Lets keep in mind... when we say HID, that stands for "High Intensity Discharge". With HID there is no filament in the buld. It creates an extremely intense plasma arc inside the bulb which is what generates the light, thus the need for the ballast. I just wanted to throw this out so all of us dont get confused.
So, back to the prvious posts, have any of you actually installed HID bulbs, or just "HID Like" bulbs with a cooler color temp rating?
I am seriuosly needs some better light and if yall have something I would like to hear about it, these things suck stock!

 

Hercules130 is correct when he says an HID light has a $1000 ballast (and that is per side). HID is an entirely different lighting system. The bulbs are different as is the reflector. There is also a ballast that provides the high energy the system uses. It's actually quite similar to a flourscent light. From what I remember about my Dad's Lincoln with true HID system, there is no high/low beam on them. I truly doubt that we will ever see an HID system to replace our stock headlights. The cost would be astronomical. The so-called HID bulbs are just a gimmick. I have blue headlight bulbs in my Harley, but they aren't HIDs! JOIBO.

 

You guys are correct, they are NOT a true HID system - like the xenon upgrade I did in my car - full replacement of the assemblies with different projectors, ballasts, bulbs, etc.. and you guys are also right that true HID is not cheap. However Moterhead isn't correct when he says they are a gimmick. The aftermarket bulbs like the PIAAs etc have a much higher lumen output than stock. Some have a cooler color temp for that fake xenon look, but the kind I got are the same as stock, they don't look any different in color - just brighter. They aren't a night and day improvement like going to HID, but they are definitely worth the $50 in improvement they give. If you search for PIAA's a while back someone posted pics of one stock and one PIAA on.

 

Lightman,

No, what I said was "so-called HID bulbs are a gimmick". I didn't say there was no improvement to be gained by switching bulbs. As we both agree, you don't get HID lights by installing JUST bulbs of any kind. And we both agree there are improvements to be gained by switching bulbs.

 

I got mine from this guy off ebay clicky I went with the 4300k for the fogs, they seem to have the same light pattern as the old 9006 halogens only a decent amout brighter. I don't really dig the blue or purple'ish hue, 4300k seems to have a true white color.

 

then how can you "just" replace the blub in the fog lights with a hid bulb?? if they work different??

 

I am guessing by his post that he didn't just replace the bulbs in his fog lights. He said he used an HID kit from ebay, which should include the ballasts needed to run the HID lights, Lenses, bulbs etc.

 

The bulbs mount up the same as the OEM's, and yes it was a whole kit w/ ballasts I bought. The 9006 plugs that would normally plug into the OEM 9006 bulbs now plug into the HID ballasts to give power. Super simple installation.