Anyone know how to convert to HID headlights?

[drmonkey1313]

I would like to see if there is a safe way for me to replace the regular headlights (bulbs) with an HID kit. I am talking about using the real HID ballists, not buying replacement bulbs that are supposed to be whiter in color.

Has anyone done this on the Highlander and if so, please share with me how it was done, where you purchased from, and if it's not too much to ask, what were the steps involved?

Thanks for your help.

[bob259]

Originally Posted by drmonkey1313

I would like to see if there is a safe way for me to replace the regular headlights (bulbs) with an HID kit. I am talking about using the real HID ballists, not buying replacement bulbs that are supposed to be whiter in color.

Has anyone done this on the Highlander and if so, please share with me how it was done, where you purchased from, and if it's not too much to ask, what were the steps involved?

Thanks for your help.

I had looked and never found any direct replacement assemblies for either my Tundra or HH. The ones with just the bulb'sand ballasts, that use the existing headlamp assemblies, are not that good as the reflector for a regular HL is much different from a Xeon bulb's light pattern.

The closest thing I found to get HID's was this company
I l l u s i o n * L i g h t i n g

[zhabzadik]

Originally Posted by drmonkey1313

I would like to see if there is a safe way for me to replace the regular headlights (bulbs) with an HID kit. I am talking about using the real HID ballists, not buying replacement bulbs that are supposed to be whiter in color.

Has anyone done this on the Highlander and if so, please share with me how it was done, where you purchased from, and if it's not too much to ask, what were the steps involved?

Thanks for your help.

You might want to go retrofit HID projectors (not the bulbs+ballasts only) from OEM HID projectors of BMW's, Audi's, Acura's, etc. Visit the discussion forums in HID Retrofit Parts Projectors Ballasts D2S Bulbs or go to sites like HIDRetro.com or Custom Lightz - HID Retrofit Specialist

Replacing the Highlander's headlights with HID kits (with ballasts) will only provide you with a scattered/unfocused super bright light that will definitely blind other drivers. This is one of the reasons why HID kits are banned in California. The headlight reflectors of the Highlander is simply not designed for HID bulbs only, plus the kits that you can buy are lights that are 6000K and above (super bright and bluish). The OEM HIDs from the newer euro and luxury cars only have like 4000K (white and legal).

I suggest to go the HID projector way because it can provide you with an optimized and focused lighting aligned to not blind oncoming traffic and cars ahead of you.

BTW, retrofitting a projector to perfection will be hard as you will have to saw through your headlight assembly, mount it and eyeball or manually align it.....visit the sites and research on it more. Warning: It will be expensive if you are going to have it custom made elsewhere because they will have to buy the spare headlight assembly for you ($1000-$2000).

[p3t3rz]

i did.... simple plug and play....place the ballasts somewhere safe either screw it down or use the double sided sticky tape...plug ballast plug into factory plug....put in the hid bulbs into the headlight....connect the wires to the ballast....turn on head lights and there you go beautiful bright lights....theyre pretty blinding tho...i got in a fight in the middle of the street with some red neck that drives an old mustang cuz of hids ...ive got the 8000k mccllouch...i forgot how to spell the brand but yeah i got those on my 04 HL for about 2 years and 6 months now no probs...

[drmonkey1313]

So it does work withyour original headlight housings? You mentioned that they are pretty blinding, does that mean that the beam patern is all over the place and flashes in the eyes of oncoming traffic? If so, I may have to rething this.

If I retrofit projectors, will the light patern be safe meaning will it be on the road and not all over the place?

Thanks for all of your help.

[bob259]

Originally Posted by p3t3rz

i did.... simple plug and play....place the ballasts somewhere safe either screw it down or use the double sided sticky tape...plug ballast plug into factory plug....put in the hid bulbs into the headlight....connect the wires to the ballast....turn on head lights and there you go beautiful bright lights....theyre pretty blinding tho...i got in a fight in the middle of the street with some red neck that drives an old mustang cuz of hids ...ive got the 8000k mccllouch...i forgot how to spell the brand but yeah i got those on my 04 HL for about 2 years and 6 months now no probs...

If you go to I l l u s i o n L i g h t i n g they are OK because they use a real HID housing/projector. If you just add HID's to your existing housing you will have stray light problems because the reflector is not designed for the HID lamp or dispersion pattern. Everyone I know that has done that has had complaints from other drivers and in some instances gotten tickets. In the Tundra forum some of the guys who had them sold them because of those issues. The only way around it is to go with a true projector that has the cut off built into the lens.

[p3t3rz]

anyone know where we could get projection housings? ie "angel eyes"...those aftermarket stuff like all those crotch rockets

[zhabzadik]

go to the above-mentioned websites to have it custom-made for the vehicle you wish for....they can do angel eyes too...

go to the forums in hidplanet.com

salvage those HID projectors from Audi's, BMW's, Porsche's, Acura's, Lexus's and do-it-yourself retrofit them.

[orbitcorbett]

I looked into this but haven't found anything that does not require extensive mods. There are much better things to do with your time and money. Like chase women.

I recommend doing what I did. Go to your parts store or even WalMart and buy some of the 9005 and 9006 Xenon bulbs and pop them right in. Courteous lows and totally RUDE highs! There is a 9005ST and an ultra version above that (forget the letter designation), but you likely won't find the ultras on a shelf. You'll have to order them and pay even more.

I put the STs in my 2002 Limited and they're much whiter and brighter than stock. Now I need to get some Xenon replacements for the fogs in the bumper so they look whiter too.

[LifeTech]

Don't waste your Money and Time on HID, if it is not O/E.

Read up on HID to understand what it is and how it works.

Just get Silverstar upgraded lamps ....9006(low beam and fogs)...9005(High beams). That is a significant improvement and works with the O/E headlight reflector design.

[drmonkey1313]

I had to go to the dealer the other day and I noticed that they actually sell aftermarket bulbs for the lows, highs, and fogs for our cars and they look very cool. They had a display that you could light each bulb up to see what they look like and it was pretty impressive.

They had the blue tint bulbs, purple tint bulbs, bright white bulbs, and hyper yellow bulbs for the low, high, and fogs. The brand is Halo and I have to admit, the price was good for being from the dealer! The Bright white bulbs were only $36 for left and right bulbs. The other color bulbs are lower in price.

Anyway, I may get these. If I do, I will take lots of pictures for you all with stock and these new Halo.

You may want to check these out at your local dealer. If for some reason, your dealer does not sell them and you want them, let me know and I will be glad to get them for you and mail them out. (I am sure you will want to see the pictures of them first)

[bigboytim281]

Anyone use these? Are they any good? also, are they a direct fit? They say 9005 and 9006.XenonDepot HID Conversion Kit : 4300k XenonDepot HID Conversion Kit

[bob259]

Originally Posted by drmonkey1313

I would like to see if there is a safe way for me to replace the regular headlights (bulbs) with an HID kit. I am talking about using the real HID ballists, not buying replacement bulbs that are supposed to be whiter in color.

Has anyone done this on the Highlander and if so, please share with me how it was done, where you purchased from, and if it's not too much to ask, what were the steps involved?

Thanks for your help.

A couple of people have done it on this site, but beware.

1. The glare to on coming traffic is very bad. This is because the stock reflectors are not made for HID's and cast a lot of stray light
2. They are illegal in most states (not DOT approved)
3. Costly. About $400 if I remember correctly.

Do a search on the forum and you should find the posts on them.

I get mad when I see all the aftermart ones for the big 3, but not a one for us Toyota owners.

[drmonkey1313]

OK, so I have a quick question about converting to HIDs. Kepe in mind I do not know anything about HIDs and I am not trying to second quess the people that do. I am just curious.

I keep hearing about how our standard light bulb housings are not made for the HID bulbs and that they cause the HID light to go all over the place. Can someone please exlain to me how the light from the HIDs are different from the light in regular bulbs? What is the difference?

Also, what is different about the reflectors in the HID housings compaired to the reflectors in the regular light housings?

Another question is, if you were to paint the chrome reflectors inside our headlights black, would you then be able to use the HIDs in them without the light going all over the place?

I guess the ultimate question is; What would have to be done to a regular light housing in order to use HIDs in them without the light going all over the place on the road?

Thanks to all of the people who have knowledge about these and thank you for helping me understand this better.

[bob259]

Well I'm not an expert on lighting but I'll try, as I've done a ton of research on this for myself....

I keep hearing about how our standard light bulb housings are not made for the HID bulbs and that they cause the HID light to go all over the place. Can someone please exlain to me how the light from the HIDs are different from the light in regular bulbs? What is the difference?

HID's use an Arc, like a welding arc, and gas that produces that blueish tint you see. it's 'color temperature' is more like sun light Vs a regular bulb

Also, what is different about the reflectors in the HID housings compaired to the reflectors in the regular light housings?

The lens or reflectors are designed to take this brighter 'arc' and reflect it, with a cut off pattern to avoid the stray light and most light above about 3' foot for on coming traffic. If you ever get a chance to take out a car from a dealer and drive one with real HID's at night you'll notice how much little stray light goes up, almost all your light goes on the road and in front of you.

Another question is, if you were to paint the chrome reflectors inside our headlights black, would you then be able to use the HIDs in them without the light going all over the place?

NO, don't do it!!! The new HL assemblies use the rear to shape the light Vs the older HL's that used the glass in front of the light to do it. Painting them would only stop all reflected light from getting out. It's in the angles of the rear prisms that direct the light.

I guess the ultimate question is; What would have to be done to a regular light housing in order to use HIDs in them without the light going all over the place on the road?

Nothing, from what I have read and researched, that anyone has produced yet will do it and be DOT legal, short of having your lights modifiied buy some one like http://www.illusion-lighting.com/