HID Lights...Don't get it at all

Can someone talk to me like I'm a 4th grader in regards to HID lights. I can buy them at cost but I have NO idea.

Are they just bulbs? Whole assembly? Fog lights? Help!

I want cool looking HID's...that is my end goal...fairly simple.

 

HID is just a different type of bulb.

HID's mainly just need a ballast to regulate the voltage going into them.

PM CSjumper2003 He should be able to help ya..I got my HID headlights and fogs from him.

 

As neonlazer said, HID is just a different bulb and they require the addition of a ballast as well. If you want HID lighting, do yourself, and everyone else on the road, a favor and pick up a set of projectors to put them into. Just throwing an HID kit into a housing meant for halogens results in a lot of glare. HIDs and halogens produce light much differently. Halogens only produce light at the filament and the stock housings are made to reflect that light out in front of you. HIDs produce light down the entire length of the bulb and the stock housings reflect the extra light in weird directions.
Check out this thread for some good info on HID lighting:
http://www.tacomaworld.com/forum/lighting/191480-hid-faq.html

 

^^^ This. HIDs without projectors are not street legal for good reason. Though not all aftermarket projectors are steet legal either.

 

all HID's are technically illegal unless stock ....but that's not enforced.

get projectors with your HID's OP, from experience, theyre a shit ton better than running them in reflector housings.

 

call theretrofitsource.com guys and order, the best IMO

 

Well understood. So projectors plus hid's will cost me about $1000?

 

If you do it yourself and use your stock housings, it'll cost you under $300. Visit TheRetrofitSource.com and look at their complete kits. The easiest to install would be the Morimoto Mini H1 or the Mini D2S kits. There are frequently group buys in which TRS offers 25% off complete kits so if you wait until one of those, you get a lot closer to $200. Depending on your comfort level with doing the modification, there are several members on here that would do the retrofit for you for a fee. Check out member Asianant, he has an open thread and pricing for his retrofitting services.

 

What are the best housings to use? I dont wont moisture in my lenses either

 

OEM would be best in my opinion. You can use aftermarket, just make sure you do a good job with the sealant when you close them back up.

 

yeah while your at it about 80% of the "mods" on our trucks would be classified as "illegal"... J walking is illegal, so what who gives a f#cK

 

Because running HID's in a stock reflector housing is just a jackass thing to do so the people who give a fuck would be every else on the road with you... I don't see the purpose of your argument, just trying to be difficult?

 

^^^toooo true I got pulled over a few weeks back for tail light tint and no front licenses plate.......seriously.......the cop also looked at my FX-R retos and asked me what they were. I told him projection head lights (not HIDs), ain't gonna trick me copper

 

You guys are ridiculous haha there are laws on tint and lighting for a reason. The cop isn't the idiot, you are. Lights serve a purpose/have a function and that is not so you can look cool for your boyfriends. Quit being inconsiderate of others

 

I cant speak for your laws there, but there are DOT/ SAE approved HID retofit kits available for commercial trucks, helped install a set myself. They are fully approved and legal, and need to be for trucks that are insected every six months plus random roadside checks. The DOT is a US approval, so to me that means they are legal in all states, no?

For the record, my vehicles don't get illegal mods, I know a bit better than that. But you're right Ruler, there are idiots everywhere.

Exactly!

 

http://encyclopedia.thefreedictionary.com/High-Intensity+Discharge