Latest on HID conversions ?

[proflow]

A while back I swapped out my headlights (02) for an aftermarket lamp w/dual bulbs instead of the factory single w/poor lense. Now its been 9004/9007. Did the Summit Racing harness full batt. power wire mod to juice up all four @ the same time & put in the Silver Star 80/100's, better, but still kinda lame. I do have them aimed correctly so I'm not blinding oncoming. Now I'm wanting to do HID in those lights. They do have a smooth clear lense. I see all the conversion kits on fley-bay for cheap, are they crap or what ? Also I believe their is a bi xenon bulb (H13?) that is both high & low. I wonder if it switches quickly or if their is a delay. If that bulb its good to go then two kits would be the way right ? Im not afraid to disassemble my lenses & modify the housing for used projectors to get this alot better, but if all that time isn't needed due to bulb advancement ,that would be great. I did a quick search here on HID & all the info is way outdated. Thanks in advance--Proflow

 

[PC12Driver]

The key to good HID lighting is a lens/reflector combo designed for HID that won't scatter light all over the place, like an assembly made for a regular bulb will. Clear lenses alone don't cut it - they need to be focused, like a projector lens. Without a focusing lens, you'll essentially get the lighting equivalent of what white noise is for audio. The optical noise will look bright to the eye but you won't get the added distance. Factory HID headlights are VERY focused, as they need to be to not blind oncoming drivers. Factory installs also have in-cab pitch adjustments for the lights because there is a fine line between lighting the road and blinding oncoming drivers, and a heavy load in the trunk can cross that line.



Non-factory HID headlights are illegal for the street for these reasons. Which is too bad, since a good set of HIDs rock (my wife's car has 'em). But that's probably why you can't find much on them.



(Love the truck pics, btw!)

 

[Matt400]

Without a focusing lens, you'll essentially get the lighting equivalent of what white noise is for audio. The optical noise will look bright to the eye but you won't get the added distance.

Thats an interesting comparison to better understand.

 

[proflow]

Makes sense, I do have a set of HID Xenarc auxililiary low beam lights (X1010) that I havn't decided where to use yet. Actually I was hoping to use them on my Yamaha Rhino. I didn't want to mount them under the truck bumper just to have someone jack them. I could however make a simple cut & french them into the bumper & hinge the lic. plate over the winch fairlead. Thanks for your input & compliment---Proflow

 

[Matt400]

I do have a set of HID Xenarc auxililiary low beam lights (X1010) that I havn't decided where to use yet.

Post back when you get em going, I have wondered about how well that light is but never see any posts about it. As far as I know its the only aux low beam out there.

 

[proflow]

Will do---Proflow

 

[Beach]

I want to do the HID conversion! I've seen the conversion kit's and seen the installation video's on youtube. It look's pretty easy. I think I'd have to do the sport headlight swap though. My factory len's adjustment screw rusted and I can't adjust them anymore so I figured I should just do the swap. These are not the projector light's, they are the xenon bulb with ballast's that wire into the factory plug. Any recommendation's, website's or kit's would be greatly appreciated. I litterally can't see at night with the crappy silverstar's I have now. Thank's for any help!

 

[proflow]

Ok, so I decided to french the HID driving lights into my bumper. I'll post a pic when I can. After properly aiming them, I will say my night vision has increased big time ! One of the coolest things is the projection off to the sides. #ad
No regrets---Proflow

 

[Matt400]

An FYI from Hella -

Illegal Xenon retrofitting is dangerous and illegal



Vehicle certification loses validity, insurance protection is restricted - up to 100 times higher glare values

People who just buy a xenon headlamp set including cables, xenon light source and ballast, remove the halogen bulb from the headlamp, saw a hole in the cover cap, insert the xenon bulb in the reflector and connect the electronic ballast with the on-board power supply are endangering other road users through extreme glare and are breaking the law: the vehicle certification loses its validity and insurance protection is restricted. Every headlamp is given its type approval together with the light source (halogen or xenon) it is operated with. If the light source is replaced by one which is neither type-approved nor designed for the type approval of the headlamp, this type approval becomes invalid, as, consequently, does the vehicle's certification. Driving without vehicle certification leads to restrictions of insurance. People who sell such non-type-approved lighting equipment must expect claims for damage from buyers. Because in passing on these parts, the

seller not only takes over the guarantee that they may only be used for the designed purpose but also, under some circumstances, damage risks to an unlimited amount.

High glare values:

From measurements made under laboratory conditions Hella specialists have found that the active beam pattern of a headlamp developed for halogen bulbs, but operated illegally with a xenon light source, no longer corresponds to the originally calculated values. In the case of reflection systems, glare values have been measured which exceed the permissible limiting values 100 times over. The headlamps of these vehicles no longer have a cut-off line and cannot be adjusted either. This puts other road users in great danger.

 

[Yo Hoot]

Smoke is bad too

 

[WDaniels]

Proflow,

I have modified my truck with the bi-xenon lights. The modules that I have in the truck come from the Audi A8 which are made by Hella. They are not cheap but I think they are worth it up here where I'm at. There is a gate in the module than actually cuts off the top of the beam so it doesn't blind the oncoming. The lights are great and I have no problems with them.

WD

 

[proflow]

Do you have any pics of your lights?---Proflow

 

[BRobertson]

The modules that WDaniels has are legal because they are not simply the bulb, ballast type cheapo conversion that uses the mickey mouse factory reflectors, that scatters the light and pi$$es the oncoming traffic off!! The modules are DOT stamped, and are legal IF you don't use the factory housing!!

His Hella Bi-xenon use an electric powered gate to create the correct horizontal cutoff for low beam, and removes the gate for high beam!!

Another benefit is that they only draw 3 amps each, and don't dim when the heaters cycle!!!!

A person has to fabricate a complete new mount and housing for the units, so it is very involved!! and expensive!! Just the modules are over $500 each!!!!!

It isn't practical to use HID for high beam without a mechanical gate because the ballasts don't like to be turned on and off!

The USEFUL light is great, and is as much(probably more) of an improvement over the sport conversions with brite box, as the sport conversion over the standard lights

Look at his or my Reader's rigs for photos

Bob

 

[BRobertson]

There is a great difference in HID units quality.

Even in Audi, VW, Porsche vehicles they are not the same.

The Audi 8 uses Hella BiXenon, but less expensive Audis use knockoffs.

My wifes VW Touareg uses French Bi Xenon knockoffs like the cheaper Audi's.

They are better than any non HID, but not as good as the Hella's!!!!

It is similiar to Optics, you get what you pay for!!!!

Bob

 

[BRobertson]

I have to qualify my statements about the legality of the HID units!!

I couldn't care less about what some parasitic government geek thinks about what I use!!

I DO care about safety, and it is NOT safe to blind oncoming traffic!!!!

Bob

 

[Matt400]

My posts are simply sharing informational data I have learned along the way and not to play HID police. I am interested in using lights that help me see better while not blinding others cuz if I blind them they have to take their eyes off the road.

 

[WDaniels]

I must give credit where credit is due. I have my HID headlights because BRobertson took the initiative to research the product and perfect the installation. He is the one who ordered, installed the lights, modules and the wiring. If I had to do it, most likely I would have been like a hog staring at a wrist watch.

Good to hear from you Bob! Next time I'm down, I'll stop by.

WD