Those of you with HID's...

[bojans]

I am considering putting a set of HID's in my 06 Explorer but am a bit concerned about the light focus. I understand the mechanics of the light refraction in the headlight housing and how the focus changes as the whole bulb glows.

That being said I also know that some cars do better with HID's in the factory housings than others. I am looking for real world experience you have had with your HID kits. Were you able to aim them in a fashion that does not blind oncoming traffic but still provides improved lighting? Do you get flashed by oncoming cars regularly? Is the light focused or just sent in every direction?

Thanks in advance

 

[celly]

I've got a '99 so not necessarily applicable to your situation but I stand by the view that OEM housings are not made for HID and you do run the risk of blinding oncoming traffic if you don't take the time to make sure they're aimed well to minimize the inevitable glare from using HID bulbs in halogen housings. If you want to do it right, consider a retrofit. Costly, but effective. I've got a poor man's projector housing on my '99 and I am happy with the results.

I had 3 different kits in my old housings and I was often getting flashed despite making a lot of effort to make sure the light was aimed carefully. It never happens anymore.

 

[dothedeww]

I am considering putting a set of HID's in my 06 Explorer but am a bit concerned about the light focus. I understand the mechanics of the light refraction in the headlight housing and how the focus changes as the whole bulb glows.

That being said I also know that some cars do better with HID's in the factory housings than others. I am looking for real world experience you have had with your HID kits. Were you able to aim them in a fashion that does not blind oncoming traffic but still provides improved lighting? Do you get flashed by oncoming cars regularly? Is the light focused or just sent in every direction?

Thanks in advance

I have a set on my 06 XLT...and i get flashed by almost every person who passes. They are bright as can be, but if I lower them any then they are worse than the stock lighting. Im not too worried though, I rarely drive at night as it is.

 

[granadojl]

I have a set on my 06 XLT...and i get flashed by almost every person who passes. They are bright as can be, but if I lower them any then they are worse than the stock lighting. Im not too worried though, I rarely drive at night as it is.

What set did you install? I am interested for my wife as she drives it most of the time.

 

[1999_sport]

i got a set in my 99 sport and get flashed, but i just flash back, with the highbeams and piss them off even more, most people are just idiots, i've been flashed driving with stock hids, so i gave up on trying to be nice

 

[rileyrs]

aftermarket hid's are illegal. and its for a reason, cuz they are way to bright to safely drive at an oncoming car if not aimed perfectly. i would suggest either projectors, or a full hid retrofit with new housing.
this can also help you avoid some trouble with the law if you get unlucky.

 

[shmelmafinga]

Thanks for using some consideration before leaping into HIDs. I've never used them myself. I firmly believe that if you can't see with your factory lights - slow the heck down!

That said, I've rarely ever "flashed" an oncoming vehicle with HIDs, but really wish they'd put more effort into focusing them.

 

[BrianDye]

I've never used them myself. I firmly believe that if you can't see with your factory lights - slow the heck down!

Factory halogens are nothing in comparison to HIDs.
I even had 10,000k which are the "dimmest" HIDs, and they are still many times more bright than halogens. Theres no argument that HIDs are all around better with the right housings/aiming.

 

[rileyrs]

and there is also no argument that they are illegal when not factory and for a good reason.
i completely agree they produce more light, and are very nice to drive with. but a set of silverstar bulbs is sufficient for almost all situations. and if you need more, install some driving lights that you can turn on when you need the light(they can even be hid if you want), but that you can shut off when you dont need them so you dont blind other drivers.

we've all done illegal things with our trucks tho, so if your comited to hids, do it correctly, so that its safe and you dont get a heavy ticket.
good luck

 

[celly]

if you can't see with your factory lights - slow the heck down!

I had to briefly go back to halogens in my '99 last winter and I felt blind at night. Once you get used to HID, there's nothing like em.

 

[BrianDye]

I never said they were legal :
Most cops dont care though, at least not around here, theres a motorcycle in one of the neighborhoods, and EVERYTHING on that bike is chrome or blue. Blue LEDs all over everything, along with the bluest HIDs I have ever seen, literally looks like a blue LED, along with some small blue foglights, with the same bulbs.

I held myself back from buying HIDs for my 95 so far, I have the money and its killing me not to because I cannot stand driving at night with my stockers, even with the foglights.

Im saving up for the 2nd gen projectors first

 

[BrianDye]

I had to briefly go back to halogens in my '99 last winter and I felt blind at night. Once you get used to HID, there's nothing like em.

Couldnt agree with you more! Why'd you have to go back?
Ive been driving now for about 3 months with halogens, and still cant get used to 'em.

 

[rileyrs]

projectors, now thats the way to go!
they look great, dont blind people, and are great to drive with.

 

[BrianDye]

I am a projector virgin.

Never had them, never seen them, never ridden in a vehicle with them.
I hear nothing but good, and hope for a good product when I get them

 

[1999_sport]

projectors just focus the light beam better and have a cut off at the top so it doesnt blind people, so if you want to spend lots of money to get them, and then atempt to retrofit good luck, lol. if not i've seen people make a cover for the top of the bulb to divert the light back down pretty simple to do also

 

[celly]

....so if you want to spend lots of money to get them, and then atempt to retrofit good luck...

Or you can spend a little less and take the easy way out. I've had mine for a year now and remain a believer in them even if they're far from as good as real HID projectors (i.e. those in high end vehicles as OEM).

MUCH better than any lighting setup I've had on my truck.