New HID's installed on my TJ

[parabs]

So, I bought an HID kit in Sept from VVME:

http://www.vvme.com/5055w-h439003-bixenon-hid-kit-p-31.html?cPath=44_46_35

I just picked up some IPF housing from National

And today I installed because I had a burnt out light.

So, first of all, I am electrical tard, however from start to finish including a quick headlight alignment was about 2 hrs, +/- 30 min.

Pretty easy install, most difficult thing was finding a place to install the ballasts, but the kit works good, VVME is not top notch, but for the price, how can you expect it...also, VVME shipped fast, I think I had the product in 3 working days from when I sent payment via paypal, and there was no duty/brokerage on the parcel.

Overall, I would do it again, the lights are fantastic, however I am getting flashed on single lane roads, so I may have to make an alignment adjustment.

Just thought I would pass that on.

[dubbleJs]

Sweet, keep us posted on how they work out. Ive been thinking of doing an H4 conversion and hid's on the XJ...

[w squared]

If you're running HID in a housing that's designed for halogens (not sure what IPF's you have) then you will probably get flashed a lot. HAlogen housings don't direct the light the same way that a housing designed for HID's will.

[parabs]

If you're running HID in a housing that's designed for halogens (not sure what IPF's you have) then you will probably get flashed a lot. HAlogen housings don't direct the light the same way that a housing designed for HID's will.

hmmm, well the Shane at National said these are what I needed.  I dont know for sure, but they are bright..I could see into a backseat of an oncoming Corrola last night.  The light is great on the road, and illuminates signs from a long way away...as well as animal eyeballs I would imagine.

For the cost, it was worth it.

[Pookapotamus]

shane was trying to sell me $140 h4 bulbs when i did my conversion, they were elligal and tinted blue. any one trying to sell me something that does not really benifit me and is illegal to run on the road i just wont deal with, so i only deal with dean now.

since the human eye has trouble seeing the blue tint (or that blue does not reflect well, or something to that effect), the lights might be brighter but your eye's (and everyone comming towards you) will have problems with them. so i opted for a pure white light that was not illegal and that my eye could acctualy see easier, and they only cost me $30!

are you getting flashed alot parabs?

[parabs]

im getting flashed a bit, however I installed the 4300k lights.  I wanted to avoid the "blue" look and the lights in that range are supposedly supposed to be the best for illumination.

I am getting flashed a bit, however it could be due to my aiming.  It is possible my low beams are set to a lo/high hybrid if you know what I mean, however, all new vehicles seem to have wickedly bright lights, then the lens gets a few pits in them from road debris and they seem to dim over time...at least that has been my experience.

I am not trying to blind anyone at all, Im just going for great illumination, and as of right now, it is incredible.

I like shane, he gives me what I perceive as deals, and I havent spent much cash there.  I bought a set of alum wheels and these ipf housings, he gave me prices lower than I could get from ebay w/o considering shipping/brokerage...so I like Shane.

[Pookapotamus]

what price did you get per light? i have the same IPF light at $55.

i have found the illumination much better as to the regular halogens as well.

one thing you might consider doing is going to napa and getting a film to protect the lights. i only found this at napa for $20 its about 3mm thk and enough to do 4 - 6 square lights.

[parabs]

thats a good idea, who makes that protective covering??  3m?  I will pick some up today likely.

and yes, 55$/light 

[Pookapotamus]

um... cant remember the name of the stuff  but just ask for a headlight film.

bad news your lights are probly not designed for an hid. i would also worry about the heat building up in there as i am not sure if those housings can handle it. but then again who knows???

if you want to see how i wrapped my lights with the film and see how they are holding up after a years use just stop by on the weekend i will be installing them in my new rig.

[Mudhawg]

my buddy has the IPF housings in his TJ and he has run HID's since he got the jeep and has had no probs and hes on his 2nd set of HID's

[WhiteOut]

HID's in a non-HID housing=Bad. Plus you look like a tool since they will create an ungodly amount of glare.

[dubbleJs]

If you're running HID in a housing that's designed for halogens (not sure what IPF's you have) then you will probably get flashed a lot. HAlogen housings don't direct the light the same way that a housing designed for HID's will.

A proper HID housing has projectors in it, with a cutoff line. Yes running HID's in a non-projector housing kindof scatters the light, but as long as you dont put in a ridiculously useless K rating you should be fine.   Ex...get 4000k or 6000k HID's, dont bother with 8000K +, the light output is crap. Just be sure to aim your headlights as well, that will reduce the blinding of these friendly oncomers that are already flashing you.   

[sylvrinvader]

silverstars work just fine too

[w squared]

hmmm, well the Shane at National said these are what I needed.  I dont know for sure, but they are bright..I could see into a backseat of an oncoming Corrola last night.  The light is great on the road, and illuminates signs from a long way away...as well as animal eyeballs I would imagine.

For the cost, it was worth it.

I've also been told by a guy that works at a local shop that nobody makes a 3 inch lift for a JK, that if I put a 3.5 inch lift on a JK that I would need new driveshafts, and that I'm a fool if I don't put a long arm kit on a JK when I lift it 3.5 inches....not that he could explain why a long arm kit was better.

Just because someone is paid to hang out behind the counter doesn't mean that he knows what he's talking about. There are some VERY knowledgeable folks working at local shops...but I've also encountered some folks that don't really know much at all working at local shops.

If you can see into the back seat of an oncoming corolla, what do you think that the driver of that corolla is going to be able to see? Nothing other than your headlights 

I haven't seen your lights....I don't know for sure if there's a real issue...but I do know that HID's normally have a "projector" style housing for a reason.

[parabs]

As far as a cutoff line goes, i am not 100% sure what you mean, however mine look like this on low beam..perhaps this is the cutoff you are referring too dubbleJ.



W squared, I agree, when lead by a guy who doesnt know what hes doing, well, Just look at the USA after 8 years of "W".

I did some research, and read somewhere that the best choice for HID's were either the Hella's, or the IPF's...but of course I can not find that article sooooo...

and I also want to clarify, there wasnt intent to brag about being able to see into that corrolas back seat, it was more of a exclamation on how much light these HID's are emitting.  Im not interested in blinding anyone, but I am interested in illuminating the road.  I had HID's from the factory in my old Lincoln Aviator, and those were similarly bright.