What are my options for installing real Xenons?
Does Lexus have something, or can we transplant some Xenon in from another Lexus model or something aftermarket?
Whats the closest aftermarket HID KIT that compares to the stock Lexus HID?

 

Lexus HIDs are Denso ballasts and Osram 4100K bulbs, though there is no guarantee that that combo will yield the same light in an SC400 as an SC430. The SC430's HIDs are quite possibly going to be the best retrofit match up as far as alignment of the aiming screws when transplanting the optics (if one were inclined to). Problem is SC430 HIDs are VERY HARD to come by from anywhere other than the Lexus parts counter ($2400/pr). If you were lucky enough to find a wrecked SC430, you may get away with the completed headlight assembly for $500. Other than the tough custom stuff, you can always just buy an HID kit with reputable, name-brand bulbs and ballasts.

 

Lex, when you say the same light.....you mean after transplanting into a SC400.....the color of the HID might not be the same, or the light output might not be the same as the headlight assemblies are different?

 

I mean both. When you're only retrofitting your headlights with the ballast and bulb, you are leaving the halogen optics as the unknown factor. The projector lens itself varies from car to car on how much light transmission is allowed through (from 50-75%). When your bulb is rated to give off 3200 lumens, you may only be seeing 2500 lumens on the road. That is one issue. The other is that halogen optics create a hotspot. Because halogen lighting is not able to adequately light up all of the road around you, the light is focused into the most crucial spots: dead ahead of you. HID optics are different, they have a wide and even distribution of light. Putting HID into halogen optics may effect the flux properties, especially on free-form reflector headlights. Halogen projectors may still throw off color flicker with HID bulbs in them however.

 

I will posting a full review with a lot of photos on my HID upgrade for the SC400...I also have a GS430 with factory HID's so I'll take some comparison notes and photos...

 

Check www.clearcorners.com for a custom retrofit headlight assembly. costs an arm and a leg, but they look sweet. They use LEDs for the turn signals and real HID spec projectors. If you dont want to spend all of that then just get the phillips 9006 bulb HID conversion kit. It's supposed to be recommended to not go over 6000k for hid kits (some kits rate 8000k, 10000+k) because anythinng over 6000k isnt really visible light. I havent seen anything kits in person besides the 6000k and those look pretty sweet. As mentioned earlier in lex's post though, unless you get a real retrofit projector then the beam isnt going to be solis and consistent throughout.

 

depenpo, you got the shipment in yet? dont forget to post up pictures.

 

i'm all for bringing back relevant old posts and all, but this guy posted his question 2 1/2 years ago!

 

ha ha!

you guys crack me up, very old thread! I needed to see this today, I was in a funk...

 

Depends on your car. If you have 97-01 ES300, 98-04 GS300/400, you can swap out the OEM headlamps with HID. You wont' have autolevel but I'm sure you can manually aim them.

Another option if HID retrofit. This is a service that involves removing HID equipment (reflectors/projectors) from a wrecked car with HID headlamps and installing them on your car. You can do this yourself, or have someone do this for you. Either way, you'll also need a wire harness to connect the equipment to your factory wiring.

Final option which is the easiest is to add an HID kit. This is the quickest and easiest way to add HID to your car. However keep in mind that simply tossing a kit in there has its positive and negative effects. For one, your headlamps were never designed for HID. Putting in a kit can cause alot of glare to other drivers on the road. This is the main reason HID kit sales were banned in august of 03. There have been folks here that have gotten around both issues of glare and obtaining a kit.

Personally, I'd recommend an HID retrofit. Simply because its the best way to getting as close to OEM hid as possible. Not only does your output look better but your car will stand out as more one of a kind vs. all the other methods. Theres no limit to what you can do or have done on your vehicle going this route and several memebers here have already done it including myself.

 

Ohh shoot. Dang man...I didn't see the date

 

lol. holy crap! i didnt notice the date on that thread either. Actually, i don't even know how I found it to begin with!! my reply was made at midnight and i was already pretty drunk.

 

I would have to agree, I put in this "Kit" a McCulloch 6000k, it's not a bad kit, but I'm thinking of going with a true retrofit as there is a considerable amt of glare from the stock projectors....If I had to do it over again I would have just gone with the retrofit from the start.

There is a group that will allow you to send in your stock lense and do the retrofit and they include the HID kit for $750.

But that's just my 2cents!