Another thread about converting to HID lights

[drmonkey1313]

Hi everyone,

I wanted to jump back on the topic of converting factory headlight housings on the 05 Highlander to HID.

When I posted about this before, I mentioned using the plug and play HID lights (not the bulbs that cost $12 a pair, but the ones that are at least $200 a pair). I wanted to know about using these in my factory 2005 Highlander headlight housings. Most everyone said not to do it because the housings were not made for this kind of light and it would throw or scatter the light all over the road and blind oncomming traffic.

Well, over the weekend, I noticed a Dodge Neon and they had obviously just used these plug and play HIDs in their factory headlight housings. The light was a great color and I made my way past him and then got in front of him to see how the light was being projected onto the road. To my surprise, the light was not blinding at all, in fact, it looked just like factory bulbs but was the pretty HID color.

Ironically, I noticed a few other cars that do not come with HID lights from the factory that had put HIDs in their factory housings and they also did not scatter the light all over the place. A few of them were driving towards me when I noticed them, and the light was not blinding to me.

I guess I am bringing this up again because I would love to use these in the Highlander to class it up a bit and get better visibility on the road and just wanted to see if maybe there are HID brands out there that wont scatter the light into oncomming traffic's eyes?

PS. I never fully understood why people said that HID light would scatter in the OEM housings, but the OEM Bulb light does not. To me, light is light and the only difference is the color of the light. If someone could help me understand this with a very dumbed down explanation, I would greatly appreciate it.

Thanks!

[LifeTech]

Originally Posted by drmonkey1313

Hi everyone,

I wanted to jump back on the topic of converting factory headlight housings on the 05 Highlander to HID.

When I posted about this before, I mentioned using the plug and play HID lights (not the bulbs that cost $12 a pair, but the ones that are at least $200 a pair). I wanted to know about using these in my factory 2005 Highlander headlight housings. Most everyone said not to do it because the housings were not made for this kind of light and it would throw or scatter the light all over the road and blind oncomming traffic.

Well, over the weekend, I noticed a Dodge Neon and they had obviously just used these plug and play HIDs in their factory headlight housings. The light was a great color and I made my way past him and then got in front of him to see how the light was being projected onto the road. To my surprise, the light was not blinding at all, in fact, it looked just like factory bulbs but was the pretty HID color.

Ironically, I noticed a few other cars that do not come with HID lights from the factory that had put HIDs in their factory housings and they also did not scatter the light all over the place. A few of them were driving towards me when I noticed them, and the light was not blinding to me.

I guess I am bringing this up again because I would love to use these in the Highlander to class it up a bit and get better visibility on the road and just wanted to see if maybe there are HID brands out there that wont scatter the light into oncomming traffic's eyes?

PS. I never fully understood why people said that HID light would scatter in the OEM housings, but the OEM Bulb light does not. To me, light is light and the only difference is the color of the light. If someone could help me understand this with a very dumbed down explanation, I would greatly appreciate it.

Thanks!

I give yu credit for not giving up on this novel idea. I too researched this till i dropped. True HID's require a ballast for high a/c current pulse. They need to warm up too. But more importantly it has to do with the Kelvin rating, Approx 5000k and up. Headlight housing design is complicated stuff. HID requires a more controlled/refined reflector. Hid's require a tight cutoff limit on the projector lens design.The H/L reflectors are not designed for the HID. But, give it a try if yu need to.

I use the Sylvania Silver Star Ultra 9006's in the low beams and Fogs. I believe 4000 Kelvin rated. That's just below HID. Not too bad either. People have asked me if I had HID's . The The bulbs are so so white(almost Blue)

There are 100watt OffRoad only bulbs that are well just extra bright too.
These bulbs run very hot and also don't last too long . For around $70.

There is also a company on the web that will take your existing headlamps(send them in to them) and they retro an HID system inside the O/E housing. Ballast and all. They need some time to do it. They have a quick turn around fee avaliable for like a two day turn around.

This might be your ticket. Have not seen them though.
Google iT
Good luck
LT

[drmonkey1313]

Thanks for the info. You are right, I can not let this go, but it is only because I don't understand the difference between HID housings and hologen housings and why ther is a difference. LOL

I think I looked into that company that will retro fit your original housings and if I remember correctly, it was something over $1000 to get it done, and that is not worth it to me, lol.

Well, I wish I had an extra $250 so i could buy these HID plug and play bulbs and see for myself how it looks, but I dont.

I may try those bulbs you mentioned. They sound great!

Thanks again.

If anyone else can shed some light on this topic, please jump in.