Re: Anyone familiar with hid headlights?
There is a three-tier spectrum of HID quality. You have the cheap ones that cost about $50 and under. Every kit is a lottery with those. First time I tried an HID kit, I bought two 6000k bulbs, and wound up with one 8000k and one 10000k with some of the cheapest, most unpredictable ballasts known to man. Second tier is the $90–$120 kit that actually delivers what it says on the package. You get ballasts that are generally quiet (maybe a light hum while warming up) and bulbs that aren't just the right color, but actually match each other! Third tier is anything more expensive than that. This is where people who are absolutely convinced that quality is directly proportional to price all the way like to buy stuff. You'll spend several hundred on kits that are identical in effective use to the mid-tier stuff. It's nothing but price-gouging.
That being said, Ordinary Biker is correct on the projector thing. You need projectors designed specifically for xenon bulbs to truly maximize light output. The bulbs will still work in standard halogen housings, but it is not plug and play. You'll have to take care to lower the aim quite a bit. This will fix the glare that tends to be associated with HIDs, but it will also kill the distance of the light output. It still beats standard halogens, but it's not as impressive as you'd expect. A projector retrofit is the only way you'll get the most out of it.
__________________
2003 Ford Ranger XLT
2.3L I4 Duratec DOHC, 5R44E 5-speed auto, RWD, 7.5" Open w/ 4.10 Ratio, Gibson split-rear catback
Sonic Blue Pearl with dark gray trim
|