LED and HID questions

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britton406

New member
So I have been looking around and I think I'm going to Chang my headlights out and change the interior lighting to led. I do however have a couple dumb questions I want to clarify. Can you use an leds instead of going with hid for the headlights? I know hid would require a conversion kit etc, but if leds are an option do they require anything other than the bulb? Thanks in advance

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Audi and Mercedes as well as other manufacturers are switching to LED headlights. The technology has advanced enough for it to be used effectively, but I haven't heard of any really quality aftermarket kits out yet. Perhaps later this year since Audi just started the LED only headlights last year.
 
I heard that they were, but I want sure if I was just confused. I suppose I'll wait then, see what happens with them

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Sorry, I hadn't heard about those. I just know Superbrightleds.com & vleds only sell those bulb sizes as DRL/Fog bulbs.

HIDs are easy: mount the ballast, plug the ballast into the low socket (or tap the wires if you have 06+), stick the bulb in the socket, and plug the bulb in.

if you have reflectors (03-05) you're going to have lower your beam A LOT to keep from blinding people. I just upgraded to the '06 housings because I got tired of people flashing their lights.
 
gaterose said:
Sorry, I hadn't heard about those. I just know Superbrightleds.com & vleds only sell those bulb sizes as DRL/Fog bulbs.

HIDs are easy: mount the ballast, plug the ballast into the low socket (or tap the wires if you have 06+), stick the bulb in the socket, and plug the bulb in.

if you have reflectors (03-05) you're going to have lower your beam A LOT to keep from blinding people. I just upgraded to the '06 housings because I got tired of people flashing their lights.
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DONT DO plug and play. If you are adamant about it, do as gaterose says by lowering your headlights all the way down...... BUT that would defeat the purpose of having them. Save up and do a retro. The glare from a non-HID project or worse yet, reflector (OEM) will blind people and tick many drivers off. Do the right thing!
 
CookieRoe said:
DONT DO plug and play. If you are adamant about it, do as gaterose says by lowering your headlights all the way down...... BUT that would defeat the purpose of having them. Save up and do a retro. The glare from a non-HID project or worse yet, reflector (OEM) will blind people and tick many drivers off. Do the right thing!
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How do you know he doesnt have an 06 or newer? I have hids in my 06 with no glare issues and they don't blind anyone. I did bend the reflector shield some for a sharper cut off but still, there shouldn't be an issue in the projector housing.
 
ok, thanks. sorry, I'm still learning all about the different headlights etc.. But what it a "retro"? what does that refer to, and roughly what would that entail/cost?
 
zstampe said:
How do you know he doesnt have an 06 or newer? I have hids in my 06 with no glare issues and they don't blind anyone. I did bend the reflector shield some for a sharper cut off but still, there shouldn't be an issue in the projector housing.
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:iagree:
I have Philips 6K HID Kit in '06 projectors (with squirrel finder mod) and they're great with a nice cut off.
 
britton406 said:
ok, thanks. sorry, I'm still learning all about the different headlights etc.. But what it a "retro"? what does that refer to, and roughly what would that entail/cost?
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"Retro" is short for retrofit. What you're doing is fitting HID specific projectors into your headlight housing. You can do the retrofit yourself or pay a company to do it. Lightwerkz is a popular retrofitter. I believe labor runs about $300 before the costs of the components.
 
Uneek said:
"Retro" is short for retrofit. What you're doing is fitting HID specific projectors into your headlight housing. You can do the retrofit yourself or pay a company to do it. Lightwerkz is a popular retrofitter. I believe labor runs about $300 before the costs of the components.
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oh alright, thanks! good to know.
 
gaterose said:
:iagree:
I have Philips 6K HID Kit in '06 projectors (with squirrel finder mod) and they're great with a nice cut off.
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did you have to retrofit anything with the philips hid kit? thats actually the same one I was looking at. sounds like your happy with them, good news :) and I have an 08' so it sounds like the glare wont be as much of an issue?
 
I bent the shield forward a little as shown here. If you look at that thread you can see the glare created, the simple solution, and how it looks after.

That's all I did though and I love the output. You will have tap into the positive and negative wires from the headlights for power to the ballast but that is simple and can be done with a pack of vampire taps and a pair of pliers.

I will try to post pics of mine later but you can see what it should look like in that thread.
 
I agree with you Matt, the squirrel finder mod helps a lot.

Britton, you can also check out ddmtuning.com for lights. They also have a great product at a great price. Mine was plug and play also.

P.s. Thanks for the cb stuff Matt! I haven't opened the box but my gf has it at home.
 
zstampe said:
How do you know he doesnt have an 06 or newer? I have hids in my 06 with no glare issues and they don't blind anyone. I did bend the reflector shield some for a sharper cut off but still, there shouldn't be an issue in the projector housing.
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I don't have to know. Those projectors are NOT for HIDs. Doing the squirrel mod certainly helps, if you do that, then that would be fine I suppose (at least you are TRYING to address the glare issue). I'm just sick of people just THROWING pnp kits on their SUV/car/pickup and blinding the hell out of everyone.

Uneek said:
"Retro" is short for retrofit. What you're doing is fitting HID specific projectors into your headlight housing. You can do the retrofit yourself or pay a company to do it. Lightwerkz is a popular retrofitter. I believe labor runs about $300 before the costs of the components.
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They seem to be top end for sure. I'm currently having them do my 07civic (my DD). I plan on doing my runner by summer time. Labor runs $600 for both Civic and 4Runner.
 
Made for HID or not, they have a very clean cut off below other drivers eyes. If you're not blinding other drivers, cops aren't pulling you over, and you have better visibility, then what is it about using the stock projectors with HIDs you disagree with?


'06 Projector with Squirrel finder mod
54lwojr.jpg

TSX Projector Retrofit
d8ded1017bc7.jpg
 
CookieRoe said:
I don't have to know. Those projectors are NOT for HIDs. Doing the squirrel mod certainly helps, if you do that, then that would be fine I suppose (at least you are TRYING to address the glare issue). I'm just sick of people just THROWING pnp kits on their SUV/car/pickup and blinding the hell out of everyone.



They seem to be top end for sure. I'm currently having them do my 07civic (my DD). I plan on doing my runner by summer time. Labor runs $600 for both Civic and 4Runner.
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Well that is your opinion since you don't own a 4runner with factory projectors and I do, I work in public safety and am very conscious as to the mods I do accordingly and don't want to do anything to "blind other drivers" as you claim.

Edit: I do see what you are saying though. Its good that people on this forum don't want to blind other drivers.
 
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