stock to HID?

[dmercer3]

Ok, so 2010 expy.

I have been reading for hours now about retrofitting/projector light projects... not willing to undertake that right now.

I am about to just buy the silverstar ultras, but what I really want to do is go HID... is there a simple HID swap available? I cannot seem to find anything!

 

[Habbibie]

Any hid kit will do. I have 55w hid in headlights and fogs and never had a problem with them so long you keep them aimed correctly. No projectors for me just stock head lamp housing

 

[ManUpOrShutUp]

Any hid kit will do. I have 55w hid in headlights and fogs and never had a problem with them so long you keep them aimed correctly. No projectors for me just stock head lamp housing

Sorry to be rude, but that's complete BS. It doesn't matter how they're aimed since the reflector scatters the light all over. HIDs in reflectors may or may not blind the guy in front of you or directly across from you, but they are blinding someone. I probably encounter a half dozen or more cars with HIDs in reflectors per day now (seems to be all the rage) and every single one of them blind me from one angle or another. Usually there is no issue when they are behind me, but with the tint all around even high beams don't bother me. However, when anyone with HIDs in reflectors approaches from the front I am intermittently blinded as they approach. No one can stop you from being a selfish *******, but the least you can do is own it.

 

[USMCBuckWild]

Sorry to be rude, but that's complete BS. It doesn't matter how they're aimed since the reflector scatters the light all over. HIDs in reflectors may or may not blind the guy in front of you or directly across from you, but they are blinding someone. I probably encounter a half dozen or more cars with HIDs in reflectors per day now (seems to be all the rage) and every single one of them blind me from one angle or another. Usually there is no issue when they are behind me, but with the tint all around even high beams don't bother me. However, when anyone with HIDs in reflectors approaches from the front I am intermittently blinded as they approach. No one can stop you from being a selfish *******, but the least you can do is own it.

I hate to say it........


But I agree with you 1,000%

Enough studies have been done and published to prove that HID in non-projector housings are less bright than anticipated but also scatter light in dangerous ways. I see this daily as well, especially with these clowns who do the "Carolina Slouch" (lift only the front of the truck 4+ inches and leave the rear stock) and then compensate for their headlights pointing at the sky by sticking ridiculously bright HID bulbs in the stock housings. That and the little tuner knuckleheads who add HID bulbs into their stock headlight alongside the regular bulb so there is no less than 2 bulbs illuminated in each housing at any given time.

Please be responsible and mod appropriately.

 

[Habbibie]

No hard feeling guys but personally I'm not a fan of how the projectors look for our trucks are on the market.

Also I agree to some point yea they're blinding but aiming the beam has a lot to do with it, there are some people that like to see what's ahead and some who rather see what's ahead on the pavement instead.

Once again to each his own on this matter but as I stated I've never encountered a problem having HIDs, no one ever flashed at me, commented negatively regarding having them. The beam begins at 12ft past my bumper and ends at 72ft and the beam focus never rides higher than the truck lid of the car ahead of me (except for one slammed Miata I followed once)

My Sylvia zxe bulbs illuminated from 11ft to 39ft, so HIDs were & are a huge improvement in visibility and with the added fogs the width of the beam increases to see the curbs and lane markings near my bumper.

Overall I'm happy with the final results and switching back to halogens is not going to happen for me any time soon (greatly due to the fact mine are DOT approved ((very few companies offer this)) and I carry the certificate of approval with in the car)

To the OP: I say go ahead with it, it's an easy and rather cheap upgrade that if installed and aimed properly can benefit you greatly.

 

[MISTERgadget]

Aiming them has little effect. The problem is that now the focal point has been moved and the shape of the light source has changed (arc vs filament), so you have taken all the engineering that went into the design of the reflector to collect and direct light, and thrown it away. Aiming it down is like a bandaid on an axe wound.

Function over form, once you drive with a real set of quality headlights you won't care that they are a little bugeyed.

 

[bjtor]

I added a Philips HID kit to the stock housing and they do a very good job of letting me see what is out front. There is no doubt that these kits scatter light around but for those of us with aging eyes, the HID kits provide the illumination that is missing in the stock lights. I have used cheaper HID (and LED and HID projector) kits and those didn't light up the road (but they did a great job lighting up the tree tops and road signs!). Philips seems to have a smaller bulb that hits closer to the right spot in the stock housing.

Was getting flashed by oncoming drivers until I lowered the beam below the recommended aiming point and this seems to have solved the problem and still provides enough visibility for me.

p.s. if anyone wants a HID projector kit for an 08 Expy let me know!

 

[dmercer3]

was hoping someone would point me to a HID full headlight with housing and all, these kits are just not for me. I am not re-wiring anything, to include adding something to the battery. If that doesnt exist I guess I will be just fine with the Sylvania bulbs

 

[bjtor]

these are the one's I have - http://www.xtralights.com/07-08fordexpeditionprojectorheadlights-blackwamberreflectorspair

they look cool but don't put out as much light as the HID's in a stock housing.

 

[dmercer3]

these are the one's I have - http://www.xtralights.com/07-08fordexpeditionprojectorheadlights-blackwamberreflectorspair

they look cool but don't put out as much light as the HID's in a stock housing.

thanks, I like those actually but doesnt look like they go past year 2008.

 

[dmercer3]

this is confusing... why are these stating they come with halogen bulbs... doesnt that defeat the purpose??
http://www.anzousa.com/headlights/ford-expedition-07-13-projector-h-l-black-clear-amber.html

 

[lxrick]

I like these, they are looking very good:

http://www.ebay.com/itm/Smoke-2007-...ash=item58d6d68498:g:7M0AAOSwv9hW2h9i&vxp=mtr

In addition all you need is a common H1-bulb HID conversion Kit with 5000k (that´s blue enough for adult eyes!) and to do some plug and play wiring.

http://www.ebay.com/itm/Xentec-35W-...m33a1fad3a7:m:m0ESKeJOXNUT_-3IknNLzWQ&vxp=mtr

btw, as you can see in my profile picture, I had the stock Headlights with HID. And YES as state above, it is bulls...!
So I switched to projectors and in addition I retrofittet BMW 7 Series lenses (E38 1995-2004) systems for "standard" Osram-Xenarc-D2S-Nightbreaker-Blue-Intense bulbs. Now it is how it always should have been from the start. But that was a lot of work.

I am sure the new Headlights above with a standard HID conversion Kit will solve all your problems too.

Good luck, Alex

 

[gixer2000]

id strongly recommend doing a legit retrofit and customize them however you like. here's the ones i did. Very simple and plain but put good light in front of me without blinding oncoming traffic

 

[lxrick]

OK, this is nice but a little bit insane.

Why didn´t you bought some Projection Aftermarket Headlights and simply changed the Lens systems from behind?!? With Premium Lenses from Hella, Valeo with original Osram or Philips D2S Bulbs?!?
Nothing really big had to be changed and I still have the original Headlights in case of selling the car or whatever...

But hey...good work!

 

[gixer2000]

OK, this is nice but a little bit insane.

Why didn´t you bought some Projection Aftermarket Headlights and simply changed the Lens systems from behind?!? With Premium Lenses from Hella, Valeo with original Osram or Philips D2S Bulbs?!?
Nothing really big had to be changed and I still have the original Headlights in case of selling the car or whatever...

But hey...good work!

The aftermarket housing require more work to get a quality projector mounted and aligned then the stock lenses do. Plus they are made from cheap materials so even if a get a good projector in there I'm still stuck with a housing that just looks cheap and clearly aftermarket. The goal for me was to get premium lighting but have it look factory as possible.

 

[USMCBuckWild]

id strongly recommend doing a legit retrofit and customize them however you like. here's the ones i did. Very simple and plain but put good light in front of me without blinding oncoming traffic

View attachment 18681

View attachment 18682

View attachment 18683

View attachment 18684

This is the exact look and performance specs I want!

Can we get a parts list?

 

[gixer2000]

This is the exact look and performance specs I want!

Can we get a parts list?

It's in your inbox and I added it to the media for anyone else that's interested. Also if you already have and HID kit you could use the ballasts you just need H1 bulbs to fit the projector

 

[rwmorrisonjr]

I did a complete Motimoto DS2 HID projector retrofit into the stock housings, and they look factory. Great light pattern, and able to be aimed properly, so no blinding anyone. I've attached some pics: off and on. The "on" pic looks like a HID bulb only, but its not. I'll get some better pics when its not raining and I can be outside my garage.

It looks like the same retrofit that gixer2000 did.

 

[EL Expedition]

I have a set of 09 limited headlights with Morimoto D2s projectors with ballasts. Wife did not like them so I put the stock lights back in. I installed some custom backlighting that shines on the reflectors and looks pretty cool with just the driving lights on. See the pics in my gallery. I will take $450 shipped. They will need to be tuned, before I took them off they were a little off.