HID headlight kits?

[BerniniCaCO3]

Hi!

I set up relays a year ago, and that helped a lot (to have 14V at the headlights and not 11.5); but I realize that my stock headlights really are still too dim.
I have no idea how old they are; can they get dimmer with age, or not really?

I'm considering an HID kit, at least for the lowbeams. High beams no one ever uses.
There are an awful lot of kits out there; any recommendations? Are there good ones and shitty ones?

And, what brightness would you suggest? 6000K seems the truest white. Dunno if maybe a 8000 or 10000 blue would look cool-- or just stupid and obnoxious.

[sly]

they do dim with age. I put in a new headlight on the driver side of my 88 and it was a pretty big difference. Need to do the passenger side as well before too terrible long... but it's not that dim yet.

[BerniniCaCO3]

OK; I didn't know if they either burned out (or didn't burn out).
Browsing napa, I can spend from $5 to $40 on the rectangular low beam halogen bulb-- is there a quality difference?

[Ike Clanton]

You know how the low beam has 2 different filaments in it? I've wondered about making them both burn all the time. Would they overheat? They sure throw a lot of light when they're both on.

[Piece-it pete]

High beams depend where you live

I'd check Rock closeouts for bulbs, if you go that route. I see they have H4656TV for $7.XX ea + frt.

Pete

[chitownvic]

its all about them 'Silver Stars'

[Southern_Pride]

I love my silverstars. My low beams are as bright as my high beams and throw light almost as far.

[Andypot1985]

if you are going to go HID route stay at or below 6000k anything higher looks blue/purple and silly. Most stock cars hids are 4300k(my maxima is 4300k stock non-projectors). If not, silverstars.

[Andypot1985]

I wish they made Ultras for the H4656

[85ltd]

For the silver stars, do you need to get a whole new housing? Or how do they work? And I had 8000k HIDs, and they dont always work, but the people that did the wiring suck. I'm just interested if the silver stars would be brighter than my HIDs?

Blane

[1987cp]

You know how the low beam has 2 different filaments in it? I've wondered about making them both burn all the time. Would they overheat? They sure throw a lot of light when they're both on.

People do do this from time to time, usually as part of an upgrade to a relay setup. I think it's obnoxious that most if not all vehicles are set up so the lows go off when the highs come on.

I did an experiment with a relay and big wires on the wagon shortly before I parked it, and I was shocked at how much light it put out!

[r2t]

Silverstars like Sylvania Silverstars? OMG they suck! I put the Ultra's in my car last year and hardly noticed a difference. Luckily I got a set for $30 or I would be really pissed. I am going HID here before 2012 (xmas gift to myself)

EDIT: Oh yeah, the life expectancy of the Ultra is about 1 YEAR. Weaaak!