Headlight upgrades HID and h4/h1 conversion revisited

Thanks for doing a write up, Logan. I'll be looking out for it.

 

I figure better to bring up a dead thread than to start another new one that beats a dead horse.

What configuration did you end up running? Here's what Daniel Stern just e-mailed me (part of it):

"Put in a set of Cibie replaceable-bulb headlamp units, $79/ea. They are the best focused, most efficient lamps of their type to fit your application. More detailed info on what makes them the best upon request.

The lamps themselves will fit right in place of the existing sealed beams. You will definitely want to put in relays; the existing wiring was marginally adequate for the sealed beams when everything was brand new, but science has yet to give us the wiring that _improves_ with age, it insists on doing the opposite instead. For H4/H1 headlamps you'd want relay install kit RIK-4, $59. The RIK is not a harness, but a _parts kit_ containing all relays, brackets, terminal blocks, terminals, plugs, sockets, fuses and fuseholders. You supply your own wire (or your mechanic does) and use the parts from the kit to build up your own wiring harness to take the workload off the switches and bring full power to the lamps. Specific instructions are provided, and the concept is explained at http://www.danielsternlighting<wbr>.com/tech/relays/relays.html . Parts are specially made premium-grade items (e.g. ceramic headlamp sockets) that accept large-gauge wire; this is not the "consumer grade" junk you can find at the parts store.

Or, I can have my harness builder custom build you a ready-to-install harness assembly using the same components. Cost for this option is $161.49 (including parts and labour - you pick _either_ one relay kit _or_ one custom-built harness to do the entire job. It costs more than the $40 to $90 cheapy prefab harnesses because it is not a cheapy prefab harness). Installation is simple: you run the marked wires to battery positive and to battery negative, snap the harness plug onto one of the vehicle's original headlamp sockets, snap the harness sockets onto the headlamps, and secure the cable runs and relays neatly out of harm's way.

Either way, parts kit or built-up harness, the in-car switches continue working normally, and you will not need to cut or otherwise disturb any of the vehicle's original wires.

Bulbs: stay away from anything with blue glass, any "HID kits", any "LED kits", anything advertised as producing "whiter" light -- all of these are unsafe scams. Use Osram 70/65w H4 bulbs ($21.59) and Flosser-Narva 55w+50 H1 bulbs ($15.59)."

I've heard good things about Osram headlamps all around, not just for our Buicks but for modern cars as well. I'm not really sure if I want to pay $80 for the Cibie units when the Osrams are probably more than enough for the very seldom night driving I will do at 1/4 the price. I assume the Cibie replacement lamp units and the Osram bulbs are the same thing? Or do the Cibie units come with a lot more than just the bulb to plug in?

 

If you do any kind of night driving, PLEASE ditch your stock sealed beam 35W headlights for you and your precious Buick's safety. With 4 headlights it's not as terrible as some older cars with only 2, but if you've never converted your car to HIDs before, you're in for a NICE surprise. If you're worried about blinding other drivers, buy a set of projector housings like these: http://www.ebay.com/itm/370930921031?ssPageName=STRK:MEWAX:IT&_trksid=p3984.m1423.l2649 and go with a $40-60 Bi-xenon Hi-lo H4 HID conversion kit for your main headlights, and use whatever you like for your 2 brights. I personally favor the older 35W non digital HID kits but 55W and digital ballasts are alright, just haven't had as much longevity out of them. I always carry an extra pair of standard H4 bulbs in your glove box just in case a ballast goes out or something. As far as color goes, DO NOT go any higher than 5000K...I don't go any higher than 4300K. If you do, go for a drive at night when its raining and let me know how much you like it afterwards because you CAN'T SEE! What's actually nice is if you can also get some 3000-3500K bulbs in there too, ideally for fog/low vis conditions, its awesome. I've been thinking about running hi/lo 4300K HIDs in the two inner headlights and 3000K in the outers/high beams for the best of both worlds when needed.

The LED headlights mentioned above are quite nice, but damn expensive. I'm planning on going a different/similar route this fall and see how these hold up. Can't beat the Amperage draw, only 2.24 Amps! Give your danged alternator and 40 year old wiring a break! http://www.ebay.com/itm/151271204958?ssPageName=STRK:MEWAX:IT&_trksid=p3984.m1423.l2649

I have been big into switching all bulbs in all my cars over to LEDs...the cutback of electrical draw when you replace nearly all of the lights is awesome and all of my electrical components thank me for it! But keep in mind it won't work right with any kind of dimming bulbs such as dash lights. You swap those with LEDs and they're either on or off with the dimmer switch which isn't cool for driving out on dark roads late at night for extended periods when you just want a little bit of interior light.

 

Thanks for bringing this back. This is exactly what I was wanting to know.

 

Daniel responded:

"Hi, Ricky. The headlamps come without bulbs -- bulbs must be purchased separately.

[FONT=arial, sans-serif]Best DS"[/FONT]

[FONT=arial, sans-serif]So based on that and some Google searching the Cibie headlamp units are literally the entire housing that an H4 bulb will go in...[/FONT]
[FONT=arial, sans-serif]$80...a little more than I wanted to pay for each housing unit. Does anyone have any other housings that still get the job done? Thats $320 just for the housings, not to mention the actual bulbs and what it would take to get the relay set up.[/FONT]

 

For off-road use so technically wouldn't be legal for headlights but....Hella headlamps for like $85 a pair
http://www.summitracing.com/int/parts/hla-002395801/overview/

DOT approved Hella headlamps
http://www.rallylights.com/all/ligh...9003-vision-plus-dot-conversion-headlamp.html

E-Code Hella Hi-Lo
http://www.rallylights.com/all/ligh...und-e-code-hi-lo-conversion-headlamp-kit.html

The DOT approved are like $46 a pair with some 60W HB2 bulbs. For anyone who wants some serious lighting people say 100W H4 are almost the same brightness as HID's. That would also hopefully mean running just two H4's for low beams will be better than Daniel's recommendation of running 4 H1's which can automatically make people think you're running hi's which isn't good.

 

It's been awhile since this thread has been discussed. Any new HID or h4/h1 conversions kits on the market? Would rather not piece a conversion kit together. Looking for something to plug and play for a 5 3/4 headlight. Any suggestions? Photos of cars would help. Searching online only adds to the confusion.