One wonders why the nice people in Dearborn don't design the HID system into the truck from the plant. Seems a logical option to add to the Lariat, KR, etc. along with LED lighting around the rest of the truck...........sort of like others have done already........

 

I've owned several vehicles with Factory HID's.

I almost didn't buy my 2008 F350 due to no HID option. Installing aftermarket HID's is illegal so doing it sort of spoils it. Going from 1000 Lumens at 2800K to 3200 Lumens at 4100K is Really a night and day difference to your safety and to others on the road.

 

I would agree! And thats just sad.

But let me add to this, as I've been reading... and understanding that many are against HID in a Halogen OEM housing. I also, would tend to agree that not all HIDs are created equal... nor are all housings/reflectors. And two wrongs, make it even worse. But I also know, that it's not the case in every scenario.

But at risk of being beat down....
I will also say that there are HIDs that do not create too much glare, too much annoyance and are just as safe as OEM (in a housing intended for Halogen or a specific bulb socket - say H13). And I support this with proof of several installed "kits". Quality kits that have been sorted through, for years to get the right one(s). In fact, I have Bi-Xenon (dual HID in one bulb) in both my Excursion and my Tacoma. Both are exceptional. The bad kits I've tried over the years, got thrown in the trash or sent back to the reseller. It was astounding at how many bad kits or incorrect bulb types, or styles I was sent in the last few years. Just amazing. Most resellers, had no idea what I was talking about when I sent them back. Some, never even heard of what I tried to explain. Even after sending picture, after picture. I was just the crazy consumer.

How do I know they don't create unwanted glare or blinding light?
Well... I've done my best with non-scientific tests of driving towards my own vehicle headlights as-if I'm in a passenger vehicle (at several angles, several roads, and different scenarios), I've adjusted my headlights accordingly and with a cut-off at the proper level for low beam, I've never been high-beamed when I'm on low beam...etc.etc. All non-scientific of course, but real world experiences. And I know that I've experienced the lovely and hated BLINDING glare of someone else's improperly installed, aimed, or matched HID conversion kits. Which makes me grit my teeth.

I however also use the 4300K HIDs in all my vehicles. This too helps. It helps look more like OEM Halogen. It's bright, but less annoying (to other drivers). I also know about the hype of blue, and pure white (how the cool kids all have it)... ever since PIAA Super Whites came onto the market, I've been yelling "FAKE" so long my throat hurts. And to this, I think education is key. DOT isn't going to be able to stop every illegal installation or the importing of HID. It's just too widespread. Instead, why don't we help educate?! It's what I do as best I know how. I guess the reason I even opened my mouth in this old thread, as I think there's no wrong opinion. Just strong ones!

I'm so happy with my HID installs, that I promote the use of HID. But I don't think it's for everyone. Like the guy with road rage, who loves high beams. Or the guy who has no clue what a metric crescent wrench is, or can't fix a leaky faucet... I'm sure you get my drift, as I think it's a mature tool. A tool to see better at night, and not at the safety of others.

(sorry to go on and on, I have much more to add... but, at risk of being banned, or flagged, beaten down by the regulars, hated by the all-knowing... I'll just sit back and watch the sparks)

 

It seems one of these Threads comes up about every week or so, and we still don't have a sticky on it. Hey everyone is going to decide to do whatever it is they want to do to their truck, regarless of mine or anyone else's opinion.

Putting an HID kit in the stock reflective housing is the wrong way to go. Sure you will have more light output, you will also glare the hell out of everyone. And even though they don't bright you back, they are doing their best to shy away from that light. How do I know this? Because I drive on the road. I can see this setup in any vehicle from a mile away and it looks ridiculous. I am not trying to come across as a jerk, I am just being honest. A safe way to increase your light output on your stock housing is to upgrade your wiring harness and then upgrade your bulbs for more output. Now you are almost $200 in for a small improvement, but its an improvement. Or you step up your game and you do a complete retrofit. That requires a considerable amount of time, and more money. I did my retrofit and it ended up costing me $550. The light that they put out would blow away anything. When I would put the highs on, which is a solenoid that moves the shield out of the way and allows the full capacity of the light to come through, it was like putting on some Baja lights.

So in the end... do whatever you want, but remember there are other people on the road and think about their safety. And just because its brighter and there is more of it (light) doesn't mean your visibility is better.

 

I know this may be preaching to the choir... but, since your projector conversion, I see you continually think there's no possible way to make a "kit" work in the stock headlight housing.... and honestly, I'd have agreed with your years ago. That is, until I got great quality and 4300K in my H13s.

I'd bet a $100 you couldn't tell me, from any other truck on the road if I was coming at you on the freeway. Seriously.... I know it's a "hard to believe" scenario, but honestly... I'm tired of hearing how HORRIBLE it is, and how it's so unsafe... so blinding... so much glare... etc.etc. I have to stand up for the few who have done it right.

I will ask,
Your projectors out of the Acura... when you go through dips and in/out of driveways... what happens to your beams?! Do they also compensate for ride height?! I see you talk about the mechanical aspect of them giving you high beam, but nothing about compensation for load or ride height. Even though I think you've got a killer output, and it looks like a great retrofit... it too is illegal, and just as unsafe or blinding as any other HID retrofit or kit out there... even with your defined cut off line.

Here's how I theorize...
If your rolling down the street and a car is oncoming, and your truck is up and down in the bumps and in intersections (uneven pavement), your light is great until that cut-off hits an oncoming car in the eyes. It's not a subtle blinding, but a direct shot to the eye. Not something I'd like to encounter. I'm not saying my headlight won't do similar, but at minimum... it won't be like a blast of light all at once.

Both options are illegal, both options are not factory. But, like you said... no matter your opinion or mine, or anyones... it'll still be done. Might as well do it as close to "right" as possible.

BTW, you claim up to $700 in your post(s). Pretty costly over a Bi-Xenon kit (about 3X the cost)! But wow... nice work on your part. Lots of time and meticulous work.

 

Johnny, you bring up some very valid points. As far as dealing with ride height... these lights can be completely adjusted by the stock housing screws. The are aimed to spec! So if I load the bed with 1K pounds I can just adjust the screw real quick. Now as far as auto leveling. You are correct, mine do not have auto level, however this is not required but is a very nice and safe feature. The only time this is an issue is going in or out of a driveway, this is also an issue for autoleveling, normal halogen or HID reflectors. There is no way around blinding people coming in and out of driveways and thats the bottom line. It would be more effective, coming over a hill, in which your point is completely valid. However, in my opinion, I would rather blind someone in one instant, then to blind every driver, in every instant. But thats just my opinion. I haven't personally seen the H13 setup, so I will hold back on that. I too have also done non scientific tests having other drivers pass me on the road and all they can say is it doesnt blind them at all. And when I am behind someone at a light, even in my 2" leveld truck at the time, my light was below most cars rearview mirrors. I would hit most trunk lids and the entire inside of their cars were dark.
Also, my final costs were def significantly higher because I tried a lot of different things, a lot of experimenting. However, you can get good bi-xenons ballasts, bulbs, and projectors for a good price, and the rest is in labor. And correct me if I am wrong, but I think it was you who said you went through a bunch of different kits, mostly crap, some you tossed, some you returned. I didn't return anything, and these are of the highest quality. Not some Chinese mass produced stuff.
Also just to correct ya about your use of the term Bi-Xenon. A dual capsule HID bulb is not Bi-Xenon, its exactly that... a dual capsule HID bulb. Bi-xenon is a single capsule bulb that uses shield movement for high and low beam.

 

JohnnyAirtime, have you had any dealings with the DDM HID kits? I'm considering their 4200K or 5000K kit in 55W.

 

Has anyone installed an HID kit into the 05-07 Harley headlights?

1999 2000 2001 EXCURSION TO 05-07 HARLEY HEADLIGHTS:eBay Motors (item 380165680735 end time Oct-16-09 15:53:09 PDT)

Or what about this setup:

00-05 FORD EXCURSION SMOKE PROJECTOR LED HEADLIGHTS+HID:eBay Motors (item 140352377012 end time Oct-21-09 09:36:04 PDT)

Thanks,


Brad

 

(just getting back from a temp ban - for my thread on "group purchases")

Thanks Senor for the reply, And yes... both systems have their pros and cons. I think we can agree on that. I know about the projector lights, and how well they do... I also know about mine, and how well they do so I'm safe to say that I've installed, what I prefer. And I KNOW, isn't blinding or cause for alarm like some installs I've seen.

And yes I went through multiple installs of ONLY bulbs. The electronics remained the same, and all the incorrect bulbs were returned to manufacturer. The ones I tossed, were cheap and cost was no more than $50 Max. I didn't have too much "experimenting" costs, so it was nice. I also have been doing other HID experimenting for a project, which added to my ability to test thoroughly and arrive at my final product/install. Also, my Excursion HID experimenting has been over a period of 3yrs... so the cost was never all at once and spread out over that time frame. Made it easier to swallow.

Your comment about Bi-Xenon or dual capsule HID is interesting. It's the first I've EVER heard that in 4yrs of dealing with Dual HID, in one bulb.

Yes. Many friends have them, and they have your typical china single HID bulbs... but no true "dual-HID in one bulb" offerings. They are actually in my neighborhood (5 miles away).

Don't bother with 55W HID over 35W. You won't notice the difference or what difference there is, isn't worth the added cost and power draw. Let alone, future replacement parts. I also think the 55W and 70W options should only be used in off-road situations due to the added brightness, you don't need much more than 35W. IF you do, buy off-road lights and use them where needed.

 

The Harley headlights I'm not too sure about... (haven't tried them). Are those on Ebay OEM, or after market?

But the projector "aftermarket" stuff is crap!! In fact, I had used them and another brand on my other Excursion during my testing of good and bad after market replacement lights for the Ex. In fact, here's a picture of one style i was trying ... and it too, was crap.

OEM is the best I've found. I found anything other then OEM, gave you erratic results for a beam on the road, or in oncoming driver's eyes.

 

"But the projector "aftermarket" stuff is crap!!"

You say they're crap, but can you clarify WHY you thought they were crap?

 

JohnyAirtime, could you please let us know what quality kits you are using. I have 05-07 headlamps with cheap HID's, I find that to much light comes out the sides and upper sides. Could you point me towards something that would not do this?

 

After comparing them to OEM, with the same bulbs you can "see" the difference. Mostly due to poor dispersion. I thought I had a bad set, and returned the set and exchanged for another... same problem. When trying to adjust the light so I wouldn't blind oncoming drivers it was near impossible. I had stray light escaping all over the place. Bad reflector design maybe? The brand I was using was poorly designed? ... I'm not sure, but I'll stick with OEM and pay the price for the quality.

I don't use a "kit" persay. I had some 4300K H13s and 9007s built to test from the supplier I use for my other HID project. They built the high-quality bulb(s) pictured here, and I combine them with my DSP Slim Ballasts and wiring harness that I obtain for that project. However, to have more made (in H13 and 9007 in 4300K)... they require a minimum order.

I'll PM you with more details.

 

Anyone use the "V-HID" set from V-LEDS? They've got an H13 HID set for $150 that looks pretty nice.

It comes with a harness that seems (based on other parts they have) to wire directly to the battery with a relay that's triggered off the factory lights. Also, it says this in the description: "This kit uses electromagnetic controllers to move the bulb back in to the high beam location." Anyone know what that means?

 

It means the bulbs actually move to change the focus for high or low beams. I've never had them though so not sure how good that works, seems to me like the ideal 'position' would vary based on the reflector design.