Xenon Driving Lights

[ROdiorne]

I drove a friend's $100k Mercedes CL500 coupe which has "Bi-Xenon" lighting: both high-beam and low-beam headlights use high intensity discharge bulbs.

Wow ! unbelievable night visibility

Now I want to find a way of installing them on my 98 Dodge Quadcab 4x4 2500, preferably replacing the existing headlight bulbs, or, if unable, mounting them as auxiliary driving lights... .

Advice sought ... ...

 

[redeye]

They work GREAT, high visibility. You can purchase H. I. D. conversion kits for your existing system. It includes transformer, high voltage wiring, lamp holders, and lamps. I think you can have the headlight assemble modified to fit or do it yourself. I haven’t looked at the headlights on my truck yet, but if they use two separate bulbs you can have both low and high beams.



I became interested in this system after having a car left turn into my motorcycle and spending almost a year recuperating. You get tired of hearing the “ I didn’t see you” line . As you have experienced they are very visible and provide superior lighting.



That’s the good news, are you sitting down…. last I checked it costs 1k per set that would be $2,000 for low and high beams and they are not D. O. T. approved. I have heard rumors some states are considering banning their use.



The link I have no longer works, but I know they are still available. Happy hunting

 

[Doubleclutch]

Xenon Headlights OK, BUT

Guys, I too have been bitten by the xenon headlight bug but have had to step back and re-evaluate. Guy at work spent over $300. on a xenon bicycle light so he can ride off-road at night. BRIGHT!!! However, in use off road, the blue light washed out any and all contrast. He was riding into ruts he couldn't see. His conventionally lighted buddies asked him to turn his light off so THEY could see. Has something to do with the frequency of the blue light "bending" around to fill shadows and hence kill contrast. Great for on road though and if you use incandescent lamps in combination would probably be OK off-road. Sure could use some input from those of you running xenons off-road... .

 

[Cooker]

Evan A. Beck has done an HID conversion on his truck. I think I remember him posting it cost ~$1000.



Maybe he'll chime in.

 

[The patriot]

A member that lives near me has them. I think his screen name was M1A1, or something close to that.

I havent seen them, but I've often thought of trying to contact him to see/drive with them at night.

When I was shopping for a MB, they were $1000 option.

I know theyre more as a retrofit.

Eric



PS I had those blue bulbs from JC Whitney. They only lasted a few months, and blew up, totally *F*ing up my housing. I'd really be pi$$ed if I had the sport lights. Theyre next.

 

[Evan A. Beck]

Well, I guess I can't avoid this one, eh?



Yeah, I have the HID conversion in my 2001. I have had in in for about 6 months/30,000 miles. The kit alone was about six bills, which is on top of the three and a quarter I spent on the Sport light conversion. After all is said and done (lights, wiring, housings) I have about a grand worth of forward lighting installed. Is it worth it? Definately.



Now for all the juicy details...



HID lighting is very different than the standard halogen lights most vehicles have. Rather than use a filament to make light, HID uses a capsule type of bulb, which must have a VERY high voltage to start. Most HID systems operate at 23-25kV at startup, and then the voltage is regulated to 75-80V during normal operation. Why the high startup voltage? Well, the high voltage is needed to make an arc inside the capsule. Once the arc is made, the bulb begins to heat up, and after about 15 seconds, it is at full operating temperature.



The benefit to HID is a great deal of light at a low wattage. Remember guys, light output is not measured in watts--it is measured in two ways. Lumens (l) and foot-candles (fc). Foot-candles is commonly used in residental and commercial lighting in buildings, so we'll stick to using Lumens. The halogen lights in our Rams emit 1,000 lumens while using 55 watts @ 12V. HID, on the other hand, emits 3,200 lumens, while using 35 watts @ 75-80V. That is over three times the light output, while using about 35% less wattage. Pretty cool (literally), huh? However, HID does use more current at startup, nearly 20 amps, but it is just for a second or two while the arc is being made.



Most vehicles that have HID from the factory use HID only in the low beams. Halogen is still used in the high beams, as is on my truck. The reason for this is because of the startup/warmup cycle needed for the lights to reach maximum output. Also, you'll find you won't need the high beams very much, if at all. The light output of these things is amazing. "Super White" bulbs and such are not even close to HID. Same goes for the lame "blue beam" lights the rice burner kids are installing.



So if you want to install HID on your Ram, there's a couple things you will need to do.



First, you'll have to install the '99+ Sport lights, if you don't already have them.



Second, you will need to make a custom wiring harness complete with a relay for the HID system. Minimum 16-gauge wiring.



Third, get a second job to pay for it! *LOL*



If you want more information, check out www.suvlights.com. That's where I got my kit from, great service!



Here's a couple of pictures of the HID in operation on my truck. Notice the halogen foglight compared to the HID.



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