Upgrading to HID's

[ghost recon88]

I'm making the jump and going for normal halogens to HID lights. The big question I have is does anyone have experience with "eBay" kits? These will be going in a 96 mustang.

Update: Going with regular halogen lights. Alright so quick anandtech survey, which headlights do you like better on this car?

 

[BassBomb]

don't do it unless you are getting a projector retrofit

 

[CurseTheSky]

HID's in halogen housing = blinding EVERYONE you drive by. Unless you're just doing it for the bling (and blindness of other drivers), you're best off either getting a higher-intensity halogen or an actual projector replacement.

 

[PricklyPete]

HID's in halogen housing = blinding EVERYONE you drive by. Unless you're just doing it for the bling (and blindness of other drivers), you're best off either getting a higher-intensity halogen or an actual projector replacement.

^ This. Don't do it unless you do it properly.

 

[exar333]

LOL, we need a sticky for this.

 

[alkemyst]

Stop here first:

www.danielsternlighting.com/

then store.candlepower.com

 

[coxmaster]

+1 for dont do it without projectors.

No really.






DONT BLIND US

 

[punjabiplaya]

don't be "that guy"

 

[fbrdphreak]

You're better off putting in high gauge wiring that is switched by a relay and sends power straight from the battery to a high wattage bulb, as described on the danielsternlighting website. This will make a big difference in light output. There are most likely pre-made kits for your Mustang, where you just plug in the new harness, attach it to the battery, and install the new bulb.

I also know that there are projector headlight housings made for those Mustangs. These of course vary in quality, and I think most housings redesigned for projector look really stupid on cars designed for halogens, but they do exist. THEN you could properly install HIDs.

 

[Heller]

Do your research before. I bought a cheap hundred dollar kit off ebay installed them then bragged about it only to find out i was blinding people on the streets (thx ATG) Needless to say i quickly uninstalled them and went back to stock.

 

[mmntech]

^ This. Don't do it unless you do it properly.

I favour this motion. The ones not done properly are more dangerous than regular halogens. You can see better but you're blinding everyone else.

 

[ghost recon88]

The only thing with the projector headlights (vs. normal halogen ones) is they make every car they go in look like a ricer

With the exception of these that is, even then...http://www.duraflexbodykits.com/9498-ford-mustang-projector-head-lights-chrome-specd-p-19653.html

 

[T2urtle]

don't be "that guy"

its more like THOSE guys now.

seems every retard with a SUV has them now. old jeep charokee, and other equal SUV.

crazy guy blinded the crap out of me with his Ford Bronco OJ edition, he had Purple low beams and BLUE fogs.

But what can you do... most cops dont care.

 

[madeuce]

I put a 35 watt kit from ddm tuning in my truck. The white doesn't look too ricerish, I think it actually looks decent and I can see a little better.

My truck is lifted and it's not blinding to oncoming traffic.

 

[coxmaster]

I put a 35 watt kit from ddm tuning in my truck. The white doesn't look too ricerish, I think it actually looks decent and I can see a little better.

My truck is lifted and it's not blinding to oncoming traffic.

Do you have projectors? If so, thats why.

If not. Then you are blinding others

 

[madeuce]

Do you have projectors? If so, thats why.

If not. Then you are blinding others

I have

http://www.ddmtuning.com/Products/DDM-HID-Kit-Slim-Ballast-35W-or-55W

in my stock light housing.

It doesn't blind others, that's why I posted that it doesn't blind... Haven't had anyone bright me thinking my brights are on and I've met my truck driving the other way on the highway at night, not blinding.

If you are wearing double eye patches and take them off right as you are meeting my truck at night it might be blinding...

 

[basslover1]

+1 for dont do it without projectors.

No really.






DONT BLIND US

It's really bad having "that guy" drive behind you at night.

Worst setup I've ever had the displeasure of encountering was on an MK4 Jetta. Of course dude was too lazy to buy projector housings, but wanted the "uber cool" look. They had to be at least 55W versions, because in the middle of the day driving the opposite direction I still ended up with the spots in my eyes.

The US version of my car never came with projector housings, luckily the UK version did so they're easy to source and 35W HID bulbs fit rather easily. Plus I don't blind ever poor soul on the road. Unless of course I pass you on the left, for some reason the B5 Passat projectors kick up high on the the right side of the road.

 

[coxmaster]

I have

http://www.ddmtuning.com/Products/DDM-HID-Kit-Slim-Ballast-35W-or-55W

in my stock light housing.

It doesn't blind others, that's why I posted that it doesn't blind... Haven't had anyone bright me thinking my brights are on and I've met my truck driving the other way on the highway at night, not blinding.

If you are wearing double eye patches and take them off right as you are meeting my truck at night it might be blinding...

So does that mean you do or dont have projectors? I have never seen a car without projectors that didnt cause hotspots with HIDs.

The US version of my car never came with projector housings, luckily the UK version did so they're easy to source and 35W HID bulbs fit rather easily. Plus I don't blind ever poor soul on the road. Unless of course I pass you on the left, for some reason the B5 Passat projectors kick up high on the the right side of the road.

Yeah, my MKV Jetta lights do that too. Its just how E-code lights are. Really good for seeing signs and stuff off the right shoulder though

 

[basslover1]

So does that mean you do or dont have projectors? I have never seen a car without projectors that didnt cause hotspots with HIDs.


Yeah, my MKV Jetta lights do that too. Its just how E-code lights are. Really good for seeing signs and stuff off the right shoulder though

True. Though at first I felt bad if I passed on the left because I could see the HIDs light up their cabin, I got over that pretty quickly however.

 

[Keysplayr]

My car has HID's from the factory. When my lights come on and shine on my garage door, I notice the "horizon line" where the light doesn't go any higher. It's designed that way to keep the SUPER bright light out of oncoming drivers eyes, and rearview mirrors of people in front of me. This is how it is properly done and how all aftermarket installations should take extra pains to make sure it's done this way. If you're going to do this retrofit, do it right. Safely. Do it wrong and you can get somebody seriously hurt or killed by blinding them sending their car into oncoming traffic. People mentioned projector fitment. Research this please.

 

[Imp]

Please listen and dont be the guy that blinded me for over 10 blocks today.

 

[SparkyJJO]

In case you didn't get the point, please make sure to retrofit projectors before putting in HIDs for all the reasons listed above

check out theretrofitsource.com for some projector units available. It isn't something you can do for $50 and it does take a little work - however I have my eye on the Morimoto mini H1 set - pretty cheap and from reports I've read it works well. I want a set for my truck. Once money allows...

 

[T2urtle]

It doesn't blind others, that's why I posted that it doesn't blind... Haven't had anyone bright me thinking my brights are on and I've met my truck driving the other way on the highway at night, not blinding.

.

Not saying you are or aren't but here is the thing but trucks. OBVIOUSLY your headlight is about level with my rear view.

If you are blinding me from behind, i'm just going to move out of your way or deal with it. But rarely do i go to the trouble of getting behind you and high beaming you back. So in this case you will never know if your blinding me on the highway.

On small sidesstreet when your facing me yea, i'll high beam you but thats about it. You might not even notice me, think i'm trying to signal for the guy in front of me.

about 90% of cars with aftermarket kits w/o projectors will blind people. Normally younger people drive these cars because they think its cool and nice to have purple/blue lights.

In chicago about 1/10 of the cars on the road here have blinding HID's. But rarely have i heard people getting stopped. Too much other crime going on to care about HID>

 

[ghost recon88]

OK I'm sold on getting projectors. I found these, they dont look like the conventional projectors (which have the little neon halo around them). Has anyone used projectors that look like that, vs. what most of them look like (http://www.americanmuscle.com/94-98-angel-proj-chrome-amber.html).

 

[speedy2]

Both sets are RICE. Barf. Do you really need HID's? Are you swapping because of light output issues or are you just in it for the "bling."