Halogen -vs- HID Projectors? Any diferrence?
- Thread starter Jrunr
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Uneek
Super Moderator
The best will be retrofit. When you're doing a retrofit, I hope you're using HID projectors, otherwise it'll defeat the purpose. HID projectors have the optics (reflector, projector lens, focus, etc.) designed and optimized with the HID capsule in mind, thus maximizing light output (brightness and beam pattern) while minimizing glare.
If you're planning on using HIDs with the '06 projectors, you'll still get pretty good results, but it will not be as good as retrofits. With '06 headlights, you'll be using a rebase kit, which the HID capsule burners are aligned to the same position as halogens, but you're putting three times the amount of light and glare. Halogens are about a third as bright as HIDs, so when the optics are designed, it tries to maximize halogen's output. Granted, halogen projectors will have less glare, but you won't have as sharp of a cut off that HID projectors give.
I would recommend going the retrofit route, you won't have the little gap with the grille that fitting '06 headlights give and you'll have all true benefits of HIDs. Don't get me wrong though, newer cars with halogens can, and I emphasize can, get decent output with rebase kits because halogen reflectors are a bit better than before.
Here's some info to get you started and guide you:
T4Runner06's HID install with XenonDepot rebase kit
TranceKrayz's retrofit
TranceKrayz's retrofit beam pattern
For more info on retrofits, you can visit HIDplanet.com
If you're planning on using HIDs with the '06 projectors, you'll still get pretty good results, but it will not be as good as retrofits. With '06 headlights, you'll be using a rebase kit, which the HID capsule burners are aligned to the same position as halogens, but you're putting three times the amount of light and glare. Halogens are about a third as bright as HIDs, so when the optics are designed, it tries to maximize halogen's output. Granted, halogen projectors will have less glare, but you won't have as sharp of a cut off that HID projectors give.
I would recommend going the retrofit route, you won't have the little gap with the grille that fitting '06 headlights give and you'll have all true benefits of HIDs. Don't get me wrong though, newer cars with halogens can, and I emphasize can, get decent output with rebase kits because halogen reflectors are a bit better than before.
Here's some info to get you started and guide you:
T4Runner06's HID install with XenonDepot rebase kit
TranceKrayz's retrofit
TranceKrayz's retrofit beam pattern
For more info on retrofits, you can visit HIDplanet.com
Uneek
Super Moderator
Jrunr said:
Yes.
In order of best to worst, it would be: 1) OEM HID projectors retrofitted, 2) halogen projectors, 3) halogen reflectors.
Because if you're going to go projectors either way, be it retrofits or '06 projectors; I say you'll be spending a hundred or two in addition to getting the HID components (capsules and ballasts). It will be cheaper to retrofit, but of course it'll be labor intensive. (OEM HID projectors are from $100+, depending on what and where you get them.) If you take labor into consideration, '06 projectors might be cheaper, I'm not sure what '06 headlights go for though.
4RunnerRon
New member
Doing a retrofit will definitely take more time (and money), but will provide the best possible light output and beam pattern. That said, my 06 halogen projectors with the 4300k HID kit really perform well and look like most other HID-equipped vehicles. The cutoff isn't as sharp as cars with HID projectors, but it certainly is sharper than an HID install on reflector headlights. I think for the ease of install and budget, the 06 halogen projector headlights are a good compromise for what you get.
matoolie
New member
See my review of the H11 4300K from Xenondepot at link.
http://home.comcast.net/~matoolie/
The performance of the 2006 projectors with the HID's is EXCELLENT with no glare. Sharp cutoff. I measured the location of the HID gas capsule and compared it to the location of the filament in the halogen bulb, and they were both the same. So the location of the HID capsule is in the same point in the projector as halogen filament. As a result the HID works very well in the 2006 projector.
http://home.comcast.net/~matoolie/
The performance of the 2006 projectors with the HID's is EXCELLENT with no glare. Sharp cutoff. I measured the location of the HID gas capsule and compared it to the location of the filament in the halogen bulb, and they were both the same. So the location of the HID capsule is in the same point in the projector as halogen filament. As a result the HID works very well in the 2006 projector.
AlexJet
New member
I have Xetronic 4300K in my stock reflectors. It works great. cut-off is not that perfect as in projectors, but I never had any issues with beam pattern or oncoming traffic, I never was flashed. This is very good kit for 9006 reflectors. I have it for a little less then a year and I love it. See my signature for write-up.
Well, I just ordered my Xetronic 4300K HID kit from Burtman and I ordered the HIR bubs for my high beams. I should be good on light for a while... (until I can find someone good to retrofit my bi-xenon projectors into my reflector housings...)
I cant wait for it to get here!!!
I cant wait for it to get here!!!
