h.i.d conversion

[Rambo06]

is there to install the xenon headlights withouth the converter boxes?

 

[Anime]

Sure, get a pair of Sylvania XtraVision 9004 bulbs at walmart. They have Xenon gas in them, and are under $20. They're much better and safer than the crappy HID "conversion" kits. You could go with Silverstars as well, they have Xenon gas too, but cost twice as much, and don't last very long.

 

[FIND]

Sure, get a pair of Sylvania XtraVision 9004 bulbs at walmart. They have Xenon gas in them, and are under $20. They're much better and safer than the crappy HID "conversion" kits. You could go with Silverstars as well, they have Xenon gas too, but cost twice as much, and don't last very long.

..... you know those are basically just a marketing ploy.... the light emitted from them isn't really that different from a standard halogen.

Of course, HID conversions suck and produce horrid, stupid light that blinds other drivers and doesn't REALLY improve visibility THAT much. Yeah, they put out a TON more light, but the bad lighting pattern adds a lot of additional reflection and makes seeing at a distance no easier.


Only correct way to do an HID conversion is to put a projector module inside your headlamps. Even better if you can find a pair of the clear aftermarket headlamps to put the projector inside of, but it looks like no one is selling them anymore.



But yeah, the only other way to do an HID conversion is to buy one of those kits that are basically a couple ballasts and an HID bulb stuck to a 9004 base with a little solenoid that moves a shutter to go between high and low beams. They suck, they are NOT legal for use on public roads and everyone who sees them will hate you, especially if you are using them out of town. There is absolutely no reason to upgrade your headlights if you live and drive in city limits, there is plenty of ambient light. If you cannot see with your stock headlights in a city, then you shouldn't be driving at night.

 

[Anime]

Sylvania XtraVisions (and similar Philips Hi-Visibility) bulbs are not a marketing ploy.

They are indeed "brighter" bulbs with a finer filament and Xenon gas that have more lumens than standard bulbs. The difference is less noticeable on a poor bulb design like the 9004, sure, but it's still there, and for the ~$2 price difference, they are certainly worth it if you want the most light on the road at the best price.

The Silverstars and all similar "white/blue/purple" bulbs ARE most certainly a gimmick, and put out LESS light due to the blue coating that gives them their color. Amazing they are able to charge $40-50 a pair when they only last a year due to having to burn so bright to get the legally required amount of light.


As for the "HID" conversion kits, they are illegal. The only proper way of doing it is retrofitting the headlamps of a vehicle with HID lighting, or somehow finding one of the pre-ban HID conversion kits made by the major lighting companies.

 

[Spdrcer34]

Where do you guys get your info from on the Silverstars?

I recently replaced my Silverstars, and they have been in the Explorer since May 2004. Do the math...that is almost 6 1/2 years. While My X was down for a total of 2 of those years, that is still 4 1/2 years of DAILY DRIVING...

The bulbs lasted through 2 head lamp body swaps, 4 transmissions, 2 engines, 2 dashes....

Ryan

 

[Riceburner247]

You guys also know that aftermarket cold air intakes are "For off road use only", right? Pretty much anything aftermarket you put on your vehicle nowadays is illegal, that doesn't mean it isn't safe.

OP, to answer your question: If the bulbs you have are actual HID bulbs, you WILL need the correct ballast (converter box) to power them. If you're going the HID route, I would not run HIDs without a proper housing. At the very least, run the HIDs in a clear housing such as this

http://www.matrixracing.com/p-1314-91-94-ford-explorer-euro-clear-headlights.aspx

If you run HIDs in the stock headlight housing you will
1. Not be able to see jack squat.
2. Throw light in every direction possible.
3. Get pulled over and ticketed.

I run my HIDs with the setup I suggested, never a problem and I can actually see at night.

 

[Anime]

The data on the Silverstars was pretty much only by experience until recently, when Sylvania finally officially admitted they are only designed to last a year of normal use.

Use means an average amount of night driving, however much that is. Simply having them in the truck for however many years means little unless you drove as much as night as during the day, which would be unusual. Still, there are variances in the bulbs themselves, and some people have managed to get more life than others. I still don't see the point though, as they put out less lumens than the standard or XtraVision which cost half the price or less.

I had PIAA SuperWhite 9004's awhile ago when they were popular, and never had any problems. They lasted a few years for me until I finally sold them, still working, since the disappearing light on the black wet road bothered me too much, and it was pretty cool getting a good bit of cash for used bulbs I was switching out. And that was with plenty of long night drives. So sure, they can last a long time. But they usually don't.


Aftermarket cold air intakes are 'illegal' in certain areas due to emissions regulations, not because they are somehow unsafe. Gimmicky "HID" kits were made illegal since the majority of them ARE unsafe, made from cheap quality parts that are an electrical or fire hazard, AND they also have the dangerous effect of producing glare into the eyes of oncoming traffic when used in housings designed for halogen bulbs. Most people don't understand that just because you can buy something, doesn't mean it's safe or works like it says it does. That's the case with these HID kits, idiots think they ARE getting REAL HID in the lights...when they aren't.

The same mentality still prevails with the bulbs or the kits, the "screw everyone else's safety and visibility, I want everyone to think I have awesum expensiv HID bulbz!" thinking, as if anyone really cares what lights someone else has. They're more likely to care about being blinded by them, regardless of anything else. Hence why they are illegal, because simply being unsafe doesn't deter ricers from using them, so maybe getting a ticket might.

 

[fedyfedz]

I would have to disagree with any one that knocks hids. I never get flashed for blinding someone as long as you have 35w and not 55w you will never get pulled over or annoy any one. hids improve visibility up to 300% with some kits. i would rather avoid an obstacle in the road becasue i can see it in the distance instead of getting into an accident casue i couldnt see shyt.

Would you rather go in a cave with a match or a flashlight....

 

[fedyfedz]

Of course, HID conversions suck and produce horrid, stupid light that blinds other drivers and doesn't REALLY improve visibility THAT much. Yeah, they put out a TON more light, but the bad lighting pattern adds a lot of additional reflection and makes seeing at a distance no easier.

sorry but this is wrong. the improvement is night and day. the so called "bad light pattern" lights up areas on the road that halogens will never be able to

seeing at a distance with hids is improved by at least 100ft depending on the color temp and wattage. and the only reflection is the reflection from the street signs..

Many things go into the light out put and pattern. some people just have there headlights aimed incorrectly which will blind anyone regardless of what type of system your running.

 

[FIND]

You guys also know that aftermarket cold air intakes are "For off road use only", right? Pretty much anything aftermarket you put on your vehicle nowadays is illegal, that doesn't mean it isn't safe.

They state that because they don't want to get into legal messes with people claiming that their product shortened the life of their vehicle or some nonsense like that. As long as something you put on your vehicle does not effect emissions, visibility or safe operation of your vehicle, it is legal to put anything on your vehicle. There is a difference between a product labeled "for off road use only" and violating state or federal law by putting a high intensity discharge bulb in a headlight housing designed and labeled for use with incandescent bulbs. Sure, you may not get ticketed for them often or ever, but, you are still breaking the damn law and annoying other drivers.

sorry but this is wrong. the improvement is night and day. the so called "bad light pattern" lights up areas on the road that halogens will never be able to

seeing at a distance with hids is improved by at least 100ft depending on the color temp and wattage. and the only reflection is the reflection from the street signs..

Many things go into the light out put and pattern. some people just have there headlights aimed incorrectly which will blind anyone regardless of what type of system your running.

Sorry, but this is wrong. This is the same garbage every retrofit fanboy spews out because they think their lights are the awesomesauce. It is called a placebo effect. I never said the HIDs don't produce more light or throw light further, but that additional light that isn't properly reflected in your housing is not helping as much as you fanboys seem to think it is. Plus, you are still putting light where it shouldn't be. You think I am wrong, feel free to take pictures of the light emitted from your headlights aimed at a wall 20 feet away that is marked with the height, centerline and width of your vehicle. Then tell me how good your light is and how it is not bad for other drivers.

You live in New York state, you wouldn't know anything about driving out in the middle of nowhere anyways. There isn't anywhere in New York state that I have ever driven that I can't see really well with standard halogen lights. You only have HIDs in to look cool. Lemme guess the color temp of your light..... I am gonna say at least 8000k..... Yeah.... anything higher than 4200-4500k is just for show anyways, since you are losing usable light by going to higher color temperatures than that. 4500k is the color of light you will have the easiest time seeing. Go ahead and look it up.

If you want to argue with someone about this, go over to http://www.hidplanet.com/forums/ and argue with them. There is no need to clog this forum with that kind of thing.

 

[storlied]

Uh. I live out in the middle of nowhere, and work out of town and HID's are a life saver. 80% of the truckers use them on the haul road also. [See: Ice Road Truckers 2010] Truckers I see everyday, along with pilot car drivers, tow truck drivers and some police/security for state/business out here.

I also use 6000k, they are not blue. I chose 6k Specifically for the pure White light, it has barely a tint of blue compared to anything else, but is not Yellow.

I'm not arguing the fact they're probably worthless rather than show in New York but if you live somewhere that gets pitch black out 70% of the day, 9 months outta the year [See: Alaska] and you drive a lot, and deal with the road hazards/animals/accidents and not to forget our crazy low visibility weather.. HIDs are the next step in lighting and safety.

I have two 35 6k as my normal headlights [low beams, in projectors] as to not bother other drivers. I even run halogen still in my highbeams and 55W HIDs x4 on my bumper for serious lighting when it's needed in the middle of nowhere in Alaska, people die out here and we can use all the light we can get.

HID converted lightforces are a hit here with police, firefighters, ems, pipeline workers and many more.

So to say HIDs are evil is pure nonsense, they are ridiculous when little teenagers throw them into any light they want and don't aim them at all. I see plenty of mis aimed headlights in halogens more than HIDs by far and blinding is blinding regardless. Aim your headlights and glare is cut down significantly.

 

[FIND]

Uh. I live out in the middle of nowhere, and work out of town and HID's are a life saver. 80% of the truckers use them on the haul road also. [See: Ice Road Truckers 2010] Truckers I see everyday, along with pilot car drivers, tow truck drivers and some police/security for state/business out here.

I also use 6000k, they are not blue. I chose 6k Specifically for the pure White light, it has barely a tint of blue compared to anything else, but is not Yellow.

I'm not arguing the fact they're probably worthless rather than show in New York but if you live somewhere that gets pitch black out 70% of the day, 9 months outta the year [See: Alaska] and you drive a lot, and deal with the road hazards/animals/accidents and not to forget our crazy low visibility weather.. HIDs are the next step in lighting and safety.

I have two 35 6k as my normal headlights [low beams, in projectors] as to not bother other drivers. I even run halogen still in my highbeams and 55W HIDs x4 on my bumper for serious lighting when it's needed in the middle of nowhere in Alaska, people die out here and we can use all the light we can get.

HID converted lightforces are a hit here with police, firefighters, ems, pipeline workers and many more.

So to say HIDs are evil is pure nonsense, they are ridiculous when little teenagers throw them into any light they want and don't aim them at all. I see plenty of mis aimed headlights in halogens more than HIDs by far and blinding is blinding regardless. Aim your headlights and glare is cut down significantly.

In all the years I have been a diesel mechanic, I have seen 1 truck with an HID conversion, he got ticketed for it a couple weeks later, and I lived in North Dakota, now South Dakota, where we have a LOT of out in the middle of nowhere, plus I was pretty used to the sun coming up around 8 and setting around 4:30, so while we have more daylight than you, it was only while I was at work anyways, so fail.

I do see lots of trucks with OEM HIDs in HID housings, but that is a different story. There is NOTHING wrong with HIDs in projector housings or headlight housings designed for HIDs. I never said there was anything wrong with HIDs in general either. What I was talking about is HID retrofits in stock halogen housings. It is illegal and and there is a lot of glare no matter what you do to halogen housings with an HID retrofit. Sure, there are tons of people that drive around with mis-aimed headlights, but that doesn't have anything to do with HIDs, that is just an excuse to blind other drivers with HIDs in a stock headlight housing.

But, just so we are clear, I will say it again: There is NOTHING wrong with a proper HID conversion that uses a projector or a headlight housing designed for HIDs, and HIDs are a superior lighting source when used in a projector or headlight housing designed for HID lights. Everyone should have HIDs in their vehicles, BUT, those HIDs should be in a properly designed housing or projector so that they cast an even light with a clear cut-off line and no light directed where it should not be.

Also, you are right, the more the axillary or marker lights on a vehicle the better. Heck, driving around in -40 and -50 temperatures I always wanted as much light on my vehicle as possible so I could see cars that broke down and when there is snow, I want enough lighting on my vehicle the other cars can see me.

 

[Spdrcer34]

Use means an average amount of night driving, however much that is. Simply having them in the truck for however many years means little unless you drove as much as night as during the day, which would be unusual.

Well, for about 4 months out of the year, we have very short days...I can work an 8am-5pm shift, and never see the sun during my commute. I have 1 mountain range due west of me, the Olympic Mountains, and another mountain range due east, the Cascade Mountains.

Those mountain ranges make our 'days' quite a bit shorter than most, especially during October to January...

And I was raised in SoCal where we were taught to drive with our headlamps on during the day to increase visibility....it was started my MADD, driving on Saturday and Sunday with your headlights on....part of the Drive Safe, Drive Sober campaign...then it evolved to driving 24/7 with your headlamps on.

So I would say I do use my headlamps more often than not.

Ryan

 

[storlied]

In all the years I have been a diesel mechanic, I have seen 1 truck with an HID conversion, he got ticketed for it a couple weeks later, and I lived in North Dakota, now South Dakota, where we have a LOT of out in the middle of nowhere, plus I was pretty used to the sun coming up around 8 and setting around 4:30, so while we have more daylight than you, it was only while I was at work anyways, so fail.

I do see lots of trucks with OEM HIDs in HID housings, but that is a different story. There is NOTHING wrong with HIDs in projector housings or headlight housings designed for HIDs. I never said there was anything wrong with HIDs in general either. What I was talking about is HID retrofits in stock halogen housings. It is illegal and and there is a lot of glare no matter what you do to halogen housings with an HID retrofit. Sure, there are tons of people that drive around with mis-aimed headlights, but that doesn't have anything to do with HIDs, that is just an excuse to blind other drivers with HIDs in a stock headlight housing.

But, just so we are clear, I will say it again: There is NOTHING wrong with a proper HID conversion that uses a projector or a headlight housing designed for HIDs, and HIDs are a superior lighting source when used in a projector or headlight housing designed for HID lights. Everyone should have HIDs in their vehicles, BUT, those HIDs should be in a properly designed housing or projector so that they cast an even light with a clear cut-off line and no light directed where it should not be.

Also, you are right, the more the axillary or marker lights on a vehicle the better. Heck, driving around in -40 and -50 temperatures I always wanted as much light on my vehicle as possible so I could see cars that broke down and when there is snow, I want enough lighting on my vehicle the other cars can see me.

So your main concern is in-town driving with a proper HID setup?
My four 55w HIDs on my bumper are conversions but they should never be used around any other traffic. In situations like driving in the middle of nowhere, and around no one... having light splashed around Everywhere is a plus, but yes I agree.. for traffic driving projectors and HID designed headlights are a must.

Not all halogen designed housings are bad with HIDs btw. Most tiny ricer cars and even our headlights are horrible with glare not to mention most pre 99 vehicles are horrible with HIDs but I've seen a good amount of normal headlights that work well with HID's. Either that or I've grown used to any little glare they may have.

I'm kinda shocked at the fact a trucker was ticketed for HIDs, and the fact he's the Only one with a conversion. Unless you're refering to their normal headlights, I'm pretty sure DOT requires what the vehicle came with as far as those go, I was starting to lean onto aux lighting.

 

[FIND]

So your main concern is in-town driving with a proper HID setup?
My four 55w HIDs on my bumper are conversions but they should never be used around any other traffic. In situations like driving in the middle of nowhere, and around no one... having light splashed around Everywhere is a plus, but yes I agree.. for traffic driving projectors and HID designed headlights are a must.

Those are just auxiliary lights anyways. Not like you would have your Auxiliary lights on driving into a populated area or driving where anyone could see your truck. Like I said, in situations where you are in the middle of nowhere, the more light you make the better. The benefit of using auxiliary lights is that you can turn off all that extra light before you get near civilization. But hey, all that extra light can save lives when you are in the middle of nowhere. I have come across a stranded vehicle or two in my day. But I never use excessive lighting when I am places where it is likely I could encounter other traffic, because I would rather not be the one that causes the person to drive into the ditch when they get blinded by my lights.

Not all halogen designed housings are bad with HIDs btw. Most tiny ricer cars and even our headlights are horrible with glare not to mention most pre 99 vehicles are horrible with HIDs but I've seen a good amount of normal headlights that work well with HID's. Either that or I've grown used to any little glare they may have.

Probably the latter, though IMO, it is generally worse with older style fluted lenses like what are on most pre-99 vehicles.

I'm kinda shocked at the fact a trucker was ticketed for HIDs, and the fact he's the Only one with a conversion. Unless you're refering to their normal headlights, I'm pretty sure DOT requires what the vehicle came with as far as those go, I was starting to lean onto aux lighting.

I mean the conversion bulbs where you put an HID bulb in a stock housing, not a full HID conversion, like where they replace the round headlights with a projector or stuff like that. I have seen conversions done where they replace the 7" round lights with an HID equivalent, like those xe7 lights from sylvania, those are by no means uncommon. But yeah, he got ticketed. It is illegal, they are illegal for a reason, and he was required to change it back to an incandescent bulb. While later he got a real conversion. I have seen a lot of trucks with HID conversions where they convert to a housing or projector that is designed for use with HID bulbs though yes. My only gripe is HID retrofits in stock incandescent housings.

 

[FIND]

Well, for about 4 months out of the year, we have very short days...I can work an 8am-5pm shift, and never see the sun during my commute. I have 1 mountain range due west of me, the Olympic Mountains, and another mountain range due east, the Cascade Mountains.

Those mountain ranges make our 'days' quite a bit shorter than most, especially during October to January...

And I was raised in SoCal where we were taught to drive with our headlamps on during the day to increase visibility....it was started my MADD, driving on Saturday and Sunday with your headlights on....part of the Drive Safe, Drive Sober campaign...then it evolved to driving 24/7 with your headlamps on.

So I would say I do use my headlamps more often than not.

Ryan

I like how they ticket out there if you don't have your headlights on when you are using your wipers. And no that isn't sarcasm, I really like that. They should do that everywhere.

 

[Riceburner247]

Aftermarket cold air intakes are 'illegal' in certain areas due to emissions regulations, not because they are somehow unsafe. Gimmicky "HID" kits were made illegal since the majority of them ARE unsafe, made from cheap quality parts that are an electrical or fire hazard, AND they also have the dangerous effect of producing glare into the eyes of oncoming traffic when used in housings designed for halogen bulbs. Most people don't understand that just because you can buy something, doesn't mean it's safe or works like it says it does. That's the case with these HID kits, idiots think they ARE getting REAL HID in the lights...when they aren't.

The same mentality still prevails with the bulbs or the kits, the "screw everyone else's safety and visibility, I want everyone to think I have awesum expensiv HID bulbz!" thinking, as if anyone really cares what lights someone else has. They're more likely to care about being blinded by them, regardless of anything else. Hence why they are illegal, because simply being unsafe doesn't deter ricers from using them, so maybe getting a ticket might.

And I agree with you on the idiots. IMO, HIDs ARE a better source of light. However, if they are not in the correct housing they are more detrimental than helpful. People SHOULD be fined for using aftermarket HIDs in housings designed for incandescent bulbs, that's the stupidest thing I've seen. Housings throwing the light at obscure angles everywhere.

I'm gonna walk away from this thread with this: If you're going to run aftermarket HIDs, get the correct type of housing for it. If you don't, you deserve every high beam flash and ticket coming your way.

 

[OneLever]

These points are made about HIDs so often it almost needs to be a sticky, even though HIDPlanet already has one I'm sure. I find it amusing that a one sentence question by the original poster, who hasn't come back since, can ignite such a firestorm of debate.

 

[fedyfedz]

im unsubscribing from this thread cause its like mac vs pc and i got a headache when i read the finds reply...no offense...happy exploring..