High wattage replacement bulbs

[Nordic-Al]

Hi folks,

I have a '98 XLT with 9007 series headlight bulbs, ( 55w low / 65w high beam ) and the stock plastic lens cover (and I suspect plastic reflector). Does anyone know if the plastic will withstand the increased heat output from the sustained use of higher wattage bulbs? such as 80w/100w ?

Any help would be appreciated.
Thanks,

Alan
'98 XLT, 4x4, 4.0 SOHC
K&N air filter
Amsoil 5W-30
Amsoil oil filter
Bosh platinum +4's
Jacobs wires


[This message has been edited by Nordic-Al (edited 04-16-2000).]

 

[ExplorGM]

Alan,
I went with 55/100s from Performance Products mail order. Aside from the fact that the first bulbs were defective, the second try, over two weeks later, worked ok. No problems with the lenses.(Yours lenses might be different than mine though.) They are no improvement over stock though. I would go with nothing less than 80/100+ next time. I would go with Summit, or JC Whitney for better prices and more dependable service.
Rick

------------------
Rick
95 Explorer Sport Expedition
Dead Link Removed

 

[Cameron]

Not to be the cynic here but……

Do you guys realize that your DIM lights will be much brighter then stock HIGH beams if you go with the 80W / 100W? This can be very annoying to on-coming traffic. I wouldn't presume to tell you what you should and shouldn't do to your truck, just please be considerate of other drivers on the road when you plan your modifications. There are few things more annoying then being blinded by someone headlights. You think they have their brights on so you give them a courtesy flash only to then get sun burned by a billion watts of high beams. If, for a reason I don't understand, you MUST have 80-watt low beams, please aim them a little lower.

Okay, I'm dome complaining….


------------------
Rock'n 97 Sport 4X4

 

[raven2]

I agree 100% with Cameron, the high wattage bulbs are illegal in most states, and when you buy them they usualy have a disclaimer for off-road use only. You can upgrade your bulbs to hyper-white or blue ion, but you should retain the stock wattage, becuase that is the national safety standard wattage. If you do go with the high, consider lowering your beam.

------------------

91 Sport
"Drive it like ya stold it"

 

[scott]

Alan,
I have had 80/100 bulbs in mine for 1 1/2 years with no problems at all.

 

[Hank]

Nordic-Al,

I have had the Hella 9004 80/100w replacements in mine since October without any problems. Susquehana Motorsports has the best prices I found for the Hella products. www.catalog.com/susq is the address (if I recall correctly). I did need to aim them a bit lower as they were much brighter than the stockers. Cameron does bring up a good point about getting hit with a million candle power on a dark road..

------------------
'91 EB, 4dr, 2wd
www.grimmick.com
hank@grimmick.com

 

[Nordic-Al]

Thank you for your input gentlemen. I was hoping to hear from individuals with first hand experience using these bulbs in plastic fixtures. Sounds like it should not be a problem.

With regards to the concerns raised about blinding other drivers, I too share this concern, and I don't like being blinded anymore than the next guy. I have used high wattage bulbs in glass and metal fixtures before and found that by re-aiming the headlights I have been able to avoid blinding other drivers and still gain a larger field of view. The real gain being with the high beams and these of course are not used around other drivers anyway.

If I find I can not adjust the explorer headlights enough to be safe ( and courteous ) I'll remove the higher wattage bulbs. Fair enough?

------------------
Alan
'98 XLT, 4x4, 4.0 SOHC
K&N air filter
Amsoil 5W-30
Amsoil oil filter
Bosch platinum +4's
Jacobs wires

 

[RonN]

Nordic.

I too have purchased from Hella a few months ago, and have used their 80/100's without anyone flashing their headlights.

Now our old Bronco II's were another story. With the factory headlights they were always blinding when someone was followed me closely. I think their fixture at the plant was incorrect. I turned mine down a full two turns to get them close to correct. At our Ford plant (Lorain Assm) they used to put an optical device on the headlight an it would focus a narrow beam (1") to a gauge board several yards (10?) away. This was several years ago.

If you have any trouble just aim them down a tad. Keep track of the starting place and go down by 1/2 turn increments.

Ron N.

 

[mav]

Has anyone considered purchasing a full HID replacement kit? They run about $700 for the full kit, but they look incredible. All the new Mercedes and Jags have them. If I was to replace my bulbs I would go with a HID system. I tried the PIAA Super Whites, and I thought they really sucked. Just personal opinion, but I'm looking for something more along the lines of a HID system. Thoughts anyone...

------------------
Wes Ulmer
'99 Eddie Bauer Explorer 4x4
4.0L SOHC V6
265/75-R16 BFG KO's
Edelbrock IAS Shocks
K&N Open Element Air Filter
Bosch Platinum 4+
Dual 40 Series Flowmasters
Manik 4x4 Grill Guard
Warn X8000i Winch

 

[mattadams]

Mav - sorry to hear about your experience with the PIAA 9007's, I've heard similar things from other people. As for a HID system, just do your research. Heres the differences I've seen when looking around -
PIAA HID System (seperate bulbs, computer modules for each lamp, wiring harness etc.) -$1850
KC HID System (seperate bulbs, one computer module, wiring harness etc.) -$1600
Unsure of brand name, HID system that uses existing headlight housing, replaces bulb/computer module, 9007 only. About $700
Eagle Eye HID System (unsure of what all comes with this but it sells in JC Whitney) - $600
Unsure of brand name but they sell at Pep boys - HID System (two lights) -$65.
Obviously there is a huge difference between the PIAA set and the Pep Boys brand, even a huge difference between the PIAA's and the Eagle Eyes (though I've heard the PIAA's and KC's are quite similar apart from the computer module). The PIAA's produce about 550,000 candlepower (yes, 550,000!), I am unsure how much the other lights produce. I seem to remember that the Pep Boys brand produced about 75,000 candlepower... HUGE difference.

------------------
Matt Adams
94 Explorer 4-door nick-named "Tippy"
http://bart.is-s.com/~explorers/explorer/explorer.html

 

[pacman]

Is it true that a real HID system actually controls the aim of the headlights to avoid blinding oncoming traffic (for example, aims the lights down when cresting a hill)? I read this somewhere (Car and Driver??). That is why is costs so much (700+). Maybe I read it wrong...

Pacman

------------------
1997 Eddie Bauer 4x4 4.0L SOHC

 

[mattadams]

well yes, but most aftermarket lights do that to some point (not talking like superwhite bulbs, I'm talking like fog lights). The reason they are so expensive is because they are a whole different kind of technology. For example, a regular headlight gets about 20,000 candlepower, the HID is smaller, produces about 550,000 candlepower on LESS wattage producing less heat then standard headlights. That's the main reason they are more expensive - they are a whole different type of light.

------------------
Matt Adams
94 Explorer 4-door nick-named "Tippy"
http://bart.is-s.com/~explorers/explorer/explorer.html

 

[mattadams]

oh wait I just looked at your question. To my knowledge HID's do not automatically aim down, but that is possible, I've just not heard of that particular capability.

------------------
Matt Adams
94 Explorer 4-door nick-named "Tippy"
http://bart.is-s.com/~explorers/explorer/explorer.html