Ok, so I have run into a problem, I have a 2005 Excursion, and I have been trying to research on here about HID's for it and most all of my searches result in telling people to first upgrade to 2005 Excursion headlights. Can someone explain what the difference is between 2005's and 2000-2004's? And why it is beneficial to upgrade?

Also, i also read someone say the 2005's HID are just a plug and play? Could someone elaborate on that? I just don't want to be rigging up some half-a$$ wiring harness. THanks in advance

-The Great

 

These are what the 05 lights look like, they are supposed to be really effective for a stock light at projecting the hid light instead of scattering it everywhere.

I just read you have an 05 why would you need to upgrade to headlights you have?

 

I've had both 03 and 05 headlights with aftermarket HID's. Because of where the light comes from on the HID bulb, light scatter is inevitable. I've found that with the HID hi/lo bulbs that use a mechanical/magnetic circuit that pulls the bulb in and out, has little effect when changing from high beams to low beams. The light beam does shine fairly well in front of the truck, but because of the location of the light source being different from where a regular bulb filament would be, uses the entire headlight housing reflector to project the light. This in turn allows a certain amount of light to be projected out of the headlight at the point that would normally be the high beam location. I've found that in most cases oncoming drivers dont complain but some do. The benefits although little does allow me to see street signs farther off than with conventional bulbs. Pointing the headlights down just a little has helped with oncoming drivers being confused by thinking my high beams are on, when their not. You'll notice on conventional bulbs that the filaments for the high and low beams are in different locations. That little bit of difference allows the light beams to be projected as high and low beams. HID bulbs dont have 2 filaments so the manufacturers have tried to compensate this effect by using HID/Halogen dual bulb set ups, and the mechanical type that move the whole bulb. So the pro's and cons;

Pros: Brighter light, less current draw, longer lasting than a conventional bulb. Looks cool compared to regular bulbs. Different colors available.

Cons: Light source from single location, high beam change makes little change to beam location. Could confuse on coming drivers thinking your high beams are on. Could blind on coming drivers at night if headlights arent adjusted after HID installation.

 

I have an 2005, but I was just curious why everyone wanted 05's and what makes them superior. And aren't HID's better than my stock 05's? I really don't know that is why I am asking

-The Great

 

The 05's just look cool. Going from 03's to the 05's I would say stock for stock the 03's actually might have better light output than the 05's by a slight margin. I haven't noticed anything different about the cut off or the like. I was planning HID's as well but after thinking about it for more than a year I may just go with the high power relayed harness and high watt bulbs like I had in my old truck. With driving lights I had 400 watts with the high beams on in my last truck. I could see everything for a mile down the road! I am thinking of the same for the X, even installed the driving lights already but haven't wired them yet.

 

I don't care much for the headlights ( and lighting) I get on my '02 EX much and have kicked around the idea of HID replacements. I've replaced those on my motorcycles and really like them. But then the MC's lights are on on the time anyway.

Here's the vendor I used and seems to be most popular ( and cheap) for kits. They are a piece of cake to install.

DDM Tuning : HID Kits

D

 

don't buy those slim HIDS there wack and also the one that have the screw on cap



. I would buy the HID ballast with the Crimped type ends.......like so


Most of the time The brand doesn't matter, I bought 2 hid ballast in the past for 1 of my Hids and the other one I had for many years which is still kicking....




Also look into the Hi/Low lights Hid kits......