HID FAQ

I got about 3 months out of them before they burned out.

 

Thanks for all the links and advice.

My original interest in HID was simply because the lights that are there aren't allowing me to adjust them correctly. I have a weird driver's side light that I can't pull out far enough to get it up and out enough to line up with the tape on the wall recommendation for where it's supposed to be.

I figured if I have to buy new lights, I might as well consider an upgrade.

So if I understand things correctly, there isn't any HID replacement light setup that I can simply swap out and be legit. It also isn't going to do much for helping me relative to light output (legal limitations considered) and could end up getting me a ticket if they're noticeably brighter than they should be. Right?

 

Legit.... As in legal, no. Not in the united states at least.

 

I wish there was a +like or some such thing for responses that were helpful but that don't really require a response of their own.

Thanks for the reply. I won't be doing HIDs in my truck.

 

You can give the guys that helped you out a + rep!!

 

The brighter the bulb, the less bulb life you will get. I replaced Silverstars twice a year because of that.

 

+1

Used to love Silverstars, but I would never drive a vehicle with them unless I had a spare pair in the glove box.

 

I sure would like to improve the lights on my 2003 xtracab 4X4. I'm not interested in doing anything other than improving night vision (nothing cosmetic). The lenses are slightly hazed from the Texas sun and the lights just aren't that good. I can polish the lenses but I'm wondering what is the best way to improve night vision.
Thanks for any ideas

 

I've seen sites where they polish the lenses with toothpaste, and it works pretty good. The lights, other than putting aftermarket lights behind the grill, I'm not sure what else to help you with. Sorry

 

Thanks Kenny, I thought there had be some kind of upgrade over the stock headlights, dang! Seems like every lighting enhancement is for the newer trucks ( 2005 and up)

 

If you go to "tacoma forum" there are knowledgeable people there too who may be able to help.

 

you can put in Hella's or Osram 100w/80w or 100w/90w, that will improve output without going to hid, the bulbs just don't last as long, but they do help with lighting of the night...

 

i have a 2006 tacoma trd off road 6cyl 6 speed and i am looking to get a hid kit for my truck. kit is bulb specific and i need to know what the headlight bulb number i need is and the fog light number. thanks!

 

Alright so I bought the Xentec 6000K HID's and put them in the stock housings in my 2011. the bulbs came with a metal guard screwed to the bottom of them and when i put them in with the guard on them only half of my headlight housing had light in it so i took the metal pieces off. Now at night time with my lights on there are spots that are brighter than others. Now I'm guessing it's because I didn't retrofit them, but a friend of mine has the same setup in her 06 and doesnt have the same issue. Has anybody else experienced this?

 

the bulbs came with a metal guard screwed to the bottom of them and when i put them in with the guard on them only half of my headlight housing had light in it so i took the metal pieces off

I am assuming this was the cut-off or glare shield, you are now most likely blinding everyone coming towards you, regardless of your beam setting. Please put the original lights back in.

Now at night time with my lights on there are spots that are brighter than others.

Please see above and further this is why you don't just slap in HID's into non-HID housings, 90% of the time the beam pattern will be crap and even though I am sure you THINK they are brighter, and probably are, the actual usable light shining down the down where you want it is diminished.

I really wish all these "retro-fit kits", were ticketed appropriately. It used to be against federal law, to the tune of thousands of dollars in tickets, but I haven't looked up the laws since the original article(s) in this thread were gathered. True HID conversions, where most of not all the light is replaced should be DOT cert'd and only then allowed.

 

no i actually don't think they're brighter. maybe in certain areas, but not where i want them to be. I don't understand why the same kit works fine in my friends 06 and is shit in mine though. I want HID's in my truck, but i don't want projectors because I think they make the trucks look bug eyed and I can't stand it. any other suggestions?

 

It is still illegal and some states are very aggressive at ticketing.

I am rarely seeing purple and yellow headlights now.
2 years ago they were all over the place.

I ended up passing a Civic with purple lights on the way to work yesterday.
Coming up behind him, I could see a bright purple patch on the road in front of him. I could barely see any light reflected off of the car in front of him.

Wrong. As I passed, the glare in my mirrors was VERY bright.

 

1. xentec is complete crap
2. Don't run HIDs in stock housings
3. Tell your friend not to as well

 

Damn it.


I can't +peR you more than once for this

 

hers work just fine, no issues at all