H4 conversion, HID conversion, what to do?

mattathayde · 10-19-2009, 08:28 PM

ok so seeing as xmas is coming soon i figure i might look towards new head lights for the jeep since even with silver stars at night in the mist i couldnt see crap. so here my question if i switch to H4s i will be able to use those housings (with projectors) for hids correct? and other than the housings and bulbs i just need to swap the harness right?

i would love HIDs but i think if i did it i would have to go to with a very nice kit with high grade components that i just cannot justify the huge cost at this point.

so what h4 housings to look at and what bulbs to look at? is there a good prefab conversion harness of do i just need to make my own?

thanks
-matt

LIsurfcasters · 10-19-2009, 09:19 PM

well first you would need to get an H4 headlamp. This might help

http://www.jeepforum.com/forum/f177/h4-conversion-879139/

jackdup · 10-19-2009, 09:31 PM

Daniel Stern Lighting Consultancy and Supply

you can start by reading stuff on that..there are many different options on headlight upgrades...i was planning a h4 halogen upgrade but then discovered that i could to hids for less cost and better lighting...for halogen most recommend either autopal, hella, or cibie e code housing and some 100 watt bulbs with an upgraded harness...you can buy premade harness or make your own..do some searches and you will soon come up with alot of results..here are a couple good links

FitchVA’s Jeep Page Writeups Upgraded Headlight Wiring Harness
Headlight Loom upgrade

by the way i got these
HID Kits: DDM Tuning - HID Kits, HID Bulbs, DEPO Lighting, BMW and Porsche Performance Accessories
Hella Lighting 003427011 - Hella E-Code (ECE) Headlamp Rectangular Conversion - Quadratec

i heard alot of great things about ddm and they are cheap too..i know its not recommended to put hids in reflective houseings but im going to and aim them right for now..and maybe retrofit in the future when i have time..hope this helps..if you have a more specific question i might be able to answer it

2doorxj · 10-20-2009, 10:26 PM

http://www.jeepforum.com/forum/f177/hids-my-xj-wow-873008/
check out my thread, with the hella housings there isnt very much glare at all.

mattathayde · 10-21-2009, 08:23 AM

thanks for all the great links guys, now my question is, what is the difference between the 60 buck kit and the 600 buck kit, is there a huge quality difference or is it just the more expensive ones are ripping you off? i would honestly rather put the cash down for something if it is better quality but of course dont want to waste my money either

thanks again
-matt

mattathayde · 10-25-2009, 10:46 PM

ok so ive been looking around and have found pretty much everything i need except i am having an issue with the projector issue, i can find H4 housings that fit but none of them have projectors and i cant find much info on projectors. can anyone direct me on that at all? ive found separate projectors but i think they will require a lot of modification of the housing

thanks
-matt

rwilbu01 · 10-26-2009, 08:56 AM

just get the H4 conversion and harness upgrade. It is cheaper on initial buy and bulb replacement. Not to mention - LEGAL.

justanotherjpr · 10-26-2009, 09:03 AM

I am happy with my Rampage h4 conversion from Jason at Jeepinoutfitters. The autopal H4 lenses can be had for $20 on eBay, then a set of $20 bulbs and the $20 harness from eAutoworks.com will do you just fine.

440_Magnum · 10-26-2009, 09:46 AM

I'd second the advice to contact Daniel Stern. I personally don't think that there are any HID conversions out there that work as well as Cibie H4 lamps and quality bulbs, and Stern has both and the knowledge to get you the right setup.

HIDs may be brighter, but they lack good beam control and tend to cause glare that makes them really ineffective in bad weather. Plus they get really expensive when you have the type that gives you both high-beam and low-beam.

mattathayde · 10-26-2009, 09:50 AM

as to the legality, from what ive read in the VA laws, they are fine.

as to the glare a long as you get good projectors that is supposed to correct the pattern and glare, the hids just seem to have a bad rep since so many people toss them in reflector housings

after looking at both of them and pricing it out, i can pa just a little bit more and get quality HIDs that are 2-3 times as bright. i found a place my friend went through that has a bi xeon kit for 125 + 25 shipping from canada, life time warranty on the ballasts. it also has a wiring harness but i am not sure if i can adapt it to work or not. so other than that kit i need to find projectors and housings and maybe a new wiring harness (i was going to make one but honestly for something as important as headlights i dont want to risk getting a bad connection (i trust my wiring but id rather pay a little more for safety)

-matt

popowiecki · 10-26-2009, 04:42 PM

i ordered a set of hid lights from hidkits.com the lights work great. but i wish i would not have gotten the lifetime warranty. i called in my order and told them what kind of vehicle i have. they then sent me the wrong bulbs, told me that they would reimburse me for the shipping and handling. they never reimbursed me and they gave me the run around when i wanted to return the bulbs that they said i needed. im just a little nervous that if i need to use their warranty down the road that they wont hold up their end of the deal. but i think the hid lights are the way to go .

Sweetlou · 10-26-2009, 05:35 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by justanotherjpr

I am happy with my Rampage h4 conversion from Jason at Jeepinoutfitters. The autopal H4 lenses can be had for $20 on eBay, then a set of $20 bulbs and the $20 harness from eAutoworks.com will do you just fine.

I was unable to find the harness you are talking about on the eAutoWorks website. Do you happen to have a link?

mattathayde · 10-26-2009, 06:25 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by popowiecki

i ordered a set of hid lights from hidkits.com the lights work great. but i wish i would not have gotten the lifetime warranty. i called in my order and told them what kind of vehicle i have. they then sent me the wrong bulbs, told me that they would reimburse me for the shipping and handling. they never reimbursed me and they gave me the run around when i wanted to return the bulbs that they said i needed. im just a little nervous that if i need to use their warranty down the road that they wont hold up their end of the deal. but i think the hid lights are the way to go .

do you have projectors?
-matt

popowiecki · 10-26-2009, 06:44 PM

no i just have the hella vision plus headlight h4 conversion lenses. they were 45 bucks a piece at oreilly's

mattathayde · 10-26-2009, 07:25 PM

dont you have glare issues?
-matt