Upgrade HID D3S bulb (headlight)

[SHO-MAN]

Has anyone upgraded the xenon (HID) bulbs yet? Was driving back from a meeting last night and a newer model VW passed me and I noticed how much brighter and whiter the lights were. Made my lights look somewhat yellow. I found a website that sells the D3S bulbs for $277.00 a pair which is a 8000k, slight blue color.

Before spending $300 to upgrade the xenon bulbs I wanted to know how difficult replacing the lights would be. Would I have to remove the front bumper? Any feedback would be appreciated

 

[hawkeye18]

HID headlight quality is not in the bulb so much as it is in the projector housing. Sorry to say that you are not going to fix your problems with a different bulb.

Going to an 8000k bulb is certainly not going to solve anything; all you will accomplish is to blind oncoming drivers, and actual useful light is decreased significantly. Do not confuse the blue glare with light output. Please do some research on HID bulb color.

 

[Billm0066]

HID headlight quality is not in the bulb so much as it is in the projector housing. Sorry to say that you are not going to fix your problems with a different bulb.

Going to an 8000k bulb is certainly not going to solve anything; all you will accomplish is to blind oncoming drivers, and actual useful light is decreased significantly. Do not confuse the blue glare with light output. Please do some research on HID bulb color.

Best advice you can get about this subject. The projectors that Ford uses are at the bottom of the barrel. They use them in all of the cars including Lincoln. As Hawkeye already stated putting new bulbs in will accomplish nothing but make the light on the ground more blue. Couple problems with doing that. First of all it's more strain on your eyes. 2nd the higher the kelvin rating, the lower the lumens (less light on the road).

The reason why some other cars appear so blue is because of the design of the projector and the shield in the projector. Some cars give a thick blue line across the cutoff, and when that cutoff is hitting your eyes it looks very blue. Go below that line and the light is yellow/white.

In conclusion don't replace the bulbs. They are expensive because d3s have the ignitors built into the bulb, so you are paying for both. If you wanted to help the output slightly you can see if anyone makes a clear lens that will fit the projector. It will sharpen the cutoff and increase the output slightly. See if the shield is painted flat black, and you could try to adjust it slightly if you want to alter the cutoff. Besides that you swap the projectors, but good luck finding anything to fit in our lights. Regardless that will involve having to get the light open which is going to be a PITA.

 

[hawkeye18]

You could try using Mustang projectors - IMHO they're excellent. Certainly one of the best domestic projectors I've seen in a long, long time.

Problem is, they're about $1150 a piece from Ford.

Here's some pictures of mine (I already had them) - I don't know if they're the same projectors the SHO uses? Maybe my standards are low because I'm used to a '95 SHO's headlamp output? lol

 

[mjhpadi]

All the research I did before changing to HID's in my 98 F-150 said that the only way to make them work correctly is with a housing/reflector designed for HID's. I ended up getting the Sylvania Xenarc kit for the F-150. I believe it was in the $800.00 range, but came with all new wiring harness and a complete reflector/headlight assembly to replace the stock housing. It worked great but the light from the Xenarc's appeared white...they were very bright and I loved them, so I would say wait and see if someone develops a kit, and like others have stated, don't switch bulbs.

 

[EcoBrick Bob]

Yea... But pity the poor Flex Ltd owner in Holland, that has to switch back to Halogen, as our HID's are NOT self leveling and do not have washers, as required for HID's in Europe.... Just posted this tonite on Flex Net. Guess he has to remove the front clip to get them out just like the SHO. Car has to pass inspection upon importation into EU. Thinks he will change back as soon as he passes! Too much work for me!

 

[Billm0066]

You could try using Mustang projectors - IMHO they're excellent. Certainly one of the best domestic projectors I've seen in a long, long time.

Problem is, they're about $1150 a piece from Ford.

Here's some pictures of mine (I already had them) - I don't know if they're the same projectors the SHO uses? Maybe my standards are low because I'm used to a '95 SHO's headlamp output? lol

They're different. The mustang has a bigger headlight so the projector is probably also bigger. Not sure unless someone decides to open them up. Your lenses are dimpled and our's are more frosted. The step in the cutoff is the same, but your's are definitely throwing out a better pattern, and the squirrel finders are more prominent (light above cutoff to illuminate signs)

If you want to see awesome headlight output look at the Acura TL from the last body style. Lexus suv's are also good, but they can be really good with tweaks to the projectors. Acura TL is the best bi xenon projector on the market, but they are very big. The Honda s2000 are the best single xenon projector. There's a bi xenon projector from a lexus ls460 that is bi xenon. Most are single xenon, but they were offered in bi xenon in another country I believe. Since they are so rare they sell for a lot of money. Probably more than these

They look cool but their output is crap.

 

[SHO-MAN]

Thanks for all the feedback....I guess swapping the bulbs would be a big waste of $$$$. I guess I will put the money towards a tune (stage 2?) or even an exhaust system that the folks with whiter/ brighter headlights can see as I pass them when I kick the turbo in...:woo-hoo:

 

[hawkeye18]

That's the spirit. People should have no problem seeing your tail lights.

 

[StevenNguyen]

Has anyone upgraded the xenon (HID) bulbs yet? Was driving back from a meeting last night and a newer model VW passed me and I noticed how much brighter and whiter the lights were. Made my lights look somewhat yellow. I found a website that sells the D3S bulbs for $277.00 a pair which is a 8000k, slight blue color.

Before spending $300 to upgrade the discount hid kits I wanted to know how difficult replacing the lights would be. Would I have to remove the front bumper? Any feedback would be appreciated

Very sorry for old thread reply but I have never used these kits.. Some individuals say they are not legal.. Is it true? If not are they effective? I am looking for new lights so please give some vital information:wave::wave:

 

[hawkeye18]

The only time they're not legal is if you put them in reflector housings (i.e. halogen housings). HID bulbs have to be in HID projectors.