headlights

[peterk9]

Welcome to the Forum tonydewey.:wavey:
I don't think Ford is the only manufacturer that uses a single bulb. Having a separate hi and lo beams doesn't necessarily mean better lighting either. I had 3 Toyota Highlanders and I upgraded the bulbs in each one producing much better results. An HID kit will give better lighting but many don't do the proper installation which includes changing the reflector inside the housing to provide proper focusing.

Peter

 

[tonydewey]

HID kits

From DDM I can get a 35W or a 55W kit. The latter obviously gives more light but are there cons ? (lifetime, heating, ...) Also has anyone tried the CREE 80W LED bulb ?

 

[peterk9]

There are several threads on HID conversions in the 'Modified' sub forum.
http://www.explorerforum.com/forums/forumdisplay.php?f=175

Peter

 

[LukerDooker]

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.

Consider this - Its a lot of work and trial and error, as well as being mechanically inclined,dealing with wiring, ballasts, and mounting, and the quality of the HID kit.
HID thread is long and you should give it a good read.

Likely you have halogen lamps. To make sure pull the bulb out and check it.

If you want, you can solve your issue in 5 minutes and for about $35;
get better OEM halogen bulbs.

https://www.sylvania.com/en-us/products/automotive/Pages/silverstar.aspxhttps://www.sylvania.com/en-us/products/automotive/Pages/silverstar.aspx

Each Silver Star model rates brightness and bulb life in an easy to read chart.
They're available at any auto mart store, Walmart, etc.
If you dont like the 1st type you get - return them and go to the next one up.

 

[amd2800barton]

Consider this - Its a lot of work and trial and error, as well as being mechanically inclined,dealing with wiring, ballasts, and mounting, and the quality of the HID kit.
HID thread is long and you should give it a good read.

OP: The HID thread(s) is long, but very informative. Don't let this scare you. A drop in HID install is a piece of cake.

Remove old bulbs. Put in new HID bulbs. Plug in HID bulbs to ballasts (comes with kits). Connect ballasts to Relay (comes with kits). Connect relay to battery and old headlight connector. Done.

The quality of the drop-in kit may not be quite as good as the expensive projector lens + reflector + HID bulb upgrade, but the quality of light of the kits are vastly superior to the stock Halogens, and indistinguishable to all but the trained eye from a OEM setup.

 

[soulpatch]

The quality of the drop-in kit may not be quite as good as the expensive projector lens + reflector + HID bulb upgrade, but the quality of light of the kits are vastly superior to the stock Halogens, and indistinguishable to all but the trained eye from a OEM setup.

While you get more light which is the point the above statement is totally false. The scatter and poorly focused light from the HID is a clear indicator that the setup is not OEM. You experience it frequently on the road now with all those cars that are blinding since they dont have the proper reflector/projector setup.

Honestly I was appalled by the poor halogen refelctor/projector that my Sport has. I did a swap to HID and the crappy halogen setup further exacerbated the issue with the scatter of the HIDs. Sure I had quite a bit more light but it was improperly focused which (against common sense) detracts from your vision on the road. (Think of your headlights barely lighting the road when driving under crappy street lamps. The ambient light around detracts from your headlights. The scatter from poorly focused HIDs does much of the same though not as bad it does detract)

So until I can go the proper method (though still illegal) to do a retrofit I put in Phillip Xtreme bulbs which are very much like having HIDs.


And I am a big HID user as every other vehicle I have swapped them in for and not had the scatter issue. I have successfuly put them in my xterra, grand cherokee, motorcycles, ect when I had them. Something about the Explorer projectors though for the halogen bulb just does not play well with drop in kits.

 

[amd2800barton]

While you get more light which is the point the above statement is totally false. The scatter and poorly focused light from the HID is a clear indicator that the setup is not OEM. You experience it frequently on the road now with all those cars that are blinding since they dont have the proper reflector/projector setup.

The cars you see that blind you are typically reflector-only housings or had a complete aftermarket projector setup installed, but never aimed the new projectors. A number of members have installed drop in HID kits to their Explorers, several have compared these to Ford Explorer Limited factory installed HIDs, myself included.

Check outPost #22

Many of us have installed aftermarket high quality HID kits with relays and had no issues at all. My Diode Dynamics kit came with HYLUX CANBUS ballasts, relay kit, DRL relay,and I have never had an issue plus they run as DRL's all the time. Looks completely stock beside a Limited with HID's.

(emphasis mine)

or also my Post 197

A friend recently got a Limited Explorer as a Loaner while her C-Class was in the shop. My wife and I rode in her car, and I couldn't tell the difference between the cutoff in her loaner or our Sport with the HID upgrade.

So while you may have been dissatisfied with your HID conversion, it is more likely because you are dissatisfied with Ford's headlight design, because the two light patterns are so similar.

 

[soulpatch]

The cars you see that blind you are typically reflector-only housings or had a complete aftermarket projector setup installed, but never aimed the new projectors. A number of members have installed drop in HID kits to their Explorers, several have compared these to Ford Explorer Limited factory installed HIDs, myself included.

and many on here have commented on the design and difference between the two sets of projectors. See the HID thread in the modified section to see a lot of that.

If you look at the headlight from the front sure they look like OEM but the light pattern is grossly different. this is due to the difference in the projectors and the halogen reflector.

The light pattern is not that similar as I have driven a Limited with HIDs before I got my sport. That is the main reason I was quick to order in the kits before the truck got home. Totally different cone of light and noticeable scatter along the edges.

I am not bashing someone who does it as I tried as well. What I am bashing is your statement like fact that these are close to the OEM when that is not true. Totally different hardware to try to slam the same bulb type into. When driving the dispersement of light is immediately evident that it is not OEM. Sure it looks as such if you are standing in front of the car looking at the headlights I geuss but there is quite a difference in actual performance.

All that said for the HIDs on the limited I was also disappointed in them. No where near as good as any other car I have driven either with factory HIDs or retrofits.

The headlight design for the Explorers is my biggest gripe. Just shoddy design work.

 

[Uaglio]

.

 

[Leju]

Love HIDs

HIDs were a deal breaker for me. Love them.

 

[crrobbins]

If anyone one here has the OEM HID lights, part number D3S, I have two Phillips XenoEcoStart XY 0C04. I think they have never been used. A friend gave them to me thinking they would fit our XLT. I have the halogen bulbs. Just changed them to Silverstar Ultra bulbs. More light, but had to adjust verticle aim on headlights because of getting flashed several times by oncoming cars. Anyway, the bulbs are free to anyone who has a use for them as spares or to replace old bulbs. They are labeled as 6000K 35W. Just message me and first come first serve. I will send lowest cost to me as long as shipping is not too expensive. Box bulbs came in are labeled D3S/D3C 6000K.


crrobbins