Teach me, oh wise ones, about HIDs
- Thread starter piperoo
- Start date
CUgreekballer
New member
Just buy yours already! You already know how to install them!
Clemsonfan15
New member
Rock Slide
Senior Member
yes sir
CUgreekballer
New member
False. I'm runnin' HID and I haven't disabled mine yet.
quicksilvr
New member
Here is the difference:
You can put an HID bulb into your completely stock headlight housing, and it will use the stock reflector and basically work just like a normal bulb....just alot brighter.
However, because standard headlight housing (like what you have) were not designed to work with HID's, they don't do a very good job of CONTROLLING the light.
A retrofit is where you take your stock housing apart and you replace the normal reflector piece with a projector housing. Those are the things that look like big glass bulbs. Then when you use an HID bulb, the projector housing controls the light and creates that very clean "cut-off" line you see when people take pics up against walls at night.
Without doing a retrofit, the light is not controlled optimally, and can be blinding to oncoming traffic kind of like driving with your highs on all the time with standard bulbs.
mistaj0hnny
New member
Only way to do a retrofit is either doing it yourself or getting someone here to do it for you. Lots of labor/parts required if you're doing it yourself. Either way its gonna be a lot of $$. (in the 500-700 range from what I've read)
nquaint
New member
well that explains why not many people do it then, lol.
zcruiser
Senior Member
You don't HAVE to disable DRLs, but it is RECOMMENDED, otherwise your HIDs are on ALL THE TIME. Very annoying when you WANT to turn them off but you can't because of the DRL circuit.
KINDA LIKE WHEN PEOPLE TYPE IN ALL CAPS ALL THE TIME...
Rock Slide
Senior Member
Kewl...are you running a PnP kit? The bulbs running at less power still function properly? Interesting. IDK, if it were me, I'd probably still diable them.
It was a MUST to disable my DRLs when I did my projector retrofit. It was the only way they'd function properly.
quicksilvr is spot on. Check out my thread and you'll see what a retrofit is: Another HID Bi-xenon Retrofit Install *PICS* - YotaTech Forums
It can be done for much less...you just have to shop around for parts. I did my retrofit for a grand total of $285. :bigok: Check out my link above for a price breakdown.
cj80cruiser
Senior Member
Any problems with putting the ddm's in my 96 headlights?
NickF
New member
The only problem I had on my '97 was getting the damn metal wire bracket around the bulb. Borrow a pair of small hands to bend it a little!
EDIT: Rockslide, tahts a VERY clean install. Well done!!
Rock Slide
Senior Member
Only issue I can see is if you still have your stock "frosted" headlights (light output may be hindered.) You'd be better off upgrading to the clear headlights if you have not already done so.
Appreciate it. :bigok:
xskydivingdudex
Senior Member
i agree with rockslide on upgrading to the 99-02' headlights before putting in HIDs of any kind bc of the frosted "fluting" in the glass of the older model headlights...
xskydivingdudex
Senior Member
ya ur gonna wanna run the wire through the rubber and the plug it in so its still on there so it keeps the housing and connections water tight.
Clemsonfan15
New member
When I helped install a pair of the HIDs we had to cut the rubber boot to make it go back on there.
Jon
New member
I cut mine too, just enough to feed the plugs though. I've also been across a few creeks and no water in the headlights. I'd also go with the newer clear headlights if u want to fork out the extra $ and not going off road. Mine are the stock foggy 97 housings and the output is fine (pg3). Mine's a trail rig not a show car. If I were to put something nice on it, it'd be broken in a month.
And for those who are keeping tabs, I still have yet to be flashed because of my lights.
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