Cheap headlight upgrade

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Feb 10, 2009 | 09:56 AM

soutthpaw

Thread Starter

Laughing Gas

Joined: Jun 2005

Posts: 1,009

Likes: 1

From: Colorado

Cheap headlight upgrade

Just installed thise Amazon.com: Hella H83175122 High Performance Xenon Blue Bulb: Automotive Hella 80/100 watt 9007 bulbs for a pair $32.40 delivered. definite improvement in light...
if you don't want the blue coating then for under $26 a pair,
Amazon.com: Hella HLA-H83175051 HB 9007 12V 100/80W Halogen Bulb Off Road Use: Automotive

I find them better than the overpriced PIAA's which don't actually use higher wattage but make a claim that they will put out a simulated wattage equivalent. I have used Hella's on several vehicles and always been happy with the results.... I was tempted to do HID upgrade but on mixed reviews and for the added cost I skipped that mod for now..

Feb 10, 2009 | 09:59 AM

BAJI26

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Joined: Aug 2005

Posts: 917

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From: Fort Lauderdale, Fl

Nice! I went that route but the output wasn't enough for me so I went with HID Fog and Headlights. Money well spent!

Feb 10, 2009 | 10:10 AM

soutthpaw

Thread Starter

Laughing Gas

Joined: Jun 2005

Posts: 1,009

Likes: 1

From: Colorado

Quote:

Originally Posted by BAJI26

Nice! I went that route but the output wasn't enough for me so I went with HID Fog and Headlights. Money well spent!

I was looking at the HID foglight conversion kits..... which brand of HID did you use and what temperature? it seems that about 5000K actually gives the brightest white light... My wife's A6 has factory HID's and I love them... One thing I read is that HID conversions don't always work well due to the different reflector design of standard headlights

Feb 10, 2009 | 12:30 PM

BAJI26

Elder User

Joined: Aug 2005

Posts: 917

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From: Fort Lauderdale, Fl

I have 9007 Bi-Xenon 6000K HID Kit for the Headlights and 9005 6000K Automobile HID Kit in my PIAA 410 Foglights.

Feb 10, 2009 | 02:05 PM

ReAX

Post Fiend

Joined: May 2006

Posts: 10,007

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From: Central Florida

I haven't tried hella's but I have tried some of the other cheaper bulbs. The higher the wattage, the more voltage sensitive they seemed to be. It wasn't a big problem, a relay harness usually stopped any spikes. However the superwhites with the heavy blue tinted bulbs seemed to washout on black top. It was spooky to drive on a freshly paved wet road. The high watt blues were bright and didn't wash out, but it was technically illegal where I live and a way to get pulled over.

Just some things to consider. If you really like your 80+ watt (our high powered bulbs were 80/100, but they did go higher), really consider adding a relay system with heavy contacts.

Feb 10, 2009 | 04:15 PM

katiesdad7

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Joined: Aug 2007

Posts: 980

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From: Stuart, FL

I have the 4300k. When you get over 5000k you start to get the blue color. I went with the Bi-Xenons so your high beams are also HID. It was pretty easy to install. Just DO NOT put the ballast next to the ABS sensor. Your ABS light will come on and your speedo will not work. I did that. I had to move it about 6" away and all is OK.

I didn't go with the fogs because of the $. I did however use the silverstars in them.

I put the sliverstars in the fogs B4 I replaced the headlight bulbs and the silverstars were MUCH brighter than the headlights. Then I replaced the headlight bulbs and now the foglights are dim!

The HIDs are definately the way to go.