Does anyone use Xenon Headlights ? Are they any better? and do they make them for a 85' Bronco? I thought i saw some on eBay..but cant find them..so im not sure?..Thanks

 

Beware of the fake lights. A real HID (high intensity discharge)system will probably run you over $500. Buying $40 bulbs does NOT equal getting xenon lights.

Furthermore, the bulbs are painted blue, which naturally makes them produce less visible light. The bulbs draw more current to compensate for this, and they almost always draw more current than the headlight wiring is rated for. This is a DANGEROUS situation that can lead to burned out wiring harnesses and possible fires.

 

My neighbor just put some aftermarket blue-type headlights in his Aerostar. After removing the new bulbs, removing the melted connectors and splicing in new ones, and reinstalling his old bulbs, he has headlights again. He also has a few new flaky electrical problems he didn't have before. Beware of the fancy bulbs!

 

I've been meaning to order some, but I don't think I'll use the blue. I tried to post the link, but the BBS pulls "eBay" out of it and wrecks the URL.

If this one gets screwed up, just search there for "kyotousa.com".
http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&category=38661&item=2423879 580

 

I'll keep this one simple.....Ditto to whats been said about so called Xenon lamps that are blue in color etc.. If you can find the real thing, they might be worth it. I wouldn't waste my time or money. You want to improve light output, clean the reflectors. The very idea of a silvered plastic reflector makes me shudder.. Its probably the single most INefficient reflector system that could be used. I'm still toying with the idea of retrofitting a pair of 75watt MR16 type lamps in place of the headlamps. Cold reflector and far more efficient. and stil uses the 12 volt system without the step up ballast required to ignite a Xenon lamp.

Are Xenons better? Sure as far as the amount of visible light they produce. But remember that the greater levels of light from the blue end of the spectrum are harder on your eyes and the eyes of oncoming drivers. I would NEVER take a long night trip with them...eye fatigue would be terrible. thats why street lights are sodium vapor now instead of mercury vapor...(that and they produce more light). Warm White fluorescents are much easier on the eyes than cool whites etc.. Same principle.

 

And DEFINATELY don't order from Kyoto USA.

 

I put them in my Bronc 2 years ago and they've worked fine ever since. I can't really say if they make better light or worse, it's more like a DIFFERENT type of light that sometimes seems to make night driving easier, and sometimes harder, depending on conditions. They seem to light up street signs and stuff better. I got them on eBay, I don't recall from who.

I wish I could find nice clear leneses for the lights, my stock 90 Bronco ones are all yellowed and so are all the ones in the junkyard. I tried buffing them out and it helped a little bit.

 

JBronco,

Street signs are predominantly green and white....higher blue light levels emmitted by Xenon lamps will cause greater levels of light to reflect back at your eyes. Thats why the street signs "pop" with those lamps.

 

Ok guys thanks for your posts..I think I will just stick to the normal lights..to avoid trouble ..Thanks Again

 

Why not? Bad personal experience? I was planning on it as soon as I have $50 to spare. Do you know another supplier that you recommend?

 

Yeah, I had a bad experience with them. I bought headlights from them, and I asked if they were the real thing (when I was young & stupid - like last week) and they said yes, they're real xenon lights. Just like the ones in high end luxury cars.

Of course, they're cheap fakes. When I found out what they were, I asked for a refund. They refused, and I spoke to the manager. I was firm but polite - he yelled at me over the phone and refused to give me his name.

I filed a claim with the BBB, but what else can you do?

The next best thing are the Sylvania true blues, I think. But defiantely stay away from the cheap fakes that Kyoto sells.

 

Folks,just to set things straight...the Sylvania "true blue" and other such blue tinted lamps merely change the color of the light being emitted from the lamp. They are in no way the actual Xenon short arc lamps that you see in luxury cars. They do NOT produce more light. They produce light in a different range of the spectrum and a smaller range at that. If anything, they REDUCE the amount of visible light by eliminating the red (warm) end of the spectrum. The Xenon lamps in luxury models are a short arc lamp which produces MORE light through a much greater range of the spectrum thereby putting MORE visible light on the road ahead. They appear "bluer" because standard tungsten halogen lamps do not produce near as much light at the blue/indigo end of the spectrum. Manufacturers who tint the glass on a tungsten halogen lamp can make these (tungesten halogen) lamps LOOK like the high-dollar Xenons but thats where the similarities end.

I hate to see manufacturers make their money through blatant lies to the unknowing public, so there is the truth as I know it.

 

Well, I know up front that they're plastic lenses & reflectors using standard halogen bulbs, and that's exactly what I want. I probably won't use the blue bulbs they include (for the reasons greystreak mentioned and others), but I want to get rid of the glass sealed beams that I have now.