Help CM chose new Headlight \ Foglight housings and HIDs

[Captain Morgan]

I never made a purchase and frankly I'm tired of looking and researching.

I'm thinking of just buying some standard headlight housing and adding some BI-XENON kit to it in order to have some resemblance of HI-Low.

I don't want to have smoked lenses or projectors. I think these will fit the bill, or pretty close to it.

JDM Black Housing Clear Lens Headlights+Corner Lights 97-02 Ford Expedition SUV

9007 DUAL XENON 4-Ballast Conversion kit


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[Captain Morgan]

Any final opinions on the light housings? The HIDs?

I got an itchy trigger finger today . . . ready to click click click.



THX


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[tallsville]

i think the last ones you put up would look good.

 

[Canadian Expy]

I agree ^^^

 

[JTKustoms]

I do like the black lightning style ones you put up, but those hids seem really expensive...i'd look into ddm tuning if I were you. I've gotten a bunch of sets from them for my truck and other peoples cars and haven't had any issues, plus they have a lifetime warranty they say

 

[Captain Morgan]

Thanks everyone!

I edited this to reflect that I'm going to stick with the halogens and not deal with hassles with the cops. I'll put the old spots on and maybe some HIDs in the fogs or use the DRL to switch them etc.


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[Canadian Expy]

Why would you get hassled by the cops??
I have HID and with them pointed correctly I never have issues.
I think people don't point there lights after installing new housings and that's more the problem.
I have lighting housing in mine, and have driven in front of it ( wife's vibe) no more glare than regular Expy.

 

[Captain Morgan]

Are high intensity discharge (HID) conversion kits legal?

I might still do it, but keep in mind that my headlights are way up there, so "pointing them down" isnt an answer, I'll still blind the next 6 cars ahead of me in my lane and some oncoming traffic. Tempting.

I'm weighing the issue but I can afford to wait, I've ordered these basic headlights housings after all this time. No LEDs, no froohaha, just basic reflectors.


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[Razor]

Hey Captian,

I went through everything that you have over the last couple of weeks and decided to stay with the stock lighting. My problem was that the headlights were very hazy. So I finally opted for replacement headlights (came with new bulbs) and parking lights as a set and couldn't be happier... it's like brand new!!! What a deference!!!!

I bought the replacement headlights and signals from 1aauto.com for $60.00. 1997 - 2002 Ford Expedition Headlight & Parking Light (Set of 4 ) at 1AAuto.com Heck, it was going to cost me more than this for one headlight lens from the dealer and it didn't even come with a new bulb... now I have two spare bulbs as well.

If i can't see with the new lights i just turn the 40" Led bar on (haven't had to yet) and it's like day time...

 

[Captain Morgan]

I like those, very clean and bright and if your housings are as fuzzy as mine then I know it's a 100% improvement.

I finally just said the hell with it and went with the 97-02 03 FORD F150 EXPEDITION HEADLIGHTS+SMOKE CORNER headlights

This is a sort of blend of features I like and although LEDs are supposed to last long, if they ever DID go out it would be a PITA to replace so I went basic instead. This set has some reflective material, some black, a smokey look on the side bulb and plenty of silver reflective in the main bulb area. I'll put a bright yellow LED bulb in that for plenty of visibility.

I'm still chomping at the bit about those Dual Bi-Xenon HID Kit 35Wx2 Hi\Low . . . .



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[Canadian Expy]

Go for it, I love mine
Never had a problem like I said, I sit on 35" and 5" lift.
I used this kit Lumens Xenon HID Conversion Kits

 

[rydnlow]

I have been running this brand bi-xenon kit (clickie) on the wifes van for a 1.5yrs with no issues.....

Personally though I like the slim ballasts so I plan on getting this kit for my Navi (clickie).

 

[Captain Morgan]

I was scrutinizing your pics in the past 2 days and observing the difference in halogen and HID comparison.

The new housing have new bulbs in them, so I'll get that mounted then rig the new HIDS for a test and see how it goes.

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[axl_rose]

FWIW, As an alternative to the high/low kit I had found an HID kit that had an additional bulb attached to the bulb housing that would act as a high beam...granted it wasn't any stronger then a DRL but, with the HID light output, I never needed high beam. I ran that kit in my KIA for three years with out issue. Never had any hassles from the fuzz or getting the car inspected. In NC you have to have high and low beams on cars to pass.

I had bought the kit off of ebay back in '07. You might find a similar kit if you are not interested in the high/low kits being sold.

 

[Captain Morgan]

Thx. I have a dual bulb base on the way from China, but they keep making excuses about the snow and holidays. Where Tom Hanks when I need my $#@! packages!

I'm also thinking of just buying a REAL projector and retrofitting a housing.

I have one headlight set right here but I'm sending it back. I want to put a protective film over the investment and that requires the surface to be completely flat and smooth, no nipples or dimples on the face.



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[axl_rose]

Thx. I have a dual bulb base on the way from China, but they keep making excuses about the snow and holidays. Where Tom Hanks when I need my $#@! packages!

I followed the thread but, which one did you end up getting? I'd like a dual bulb housing but, I don't want all that halo crap.

 

[Captain Morgan]

THIS is what I have already.

If you look really closely, like I didn't, you can see there are protrusions on the surface.

Also, I'm leaning towards just not putting any HIDs in a halogen reflector housing.

I also don't care about the halo crap, and I want to get a quote to put some projectors in a housing. A clean headlight with a single real projector looks smart enough.

Or maybe something like THIS but change out the fake projector and reflector with real projectors in their place.

If I can use this dual bulb great, if not I'll sell it on CL.

 

[axl_rose]

THIS is what I have already.

If you look really closely, like I didn't, you can see there are protrusions on the surface.

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In that housing, it looks like there are two headlight bulb sockets and then the amber piece at the bottom is where the turn signal bulb goes. That would be three bulbs total then, correct?

I saw some of those Lightning Headlights with dual sockets - one halogen and one projector style...Like these. It still retains the stock corners though - it's not one piece.

 

[Captain Morgan]

Correct there are 3 bulbs, 1 HID and 1 Halogen for headlights, one signal\park.

That lightening you posted looks OK, but the projectors could still be plastic lenses and\or made for halogen, not HID. This would still have better focus than reflectors, but if the bulb is even 1 or 2 mm too far back or fwd then you don't have beam focus and not really optimum, just not as blinding.


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[axl_rose]

Good point, Probably best to get a retro-fit if we want true projection headlights. I have gotten lucky in the past converting to projection HIDS but, the car came with halogen projector housings from the factory. The cut-off was pretty sharp still.

I am prob going to get the smoke set up you got and put a in one hid bulb (35w) and one halogen bulb.