Headlights

[jeff kushner]

Must have been a fluke Andy. My car came with factory installed Xenon HIDs and they are fine 16 years later!

jeff

 

[ExpeditionAndy]

Kerry is up in Maine for a week so I finally got around to installing the kit shown earlier in this thread. Very straightforward install...and I included a couple of pics of the frame/radiator supports as I found them........with nearly 44,000 miles, not a spec of rust!

My plan is to wait till this evening, then aim them correctly and I'll let you guys know tomorrow how I like them.

jeff]

Is the relay really necessary?

 

[jeff kushner]

Nope, I grounded to the frame as you can see in the photos no fuss no muss. But I really have to wait until I drive with him in the dark before I can tell that there's no flashing or anything but it does not appear to be doing anything funny

 

[gixer2000]

Must have been a fluke Andy. My car came with factory installed Xenon HIDs and they are fine 16 years later!

jeff

Keep in mind in the HID world Xenon is a very common name because its actually the gas thats burned within the HID capsule. Your OE stuff probably says that as identification not so much a brand. Chances are your looking at Osram products because 16 years ago they were one of the main suppliers for many.

Andy in my opinion I would look at the ballasts Jeff just got if you decide to buy something new. Those are Hylux ballasts and said to be the Beat aftermarket ballast available. On sale at lightwerkz through the 4th
https://www.lightwerkz.net/index.php/35w-2a88-hylux-canbus-ballasts.html

 

[ExpeditionAndy]

Keep in mind in the HID world Xenon is a very common name because its actually the gas thats burned within the HID capsule. Your OE stuff probably says that as identification not so much a brand. Chances are your looking at Osram products because 16 years ago they were one of the main suppliers for many.

Andy in my opinion I would look at the ballasts Jeff just got if you decide to buy something new. Those are Hylux ballasts and said to be the Beat aftermarket ballast available. On sale at lightwerkz through the 4th
https://www.lightwerkz.net/index.php/35w-2a88-hylux-canbus-ballasts.html

Thanks gixer, Is that the price for 1 ballast or for a pair of them?

 

[gixer2000]

Thanks gixer, Is that the price for 1 ballast or for a pair of them?

The pair

 

[jeff kushner]

Since the Xenons were in my SLK, my guess is they are Bosch maybe? That car has Canbus too which wasn't too common back then. I've got to hand it to them though, other than a minor inconvinece of changing the stock wattage rear taillights, it's been bulletproof and I love that they tell me if a bulb is out. Does ours do that too? I"ve been told it's possible with Canbus.

jeff

 

[ExpeditionAndy]

Since the Xenons were in my SLK, my guess is they are Bosch maybe? That car has Canbus too which wasn't too common back then. I've got to hand it to them though, other than a minor inconvinece of changing the stock wattage rear taillights, it's been bulletproof and I love that they tell me if a bulb is out. Does ours do that too? I"ve been told it's possible with Canbus.

jeff

Not for headlights but for tail lights and turn signals.

 

[gixer2000]

Since the Xenons were in my SLK, my guess is they are Bosch maybe? That car has Canbus too which wasn't too common back then. I've got to hand it to them though, other than a minor inconvinece of changing the stock wattage rear taillights, it's been bulletproof and I love that they tell me if a bulb is out. Does ours do that too? I"ve been told it's possible with Canbus.

jeff

Early 2000 SLK used Hella (made in Germany)ballasts like this. I'm assuming this is what you have?

 

[jeff kushner]

'02 post facelift....

Anyway, drove in this morning at 4:30. The left beam is nearly perfect however the right is along like it's upside down....is that possible gix? The line so clearly defined at the top of the left beam seems under the light on the right side! I've got to look at it when I get home but it's definitely much brighter than my LEDS were, even though they are 35w in place of the factory 55w. I just need to get the one side squared away.

jeff

 

[gixer2000]

'02 post facelift....

Anyway, drove in this morning at 4:30. The left beam is nearly perfect however the right is along like it's upside down....is that possible gix? The line so clearly defined at the top of the left beam seems under the light on the right side! I've got to look at it when I get home but it's definitely much brighter than my LEDS were, even though they are 35w in place of the factory 55w. I just need to get the one side squared away.

jeff

I'll bet you have a bulb seating issue. Sometimes they just don't seat in the housing correctly even though they feel and look like they do. Pull the headlight and light it up. Move the bulb in different directions and even try to twist a little. Diode always manages to get their capsules straight in the base so I won't even question that unless you can't find the sweet spot. Thats a very rare case from diode. Let me know how you make out

 

[jeff kushner]

Yup, a catawampus bulb was the culprit. It was too bright out to adjust and this morning I noticed the right side still has a dark swath in the right side "fan" of light but as I said, I haven't really been able to adjust in the dark yet. While the warm-up isn't as fast as my car(which simulates hidden headlights opening) they do warm up to usable light levels quickly....3-5 seconds.

jeff

 

[gixer2000]

Yup, a catawampus bulb was the culprit. It was too bright out to adjust and this morning I noticed the right side still has a dark swath in the right side "fan" of light but as I said, I haven't really been able to adjust in the dark yet. While the warm-up isn't as fast as my car(which simulates hidden headlights opening) they do warm up to usable light levels quickly....3-5 seconds.

jeff

The Hylux is one of the fastest to warm up. Osram are the only ones that are faster from what I've seen. Which is why I run osram gen 3's. I promise you'll loves those ballasts and get years of work out of them

 

[Adieu]

Huuuuh?

It's 2018 and you still have HIDs that dont go instant-on????

Yeah full on power lags a couple seconds but the first 50-60% should be available right off the bat.... as to the up-down thing at startup, thats stock self levelling HIDs running their level function, not simulating anything

 

[jeff kushner]

The Hylux is one of the fastest to warm up. Osram are the only ones that are faster from what I've seen. Which is why I run osram gen 3's. I promise you'll loves those ballasts and get years of work out of them

Thanks Gix for intelligently pointing me in the right direction. There are several guys here who I am quite confident in them and their knowledge base....of course there are others too, and they make us laugh....LOL

jeff

 

[gixer2000]

Wrong thread... Delete me!

 

[chuck s]

My '14 Subaru Legacy has much better OEM highlights than even the brighter halogens I installed in my 2017 Expedition so two months ago after a 400 mile trip largely in the dark I threw in the towel and had a local auto shop change out my headlight bulbs in my 2017 reflectors. Adjusted the aim against the marks on my garage door. Scientific tested-- have yet to get an oncoming car or truck flash me to indicate my aim is too high.

The brighter than OEM but disappointing halogens I initially fitted were Sylvania Silver Star Ultra (claimed to have the best down road light).

Low beams: H11 55 watt (made in Germany).
High beams: 9005 60 watt (made in USA).

Replacements:

Low beams: GTR H11B 5000k HID 35w with CANBUS ballasts
High beams: Supernova PerfectFit 5000k LED 14w

So from my sample of one (1) it is possible to fit at least these specific bulbs to the 2017 reflectors. No claim these are the best but they work well and the PerfectFit LEDs don't have dangling heat sinks or bulky wires on the back. LED placement has become more accurate in the past couple of years and I'm more than happy with the results.

-- Chuck