HID and LED. (2 Viewers)

[Waggoner5]

My 07 has the mounting points below the headlights for the Denso HID ballasts, so they must be available in some country. I will be installing the Denso ballasts and a rebased 9006 HID bulb designed for reflector housings next week

 

[JBHorne]

My 07 has the mounting points below the headlights for the Denso HID ballasts, so they must be available in some country. I will be installing the Denso ballasts and a rebased 9006 HID bulb designed for reflector housings next week

Which HID kits are you using? Most of the chinese one's are crap. A few good manufactures make a decent product. Digital systems are the way to go, but they are expensive. They produce a more accurate color and will be the same brightness from left to right (which is a problem with analogs).

The LC I believe uses a 9006 for the lows, 9005 for the highs, and a 9006 for the fogs. If you were to get these all converted to digital HIDs, you would be looking at 3 * $440 = $1320. That's damn expensive just for headlights.

Here's a good sight to look at. I've heard positive reviews from people.
Xetronic Digital Lighting System - 9006 Type (pair) - DBX9006

Remember you will also need a device to disable the on-board warning because it will show that your headlights are burned out, or just deal with the warning being on all the time (unless Toyota can disable this, I'm not sure.)

Also, remember that HID reflector conversion kits are not DOT legal and therefor are sold as "off-highway only". In the US, you will get a ticket if you pull up behind a cop with your headlights on. At night, obviously you have no choice.

HID reflector conversions are rude to other drivers. Being that your headlights are at the height of a sedans rear-view mirror, you will blind them with a powerful kit.

HID's were DESIGNED as projector elements, NOT reflector. Putting an HID bulb in a reflector housing just throws light everywhere.

The main reason why people use HID conversions is for show. It looks sick to have UV purple headlights with a deep yellow fog lamp setup.

I would just stay away from them personally. No reason to risk a ticket or spend the money.

To each his/her own though...

 

[dtt255]

I am considering just replacing the Lightforce halo's with lightforce HID's. I have read the conversion threads and am just not up for doing all that.....

 

[Waggoner5]

Which HID kits are you using? Most of the chinese one's are crap. A few good manufactures make a decent product. Digital systems are the way to go, but they are expensive. They produce a more accurate color and will be the same brightness from left to right (which is a problem with analogs).

The LC I believe uses a 9006 for the lows, 9005 for the highs, and a 9006 for the fogs. If you were to get these all converted to digital HIDs, you would be looking at 3 * $440 = $1320. That's damn expensive just for headlights.

Here's a good sight to look at. I've heard positive reviews from people.
Xetronic Digital Lighting System - 9006 Type (pair) - DBX9006

Remember you will also need a device to disable the on-board warning because it will show that your headlights are burned out, or just deal with the warning being on all the time (unless Toyota can disable this, I'm not sure.)

Also, remember that HID reflector conversion kits are not DOT legal and therefor are sold as "off-highway only". In the US, you will get a ticket if you pull up behind a cop with your headlights on. At night, obviously you have no choice.

HID reflector conversions are rude to other drivers. Being that your headlights are at the height of a sedans rear-view mirror, you will blind them with a powerful kit.

HID's were DESIGNED as projector elements, NOT reflector. Putting an HID bulb in a reflector housing just throws light everywhere.

The main reason why people use HID conversions is for show. It looks sick to have UV purple headlights with a deep yellow fog lamp setup.

I would just stay away from them personally. No reason to risk a ticket or spend the money.

To each his/her own though...

Way past that. I use only Toyota parts for ballasts and had Phillips bulbs rebased to use the DS1 connector that Toyota uses. It also aligns the filament in the reflector correctly to get the optimum pattern. Light does not refract everywhere and the pattern is good. You can buy bulbs for either reflector lights or projector lights and contrary to popular belief they are not just for show. I will be only changing the low beams. I have 100W high beams already and want to keep the flash to pass feature.

 

[dtt255]

I have been avoiding the HID upgrade because I don't want to have to drill the heat sink etc.

BUT after some research, I found this:

Lightforce 240 Blitz Spotlight HID Adaptors - eBay (item 160310499992 end time Jan-26-09 20:50:22 PST)

Which makes the whole process a HECK of alot easier....hmmmm I may have to do this!

Does anyone know if I can use ANY HID upgrade or do I need to find one for the lightforce only?

 

[Waggoner5]

The nice part about the lightforce is that it is all included inside the housing and is pretty much a bolt on. You could use an aftermarket setup, but without seeing your existing setup, its would be hard to tell which one. Denso Ballasts for sure, but not sure on the bulb type and filament spacing.

 

[dtt255]

I found a total kit from the place I originally purchased mine:

Off-Road Lights :: Lightforce Lights :: HID - High Intensity Discharge Lights :: HID TwinPack Conversion Kit

They have great customer service BTW.

They even sell the original 240's with the upgrade already. That seems kewl.

 

[dtt255]

I just heard from Dick over at off-road lights and here is what he said about that kit:

"The ORL-HID is all you need, old wire harness will work fine.

For the bulb and ballast, I search for the best quality, I don't like the stuff made in China, most Japanese stuff is OK.

The kit that is now available is made by Xenon-Vision"

Sounds like a GREAT system to me...no drilling and pretty harmless!

Here is a link to someone who did the upgrade on their jeep (cough cough)

H.I.D. Lightforce Lights - High-intensity discharge Install

Great tutorial.

 

[dtt255]

Well I ordered the 50w HID upgrade for my lightforce 240 blitz's.

Gosh my wallet hates you all!

 

[mot]

WHAT? Only 50w??

Might as well should've gone for the 80 watters.

Be sure to post the end result with comparison pics.

 

[dtt255]

WHAT? Only 50w??

Might as well should've gone for the 80 watters.

Be sure to post the end result with comparison pics.

Well color me a slacker then......

 

[JBHorne]

Way past that. I use only Toyota parts for ballasts and had Phillips bulbs rebased to use the DS1 connector that Toyota uses. It also aligns the filament in the reflector correctly to get the optimum pattern. Light does not refract everywhere and the pattern is good. You can buy bulbs for either reflector lights or projector lights and contrary to popular belief they are not just for show. I will be only changing the low beams. I have 100W high beams already and want to keep the flash to pass feature.

Could you not just buy a kit, snap the bulbs in, mount the ballasts, and plug them into the factory wiring harness? I guess I'm over simplifying this.

BTW --> I'm talking about the regular headlights, not your awesome Lightforce setups. I think there are two different types of installs being discussed here.

 

[Waggoner5]

My install is on 100/200 series headlights, but yes you can just by a kit and plug everything in, but no one makes a Toyota OEM kit, so you have to put it together yourself. Also most kits come with off the shelf, China made bulbs that are designed for a universal application. They do not place the filament in the correct position for a correct pattern. That is very important for me.

 

[JBHorne]

My install is on 100/200 series headlights, but yes you can just by a kit and plug everything in, but no one makes a Toyota OEM kit, so you have to put it together yourself. Also most kits come with off the shelf, China made bulbs that are designed for a universal application. They do not place the filament in the correct position for a correct pattern. That is very important for me.

Well it sounds then that you've taken care of the follies of an HID reflector conversion. I just hate when people think that it's alright to use an HID bulb in a reflector housing without properly aligning it. It's very annoying to have such bright lights behind you when they aren't properly adjusted.

Sounds good! Can you take pics of your install?

 

[dtt255]

Got my HID upgrades for my lightfoce today. I would love to upgrade my lights now....BUT I DON'T HAVE MY DAMN LC!