mexguy89

iTrader: (3)

Since I already have the HID system can't I just change the bulb to 4300??

1UGLYGS

iTrader: (2)

I won't consider it downgrading if you were to get 5k for example..


I recommend AC HID kits. The link below shows side-by-side comparisons.
http://www.mydepots.com/the-truth-you-must-know

1UGLYGS

iTrader: (2)

You can but the lights being projected from the headlight will shine in every direction with no cut off, still giving that "blinding everyone on the road". Factory HID headlights have auto leveling, so when you have them, you'll notice a cut off of the beam if you were to face a wall with your lights on.

tiger4life

iTrader: (16)

Seems like you don't understand this topic so I'll explain. As others have said. The GS can come with a halogen or hid system. If you had an stock hid system, the reflector bowl in the headlight assembly and the bulbs are different. There is also a little box attached to the headlight which is called a ballast. The ballast ramps up the stock voltage so the bulb can operate.

Sounds like you don't have stock hids because you are blinding everyone. So the easiest thing is to just go back to halogen bulbs. The halogen bulbs are not as bright so the reflector bowl in the headlight (notice I did not say in the bulb) is designed to spread the light differently.

New cars don't even use reflector bowls they use a projector to cut off the light from going into opposing drivers eyes. Some people here retrofit these projectors into their oem headlights. I am in the process of doing this.

Changing bulb color will not help you because the reflector bowl will still spread it everywhere. 4300k is the brightest bulb, and 5000k is brighter than the 6k you have now, so your problem would be worse. Here are your options.

1. Remove the aftermarket system. Simply take out the bulb and the ballast. You'll see where your oem harness attaches to the ballast. Go to autozone ask for halogen bulbs. Install them.

2. Retrofit hid reflector bowls into your headlight assembly or buy a oem hid headlight assemblies. You would need new bulbs and maybe a ballast because the bulb opening on the halogen and hid assemblies are different.

3. Retrofit projectors into the halogen assemblies. Similar process to #2.

You should probably pursue option #1.

Here is a link to the retrofit process so you can see what is involved. I will be doing this exact setup in a few weeks. The guy in that thread has oem hid headlights because you can see the ballast in the 3rd picture.

https://www.clublexus.com/forums/gs-...retrofits.html

tiger4life

iTrader: (16)

The light beam pattern is more cutoff because the reflector bowls are different. The auto leveling just helps aim the headlights cutoff.

Kyle Harty

iTrader: (17)

Tiger4life summed up your options pretty well. I would recommend a projector retrofit (plenty of options and info here if you search) for maximum light output. If you don't want to put that kind of time and money into it, new OEM HID housings or switching the reflector bowls to OEM HID bowls (which would take a d2r bulb) would be good options. As far as color temps 4300k will have the most useable light and appear slightly yellow-white, 5000k is a little more white and slightly less output, 6000k will have a little more blue or purple-white and a little less output. I personally wouldn't recommend going over 6000k. More color less output the higher that number gets.

Sewell is great if you want to buy any OEM parts at a good price, they're the first place I turn for anything OEM.

If you add OEM HID housings to a non-HID car you still won't have auto-leveling, that system requires sensors on the suspension. The beam pattern would still be better than the halogen housings. I found the factory HID's output to be pretty disappointing, have had Q45 and LS460 retrofits and both were FAR superior to the factory HID's.

sequestre

I know this post is a little old but I'm wondering if anyone has had any legality issues with retrofitting their headlights?

I live in NC and I'm thinking about doing the Q45 retro.

NorthStyle

iTrader: (16)

I've never heard of anyone having issues with properly aimed retrofitted headlights. HID plug-and-play kits, on the other hand, are illegal in most states from what I've heard.

Lutkis

If one can make these lights legal in the EU, you sure as hell can make them pass in the US.
Unless you totally F 'em up.

Kyle Harty

iTrader: (17)

My understanding is that they should be legal if you use projectors that are designed for hid bulbs, such as any Oem projector like the Q45's. It is illegal to put hid bulbs in a housing that isn't designed for them.