headlights

[peterk9]

Not all lights are aimed correctly from the factory, one of mine were a little lower than the other. Also, I noticed that HID's will throw a slightly different beam pattern. Not a big deal to re-aim them.

If are referring to the right headlight then I think it is supposed to be aimed a bit lower and probably a bit to the right. My right light is aimed slightly lower than the left. I'm quite sure that they are all checked before the vehicle leaves the factory.

 

[peterk9]

Go back and change the order to 4300K.

8000K will be so blue your eyes will not see any better than the halogens.

Human eyes are "tuned" to natural light, sunlight, centered at 4300K

That is true. See page 1 of this thread. I thought the higher the number the brighter the light. Turns out the opposite is true.

 

[MikeCallery]

I've started looking at HID lighting for my XLT but stopped with a question that I cannot answer since I don't have my Explorer yet.

Doesn't the XLT use the HB3 light bulb, which is a combination low beam/high beam? If that is the case, I would think I cannot move to HID lights as HID's, at least to my knowledge, do not come in a low beam/high beam equivalent.

Am I mis-understanding anything here??

Thanks.

 

[JanChristian]

I've started looking at HID lighting for my XLT but stopped with a question that I cannot answer since I don't have my Explorer yet.

Doesn't the XLT use the HB3 light bulb, which is a combination low beam/high beam? If that is the case, I would think I cannot move to HID lights as HID's, at least to my knowledge, do not come in a low beam/high beam equivalent.

Am I mis-understanding anything here??

Thanks.

There are high/low beam HIDs but they use a certain kind of projector: the cutoff shield moves out of the way when you activate the highs, which lets more light out.

The XLT does use HB3/9005 bulbs. Because this is generally a high beam bulb, the halogen projectors may have a movable shield, which limits the output and sets the cutoff while in low beam mode. If this is the case (bi-halogen projectors), you could just add HIDs.

I just checked ford.com and they label the headlights as "bi-functional projector beam halogen". However, I don't know if its the projector that is "bi-functional" or the bulb.

If it's a fixed projector (no movable shield), you'd have to retrofit a set of bi-xenon projectors. Because the halogens are already projector, the retrofit is much simpler.

 

[tmilicia]

The Explorer has a movable shield inside the projector housing for high/low. The HID bulbs you need to order are 9005.

 

[peterk9]

What are the best options to replace the halogens with a better haolgen bulb? Does it make any difference over the stock bulb?

On my former '09 Highlander, I used the Philips X-treme Power Bulbs and was very happy with them. As it seems with any of the higher powered bulbs, the life expectancy is quite a bit shorter. My first burnout was after almost 1 1/2 years.

 

[peterk9]

The Explorer has a movable shield inside the projector housing for high/low. The HID bulbs you need to order are 9005.

The HIDs on the Limited are D3S bulbs.

 

[JanChristian]

What are the best options to replace the halogens with a better haolgen bulb? Does it make any difference over the stock bulb?

Don't get any tinted bulbs. They might look "cool" but the bluish coating just decreases their output.

Go with HIR bulbs, 9011 is the replacement for 9005. I haven't used this site to order them, but there's a good bit of information on it: http://hirheadlights.com/

The HIDs on the Limited are D3S bulbs.

Yeah but tmilicia was referring to plug-and-play bulbs for use in the halogen projectors, not the HID projectors.

 

[JanChristian]

You can now replace dual filament halogen, high/low beam, bulbs with HID bulbs that tilt or telescope into the opposite filament position using a solenoid or small electric motor.

Ebay.

They suck. Proof:

There's actually less light in their "high beam" mode lol

I'd never put HIDs into halogen headlights. If you're going to do something, do it right.

Retrofit.

 

[JanChristian]

The street scene pictures appear to put the lie to your statement. Look at the BRILLANCE of the distant white car in the high beam mode vs the low beam mode.

The light is still only marginally better. It looks so bright b/c it's a white car.

 

[JanChristian]

Then look at the bushes on the right that are illuminated in high beam mode but not in low beam.

What are the actual headlights you upgraded and the HID bulb source/model/description.

That's why I said marginally better. Yes, they're better but still not as good as compared to true bi-xenon projectors. I'm just not one to half-ass anything; if I want HIDs I do it right.

I've retrofitted a '98 Integra and a '04 Jeep Grand Cherokee. I used bi-xenon Hella e55 projectors on both, with OEM Philips 4300K capsules (bulbs) and OEM ballasts.

Luckily my current Jeep was available with HIDs from the factory so I didn't have to retrofit these. I did, however, take the headlights apart to paint all of the chrome black.

 

[Steve1942]

Is there a company that does the retrofitting or do you do it yourself? I have no mechanical skills whatsoever so I would have to have it done by a reliable company.

 

[JanChristian]

I do it myself but there are companies that will do it for you. It isn't cheap though!

http://www.theretrofitsource.com/recommended_retrofitters.php?osCsid=acnqu25aqum6e0n03e38bgqnpdqic0fm

 

[Remeny]

Nope, your thinking of the ricer eBay HIDs that everyone gets that are like blue LEDs.

You will have 4300k which is CRISP white, no yellow halogen tint, etc.

Your cutoff might have the blue line but thats about it.

You got that right. This is a safety issue and lower trim levels should have the option to purchase this. Poor decision by Ford IMO.

 

[2011EX]

You got that right. This is a safety issue and lower trim levels should have the option to purchase this. Poor decision by Ford IMO.

HID's are still seen as a luxury item and not a safety concern. Until this changes it will only come on top models.

 

[JanChristian]

speaking of luxury items vs safety concerns, I'm surprised more vehicles don't come with LED tail lights. When someone brakes, the LEDs definitely get your attention better than halogens, which (relative to LEDs) slowly increase in brightness. The instant-on of LEDs are like a photon punch in the face.

 

[crrobbins]

I have a 2013 XLT. The dealer sticker states Auto Projection Headlights on XLT. Does that mean HID or halogen. Have a friend selling two D3S lamps that he purchased but sold vehicle(Explorer) before using them. They are 6000K. If I have OEM HID how easy would it be to swap them? Thanks for any help.

crrobbins

 

[peterk9]

You have halogen headlamps and a housing designed for halogen. In order to properly convert to HID there is more involved than simply changing bulbs. Read through the following thread, especially the last page or so.
http://www.explorerforum.com/forums/showthread.php?t=397670

Peter

 

[crrobbins]

I thought that is what I have. Already done a lot of research on HID conversion. Just was not sure what is on Explorer. Only had Explorer a short time. Done very little night driving in it. Usually in my Ranger. I won't need the bulbs from my friend. Wife not having any complaints about lights. Thanks for quick reply.

crrobbins

 

[tonydewey]

Headlights too dim

I just bought a used 2013 and was appalled the first time I drove it at night and couldn't see the road. Turning on the high beams simply does what it says and doesn't make any more light. That's the function of the projector but every other car I've owned had two bulbs and when you turned on the high beams you got at least twice as much light. How can Ford get away with this ? As someone else said, it's unsafe and this is especially true for senior drivers like myself who need all the light they can get. I'm going to install HID's as soon as I can get them.