New headlights
 

Seems like I have to have my brights on to even be able to drive in normal night conditions because my normal lights are too dim so I think I'm gonna buy some new headlights. I've been looking on ebay and they have some for around $40 shipped. They say they are "projector" headlights. There are also sets that are about double the price that say the are "HID", what is HID? Anyone have any suggestions on the type of headlights i should get? Right now I have silvania headlights and from the best of my knowledge I cant replace the bulbs on this type.

look on EBAY and get a set of H4 Conversion Housings.

after that, go to DDMtuning.com and get an HID kit.


HID= High Intensity Discharge...a CRAPTON brighter than regular Halogen lights, and use less energy

HID headlights are the super-bright bluish tint xenon(metal halide)type. I find them annoying as all hell myself. And would NEVER install them on any of my vehicles. It's not the super-brightness that I can't stand(though it does piss me off a little on occasion), it's that unnatural bluish color light they emit. GROSS!!!:barf:

At right around $15 each Sylvania XtraVision® is about the best value you're gonna find as far as regular(halogen)headlights go, IMO.
http://www.quadratec.com/Assets/Imag...6/26036-lg.jpg
http://resize.sylvania.com/assets/im...0&maxwidth=400
http://resize.sylvania.com/assets/im...0&maxwidth=400

Sylvania SilverStar® are a tad brighter, but not the right color for my taste.
http://assets.sylvania.com/assets/im...31053c9567.jpg

You can't get the SilverStar® ULTRA in a sealed beam(H6054).

You're right, but only because people are ignorant and think the blue is better or something... You can easily order HIDs in the 4100k temp range and get a white light which doesn't make you want to puke. Although, unless you plan on going with a quality HID kit, I would suggest sticking with halogens in your stock headlight housings and upgrading a pair of HELLAS with the DDM Tuning raptor kit if you really want some bright lights. Trucks with our headlight height with HIDs in a reflector housing are just obnoxious to other drivers, but that's just my opinion.
Stick with a new pair of Silverstar H6054s, I use them in mountain roads with many deer. Haven't had a complaint yet.

this guy obviously doesn't understand HID's.

the bluish color comes with the Higher temperatures...

4300K is factory, and they don't start to turn "bluish" until 6000K at 35W and around 8000K at 55W.

from inside the cab it's not Bluish at alllll...it's a very WHITE light.
(think BMW/Mercedes/Land Rover)

6000K 35W HID's will be about like the SilverStar ULTRA's



P.S. keep in mind Color Temperatures are different for Halogen vs. HID.

I should have been more clear, when i said H4 housings, i meant with a HID PROJECTOR conversion.


yes HID's in reflector housings are annoying.



but i'm getting 6000K 55W HID's for my 2nd gen 4runner :P

I agree that the Silverstars sealed beams are brighter and H4 conversions are brightest (with silverstar bulbs) but before you go that route you should check your voltage at the light sockets. It's not uncommon that the voltage is low, easy fix with relay larger guage wire and connectors. 4crawler.com sales a kit too, as do a few others.

For clarity sake when I said H4s I was not talking HID just halogens.

Muddpigg is right as well!


a good HID conversion with H4 housings and projectors (FX-Rs are best i've heard) with 4crawlers upgraded wiring would be about $150-$200 on the cheap

just upgrading to H4's with some good silverstars will GREATLY increase your light output.

i've seen BOTH silverstar ultras and HID's into the same chevy, and the HID's blew the silverstars outta the water.

BUT the silverstar's were plenty bright enough lol



make sure your headlights are properly adjusted as well

Main problem is that people dont adjust there lights back to stock position, and theyre aimed up more..
meaning, incredibly bright and completely asinine.

That's not correct at all.

I fully understand what HID lighting is. And I know precisely what the definition of color temperature is, and how it relates to what color the light emitted from a particular light source is percieved to be.

The color of a beam of light isn't actually related to temperature(unless from a pure tungsten source)or wattage at all. Color is just the perception of the wavelength of light being emitted from a particular source. Color temperature is just one means by which to physically reference that wavelength.

Color temperature analysis is actually a comparison of the light's wavelength to what color a pure tungsten rod would appear to be if heated to that particular temperature in Kelvin degrees. It's not a direct measurement of the light's wavelength. It's just a comparitive measure for referential purposes.

BTW, standard factory headlights are right around 3000-3200K in color temperature.

And 6000K is 6000K, regardless of the source type. 6000K is not 4100K, it's 6000K. A SilverStar® ULTRA headlight is 4100K, not 6000K. Inside the cab, or outside of it, makes absolutely no difference whatsoever. Color temperature is not related to the source of the light emitted, unless that source is pure tungsten. Sorry.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Headlam..._light_sources

http://www.lightingever.com/media/kn...emperature.jpg

deja vu'e

well i have seen 4300K and it looks EXACTLY like stock headlights on stock vehicles.

6000K looks about like the BMW projector HID's.

above 6000K it gets blue.

my friend has 10000K 35W HID's in his '06 dodge, and they're BLUE.

your dumb graph makes it look like anything over 3500K is going to be blue, and i know for FACT that it's NOT.


you can read all you want about what everyone says, but you cannot beat first hand experience.



now i will put forth the information, that no two people see the same exact color at the exact shade, something that looks WHITE too me, (like 6000K HID's) might look Blue to you guys

I put silverstars in my taco and they are very nice, noticeably more than stock and a tad bit 'whiter' or 'cooler'... but I want MORE!!, I want those HID's for the runner... thanks for the info so far guys, this is one of the more informative threads on HID's for what I'm looking to do... just can't decide which brand to go with... I'm thinkin' 8000k will be what I'm looking for.... I plan on running some very nice fogs to be able to see around here in the winter.... tons of fog where I live

Post back what you decide on and how they turn out. And spec's of course.

despite all the negative talk on hids i love mine and swear by them. i live in alaska where its dark for 8 months the sun is hardly out. when you have to watch for huge moose you want god lights. i paid 100 for my kit all i had to do was screw the ballast in which was the size of a pack of smokes but half the thickness, then un hooked the old bulb and plug the new wires in. i even got the 4 light force hids. theres no blue just bright a$$ white light. it may be annoying when other people have em but they are the greatest thing ever when there in your truck

yes, I will post up my final outcome, I want some bright lights, tired of being blinded by everyone elses, my turn to blind everyone! hahaha

Yes CO2AK, I did 3 trips this year to Alaska, both anchorage and fairbanks, TONS of decked out yotas up there too! and everyone has at least a few extra lights, there's some big critters to watch out for and vast spaces....

Thanks for all the info. For now Ill check my voltage and probably try out some of the better silvania halogen ones. HID seems interesting but is a little more than i want to spend right now.

i want 12k purple in my trunk :{P
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