 7, 2014

Did you go with the 4300k? It's been a few vehicles ago I did HID lights and don't remember if I went 4300k or 5000k

smoked you

Discussion Starter · #7 · Dec 7, 2014

Went with 5K 35w

bowtieguy72

· #8 · Dec 7, 2014

I did the 4300k on mine this week and love it! Soooo much better then factory lighting.

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jsho13

· #9 · Dec 7, 2014

Just ordered the 4300k kit - we will see when it comes.

gmc.denali.hd

· #10 · Dec 8, 2014

Have 4300k kit with 55 watt ballasts from them and loving it too! Top notch product. I also put 4300k HIDs in the fogs, currently have 35 watt ballasts, but about to move down to 25 from another distributor just because they don't make them.

smoked you

Discussion Starter · #11 · Dec 8, 2014

gmc.denali.hd said:
Have 4300k kit with 55 watt ballasts from them and loving it too! Top notch product. I also put 4300k HIDs in the fogs, currently have 35 watt ballasts, but about to move down to 25 from another distributor just because they don't make them.

Nice, Ya you definitely want to stick with 25w for fogs.

Bluestreak06

· #12 · Dec 9, 2014

nice, I just installed mine Friday night (ordered the kit on Black Friday). I didnt order the HD Relay harness (not sure why it doesnt just come with the kit, and have the canbus be an add on) but it works fine without it(ill order it eventually, but is not needed to work. May decrease the lifespan of my ballasts, but oh well). After removing the airbox it installs nice and easy.

ONE THING TO NOTE. the plugs that go to the factory headlight harness can plug in either way (for polarity). if you get it all hooked up and one of the headlights (or both) doesnt turn on, flip that plug around. I messed around with the ballasts and plugs and everything for 20 minutes before I realized they were two way plugs. I was getting frustrated hahaha

ducmons

· #13 · Dec 9, 2014

Forgive this ignorant question.

Is the different between 4300 and 5k just light spectrum/color? Why did you guys chose 4300 over the 5k?

Info for fog light upgrade would be appreciated.

Reactions: 1

pbatathunder

· #14 · Dec 9, 2014

Ive got the morimoto projectors, morimoto xb-35 4300k bulbs, morimoto 50 watt ballasts, and their hd relay headed towards me i hope. I ordered it all monday night last week, so today makes 7 days
Guess they are low on stock as everything i read said they normally had super quick shipping.

The reason we go with 4300k is because its the most efficient temp for an hid. Will look pretty much factory, with a heck of alot more light. 5k are ok to if u like a hint of blue, with a little less lumens then a 4300k

ducmons

· #15 · Dec 9, 2014

pbatathunder said:
Ive got the morimoto projectors, morimoto xb-35 4300k bulbs, morimoto 50 watt ballasts, and their hd relay headed towards me i hope. I ordered it all monday night last week, so today makes 7 days
Guess they are low on stock as everything i read said they normally had super quick shipping.

The reason we go with 4300k is because its the most efficient temp for an hid. Will look pretty much factory, with a heck of alot more light. 5k are ok to if u like a hint of blue, with a little less lumens then a 4300k

Thanks. Good info! Why 50watt ballasts over 35watt? More light?

smoked you

Discussion Starter · #16 · Dec 9, 2014

Bluestreak06 said:
nice, I just installed mine Friday night (ordered the kit on Black Friday). I didnt order the HD Relay harness (not sure why it doesnt just come with the kit, and have the canbus be an add on) but it works fine without it(ill order it eventually, but is not needed to work. May decrease the lifespan of my ballasts, but oh well). After removing the airbox it installs nice and easy.

ONE THING TO NOTE. the plugs that go to the factory headlight harness can plug in either way (for polarity). if you get it all hooked up and one of the headlights (or both) doesnt turn on, flip that plug around. I messed around with the ballasts and plugs and everything for 20 minutes before I realized they were two way plugs. I was getting frustrated hahaha

Sweet! If you purchase the Sierra Spec kit it comes with everything. Harness and all, plug and play!

smoked you

Discussion Starter · #17 · Dec 9, 2014 (Edited)

ducmons said:
Thanks. Good info! Why 50watt ballasts over 35watt? More light?

4300k has a higher Lumen count then 5000k. The lower you go on the spectrum the higher the lumen count. Now the higher in kelvin you go the more color will come. A 5k will be slightly blue/white then a 4300. For me the 5k best matched the factory LED's and I like the whiter light for winter conditions.

The 55W with produce more light output but with a shorter lifespan. Also as you go up in Watts the color spectrum will change. In my experience a 35w 5k would be similar in color as a 6k 55w.

smoked you

Discussion Starter · #18 · Dec 9, 2014 (Edited)

ducmons said:
Forgive this ignorant question.

Is the different between 4300 and 5k just light spectrum/color? Why did you guys chose 4300 over the 5k?

Info for fog light upgrade would be appreciated.

If you are going to run HID's in your fogs stay with a 25w, the higher wattage kits will burn your reflectors and lenses. The bulb is a 5202.

Bluestreak06

· #19 · Dec 9, 2014

smoked you said:
Sweet! If you purchase the Sierra Spec kit it comes with everything. Harness and all, plug and play!

9006: Morimoto Elite HID System - HID Systems from The Retrofit Source Inc

Thats what I bought...I selected the Canbus for wiring harness because thats what i was told to pick by someone else. If you choose that, you have to buy the relay harness separate (or they just neglected to include it in the box)...either way it works. :rof

Bluestreak06

· #20 · Dec 9, 2014

smoked you said:
4300k has a higher Lumen count then 5000k. The lower you go on the spectrum the higher the lumen count. Now the higher in kelvin you go the more color will come. A 5k will be slightly blue/white then a 4300. For me the 5k best matched the factory LED's and I like the whiter light for winter conditions.

The 55W with produce more light output but with a shorter lifespan. Also as you go up in Watts the color spectrum will change. In my experience a 35w 5k would be similar in color as a 6k 55w.

Also the 55W are known to melt housings because of the heat output. I did 35W 5k bulbs, and then got the VLED LED fog lights (which do nothing for light output, but match the color of the DRL's.

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