Headlight Replacment Bulbs

[Balthane]

Hi Gang,

Some stupid questions about improving the heads on my 2002 Lexus IS200 auto.

I have found that the headlights are not great and was wondering if replacing them with something like Ring Ultima Xenon would help, Does anyone have any experience or advice they could give me.

Also will I need 2 sets of bulbs for high / low beam and what type/model of bulbs will i need?

Sorry about my ignorance.

[scudney]

Have you thought of trying hid bulbs/ballasts,seems a better option to be honest.

[Balthane]

Thank you very much

Unfortunately my knowledge of such things as hid bulbs/ballasts is completely non existent. I would know neither if they were thrown at me

[scudney]

Personally I think they are better than halogen bulbs,but seek the views of others,hopefully you will get a few more replies/view on your thread and then take it from there.Your dip beam bulbs are hb4's not sure about main beam as the later models have a different one from early models.

[Jambo99]

What I did is trim some 9012 hir2 bulbs to fit lots better than standard,avoid problems with boys in blue or mot testers for fitting hide to car not fitted as standard

[Gruntfuggly]

I've got some Osram Nightbreaker Unlimited in mine - they are a definite improvement over the standard bulbs. I had an HID kit in my old Calibra - the difference is well worth it (and it's not expensive) but the IS200 headlights are reflectors, not projectors, which means that the beams aren't focused properly if you use HIDs. There is a website though: hids4u.co.uk where you can get a kit with a modified HID bulb (patented I guess as they are the only people selling them) which works apparently. I'm going to get a set at some point, just haven't pulled the trigger yet...

If you do get some from hids4u, use the discount code "toyota pro" and you'll get about 20% off too. Works out at about 60 quid or so for the set...

[jomo]

HID's are the way forward imo, i have them innow for the past 4-5 years and never had the boys in blue or the mot garage give me grief!

And for less than £15 from eBay their cheap as chips!!!!

[Balthane]

Thankis to all

If I buy HID are there more than 1 type?

From the owners manual for my 2002 IS 200 Auto it says I need 2 bulbs for high beam 60W type A and

for low beam it varies but I do not understand how.

I will also need a pair of foglight bulbs to complete matters and owners manual says these should be 51 W Type C.

I need to know if these descriptions are current given the age of the car and what sort of low beam bulbs I need

I would also like to know if HID bulbs are simply intercahneable with my existing ones and what make are the best for giving most light. Please.

Again I apologise to all you fountains of knowledge for my ignorance

[jomo]

Copy and paste the list below so you have a record of the bulb type for your car.

LEXUS IS200 99-



Dip Beam - 9006/HB4

Main Beam - 9005/HB3

Sidelight - 501w /T10/W5W

Side Turn - 501w /T10/W5W

Front Fog 99-2003 - 9006/HB4

Front Fog 2003- H3

Sportcross front fog - H3

Rear High Mounted Stop Light - 955 / T15

Licence Plate - 501w /T10/W5W X 2

Rear Fog - T20 /7440

Reverse light - T20 /7440

front indicator - 582

Rear indicator - amber 581

Stop/Tail - 7440/ T20/ w21/5w

Interior Middle Dome - 269 /festoon 31mm

Interior Front - Ba9

Glove Box - R286 / 5mm

Ignition barrel ring - R286 / 5mm

Door Marker lights - 501w /T10/w5w

Boot Light - 501w /T10/w5w

HID kits off eBay are cheap as now mate, from china their less that £15 a set!!!!

6000k blueish tint but still bright as f###

5000k bright white and most commonly fitted

4300k same sih colour as normal bulbs but give the most light out put. (but look chuff imo)

As for 55w / 35w the high watage just gives that bit more light out put, but i run 35w and their spot on.

hope this helps.

[Balthane]

Thank you Jomo for a very comprehensive reply and I apologise for the lateness of my appreciation.

Sadly I have more stupid qestions:

Is the figure you mention for the HID £163 per set and what does a set consist of please?

I have LED sidelights so presume that in order to "complete" the front end I will need HID dip and full beam and HID foglights. Is that the case?

Also is there an HID for the reversing lights?

Again apologies for late thanks and my ignorance.

[jomo]

eBay have HID kits on for less than £15 from china or less than £22 ish from the uk.

I have only bought sets from china and only ever had to send an email once to mention a faulty set which the set out a new set with out any more questions, and at the price they are now i'd get a few extra sets just in case of any unforeseen failures.

So choose your colour (K) and i would order:-

2x 9006/HB4 kits for the main beam and front fogs

and

2x 9005/HB3 for high beams plus you have a spare set of ballasts and bulbs for all you headlights if you need any in a pinch.

A set of hid's consists of :-

2x Ballast (the hid power units) slim are newest style and easier to hide.

2x HID bulbs.

When fitting the bulb to the is200 you just have to cut away the rubber grommet pictured above as you dont need the extra wiring it comes with.

Also the red plugs fit directly to the cars light cable but flipped over to make them work.

Wrong way:-

Correct way:-

Hope that the photos help.

As for reversing hid lights i'v never seen any with that fitment, but a set of these should do you just fine.

If your thinking of doing all the lights in LED for the indicators to work you need a new electronic relay which is a bugger to fit and not cheap! Also finding stop tail lights that had a major brightness change from tail to brake light in the daylight you also need to cut a wire thats in the boot to stop the bulb out light popping up on the dash all the time!!!

HTH.

[Balthane]

Thanks a huge amount for all your help and advice.

Could the kits ballasts etc be fitted by a mechanic or would I need an auto electrician? The latter are very expensive here

and I freely admit that I have no practical skills.

Thanks again.

[jomo]

DIY mate, 15mins tops to fit.