HID's or high power halogen bulbs?

[Ripped]

I have had enough of trying to make my Autoloc (plastic housing - Glass lens) tribars work. The standard halogen bulbs are not bright enough for night driving. When I placed the higher power halogen bulbs in the housing, it started to melt everything. I threw away all the 4 lights and got 4 new ones. ($19 ea) plus bulbs which were thrashed.

Now that spring and summer is coming, I don't want to be caught with crappy lights, which a performance car can easily overdrive.

I am torn. I like the classic look of the tribars, but am looking at the eBay HID kits. I'd lose the classic look with these, I think. I don't know much about them, though. Are they any good or just junk? such as these?
http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/H5006-H5001-4-Headlight-Projector-Chrom-5-75-HID-Kit-/140519315452?pt=Motors_Car_Truck_Parts_Accessories&hash=item20b79a97fc

The other thing, that I was thinking of going with is a complete glass housing, which would not melt with the higher powered bulbs, something like these;
http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/5-3-4-4000-H5006-H4-HID-EURO-DIAMOND-HEADLIGHTS-SET-/330296104456?pt=Motors_Car_Truck_Parts_Accessories&hash=item4ce72e9608

Any suggestions, much appreciated

[THE TECH]

I love HIDs so I would never use anything else. No halogen bulb I have seen can match the lighting of an HID. Also, HIDs run at much lower temps so you won't have any heat issues.

[1969CamaroRS]

Biggest problem I can see is finding a HID kit that actually has the proper reflectors/lenses that will focus the light out past the first 20-30 ft of the car. Those don't come cheap and you really can't them in a $200 kit.

Check out this thread on the subject:
https://www.pro-touring.com/showthread.php?49029-Halogen-HID-FACTS!!

[mc84_zz4]

Here are a few more options in some quality H4 bulbs, so you have something to fill the gap between 55w and 100w, which the 100w I think are a bit too much for street-driven.
http://www.rallylights.com/Hella_H4_Bulbs.aspx

The 100w H4 are 'almost' the same Lumens as what an HID lamp can produce. Now 100w are considered 'off-road' use only, and actually none of the HID retro-fit or re-based bulbs are DOT approved either.
If you need more light on the road, get rid of the tri-bar, since any obstruction in the reflector can reduce the amount of light on the road.
Also, the blue-tinted bulbs filter out about 10-15% of the light based on what color range. From 3200 to 4300 you lose about 10-15% of the light, if you get some 6000K bulbs you just filtered out about 20-30% of the light produced.

The HIDs also behave in the same way, the higher the color range (in degress Kelvin) the less light is actually put on the road, from 4300 to 6000, to 8000k, to 10,000k you lose 10-15% of output (in Lumens) in each step.
And just to beat a dead horse, on rainy roads, or recently paved roads, the blue color range bulbs are practically useless, the light is mostly absorbed and you will not see jack. HIDs since they emit more light, can manage losing a bit of efficiency when running the higher color ranges.

The Autopal brand makes a good quality replica of the Bosch/Hella H4 design, and many have metal reflector, and glass lens.
I prefer the quality optical lens, instead of the 'diamond' style myself, as the light has a uniform pattern.
http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/5-3-4-4000-H5006-H4-EURO-CONVERSION-HEADLIGHTS-_W0QQcmdZViewItemQQhashZitem3594f56580QQitemZ23013 2376960QQptZMotorsQ5fCarQ5fTruckQ5fPartsQ5fAccesso ries

Here is a link to some Hella lamps:
http://www.rallylights.com/Hella_5.75_inch_Round_Headlamps.aspx
Here is a link to a source that sells the Bosch lamps:
http://www.danielsternlighting.com/products/products.html

BTW, I do not use the H1 high-beam lamps, I have had problems with moisture somehow wicking into the lamps, even after silicone in the boot and/or plug wires, etc, I tried everything, although I live in a high humidity area, but with all H4 bulbs, you can swap them around if one blows out.
My H4 have not had any problems with moisture condensation, I have been using them for 20+ yrs on all of my cars.

Here is some food-for-though about HID lights:
http://www.danielsternlighting.com/tech/bulbs/Hid/disadvantages/disadvantages.html

[ssick chevelle]

I seen the 129 kit on ebay and also wondered how good the light quality was. anyone use them? or any from ebay?

[Ripped]

Thanks guys, some great information there. The last thing, that I want to do, is have a cheapo set of HID's that are blinding motorists around me.

[DarkoNova]

I have had enough of trying to make my Autoloc (plastic housing - Glass lens) tribars work. The standard halogen bulbs are not bright enough for night driving. When I placed the higher power halogen bulbs in the housing, it started to melt everything. I threw away all the 4 lights and got 4 new ones. ($19 ea) plus bulbs which were thrashed.

Now that spring and summer is coming, I don't want to be caught with crappy lights, which a performance car can easily overdrive.

I am torn. I like the classic look of the tribars, but am looking at the eBay HID kits. I'd lose the classic look with these, I think. I don't know much about them, though. Are they any good or just junk? such as these?
http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/H5006-H5001-4-Headlight-Projector-Chrom-5-75-HID-Kit-/140519315452?pt=Motors_Car_Truck_Parts_Accessories&hash=item20b79a97fc

Those don't even have projectors in them, it looks like it's just a magnifying glass in the middle. Don't waste your money.


The other thing, that I was thinking of going with is a complete glass housing, which would not melt with the higher powered bulbs, something like these;
http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/5-3-4-4000-H5006-H4-HID-EURO-DIAMOND-HEADLIGHTS-SET-/330296104456?pt=Motors_Car_Truck_Parts_Accessories&hash=item4ce72e9608

Any suggestions, much appreciated

Those look like they'd be alright if they really are all metal and glass, but I'd ditch the bulbs. I bought an H4 conversion kit from Classic Industries a few years ago and it came with some stupid "ultra blue" bulbs. They were useless. The low beams put out barely any light and I had to drive around with my high beams all the time.

IMO, the only options are a quality H4 conversion kit with some nice bulbs from rallylights.com or PIAA, or retrofit some real projectors and HID's out of another car.

[ModedCB2]

I know this is late, but for those of us with classic 6"-7" diam round sealed beams, Hella makes H4 replacements that are available in nearly all, low, high, low + high etc configurations.

I have them on all of my Mustangs. I was glad to hear a real world response on the Autologic lights. I have been looking for an H4 unit with turn signals in the same unit. Strike them from the list.

Rob

[Richio1]

What about the headlights that Fesler and DSE have on their websites? Anyone have feedback on them?

[zbugger]

Best thing I ever did on my '77 was to put a relay kit in. Brighter, more consistent headlights that don't dim when at idle. And then I put in some brighter bulbs in glass housings. And then it was daytime in front of the car.

[Nessumsar]

I am really liking my AutoPal housings and cheap HID bulb kit. I have AutoPal's Euro style 7" housings (found on Ebay) with a cheap HID kit from http://www.hidxenonlights.com/h4-hid-bulbs-c-646 .

Another really nice option are the Hella housings with PIAA bulbs, those combined have one of the nicest patterns I have ever seen.

[ModedCB2]

anyone have 411 on "Fesler" or "autopal" I did google for both and got nada.

I REALLY want to find a quality, glass housing with turn signal at the bottom, that won't melt with a decent halogen bulb.

thanks!

Rob

[Brad1970]

For SUPER CHEAP HID bulbs, ballasts & all that (you'll have to locate good housings) try these guys...

http://www.1800hidlights.com/main_login.php?osCsid=6cc02657093d33b64eb3817c30da 891b

I've got a buddy of mine that installed a set for his 2011 Mustang, look & work Great! They are a distributor, but you can order direct from them.

[mc84_zz4]

anyone have 411 on "Fesler" or "autopal" I did google for both and got nada.
I REALLY want to find a quality, glass housing with turn signal at the bottom, that won't melt with a decent halogen bulb.
thanks!
Rob
Here is a site on eBay for Autopal Lights:
http://stores.ebay.com/Autopal-Lights?_trksid=p4340.l2563
Some of these are made in India, and they are a good quality glass lens, the back varies based on model, the Euro (clear lens) has polycarbonate, the E-Code (refractive lens) have metal housings.
The price on 4 was under $60. Although the bulbs are included, I usually get Osram or Hella bulbs.
They have some models with the city-lights which 'could' be used for other purposes, but they do not
have a visible turn signal are in them.

Speedway has some 7" round units with turn signals on the bottom, not sure if that was what you were looking for:
http://www.speedwaymotors.com/Speedway-7-Inch-Fluted-Replacement-Headlights-w-Amber-Turn-Signal,25098.html

Speeway also has an option to add a turn signal into any H4 housing:
http://www.speedwaymotors.com/Turn-Signal-Indicator-for-H-4-Bulbs,2376.html

Here is a link for Fesler: http://www.feslerbuilt.com/

[CarlC]

I've had the stock lamp, Autozone halogens, the DSE kit, and glass H4 Hella's. The Hella's are the best. I opted for the illegal higher-wattage halogen bulbs which brightens things up. No police officer is likely to pull you over for headlamps unless they are badly misaligned.

I'm interested in the Xenon bulbs. The 100/80's look appealing and the cost is reasonable.

[socorob]

http://www.busdepot.com/details.jsp?partnumber=0301600118
This place has good prices on H4 lights.