I've seen so many conflicting opinions on this, its driving me crazy. There are some really nice deals on aftermarket HIDs from EvoM vendors.

I have heard several times that HIDs installed in an incorrect housing will not distribute the light properly, won't be as bright as they should be in focused areas, and will be blinding to oncoming traffic.

My main question are these:
1) What are the differences in the housing from my new straight IX and my old 2003 VIII?
2) Since the headlight in the new car is still a projector type and shows an obvious light line, wouldn't aftermarket bolt in HIDs practically be plug and play and distribute the light properly?
3) I've heard that aftermarket HIDs won't last anywhere near as long as OEMs. Is this true or false?
4) Why are the OEM units so expensive, but use lower quality bulbs than other models?

Sorry to ask so much, but I couldn't find a good discussion thread on the subject, and lots of us that have gone from an VIII to a lower optioned IX feel like we get punched in the nuts every time we turn our headlights on. The factory halogens suck.

I want to upgrade economically if possible, but I want to do it correctly and have my lights work the best as possible and be courteous to other drivers by not blinding them. If I can do this within a reasonable budget, I will. If not, I'll live with the halogens. Thanks for reading!

 

Bump.

Nobody?

 

halogen projector housings and hid housings have a different cut off point. the plug and play hid kits won't have the exact same light output on your car compared to an evo with HID projectors. I think if you got a reputable HID kit, should last as long as a factory kit or as long as you own your car. anything OEM is gonna be pretty pricey, just the way it is.
Since all evos come with some type of projector, HID's wouldn't look bad if you got a kit.

 

I am also have this same dilema. I have the non-hid IX and have been regretting it ever since I turned on the lights and saw the lack of visability with the halogens. My wrx had twice the light output it appeared and they were standard reflectors.

I have been tryign to figure out the difference between buyign an aftermarket kit from hidexpert.com or buying the oem ballast and bulbs from someone on the board. Will the oem bulb even fit into the non-hid socket? As I understand it they need to be rebased. Is the oem stuff plug and play or is wiring involved? I am looking for the best quality product but would like to avoid a detailed install.

How complicated is it to buy a set of HID equipped headlight hosings from say a IX MR and put them in my non-hid car? Would it require a totally new harness, relays and new fuses or is it pissible to make it plug and play. Any input would be apreciated.

 

i've installed an aftermarket HID kit in my friend's IX and he loves it!

 

i put a hid kit in my rs. if you get a plug and play kit you wont have problems. i love them

 

hey thats me.. hahah.. yup... i do love it thanks again dude.... great job.. loving every minute of it....

 

i just put on the mculloch 6000k hid kit the other day on my viii and love it once you go hid you will never go back....the stock hids on MRs and such are 4300k which mean more white with less blue so the lower the number the brighter

 

It's kind of funny, but when I read peoples reviews of their HID kit that they installed, they always say "its great", "looks awesome" and comments that are very similar. Yet you rarely see pictures to prove the "awesomeness" of their kits. (shots against the wall of the cutoff/spread/etc)

Sure, that's great that you have "bluish" looking lights now, but what does the cutoff line look like against a wall? How even is the beam pattern?

A picture of an evo with the factory HID's vs one with aftermarket ones would solve this question. Anyone have anything like this?


BTW, for people looking to get HID's into their evo. If you really want the best, and have some creativity, you can always retro a set of OEM HID projectors into your evo housings. Many projectors out there have better design than the Evo's (ex. s2000, tsx, etc). Just takes some patience and time, but it's VERY doable.

 

A retrofit is the only proper way to do it. HIDs in non-hid housings is like putting a bulb in a lamp without a shade, it just goes everywhere. Also you arent going to get as much directed light, and typically non-OEM HIDs in my experience fall prematurely.

 

Housing on my 05 with SSL and my new IX without it seems to be the same, with only difference that fog lights are sealed shut hehe. Even adjustment gear left from HID on factory headlights are still there.

 

I think that alone would help us, because those dims are aimed too low. I might try to play with that tonight.

 

I bet that if I buy switch from dealer it will work because all gears are there. I have to check wiring. Will do that during next week, anyway I have to put my Clifford alarm into new IX so will see. If plugs are stiil tapped behind dash (HID adj switch) then it will work for sure because harness will be the same. Anyway I will post answers.

 

any updates on you trying this yet???

 

cut off beam or not my retro hid looks wayyyyy better than the regulaer halogen bulbs.huge improvement.i def recomend that you get the retro kit.