Best Way To Improve Night Time Lighting

[Gruntfuggly]

I got used to having HIDs on my last car, and after driving a couple of times in the dark recently I'm pining for some on my IS200.

What's the generally accepted best option?

- Xenon bulbs (tried them once and didn't seem to make any difference)

- retrofit HID kit off eBay for headlamps (Pros: cheap, easy to fit, Cons: Dazzles everybody else?)

- as above, but in the front fog lights?

- fit IS300 kit (expensive and difficult)

something else?

[SUBMARINE]

Hello Nigel

Look at my galley photos . The instalation is complicated but night time driving is alot better and be careful to respect local legislation here is a direct link to the spyder website.

http://spyderauto.com/product.php?id=PRO-YD-LIS01-HID-DRL-BK&t=Lexus-IS300-01-05-(-HID-Type-)-DRL-LED-Projector-Headlights-Black

The quality is ok but you will need to buy a full Xenon kit with very slim or small ballasts and two extra indicator bulb holders with bulbs and

two headlamp support clips pn 5327144010 in case you break the old clips as they can be tricky to open up; and of course a Xenon

headlamp washer nozzle cleaning system(whih i am in the midst of putting a kit together).Fitting time on your own would be a complete

day (8hrs) should amply cover it.

What more can i say ...best of luck Nigel

[petayV8]

You can buy anti glare hid bulbs from hid4u or buy a cheap kit and modify bulbs in same way. Even with my hids the headlight's are still rubbish on this car for some reason but yes better than halogen which is somwthing

[MI_LEXX]

Hi Nige, you might wanna check out the bulbs in this link http://www.scirocconet.co.uk/forum/new-bulb-trial-t6600.html. Pics on page 21 onwards. Most people on the scirocco forum swear by them, and having seen them in person I would have them, if i didn't already have factory hids. Also the bulbs are e-marked so no problems with the legality side of it. But you will have to email him and see if he has 9006 bulbs.

You also have the PIAA white intense option http://www.amazon.co.uk/PIAA-10926-9006-Intense-White/dp/B000MG630I/ref=sr_1_16?ie=UTF8&qid=1382749842&sr=8-16&keywords=piaa+white or the extreme http://www.amazon.co.uk/PIAA-19616-HB4-9006-Xtreme-115-Watt/dp/B0002MAILC which are even better. Very good, but pricey, although a lot cheaper than retrofitting Hids.

All of these options will keep you on the safe side on the law too, and pass mots!

Regards, Sam.

[jomo]

I'd get hids mate, 9006 for the main & front fogs, and 9005's for the high beam, from eBay and will cost you less than £40 posted.

Easy to fit both sets could be fitted in less than 20 mins, passenger sides a bitch due to lack of space to get your hands in to do the main bulb but unclip the diag socket and push the neck of the window washer spout out of the way will help loads, also get some white 501 leds side lights also to make things match colour wise.

As for dazzling on coming cars, i'd say no more than any other car the has them fitted.

I have them in my fogs as well but never use them, but they are a good spare if i need a bulb or ballast asap as you have them with you lol.

I have 5000k 35watt, which are white and do a great job.

[shortfuse]

I fitted a pair of projector headlamps a few months ago (spyder auto in black) what a difference it makes and along with a set of 6000 hd,s lighting is so much better

[petayV8]

Yeah that would transform the light output im sure. wonder if something like this would look good
http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/2-5-HID-Bi-xenon-Double-Headlight-Projector-Lens-Kit-For-D2S-Bulb-Angel-Eye-RHD-/251305648407?pt=UK_CarsParts_Vehicles_CarParts_SM&hash=item3a82fbe117

[Gruntfuggly]

Thanks for the responses guys...

How much did you guys pay for the projector lamps from spyderauto? They look pretty cool, but I couldn't find prices on their website - and they look a tad expensive...

I'm tempted by some of those PIAA bulbs, but I'm going to email Flux first. Depending how that goes, I might just get some HIDs off eBay and see how they go...

[shortfuse]

I payed £360 pound inc p/p but well worth it

[Gruntfuggly]

Hmm - that's a fair outlay. Think I'll try some bulbs first...

[shortfuse]

keep searching e-bay for LEXUS IS200 PROJECTOR HEADLIGHTS you may get lucky

[petayV8]

Bare in mind some people may not want to change the look of the headlights to much. Just saying. I think it also comes down to how clean they are, at night it really shows how worn out my light are with hazy plastic. Cleaning them professionally should help

[Lance]

I have Osram Night Breakers in my car for the last couple of years and they are very good. I got them from http://www.autobulbsdirect.co.uk/HB4-OSRAM-Night-Breaker-Unlimited-110-Upgrade-Xenon-Headlight-Bulbs-Pair.html?bulb_search=car

Winner of the Auto Express Best Headlight Bulb 2013

http://www.autoexpress.co.uk/accessories-tyres/64344/osram-night-breaker-plus

[Zotto]

Sometimes reasons to change lights are more aesthetic than helping night vision, so there are different solutions biased to different needs.

If you want efficient vision, you have to choose light not too much white or violet, even if thes lights are more "nice", better a 4300 °K (or less), than 6000° K.

Of course, HID light are more efficient so a 35 W HID produces more light than a 50 W traditional lamp.

Besides, a traditional lamp producing a white light (higher °K ). having a higher working temperature last less time than a yellowish ligh one.

[Gruntfuggly]

I've just bought a set of Night Breakers off eBay for £15 - seems like a good start. If they aren't much of an improvement, I think I'll go for an HID kit - I had 6000k on my old car, which I was quite happy with (for lighting, not necessarily appearance)...