HID Bi-Xenon High/Low Beam Installation

[Richo Junior Member Find all posts View Profile Close Richo]

I decided after much reading on this site to go ahead and purchase (from Fleabay) a kit of Bi-Xenon HID inserts to replace the standard headlamp globes as I am sick of having the road lit up and dipping the lights for oncoming vehicles only to end up in what seems like total darkness because of the poor standard lights.
The kit cost me $269 plus $15 postage and arrived overnight after I had paid!

I spent a total of 2hrs installing it myself today and taking the time for photos etc I reckon it was quite quick and simple.

I took before and after shots (all at exactly the same exposure so it is a fair comparison) of the lights against my carport wall and also of the installation of the components.

Before shot of standard low beam



One standard (Left) and one HID (Right)



Both HID Low beam



The install is really plug and play as described. I needed to mount the controller unit which I attached on the LHS near the battery and also a ballast on either side. You can just see the ballast for the left side behind the fuse box attached to the LHS also.




The RHS was nice and easy. Just the ballast to install (on the RHS near the AUX battery and plug in the globe.



The issue for me was are they going to be better than the standard lights?
Well, by looking at the initial output compared to the standard lights I have no doubt. I am also very impressed with the light pattern on both high and low beam.
If you look at the front on shot, there is very little light scatter as some others have reported. I can't wait until it gets dark so I can go for a drive.

Oh....warm up time - yes I am in Adelaide and its cold! They come on instantly and start a bluish colour and the go to a brilliant white after about 10 secs. Low to high beam is absolutely instantaneous (you can see the XGTs slowly come to full brightness in comparison).
I went out just now and bought the blue filters for the XGTs as I am sure the difference in colour will annoy me. They seem better now but I haven't taken a pic as yet.

HID Low beam (with Fog lights on)



HID High Beam (with XGTs and Fog)



HID Low Beam (Front on) - purposely underexposed



HID High Beam (and XGTs) - purposely underexposed



I would certainly recommend this upgrade. I will comment further once I have tested them out at night.

Cheers,

Richo

[Signature035 Advanced Member Find all posts View Profile Close Signature035]

Richo,

Same kit as I installed a few weeks back..... you just saved me having to load my pictures. You will be impressed with their performance.

[McBAIN Avid PP Poster! Find all posts View Profile Close McBAIN]

Awesome Richo, thanks for posting that, it's on my to-do list after seeing TP's install pictures but always great to see that others have done it and how it turned out!

Look forward to some "out on the road" pics!

[Jacto Senior Member Find all posts View Profile Close Jacto]

Hey Richo

What temperature globes did you purchase?

[Grandeman Avid PP Poster! Find all posts View Profile Close Grandeman]

Nice work there Richo.

[Richo Junior Member Find all posts View Profile Close Richo]

Jacto - they are 6000k (I certainly wouldn't go any higher in temperature because of the advice that they lose effectiveness and its more wank factor than anything) I wanted them for better lighting! And just a touch of the wank factor

Just been for a drive and they work awesome. Nobody flashed me and they light up the road beautifully.

I am very happy with the whole thing.

[Treane Lurker Find all posts View Profile Close Treane]

Thanks for the great detail Richo. I've been thinking about doing this and having read your post I'm convinced that I will also get them.

Thanks again.

[Grandeman Avid PP Poster! Find all posts View Profile Close Grandeman]

Just gotta find a way to upgrade the foglights now...

[Jacto Senior Member Find all posts View Profile Close Jacto]

I am really happy with the spotlight conversion and I was thinking about putting 4300's in the headlights but will probably stick with the 6000's to match the colour of the spots. If you get some photos out on the road to post wouldn't mind a look.

[phil Member Find all posts View Profile Close phil]

richo nice job mate, how much room do you have inbetween the second battery and also the kit you bought was that the one that says oz seller on the small pic of the item. It looks like the same brand kit i bught for my spots. And lastly is the ballast cradle built strong enough the kit i got had shitty holders for the ballasts but the ballasts look the same.
Cheers phil.

[Richo Junior Member Find all posts View Profile Close Richo]

Cheers Phil.

I was worried about the distance between the second battery and the globe. This is a good 15mm and could be more if I moved the battery back a bit but the battery is nicely in the middle with plenty of clearance.

Yes it is the kit that has the 'oz seller' around the thumbnail.

*** One little tricky bit I forgot to mention although it does seem obvious is:
After putting the whole globe in the headlamp - remove the globe part (the carrier - the H4 bit is separate to the actual globe) then put the rubber seal on. Then the globe can be placed back in the carrier and all is sealed and dust and water proof. Don't do what I did and cut the rubber (only on one side) to try and fit the whole globe through!

Richo

[phil Member Find all posts View Profile Close phil]

Thats Richo this is my next job when I get back.
For anyone who wants to know Coventrys have a sale on all hella lights at the moment and it is a real good deal. Hella 4000 compacts $185 and also the big 4000's for 190 each. This is easy half price of rrp.
Get a hid kit and bingo you have predators for stuff all coin. Predators are for sale for just 1075 I think each which is cheap for them.
I am 90% sure this is over the counter prices. Phil

[AJs Prado Junior Member Find all posts View Profile Close AJs Prado]

Richo,

Between you and Piggy you've got us all looking at these. These are the AE Int kits on ebay right?

Are they truly plug and play as advertised or is there splicing into the head light circuit involved in this kit?

Cheers

AJ

[Grandeman Avid PP Poster! Find all posts View Profile Close Grandeman]

I've ordered mine - thank heaps for the heads-up Richo (mate, they should send you a spotter's fee) .

I went for the 5000K version, even though my driving lights are 6000K - am hoping to try and achieve just that little bit more intensity and penetration.

[Richo Junior Member Find all posts View Profile Close Richo]

Hey AJ,

Definitely plug and play - have a look at the back of the headlight photo and you will see the connector that goes to the control box. (I cable tied these together because if this comes apart then all the lights will go off!). You take off the factory connector and it plugs direct in to a socket which then goes to the control box. The lights and ballasts etc just simply plug in. You need to connect a 12v connector to the battery (which is already has an eye connector) and then each ballast has a ground connector (also with eye connectors). I just added the ground to the factory ground on each side. Piece of cake.

Richo