HID fog lights question.

[ixiswaggerixi]

Hello, I am new to this site. I have recently bought some HID kits for my 2000 Ford Explorer xlt. I installed the 9007 kit for my headlamp and they look very good. But when i went to install the H1 kit for my fog lights i could not figure out how to make it stay in the housing. Any help is appreciated.

 

[celly]

First of all, consider if you really want HID in the OEM fog location. I considered going this route, but have heard it throws a LOT of glare. I like being able to drive with my fogs without being flashed. Consider a better quality halogen if you`re looking for better performance, because all HID is going to do is give you a scattered beam with a marginal increase in visibility.

If you`re still convinced you need to go this route, you have to get creative with the install because H1 HID capsules don`t fit right into the standard sockets like a halogen bulb will. You`ll need to mod it yourself to make the bulb fit. Seal it up good.

Welcome to the best Exploder resource on the www.

 

[ixiswaggerixi]

Is there any "HID like" halogens out there, I just want my lights to have the same color because the fogs don't look right.

 

[Balla7733]

I used to have the Sylvania Cool Blue in my headlights and they really seemed like HID light just a lot weaker.. Its hard to explain but the Cool Blues have no yellow in them whatsoever so they have a really clean look.

im in the same situation as you because i put 6000k HIDs in the headlights and now my factory fogs look pretty bad. I think I will either put the 6000k in the fogs or put the Sylvania Cool Blues in there.

 

[ixiswaggerixi]

Let me know what you do because im still stuck on what to do.

 

[Bill Kemp]

There is always yellow/amber. Which is a good looking contrast.

 

[BrianDye]

There are tons of halogens out there to try, your looking more for the ones that have the blue tinted glass, they dont put out that nasty "yellow" color, theyre a very intense white, theres tons of those bulbs out there to try, and usually WAY cheaper than going the HID route...

 

[celly]

There is always yellow/amber. Which is a good looking contrast.

I've been using yellow bulbs for years and they're hardly "nasty" as others insist. I see plenty of high end vehicles that have 4300K capsules in their headlights and yellow bulbs in their fogs.

I'm with you on this option. Those faux HID, blue cast bulbs are too ricey for me.

 

[BrianDye]

I'm with you on this option. Those faux HID, blue cast bulbs are too ricey for me.

Im not talking about the HID "impostar" bulbs, im talking about bulbs like these

Nothing in any-way-shape or form ricey about white headlights and being able to see at night.

 

[celly]

There is a reason that OEM and high performance fogs are often yellow and there's science behind it to boot. Making a standard halogen "more white" takes away from light output and that's a fact. I'll stick with mods that make sense and work for a reason and not those that scream out "look at me".

We both know we're on opposite ends of the "form vs function" spectrum of modding. To say the yellow fogs are "nasty" is a stretch, but considering the source, I don't take it too seriously.

 

[BrianDye]

I don't take it too seriously.

RIGHT.

And if you had common sense, you'd realize that me calling the bright yellow output of the yellow style bulbs "nasty" is MY opinion. I never said that it is a crappy light, with horrible output, or useless, etc; I just dont like the look of vehicles with bright yellow lights. Probably because I dont really care for the color yellow.


And if those "whiter bulbs" take away from brightness, then why do the majority of them say that theyre up to 40% brighter? (40% is a random guess, but they usually say something like 40-50%)

But hey everybody, "LOOK AT ME!" :scratch: Cus appearently thats what I scream?:mattmoon:

 

[Bill Kemp]

My wife likes the yellow. So I have some Catz MSR w/100 watt bulbs in the OEM position. and some Hella Micro DE converted to HID w/3000K bulbs in the lower air intake.
http://www.foglights.com/msr.html http://www.rallylights.com/Hella_Micro_DE.aspx

They are exceptional in fog and especially good in snow flurries. They provide a classy contrast. Yes the word classy IMO. The performance is proven.

Guess you just have to decide if you want to see well or just be seen as a ...well...



PS The claims of ALL mfgs. of bulbs that are coated with blue coloring about them being brighter is pure BS. They take measurements of the lumens at different distances from the bulb as the bulb they are comparing it to. It is impossible to tint a bulb and make it brighter.

 

[celly]

Nice setups Bill.

I just use H1 yellow bulbs from PIAA in my OEM fogs. They've served me well for several years (4+) and I like the look too especially against my 4300K HIDs.

I went out stargazing with my wife and 5 y/o a few months ago and all the sudden this nasty fog came out of nowhere and visibility was not good at all, even with HID. I turned off the HIDs and drove carefully with just my fogs and visibility was better than I expected. This fog was so nasty that most people were slowed down to around 20 mph and driving with their hazards on (this was on the highway). I was able to maintain better speed than most. I was impressed. It's the only time I've really needed fog lights and the yellow cast made a HUGE difference, even with my crappy OEM fogs which don't really do much anyhow but allow others to see you as well.

I'm sold. Like I said, function over form and it doesn't hurt that I like the look of the yellows too.

 

[stuartr]

I have 5500k in my headlights and diamond yellow in my fog lights. I got them here.
http://autolumination.com/headlights.htm
Where I work is the foggiest place I have ever seen in my life and the yellow really helps. I also went up to a 80w bulb in the fogs. That really puts some light on the ground. The only thing is I can't run them all the time like I used to. i try not to run them in heavly traffic and close running cars to me. But they do what I want them to do. Make rocks in a particular road cut section of highway on the way to work show up before I hit them and cut nasty weather like hot butter. So they are truely fog light not driving lights now. I think my color combo looks great together.


STu

 

[ixiswaggerixi]

Any tips for modding a way for the HID to stay safely in the factory housing? I can't think of anything

 

[celly]

Any tips for modding a way for the HID to stay safely in the factory housing? I cont think of anything

I've known people who have siliconed the heck out of the them to stay in place.

As before, I think it's a dumb mod. Is it really important to you to blind the hell out of oncoming traffic? I like to be able to actually drive with my fogs. You won't be able to with HIDs in there without getting flashed all the time. The enclosures aren't really conducive to running mods. I've yet to see anyone really pull it off successfully without excessive glare.

Hey, it's your truck. Do what ya gotta do. Given that you're stumped on how to do it yourself, that might be a sign you should just get some better H1 conventional bulbs and call it a day.

 

[ixiswaggerixi]

I'm not doing this mod because I'm trying to "blind the hell out of other drivers" but i am doing it for when i am out on my land i have a better view at night when driving around. The reason I am asking on this forum is yes because I'm "stumped" but that is the whole point of this website. If I am wrong i will gladly leave and start a membership elsewhere. You most likely joined this site because you have questions so i would appreciate if you wouldn't be rude when i ask mine. I am here for helping and trying to help as many people as i can. I never asked for your personal opinion i just asked how it was done.

 

[BrianDye]

As before, I think it's a dumb mod.

No one really cares if you think its a dumb mod or not, he didnt ask your opinion on whether he should do it or not. He asked for help on getting his HIDs to stay in the housings, and probably would appreciate all suggestions/answers.

ixis: I would probably try and get some kind of heat resistant silicone, glue, etc and secure the bulbs, then try a nice ring around the outside base of the bulb. I havent went HID yet down there, so I can only say what I would try lol

 

[celly]

You haven't received much help on by far the busiest Explorer website on the planet. From where I see it, others have tried to tell you to ditch the HIDs and consider better options such as good quality halogen bulbs and possibly other lighting options, but so far you've just ignored that. Maybe you should plaster the front of your truck with LED strips. I'm told that works!

If you're so adamant to put HIDs in the fogs, then a little ingenuity should solve your problem. I'm sure you've already noticed that H1 capsules are not plug and play on the stock enclosures like they'd be with your headlights.

If you're truly worried about better lighting, consider supplemental lighting in other areas. LOTS of folks have done good things in the archives. HIDs in the stock enclosures are more of a cosmetic mod and won't give you the effect you desire if you're in it for performance like you claim you are. Our enclosures suck for that in the 2nd gen.

I went down this road 3-4 years ago using a reputable HID dealer in town (I still use his ballasts and most of his wiring). He told me the reflectors plain suck in these trucks for HID. He saved me a lot of money in the process. He would have gladly set me up with a new kit and was giving me free installation to boot.

Call me rude if you'd like. I consider myself to be honest and blunt. It's a quality that's served me well and a strategy I don't plan on deserting any time soon.

Take it for what it's worth, but I still think you're wasting your time (and money). Hey, it's your time and money so have at it. Someone will eventually agree with you (EDIT: I see someone already did before I hit submit...imagine that).

There are threads in the archives where people have done the very mod you're looking for (cough, cough...Alaska).
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[BrianDye]

The enclosures aren't really conducive to running mods. I've yet to see anyone really pull it off successfully without excessive glare.

Neighbor has a 2008 Explorer, put 8000k's in the stock headlights, and 8000k's in the stock foglights; and its not the least bit blinding or bright to oncoming traffic.