HID Lights

[99 Expy]

I would like to get HIDs for my expy. I thought I heard somewhere that certain HIDs are not legal. Is this true. If they are legal, what has everyone been running in your epxys along with new headlight lenses?

Thanks
Zerick

 

[Racenut]

I am running the 8000k Bi - Xenon ( Hi Hid / Low Hid ) as well as the 8k Hid's int he factory fogs, they do have a slight blue TINT to them but they are not a really bright blue. Around here the police will mess with you over the 10k Hid's because they say they have to much blue to them. I have not had any problems with mine in Arizona, New Mexico or Texas. Also as you can see by the pics mine are in the factory housings so I do get a little glare ( not bad though ) and I may get flashed 1 a month ( and I do A LOT of night driving ).

 

[99 Expy]

Those look good racenut. I will have to look into that. I would like to get some HIDs. How are they in the snow, and what are all of your pillar guages? they look pretty sweet.

 

[GAINMOB]

i have yet to take pics of mine...but i'm working on 12hrs shifts...any who...not illegal in VA...everyone has'em...im running 6000k in mine, barely a glare and like racenut i use the factory housings for headlight and fogs...wish i had done it earlier...brighter...cleaner

 

[locosol96]

According to the US Department of Transportation, any HID mod into a stock housing not designed for HID is not for use on public roads. This is defined as a "colored light modification" under many state laws and is therefore illegal. I install HIDs at my shop in MD, and I have to add a clause to my work orders that says "HID conversions are done for off-road/show use only" to address customers who insist on getting the bulbs put into stock halogen housings.

Now, most cops won't pull you over just for that. But, I have seen it happen. A guy I know had an HID setup in a 2002 F-250 with the stock housings. Cop pulled him over and issued him a citations for illegal modification(s) and unsafe vehicle operation (due to the glare blindng oncoming drivers).
If you want to do it right, you need to either buy or build a set of projector housings. These will focus the light correctly down the road with the correct cutoff. Hope this helps!

 

[walnuts4x4]

I'm running 10,000K HIDs in headlights and fogs... and haven't had a problem yet... originally had them in lightning headlights but then upgraded to R8 style lights... biggest problem most people have with HIDs is the don't re-aim the headlights.. you need to angle them down so they don't blind people

 

[99 Expy]

I think I'm going to look into a pair soon. Where did you guys get your lights and headlights and how much did they cost? Walnuts, why did you switch from the lightning headlights? I like the look of them. How do the HIDs work in the snow. We have gotten good storms everyday the last week, and I don't want lots of glare in the snow. I'm also going to look into a pair of fog lights. What are those of you that don't have them factory running?

Thanks
Zerick

 

[walnuts4x4]

I had lightning heads but found the R8 style with the LED turns and like them better... plus DGray69 wanted my lightning lights so sold them to him and ordered my R8s...

as for in the snow I don't mind it... not a bad glare in the snow.. haven't gotten any yet but I know its coming... just the 10,000K the snow turns blue... but 8K or 6K are closer to stock color... biggest thing I tell everyone after you get HIDs just re-aim your lights to adjust for the glare....

For fog light ideas you could do the lights behind the grill... or find small square ones and put on either side of front plate kinda like the stock F250s have or find a front bumper with the fog lights from a F150 or expy and swap front bumpers... that is if you dont have the spots for them...

 

[Racenut]

Those look good racenut. I will have to look into that. I would like to get some HIDs. How are they in the snow, and what are all of your pillar guages? they look pretty sweet.

That pic was the first time I have had them in the snow ( southern New Mexico dosn't see alot of it ) but they worked really well, I was afraid of the snow reflecting really bad but it did not at all.

As for the pillar I got that from Glow shift

http://www.glowshiftdirect.com/Triple-Pillar-Pod-Custom-Gauge-Package.aspx

It is the pillar for the '97 - '01 F150 but the expy used the same pillar thru '02 And I ordered my kit with the Trans Temp., Water Temp., and Oil Pressure gauges but they have other choices as well along with white faced gauges and also they have the " Tinted series " which when off are completly blacked out.

The whole setup for the pillar and gauges was $150.00 and I like being able to see actuall numbers for my Temps, and Oil pressure.

 

[tallsville]

came across these sites and thought it might answer some questions for people regarding HIDs

http://forums.officer.com/forums/showthread.php?41131-HID-Lights-Legal-Or-Pull-Me-Over-Now

http://www.svtperformance.com/forums/donut-shop-61/568392-hid-lighting-legal.html

NHSTA text regarding lights

http://edocket.access.gpo.gov/cfr_2004/octqtr/49cfr571.108.htm

according to this grilles that have bars going in front of lights is illegal(s 7.8.5)

Canada
http://www.tc.gc.ca/eng/acts-regulations/regulations-crc-c1038-sch-iv-108.htm