Interesting - *true* HID upgrades

[rrubel]

Check out this site - http://autolamps-online.com . They sell a real HID conversion kit for most cars - ballasts and all. Pricey at between $400 and $700, but it's the real thing. Couple one of these kits with those plastic-shell conversion light kits (these claim to be safe for plastic lenses) and you'd have a lightweight intense light for under a grand. They also do an interesting trick - H4 single-bulb replacements that actually vary the placement of the filament to achieve high and low beams from a single light source.

[RICHR]

 

[69MyWay]

That is a TON of money for high beams! YIKES!

 

[rrubel]

Ever price HIDs as options on new cars? Upwards of $1500... Not cheap. I'm not personally convinced they're any better, but obviously some people are.
[RICHR]

 

[c4cruiser]

Notice that their site states that the HID systems they sell are "For off-road use only"! It appears that they are bulbs only and do not include new lamp housings.

Sylvania sells a legal HID conversion kit for C4's that includes replacement lamp housings. Here's a link about the 6054 kit that a C4 would use" http://www.sylvania.com/xenarc/x60246054.htm

From what I have read about HID conversions, it's the HID lamp housing that makes this type of lighting work so effectively. I recall reading that unless you replace the factory lamp housings with a HID-specific housing, the conversion will not be legal at either the Federal or State levels.

 

[rrubel]

I'm not even sure it would be state-legal with a replacement housing. Apparently a number of states feel that HIDs are illegal, and will go so far as to ticket a car with FACTORY HIDs (yes, it happened to a friend of mine). Ridiculous as that sounds.

Those Sylvanias, though, require two bulbs. What made the Autolamps so unique is that they only use a single bulb - so you could replace your sealed-beam lenses with the lightweight plastics at the same time (you'd have to, actually).
[RICHR]

 

[WhalePirot]

$499 for a pair

"SYLVANIA HID aftermarket products illuminate the night better than anything on the road, but what sets our brilliant innovations apart is that every product we offer is 100% street legal!"

Their words, not mine.

My son's 540i BMW has them and they are VERY nice; easy to get used to and they make the 'white' halogens look yellow; rather like the switch from sealed beam to halogen. Makes the lights on my 740 look minimal, which I used to think was awesome.

As with any bright lights, they need to be kept properly and carefully aimed to not blind oncoming drivers. We 'low sitters' are screwed regardless.

Then, once upon a time, I could 'thank' a jerk-wad driver, with the low beams of my Suburban. They were conveniently placed wide enough and high enough to catch both outside mirrors, in most cases.

 

[rrubel]

No, I'm aware of what Sylvania says on their site. I'm a bit cynical, though, and when a state will give a ticket for *factory* HID's imagine what it'll do for aftermarket.

Don't get me wrong - I'm not endorsing these in any way, but someone was asking about HID upgrades in an earlier thread.

BTW - how right you are, Whilepirot... I never realized how annoying ricer lights are until I got my Vette. The Outback sits up out of most beams (except for Excursions, which fortunately shine right over the Vette).
[RICHR]