Yes Raybrig, PIAA, and VIsion, and NOkyA make halogen HID "looking" BULBS(of course they don't look like it..it's their claim...that's what I was referring too.
I've bought and burned through all 5

HElla DOES make an HID kit. I just bought one.
The others who make HID kits(actual HID bulbs and ballasts)
are Phillips and VISION. I've owned all 3.
THat's the one I'm using. I'm well aware that 7000K is just the color of the lense and not the brightness.

When I refer to "bulbs" I mean HALOGEN bulbs. When I say HID KITS..I refer to HID KITS(HID bulbs, ballasts, relay, wiring..etc).

 

Oh okay, I misread your post

What kind of bulb does the Hella kit offer and where is this kit sold (online?). I'll bet a buffalo nickel the Hellas use Osram bulbs, because those two brands have been combined dozens of times in OEM setups. Philips is the only company that makes both bulb and ballast. Some of the newer K2/Vision kits are alledgedly offering Philips ballasts now which is a new surprise. Good choice on Hella, do you have any pics of your HIDs?

 

I dunno what bulb it is but probably OSRAM.

I need a darn Digital Camera so I can get picts of my car up again.
I don't want to go the film route.

I'm aim my HID's soon and take picts.
I'll take picts of the HID kits on my SC, next to my 02 ES300 w/HIDS and against the mercedes s430 w/HIDS.
Also I'll take picts of my 91 honda civic w/my hand me down HID KIT. =)

I have a feeling the 02 ES300 will be the brightest.

Also, regarding the Q45 lights, to do that, it's going to take custom molding, R&D, Infiniti Donor parts, a willing assembler..
and I'm going to need a whole new front bumper to custom fit
the larger lenses. MONEY MONEY MONEY.

It's a LONG LONG term project, not in the NEAR future (unless I win lotto on Wednesday) =).

p.s. I just got highbeamed on the way home driving my civic. I guess they ARE blinding. =)

 

lex400sc,

What do you think is responsible for a cutoff point in the projection light? Is it possible the Shielding has somehting do to with this? If so, putting a different light source (HID or halogen) won't have any effect on the cutoff point.

 

ChrisK, I know about the shield reflector, but do you think the optics in an HID assembly match that of a halogen assembly exactly? No. Does the arc capsule's position and dimensions line up perfectly with the halogen filament's in the same headlight housing? No. My point is that the light is generated at a differnt spot in the HID bulb than a halognen bulb and the halogen optics are built around the halogen bulb's filament. Base on the picture you supplied, you would assume that any bulb you put in there would produce the same focal point, beam, and cut-offs, but it won't. That diagram shows an HID optic, which is larger than halogen optics. Assume you put a larger 100w incandescent light bulb (from your desk lamp) into that optic assembly. That shield would block a little bit of light, but a lot more light would esacpe it and thus bleed over the cut-off line.

 

Can someone give a link of a good place to get HID lights for a lexus sc400. Will this draw more current from the alternator. Also if anyone knows of a good install place in San Diego that would be helpful to. I dont want blue lenses, whatever the SC430 and IS300 is fine with me.

 

Since the SCx00 was never standard equipped with HIDs, you'll have to buy a kit conversion (easy route), or do an OEM retrofit (hard route). If you want to purchase a plug-and-play kit conversion, I'd recommend www.autolamps-online.com or www.suvlights.com . They both sell HQ Philips kits both with pre-made relay harnesses. The HID ballast has a 20Kv - 50Kv ignition system that does put some strain on your alternator, which is the reason for a relay harness. This will tap some power from the battery so that you don't kill your alternator during ignition. While the HID lights are running nominally, it will draw up to third the amount of power as a halogen system will (HID = 35w. Halogen = 55-100w).

You can install kit conversions yourself. Even an electrical and automotive dunce will eventually figure it out. SUV Lights packs install instructions, and AutoLamps provides their instructions on their website. If you have to take it somewhere, go to a good car audio installer like the Good Guys. I don't know if they'll warranty that type of work or if they'll perform it, but they should. If they can install multiband variable encrypted alarm systems that have thermal sensors, dual-zone alarm, immobilizers, ignition-kills, back-up brain, auto-start ignition, windows up, trunk pin, etc, etc, they can install a simple HID kit. But for longevity purposes, make sure you have that relay wired in.

 

So we could still use a plug and play kit from autolamps.com, and get a good cut off point, if we changed the optics in the projection house? Or do you still have to retrofit an OEM HID kit to get the cut off point?

 

lex400sc, check out what this site has to say about their HID bulbs. Would what they are talking about correct the problem with the optics you are talking about when putting a kit on a halogen equipped reflector housing?

-Nick

 

can someone help me because ijust put in one of those phillips HID conversion kits, andi think it looks fine, but maybe im wrong, maybe theres something wrong because i dont understand this whole "fitting" and cut off theory.

 

Toog4me, do you have a digital camera? Take some pictures of your HIDs and post them here. Park 25ft from a white wall and turn on your low beams. Lean a ruler against the wall and I'll tell you if anything is wrong. BTW, who made your Philips kit?


LexRX, didn't see your post, but I've never heard of that e-tailer. There seems to be a new online lighting company popping up every week. As for this site, they have a bit of a slander campaign going on there, but for the most part their literature is accurate. That ceramic-coated ballast idea sounds promising, and would be the main selling point for me. Ask around the Philips forums to get the real low down on their history and customer service record.

 

You could do it either way, but an OEM setup has all it's electronics weather-proofed and water-proofed and are all tested, warrantied items. It would be easier to remove a complete OEM HID than to match up kit with OEM--and cheaper too.

 

Hey guys, with all the recent interest in HID conversions here at ClubLexus, I have contacted a reputable vendor and I'm currently discussing a group buy. I'm also researching and finding out more information about this whole "correct" HID setup for non-HID cars...what I do know that is you'll never get that "real HID" cut-off line with any add-on kits unless do you a headlight conversion (using a real HID projector setup...this too would be an interesting project...anyone down to do it?)

I'm working on getting a sample set to install in a SC and if I can get that sample set, I'll have detailed pictures and installation notes...I'll also be trying out a 4100K set and a 6000K set (personally, I think the 4100K set looks more "factory" and the 6000K sets look more "aftermarket") I'll install one in each housing so you can see a side by side comparison...I hope this vendor comes through...

Whatever you do, don't buy those cheap HID kits...also, be aware of these "Philips" kits...some of them aren't 100% Philips.

Please be paitent and I'll get more info as I get it (probably not until after this weekend as I'll be away at the HUGE ClubLexus meet...as should you!)

 

I would recommend 4100K bulbs for anyone interested in OEM HID. They are brighter than 6000K and if you want a blue luster to your headlights, you can get that easily through optics that cut the like just right. Every factory-euqipped HID car on the road uses 4100K bulbs so those blue, blue BMW, Audi, MB, Lexus lights can be had with a white 4100K bulb.

Manaray, I'm interested. I'm going to take measurements of my low beams one of these days, but I can't really shop because I can't drive anywhere. This also means no CL meet for me either.

 

its the phillips kit with the 6000 bulbs or something like that... im not sure as i dont have the sheet infront of me... when i get my digital camera, ill shoot pics, or if your going to the lexus event this weekend, i can show you then. Did someone say you guys are meeting at 6:30 AM?????????