HID Headlights (1 Viewer)

[oogs]

I am very confused over what to do with my headlight upgrade. I have researched and read up and down this site and I have basically decided to go HID. But..... Which set up? Round eyes are halogen right? Do I have to mix and match the housing (projector) harness and nylon or is there simply a package I can get? Is that hella? IPF?

Help

 

[oogs]

Not nylon.... Bulb

 

[White Stripe]

Check ddm tuning. They have really good reviews

 

[Weber Sarge]

HID's require a headlight housing that uses an off-shelf H4 or similar bulb . Best setups use a projector lens to control the light pattern on the hid but are also the most coin . I'd steer clear , drop-in kits look like crap and perform even worse - the light output just splatters everywhere and is uncontrollable . Proper built projectors are big bucks and won't look very good on a vintage vehicle - just my opinion . I'd wait awhile and just hold out for the next generation led setups or opt for the several brands of current 7" drop-in units that are plug and play - with quite a price tag to match . The look of them can be good/bad depending upon your taste and do look a bit out of place on something like a Cruiser . There are some pretty good H4 led bulb systems out that use a driver unit that just plugs into the current wiring harness . Still requires an H4 housing such as Hella , IPF , Roundeye or Cibie . Cibie's are the best overall pattern but the most money . I use a set of IPF's in mine and am running Metric TLC's E-vision led bulb setups - mine are the 2nd Gen 30w units but they have higher power ones now . The current market LED's are not the same pattern or throw on high beam as halogens or hid units - but the light color and quality of the light is excellent . I ran them in the Cruiser for awhile and they live in the Tacoma now , love 'em . Check out reviews on brands like brightassleds or lifetime leds as well....
Sarge

 

[bikersmurf]

I've been very happy with the Hella headlights I've been running for the last 22 years.

I'd go LED before HID which are slow to reach full brightness.

 

[UZJ40]

Whatever you do, please do not put HID bulbs in a non-projector headlight. Not only does it look bad, its extremely obnoxious to other drivers.

 

[AussieHJCruza]

We installed Power Vison 7 inch LED headlights in a 82 HJ47 and seriously, once adjusted decently, that was the best lighting ever out of a 40 series without spotties, lightbar etc, and on high beam, rivalled many spotlights' light output and projection. They are, however, ridiculously expensive.

 

[oogs]

Thanks you all for your input. Very informative.
I will stay away rom the hid due to looks and needing a $$$ projector lens.
So to summarize, I can go with drop in hella, IPF, round eye plug and play set up. These are all halogen and use a reusable removable H4 bulb. Eventually (or now if I want to pay the big$$) I can put in an H4 led bulb still using the same wiring and housings.

2 more questions

How about the harness/ relays you can get right to the battery foe more power? I read here that arb makes a decent one. Is it even necessary?

Is the fact that the led's don't put out much heat an issue for the winter?

Thank again

 

[Weber Sarge]

A direct relay driven harness does help with any halogen bulb setup , just keeps a solid voltage level at the lights and puts a lot less strain on the old system wiring .

The leds do run a lot cooler at the lens , no doubt about that . I had concerns about it myself but after 2 winters found it's no issue here in Illinois - never had an icing issue yet .
Sarge

 

[kling-on]

I did H4 Hellas with a hi/lo HID bulb for 5 years....Awesome light but a pain in the ass for sure... Had to rewire all the kits I got since the head lights are ground switching... up graded to truck light LED wish I had done them years ago

 

[oogs]

Any idea where to pick up the roundeyes? The website says its no longer available.


Is there a sealed/waterproof relay harness option? Is the IPF waterproof?

 

[1911]

Any idea where to pick up the roundeyes? The website says its no longer available.


Is there a sealed/waterproof relay harness option? Is the IPF waterproof?

I bought mine from Georg (Valley Hybrids) a couple of years ago; maybe he still has some.

Bought my harness from mudder slcfj62 (I think that's his user name - Wired Wagon is his business) and it's bomb-proof.

 

[oogs]

Thanks. Pm'd them both.