HID Headlights

[maverick01]

I know this isnt camper related............

But my question i need to ask is i currently have a 2005 GU Patrol and the previous owner did replace the wiring and upgrade the globes to 90/130watt and yes they are bright but i dont like the old yellow colour.

I realise i could change the globes to get the colour i want but to my knowledge nobody makes 90/130watt globes in a blue or whiter colour. Unless someone can prove me wrong.

So i was wondering has anyone upgraded to hids in there headlights and if so what is everyone opinion on them.




Greg

[cheif carlos]

HID's is illegal in Pootrols and for that almost all other 4wds

I have fatboys by IPF (not sure if they still make them) I was happy when I got them they where a vast improvement over stock. They are whiter than standard suppose to put out more light than standard but like most/all halogens they need to be replaced to keep their colour and light output good - I leave them on all the time and they are looking yellow now.

Cheers

Jason

[D4D]

If you want to stay legal try the Philips Xtreme Vision, not as good as HID, but half the price of the IPF fatboys and just as good.

[maverick01]

Thanks guys for the feedbacka nd i wasnt aware they are illegal

[bushbandit]

If you want to stay legal try the Philips Xtreme Vision, not as good as HID, but half the price of the IPF fatboys and just as good.

Just replaced both my low and high beams with the Philips Extreme Vision Plus 100 ,much better than stock

[Roo]

I had Phillips Crystal vision in my GU patrol, they were very good, clean white light. When one blew I tried the equivalent Narva bulbs and they were a disappointment.
In my 100 series Cruiser I tried the Phillips +70 and the only thing they did was put $70(per set) in someone else's pocket... then blew a bulb after a few months easy freeway driving. Not happy. I replaced the High Beams with 55w 4300k HIDs and was astounded by the light output. Only problem is the method for headlight aim for my 2001 Cruiser requires the whole lens to be adjusted as one so if the high beam was set right, the low was too low and vice versa. Only thing to do was whack in a set of 35w 4300k HID in the low beam too. Aim is better and now I can see where I'm going real good. I did have to find a compromise with the low beam aim due to the sheer volume of crispy fried light. I found with it tuned slightly lower and wider than you would with a Halogen bulb I don't dazzle oncoming traffic and I can light up a good patch of road clearly as the light is a much cleaner white light.

[Davepatrol]

Thanks guys for the feedbacka nd i wasnt aware they are illegal

The 90/130 are illegal as well
Cheers Dave

[WilSurf]

They are only legal on cars which have self levelling lights.
This to avoid blinding other cars.

[Squalo]

Replacing separate high beam halogens with HID I can understand, but putting a HID into a low beam reflector designed for halogen is another story. There is simply no control over light scatter, and it goes in all directions - the low beam cut-off is gone, non-existant.

The main reason people don't flash at HID lowbeams is because you soon learn that squinting and trying to see enough of the road to safely get past the oncoming vehicle is far preferable to having them turn their HID highbeam on you.

There's no legal way to go HID unless you can also make your lights self-level and fit some sort of washer system, but if you choose to overlook this, you can do a projector retrofit that gives a proper low beam cut-off and no scattered light, plus a great high beam:



I plan to fit a set of these. I got them from "Mick's HID Projector Retrofits", a vendor on Patrol4x4.com - I have no affiliation but think his service and products are top shelf. These kits just about make driving lights redundant.

Before retrofit, GU Patrol on low beam:



After 2.5" HID retrofit, GU Patrol on low beam:



After 2.5" HID retrofit, GU Patrol on high beam:

[D4D]

Be careful in the VIC High Country with HID headlights as Mr Plod out of Mansfield loves to give 4wders canaries...

[WilSurf]

My car came with HID high beam.
It gives lots of light. :-)
Still have to wire up the HID spots for a little more light.

[welchygq]

Replacing separate high beam halogens with HID I can understand, but putting a HID into a low beam reflector designed for halogen is another story. There is simply no control over light scatter, and it goes in all directions - the low beam cut-off is gone, non-existant.

The main reason people don't flash at HID lowbeams is because you soon learn that squinting and trying to see enough of the road to safely get past the oncoming vehicle is far preferable to having them turn their HID highbeam on you.

There's no legal way to go HID unless you can also make your lights self-level and fit some sort of washer system, but if you choose to overlook this, you can do a projector retrofit that gives a proper low beam cut-off and no scattered light, plus a great high beam:



I plan to fit a set of these. I got them from "Mick's HID Projector Retrofits", a vendor on Patrol4x4.com - I have no affiliation but think his service and products are top shelf. These kits just about make driving lights redundant.

Before retrofit, GU Patrol on low beam:



After 2.5" HID retrofit, GU Patrol on low beam:



After 2.5" HID retrofit, GU Patrol on high beam:

Any contact details for these? - price?

Welchy

[Roo]

We've all heard all about the scatter issue and lack of low beam cut off but in practise, the cut off and light scatter with HID bulbs in the 2001 Landcruiser lens is much better than with the Halogen bulbs. Might be a different story with other vehicles but my experience only, I've found it to be a non issue for me.
As for illegalities, bah. Don't this, Do that, dont walk, no parking, no stopping, no no no no. I challenge anyone to search deep and find anything you do daily that may not be exactly to the letter of the law. I'm alleged to occasionally not come to a complete stop at a certain stop sign in my daily commute. I may occasionally fail to give adequate indication of my intention exiting the odd roundabout. Bigger tyres may make my speedo be inaccurate by as much as 4 kph....so clearly I'm a danger to the community and must be stopped.

Ad hoc, Ad abusurdum, Veni vidi vici
 

[BigJules]

Be careful in the VIC High Country with HID headlights as Mr Plod out of Mansfield loves to give 4wders canaries...

There are far more serious issues for them to enforce IMHO.

I've got HID high and low in my 100 and they're fantastic. I believe they are less intensive to oncoming traffic than many OEM systems, such as Honda Accord.

The light is terrific.

[Bird]

Theres a bloke currently working on fitting a "proper" set of HID's to a GU (hacking the OEM lights totally), with leveling the and pretty Angel Eyes like the BMW X5's..

Will see how they end up.

[Squalo]

Actually there's a few already done. Mine should be done in the next week or so.

Welchy - the go-to guy is here: http://www.patrol4x4.com/forum/micks-hid-projector-retrofits-84/

I paid $450 for my 3" screw-in projector kit (no cutting of reflector or anything else in fact) - just heat light assembly in oven, pull lense off. Install projectors, heat and reassemble, install plug and play wiring loom. I could have paid less but went for the top shelf Osram bulbs, which added around $100 to the cost. Mick buys through The Retrofit Source in the US, you can buy directly from them of course but Mick buys in bulk and prices his kits very well, and he supplies instructions to suit the vehicle as well plus is available for any follow-up service or advice.

Some more examples (that's Micks in the earlier pics I posted, and the first one below):

[Bird]

There are far more serious issues for them to enforce IMHO.

you would think so eh...

[fuji]

I'll get you blokes! LOL

[Teabag]

I have HID hi/low fitted to my Patrol and the difference is as simple as my spotties (lightforce XGT) are pretty much non effective at hi beam now. The big trick is adjusting them so they don't blind on coming vehicles, the Patrol headlights are very easy to adjust, hi and low are separately adjusted. Works for me, even if it's illegal.......

[D4D]

I'll get you blokes! LOL

pffft paper shuffler

[Tuco]

I may occasionally fail to give adequate indication of my intention exiting the odd roundabout. Bigger tyres may make my speedo be inaccurate by as much as 4 kph....so clearly I'm a danger to the community and must be stopped.

"Stopped" . Actually tests have proven that the brakes on any vehicle become less effective when oversize tyres are fitted. The stopping distance at any speed is increased.

In the same way that the engine needs to work harder, unless the final drive ratio is changed - then the brakes also need to be made bigger and more efficient to achieve the same stopping distance.

It is a simple matter of physics - and leverage.

[Tuco]

I have HID hi/low fitted to my Patrol and the difference is as simple as my spotties (lightforce XGT) are pretty much non effective at hi beam now. The big trick is adjusting them so they don't blind on coming vehicles, the Patrol headlights are very easy to adjust, hi and low are separately adjusted. Works for me, even if it's illegal.......

Well I'm not sure about your 'trol - but each time I hook the trailer or caravan on our 2011 GU wagon - then the headlights end up with a different aim height!
Even filling the fridge, adding camping gear upsets the aim.

How do you overcome it?

[Roo]

"Stopped" . Actually tests have proven that the brakes on any vehicle become less effective when oversize tyres are fitted. The stopping distance at any speed is increased.

In the same way that the engine needs to work harder, unless the final drive ratio is changed - then the brakes also need to be made bigger and more efficient to achieve the same stopping distance.

It is a simple matter of physics - and leverage.

The added unsprung mass plays a larger role in sucking power and the reduced braking performance can be further influenced by tread pattern. That said, the big girl still passes her brake test every year with no problems.

[Squalo]

Here's how HID into halogen compares to HID projector, as far as power and low-beam cut-off pattern goes. This is on a GQ, but you get the idea - you'll get the same sort of random light scatter with any reflector-style headlight that has been fitted with a HID lamp.

Low beam HID in reflector.


Low beam in projector HID.

[Mandrake]

Got this today in email
Mandrake