Original Sylvania HID's

cab83_750 · 03-15-2002, 01:22 PM

Has anyone switched to the new XENARC (I think this is how it is spelled) HID bulbs? Are they worth the money?

Although my H4's from Pelican are pretty brand new, I was planning on replacing the Bosch Fog lights with Sylvania's HID driving lights.

Then, I found out that in addition to the driving lights, they have HID headlights also.

Any personal input about the driving lights AND/OR the headlights would be appreciated.

Aarrgh!

Doug Zielke · 03-15-2002, 03:18 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by cab83_750
Has anyone switched to the new XENARC (I think this is how it is spelled) HID bulbs?........

I'm not familiar with this brand, but if the bulb does not have a ballast/transformer/ignitor in the circuit, it's *not* a true High Intensity Discharge lamp.

Some people are confusing real HID lamps with halogen/xenon bulbs. The xenon gas component in those bulbs gives off a bluish-white colored light, similar to HID. The light is no where near as bright however.

The true HID's from Phillips are a rather expensive item. Somewhere between $500-800 (US). Add to that the cost of rewiring needed to power the transformers etc.

kepperly · kepperly's Garage

i work for an electrical distributor and phillips lighting is one of our vendors. phillips has discontinued there hid auto program and sylvania is the only brand name player left in the market, you are reight if it doesn't have a ballast it is not a true hid.
keith

MIK911 · 03-16-2002, 09:59 PM

Check out this website. I read an article a few months ago in European Car Magazine where they installed a pr of 'real' HID's including ballast,etc in an import (can't remember make). These light kits got a good review, with supposedly easy installation, etc Price was around $350-$400. , i believe.

Don't know the mgf, but i've been tempted to install a set in my H1's
Anyone have any more info on these/other HID's
I've been through all kinds of "fake" blue tinted halogens by PIAA, Brand X, etc. on my other cars, incl H4,H7,H1. The only one worth a darn are the PIAA "SuperWhites", but they don't make it in H1.

MIK
'86 coupe

cab83_750 · 03-16-2002, 10:13 PM

The HIDs I talked about are real ones! I personally saw them at the Greater L.A. auto show. And yes, these have funky ballast (etc.).

Now, it appears that Performance Products carries them now.