Improving XL Lighting?
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Elder User
Joined: Oct 2011
Posts: 602
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From: Tacoma, WA
Improving XL Lighting?
Lets be serious, halogen sealed beam headlights??!! These things SUCK!! If I bought a some of the all in one housing would it be much of an improvement? I am talking about the all in housing with the head lights and the blinkers. The factory units are just so EXPENSIVE, and I am just worried about buying aftermarket units, for one they look like something that belongs on a rice car, and for two I have used after market headlights on rice cars in the past and their light output is terrible, no engineering went into them and they just threw light all over the place.
I gave thought to buying just a simple H4 sealed beam conversion kit (a quality kit, made by HELLA for example) for $50 and throwing some $50 HIDs in there, that way I keep the XL blinkers. and keep it simple. But again I am not sure how well this will do.
What have you guys done to help light up the road at night? I would like to add some factory fog lights but I am reading some threads saying they to do not put out any light.
I gave thought to buying just a simple H4 sealed beam conversion kit (a quality kit, made by HELLA for example) for $50 and throwing some $50 HIDs in there, that way I keep the XL blinkers. and keep it simple. But again I am not sure how well this will do.
What have you guys done to help light up the road at night? I would like to add some factory fog lights but I am reading some threads saying they to do not put out any light.
Posting Guru
Joined: Jul 2010
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From: Fort Worth
Sealed beams were just fine in the past. A past that had LESS street lights, so people depended more on their headlights. Make sure your sealed beams are aimed properly and add some driving lights if they are just not enough for you.
Cargo Master
Joined: Oct 2010
Posts: 2,089
Likes: 16
What are the chances that the reflectors inside the sealed beams are degraded and not focusing the light as they should? I had that problem when I first got mine. New lights from parts store made a world of difference.
Another option is to get the 05 light from Certifit Online or a junkyard and get the harnesses to adapt them. You will have to cut or replace the header panel but plenty of people have done it just fine.
Another option is to get the 05 light from Certifit Online or a junkyard and get the harnesses to adapt them. You will have to cut or replace the header panel but plenty of people have done it just fine.
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Elder User
Joined: Oct 2011
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From: Tacoma, WA
The reflectors could very well be worn out on them, that I am unsure of, they are aligned as best as they possibly could be, the truck is lifted so I need to throw the light way down the street to see anything and the light is very much diminished. I guess I am just used to my other cars with factory projection headlights and HIDs which put out amazing light compared to these XL sealed beam lights.
In all honesty I actually like the front end look of the XL with the black grill and cheap-o headlight setup, personally on this truck with the color combo I have, I think it makes the truck look more "beefy"
In all honesty I actually like the front end look of the XL with the black grill and cheap-o headlight setup, personally on this truck with the color combo I have, I think it makes the truck look more "beefy"
You Keep What You Kill
Joined: Dec 2006
Posts: 4,902
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From: Huntersville, NC
I'd start with installing an aftermarket HD headlights to maintain the black-out look. $118.95 w/ free shipping.
F250 F350 F450 SUPERDUTY HEADLIGHTS HEADLAMP SET NEW | eBay
If that is not enough, you can upgrade to SilverStar 9008 bulbs with the dfuser.com harness, add a light bar to the front bumber with driving/fog lights of your choice.
F250 F350 F450 SUPERDUTY HEADLIGHTS HEADLAMP SET NEW | eBay
If that is not enough, you can upgrade to SilverStar 9008 bulbs with the dfuser.com harness, add a light bar to the front bumber with driving/fog lights of your choice.
Elder User
Joined: Feb 2011
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I have the aerodynamic factory lights on my XL. If they didn't suck, I wouldn't have bought a pair of Hella Rallye 4000 driving lights.
The OEM aerodynamic lights are not a significant improvement over the sealed beams. The Hella H4 replacements work much better than the OEM aerodynamic lights, plus you can swap out the supplied 60/55w bulbs.
The real Hella kit is not $55. Try $128.
Susquehanna MotorSports - Auto Performance Product
The OEM aerodynamic lights are not a significant improvement over the sealed beams. The Hella H4 replacements work much better than the OEM aerodynamic lights, plus you can swap out the supplied 60/55w bulbs.
The real Hella kit is not $55. Try $128.
Susquehanna MotorSports - Auto Performance Product
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Elder User
Joined: Oct 2011
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From: Tacoma, WA
Was the just a reference to a similar housing, because according to the bulb part number I could get this kit.
Susquehanna MotorSports - Auto Performance Product
I didnt do much research on these, I just typed it in, into ebay and see them for like $30 a housing, but then after reading the description they are "similar".
These E-Code housings sure seem like they will be exactly what I am looking for, even if only half of what they say about them is true.
Susquehanna MotorSports - Auto Performance Product
I didnt do much research on these, I just typed it in, into ebay and see them for like $30 a housing, but then after reading the description they are "similar".
These E-Code housings sure seem like they will be exactly what I am looking for, even if only half of what they say about them is true.
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Elder User
Joined: Feb 2011
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I think you found the correct lights - 200mm - I picked the 165 mm. Before you buy anything, call Susquehanna. Find out if the lights need wiring adapters to fit your stock wiring harness. Susquehanna is a Hella distributor and they know their stuff.
They are way better than OEM aerodynamic lights.
Throwing HIDs into housings designed for other bulbs is always a bad idea. Housings and bulbs are designed for one another. The location and orientation of the filament makes a huge difference in performance.
If you need more light after installing the Hella E-code headlights, get a pair of Hella driving lights.
They are way better than OEM aerodynamic lights.
Throwing HIDs into housings designed for other bulbs is always a bad idea. Housings and bulbs are designed for one another. The location and orientation of the filament makes a huge difference in performance.
If you need more light after installing the Hella E-code headlights, get a pair of Hella driving lights.
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