What Headlight Housings are the best?

[Jackpine]

I just reread your first post Lars. It sounds like you may be considering using HIDs in the stock housing? Don't they burn too hot? I can swear I've seen a picture over on f150Online of a melted lens due to trying to run an HID in that housing. (Maybe you can't even install them, but I'm sure I saw that picture).

Couldn't you reseal the Hella's with silicone caulk?

I've read other reports from people that the projector types didn't do well. I find this interesting, because the projectors on Janet's Toyota (don't throw rocks) are excellent!

And, I know it's just personal preference, but I find the "halo" lights "funny looking". Clearly though, a lot of people like them.

- Jack

[88Racing]

The one thing I have noticed between stock and after market projectors is that oems rock. The other thing about the aftermarkets is that their lenses seem to have more imperfections such as bubbles or waves in the lens itself. Most of the projectors I have researched have not recommended HIDs. Now any of the other housings I have, the mfgs have not said one way or the other weather or not HIDs can be used with them.

The other stock looking housings have different type of reflective designs from the oem type housing.

Was that housing on f150 a stock style or projector type?

The other thing I have heard is that running higher watt bulbs can deteriorate wires and insulation this was for the 97-03 f150s.

Lars

[Jackpine]

Lars, my feeble little brain remembers a stock housing lens being melted from the heat of an HID. I could easily be wrong. If the truck was stopped, I think there'd be a lot of heat from HIDs.

- Jack

[88Racing]

Jack

Now here is another item to be addressed. You have the rectangular fogs and I the round. I only mention this because from my 03 having oval shaped fogs and an opaque lens to the round fogs on the 06 that are recessed and clear. The 03 gave out a better pattern and better light to the sides. The 06 shoots light farther out but not as wide.
With the way the rectangulars are a person would think that they to would have better side lighting.

Lars


BTW Jack your brain is perfectly fine.

[kokopellimotorsports]

Interesting topic as I just became a dealer for Halo lighting. I need to learn more about these systems.

Ty

[Jackpine]

Thanks for the vote of confidence, Lars. I suspect the rectangular housings COULD give better side lighting. I know I was quite surprised when I turned them on - don't know why I'd never done it before (possibly because in the old days we could use fogs or headlights, but not both)?

Anyway, on the back country roads we have here, I'm certainly going to use them. We have a lot of deer that seem to want to cross just in front of you at night - and some don't make it. I'm not hoping for a collision with one of them.

- Jack

[Ricer X]

I switched from 04(rectangular fogs) to the 06(round fogs) and I did notice that the 04 fogs gave better light to the sides. I've also ran HIDs in my Super Duty (old truck) for a year and a half with no problems. In the F-150, I've been running them for over two years. I did notice that the stock headlights gave more glare because of all the chrome in the housing in comparison to the HD or similar style. As for the HID being too hot, I actually found that they were colder because they wouldn't melt the frost from the headlights like the halogens do. The halogens are 55(low) 65(high) watts and the HIDs are 35 watts.

Check out the link
http://www.sylvania.com/ConsumerProd.../Products/HID/

[Jackpine]

That's good information Ricer X. Sorry I was spreading false information! :o

35 watts is definitely going to run cooler. I seem to remember some kind of bulb in the housing where the lens melted that was 100 watts. Wonder what it was?

From all the posts on f150Online, HIDs seem a bit tricky to install. Any opinions here on the subject? (Or, is it just that some of the guys trying it don't have a clue what they're doing? I noticed most of the problems seemed to be talked about in the "Appearance" thread).

- Jack

[DarrenWS6]

Stock lamps painted is the best custom looking housing in my opinion.

HIDs are the best remedy for advanced lighting in all frontal lights. Specifially 6000k for the sweet ice clear look, and the clarity is super smooth. Xenon is even better when you get to keep your hi-beams ( a must when I get HIDs )

I like the 04 - 05 rectangular fogs much better, especially when they're painted to match black headlamps. I noticed no loss at all with my painted headlamps, if anything it lost 2% light. The fogs lost maybe only 15%, I painted the top and bottom portions but left the reflective squares alone.