Best HID Kit

[jmarreroi]

Guys:
What's the best HID for a 2010 explorer, a 35watts or a 55 watts? I have right now a 35 watts xentec slim set but is giving me a hard time because even with the 50w resistors is giving me the light out warning in the dash, so, I'm thinking for a 35w or 55w canbus kit with lifetime warranty.

Thanks

 

[Bill Kemp]

Who really knows? All we can say is what our experiance has been with a company. I dont think any of them are problem free.
IMO buy from the company that offers the best service. (Not warrantee) If I'm going to be in business for two years I'll give you a lifetime warentee. Good luck finding me...
So...find a company that has been around for awhile and is mid priced.

 

[dreddog47]

ill say this, xentec is crap

The analog ballasts flicker

the digital slim ballasts make every bulb look 10,000K


All of the cheap PnP hid kits are crap, just the truth

 

[jmarreroi]

Thanks for the replies, but is better 35w or 55w?

 

[94explorer178]

not to thread jack but i was also wonderin about that canbus setup im lookin at gettin HIDs in my 94 sport

 

[Anime]

There are no good HID "kits"...at least not anything in terms of sticking an HID bulb in a lens assembly made for a halogen bulb.

It's flat out illegal in most countries, because the glare is so dangerous to other drivers, and the questionable quality of some of the electrical components is dangerous to the driver of the vehicle they are installed on.

If you want HID, the only "correct" way to do it is to use lenses, projectors, or other headlamp assemblies made for HID and adapt them to the vehicle you will be using them on.

 

[94explorer178]

where could one find said items to do it "correctly"????

 

[Anime]

Most people just get headlamps, ballasts, etc. off a donor vehicle at a salvage yard or from someone parting out. Then they either adapt the projectors into the stock housings, or use some fabrication to make the donor HID assemblies fit into the stock headlamp location. There are also true HID assemblies made for certain vehicles, though I don't think the Explorer is one of them. Most are kits made for vehicles that have HID as a factory option.

If someone needs HID that badly, it's a lot easier to just buy a vehicle that has factory HID headlamps already on it.

 

[FIND]

where could one find said items to do it "correctly"????

Get the clear housing with the LEDs that is now available for a first gen. Remove the bulb mount, and it takes very little modification to mount an FX-R bi-xenon projector.

 

[jmarreroi]

Guys, thanks for the suggestion but, my truck is still in warranty I don't want to mess with the light housing, I just want HID like I have now, the law here have no problems with the HID, my question still is 35w or 55w for my truck?

Thanks

 

[Anime]

Real HID bulbs use 35W.

55W bulbs are likely just blue coated halogen bulbs with some hardware to make it seem like they have the ballasts and stuff associated with a real HID setup.


You could just get some brighter halogen bulbs for a lot less. Philips Xtreme Power, Philips Hi-Visibility, and GE Nighthawk Platinum are all really bright bulbs that will give a lot more useable light than a cheap "HID" kit, and they'll be safer and legal.

You could also just throw in a set of Sylvania Silverstars or Philips Crystal Vision bulbs if you're after the "look" of HID bulbs in the headlights more than anything.

 

[FIND]

No, 55w HID systems use an HID bulb, they are just driven at a higher power to produce a stronger arc, and therefore more light. 55w systems generally result in more color washout and more glare since you have a more intense source, and they don't last as long before losing brightness and color shifting.

55w is brighter than 35w, however you will probably have more visibility with a 35w.

I know it is counter intuitive, and I don't feel like going into a long explanation of optics, but Anime is right, you could get brighter halogen bulbs for a lot less than an HID kit. Well, not so much brighter, but they will put more light on the road where you want it and create a more even beam pattern that will make it easier for you to see than with an HID.

 

[jmarreroi]

Thanks for the info Guys

 

[Bill Kemp]

No, 55w HID systems use an HID bulb, they are just driven at a higher power to produce a stronger arc, and therefore more light. 55w systems generally result in more color washout and more glare since you have a more intense source, and they don't last as long before losing brightness and color shifting.

55w is brighter than 35w, however you will probably have more visibility with a 35w.

I know it is counter intuitive, and I don't feel like going into a long explanation of optics, but Anime is right, you could get brighter halogen bulbs for a lot less than an HID kit. Well, not so much brighter, but they will put more light on the road where you want it and create a more even beam pattern that will make it easier for you to see than with an HID.

^Agreed^, 55 is not better than 35. You can go too bright. Especially if you dont have a projector.

 

[jd4242]

Get the clear housing with the LEDs that is now available for a first gen. Remove the bulb mount, and it takes very little modification to mount an FX-R bi-xenon projector.

Where would i find this projector?

 

[FIND]

There are several retrofitters online that offer projectors like theretrofitsource, and you can find them on e-bay. There are probably some projectors that would fit easier in there, but I like the FX-R's beam. If the clear headlight housings for an explorer use the same type of bulb mount as most aftermarket headlight housings, it shouldn't actually be too tough to remove, then you widen the hole slightly, clearance a little on the bottom for the shutter, add mounting screws, aim it correctly, seal it up and go.

 

[jd4242]

Yep found them.think i migh try and go with the morimoto and use all my old ballast and wiring
http://www.theretrofitsource.com/index.php?cPath=25

 

[FIND]

I don't know what the back of the old clear housings looks like, but the back of the new clear housings with the LEDs in it, the mount is removable, and the hole that is left is almost the perfect size for the projector to go through. There is a standard size for these things, because the bulb mount is a mass produced part that has nothing to do with the individual headlight, so the housings are made to fit the mount. The reflector takes a little more modification, but you don't have to worry as much about making a mistake since the shroud will hide it, and you can use the back hole as a guide. Then like I said, it is not much to clearance for the solenoid for the shutter. Last time I looked at one of these style aftermarket headlights, the size appeared to be very close, and I have mounted the projectors in a similar style of housing before.

As for getting the lens off.... be careful.... I can't say I know much about the quality of the lenses on the clear housings that we have for explorers. On some vehicles.... one frequently has to buy a second housing to dremel the lens off to replace the lens on the first housing that cracks when removing just because they are weak and some companies use excessively tough glue.

 

[jd4242]

Mine look just like stock.i think if the morimotos will fit through the hole for the 9004 bulb and screw down tight that would be the easyest install. They say they fit perfic in a the 9003 hole and if i remember the 9004 hole is larger.i emailed them so we shall see what they say.if not i got about 8 stock lights i can cut up for practice

 

[Xeek]

please be the guinea pig jd, you know i told you i wanted hids done the right way with projectors for my truck.