Headlight Upgrade Question

[SmokeTitn3144]

hi guys, this is a simple, but stupid question. However im limited on knowledge, and due to work i have little to no time to do any kind of research on this subject. I want to upgrade my front headlights and my fog lights if possible. id like to keep the oem covers and replace the bulbs (if this is possible, i wouldnt know) or upgrade to a HID system that has oem fit and finish.
When i went to the PIAA website i saw H1, H7, HID and it all just confused me. i dont know which ones are brighter or which ones are whiter. The kind of lights i like are the ones that have a very bright white color w/ a bluish tint, but not those purply tints (kinda like the ones from BMW, i think they are HID's). i know this is a long post and im being a brat about this but im very particular in what i like, and since this is my first truck, i want to get this right. im not very experienced in mods since im so young, but i hope to learn a lot by working on my friends 86 Ford F150 and on my own truck, but of course ill only expiriment on the 86, id be a complete fool to try anything on my Titan, with my level of experience of course.

btw i bought new custom plates for my truck w/ the name "2HUGE4U" hhaha, i know you guys will luv that :-D! its in NY so if anyone else want that signature just dont try it in NY! :-D

l8er guys, and sry for the long post and thanks a lot in advance for even reading this. BTW if you can post pics of your HID's or upgraded light systems it would be a BIG BIG help in my epic search for the perfect headlights. thanks a lot

[TriKKy]

Heya, the size of bulbs for the titan:
Lows: 9006/HB4
High: 9005/HB3

I would stay away from a colorized bulb that is not HID. Coloring the glass will lessen light output and some of these aftermarket bulbs just up the wattage required. A standard wattage for the lows is 55W and you will get some aftermarkets up to 80. This may cause a problem with wiring, or with melting your housing if the bulb gets too hot.

That being said there are PIAA and Silverstar options that will get you WHITER light at the least.

Light output COLOR is measured in temperature. 4100-4300K is WHITE light and it is what the silverstars are. 6000K starts to have a blue-ish hue and 8000K is where you start looking purple.

Even with HIDs I would not recommend going above 6000K. Even though the light output of HIDs is roughly 3x greater than a standard bulb, the higher color K will SCATTER more light giving you LESS usable light.

The purple/blue hue you see on mercedes/audi etc. is cause by their lenses and the housing around them. The bulbs themselves are either 4100K or 4300K, nothing else.

As far as HID conversion goes. You want to get either Hella of Philips ballast with a Philips bulb.

www.hid-online.com
www.xenondepot.com

Pictures of my HID wich is a 7000K kit (I know I wouldn't recommend but I got them at a STEAL....I will one day replace the bulbs)

Titan before:

Titan after:

[honeykeeper]

[quote=TriKKy]Heya, the size of bulbs for the titan:
Lows: 9006/HB4
High: 9005/HB3
Light output is measured in temperature. 4100-4300K is WHITE light and it is what the silverstars are. 6000K starts to have a blue-ish hue and 8000K is where you start looking purple.""
Hi Trikky,..........The lows I got are 9006 ST/2 on the pack??:
Also the K=Kelvins......ie: a standard incandescent light bulb is about 2,800Kelvin....it is a dull yellow and about 10% efficient for making light and 90% efficient at making heat.
The 9006 ST/2 bulb kit I got is 4000K?? but works fine for me
Did I get the correct bulbs???
Thanks-Peace-TomBass Ale

[TriKKy]

Yes you did, I never had any problems with the silverstars for 1.5 years before moving to HID. Most people say silverstars burn out quickly but I think it's because they handle them poorly. You can't touch the bulb hehe.

[SmokeTitn3144]

wow trikky, thanks a whole lot bro. seriously. that was an awesome post and probably the most informative, non-threatening answer ive ever received other than the one i got from my fourth grade gym teacher telling me he loved me =-O haha. j/k. but whut kinda bulbs would you recommend i purchase. since your so informed on the subject i thought id just get your input b4 i make any permanent decisions. thanks again for posting and you helped me a lot, seriously, you did!

[HavockWK]

Originally Posted by SmokeTitn3144

wow trikky, thanks a whole lot bro. seriously. that was an awesome post and probably the most informative, non-threatening answer ive ever received other than the one i got from my fourth grade gym teacher telling me he loved me =-O haha. j/k. but whut kinda bulbs would you recommend i purchase. since your so informed on the subject i thought id just get your input b4 i make any permanent decisions. thanks again for posting and you helped me a lot, seriously, you did!

I'm not Trikky, but I love my SilverStars. They are not really brighter in my opinion than the OEM bulbs, but they definitely whiter and that improves visibility. The shot against the garage door (which is light grey) has the Silverstar on the left and OEM bulb on the right. The other shot is on the street with Silverstar on both low beams without the fogs on. They are the brightest and whitest you can get without paying the big bucks for HID light kits. You can get them for just under $40 from Wal-mart or $25-$30 shipped on ebay.

[SorryOciffer]

Originally Posted by TriKKy

Heya, the size of bulbs for the titan:
Lows: 9006/HB4
High: 9005/HB3

I would stay away from a colorized bulb that is not HID. Coloring the glass will lessen light output and some of these aftermarket bulbs just up the wattage required. A standard wattage for the lows is 55W and you will get some aftermarkets up to 80. This may cause a problem with wiring, or with melting your housing if the bulb gets too hot.

+1 for above.

Stay away from HID "kits" there is alot of junk out there and 95% of these kits are not DOT approved, meaning they are not legal for road use. For HID to work as intended ther reflectors have to be designed for it and they are not.

Buy good, NON coated bulbs and upgrade the wiring harness if needed. Use a multi meter to measure the V drop at the sockets to see if a kit would help.

S.O.

[TriKKy]

Originally Posted by SmokeTitn3144

wow trikky, thanks a whole lot bro. seriously. that was an awesome post and probably the most informative, non-threatening answer ive ever received other than the one i got from my fourth grade gym teacher telling me he loved me =-O haha. j/k. but whut kinda bulbs would you recommend i purchase. since your so informed on the subject i thought id just get your input b4 i make any permanent decisions. thanks again for posting and you helped me a lot, seriously, you did!

For just a whiter, cleaner, and clearer look I would go with Silverstars (make sure not to touch the bulb when installing).

If you really want a brighter light, go aftermarket HID from a reputable company like those I linked. While it is TRUE that our reflectors are NOT designed for HID, I have had no problems with mine. I have had HIDs in for 6 months of ownership on the Titan, and have not been flashed ONCE. If you aim your lights correctly you will have no problems. The reflectors on the titan still give a good cut-off for the HIDs.

The biggest problem you will run into with true HIDs kits (which require not only bulbs but ballasts and ignitors) is the bulb (you will see on EBAY these retarded "HID" bulbs...has nothing to do with real HID...they are just halogen bulbs). Fact: there is NO HID bulb designed to fit into a non-HID housing (like 9006, 9004 etc.) Each and every kit requires an essential "rebasing" of the bulb into something that can go into your normal slot. The two companies I linked use fabricated setups, ensuring that the light it in the right spot inside the housing. A lot of others seem to basically remove an old bulb from an HID housing and literally glue it onto a 9006 adapter....this NEVER comes out right. HID kits are like everything else in life, you get what you pay for.

For those that are interested, I have been in contact with, and know a company that can take our headlights and convert them to projectors for around $800 (this gets you the converted assembly, with HID kit)

[QWIKWHIP]

Originally Posted by TriKKy

For those that are interested, I have been in contact with, and know a company that can take our headlights and convert them to projectors for around $800 (this gets you the converted assembly, with HID kit)

I would like more info on this please. Is this for both complete headlights with ballasts, bulbs, and projectors installed? Or do I have to send my lights to be fitted? Does he do the fogs also?

[TriKKy]

Originally Posted by QWIKWHIP

I would like more info on this please. Is this for both complete headlights with ballasts, bulbs, and projectors installed? Or do I have to send my lights to be fitted? Does he do the fogs also?

You would have to send your lights (or buy a new set and send them) his turn around is about 1 week and from the work I've seen....does a great job! You send lights, get back lights w/projectors, bulbs & ballasts.

Dunno about fogs.

Crap, now I gotta find the contact info...gimme a day or two...have it in the old emails.

[TriKKy]

OK, I was searching for old emails and suddenly the site came to me...pop.

http://www.illusion-lighting.com/

They do good work.