Looking for advice on HID conversion kits

[Derek J]

I am looking for information on converting the stock halogens to HID.

I would like to convert the DRL/High/Low beams and see a lot of different options.

Looking for advice on what's good and what to avoid.

[Prodigalson]

I went with CREE LED headlights. Very bright, even lighting and are 6000k. Unless you get a full retrofit, the HIDs will not provide proper illumination, whereas the focal distance of the LEDs is generally matched to halogen housings. Some are better than others (hotspots, dim areas, aiming, etc). As mentioned, I'm fully satisfied with my Hikari's especially considering the $70 price.

[humfrz]

Originally Posted by Derek J

I am looking for information on converting the stock halogens to HID.

I would like to convert the DRL/High/Low beams and see a lot of different options.

Looking for advice on what's good and what to avoid.

There ain't nutten wrong with the lights that came with your car ...... just leave-em alone .......


humfrz

[D5teph]

Originally Posted by humfrz

There ain't nutten wrong with the lights that came with your car ...... just leave-em alone .......


humfrz

Man....I'm feeling that way now humfrz. I may just leave the stock halogen bulbs on.

But anyways to the OP, I just received an HID kit from Diode Dynamics and after the install (1) side was not turning on. I then switched the ballast to the other side and still won't light up. I think my FR-S doesn't like me messing with the lighting. Last time I installed anything lighting related for example LED DRLs, it burnt out my headlight housing and I ended up replacing the whole left headlight. Just something to keep in mind bro...

[stevesnj]

Originally Posted by Prodigalson

I went with CREE LED headlights. Very bright, even lighting and are 6000k. Unless you get a full retrofit, the HIDs will not provide proper illumination, whereas the focal distance of the LEDs is generally matched to halogen housings. Some are better than others (hotspots, dim areas, aiming, etc). As mentioned, I'm fully satisfied with my Hikari's especially considering the $70 price.

I went to LED's 2 years ago, very happy. I have an eye issues and they helped me a lot. Needed to re aim down but that was it. Matched with 6k switchback up front and signals in red at the back. No issues at all.

[Capt Spaulding]

Unless you can ensure the beam pattern/cutoffs are perfect I wouldn’t. We have far too many lumen lusters down here who retrofit HIDs or LEDs into their factory reflectors and end up lighting up everything but the road. They delude themselves into thinking they can see better because their lights are blindingly bright, but are only making certain their fellow drivers can’t see a thing.

I don’t know if they’ll fit an FRS, but the factory BRZ HIDs work amazingly well. I keep mine dialed down a notch around town and on two lane roads and raise them on lightly traveled or 4 lane highways. You need to make sure to dim them for oncoming traffic. For my aging eyes the cutoffs are perfect and on hi, you can see the actual road surface (not just reflectors) from hill top to hill top across a good quarter to a third of a mile. I love them.

[NAEightySix]

TRS' Morimoto Retro-Quick kit may be what you're looking for, it seems to be of great quality, although I can't speak from experience because I used the Monogram Headlights on my car.

HID's with a proper projector setup definitely made a HUGE difference as far as visibility.


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[RallySport]

For low beams, Decent quality plug-and-play hid will be an improvement in your stock projectors. They're not on a par with a full retrofit in terms of light spread, but all things being equal the Xenon puts out more lumens than halogens, no question. Just make sure you stick with a 4300 K bulb or close to it, and look up how to bend your squirrel Finders.

It doesn't seem like there's a great upgrade for the stock high beams, however if you go retrofit you can use bi-xenon projectors and retain your stock reflector high beams and have double output.

[Prodigalson]

Originally Posted by stevesnj

I went to LED's 2 years ago, very happy. I have an eye issues and they helped me a lot. Needed to re aim down but that was it. Matched with 6k switchback up front and signals in red at the back. No issues at all.

Interestingly, mine seem a bit lower than the halogens. Might try adjusting them up a bit.