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Visionary
Posts: 1229
Rancho Cucamonga, CA | With all the talk about how difficult it is to change out bulbs on the Vision, I was wondering if upgrading my H4 bulbs to a HID system when they give out is a good idea. Will they last as long as H4's? or are they more fragile? I've already seen the post about getting snowmobile H4's for better durability. |
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Tourer
Posts: 353
| Nozzledog - 2010-11-26 6:53 PM
With all the talk about how difficult it is to change out bulbs on the Vision, I was wondering if upgrading my H4 bulbs to a HID system when they give out is a good idea. Will they last as long as H4's? or are they more fragile? I've already seen the post about getting snowmobile H4's for better durability.
That's my plan, the pluses of the HID for me is the 35 watt HID puts out approx. 3 times the light and less heat than that of a 55 watt halogen, HID has no filament that degrades over time, HID has an approximate lifespan of 10 times that of halogen. |
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Visionary
Posts: 3773
Pittsburgh, PA | What's the cost difference between the two? |
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Cruiser
Posts: 117
Spring Hill, Tennessee | Definitely more expensive up front, but could pay for itself in both safety and bulb replacement cost ovcer time? Here is a link to a site I am thinking of buying from.
http://www.motorcyclehidlights.com/
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Visionary
Posts: 1229
Rancho Cucamonga, CA | I checked the site, good prices. I'm a little confused though, the Vision uses the same bulbs for high beam and low. HID cannot do that. Would I have to buy ballasts and then the special Halogen/HID-high/low bulbs they sell for $89 each for it to work on the Vision? Granted I seldom use my high beams, probably less if I had HID low beams, so that $89 bulb should last the full 3000 hours. Is this what others have had to do? |
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Tourer
Posts: 324
New Orleans, La, | I' ll chime in here with my 2 cents. I changed my headlights to HID using bi xenon lights a couple of years ago. I went with the bi xenon because it gave me HID in hi and low beam for a cost of about 80.00 dollars for 2 ballast, bulbs, and harnesses ie a complete kit. If you want HID in high and low beam look for bi xenon kits on line, just saying. |
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Cruiser
Posts: 117
Spring Hill, Tennessee | Has anyone who did this conversion had any problems from the heat put out by these lights? Any damage to the light housing designed for the Halogen? |
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Tourer
Posts: 324
New Orleans, La, | 2yrs. and counting and no problems with durability or excessive heat. |
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Cruiser
Posts: 156
dinwiddie, va | The only difference between the halogen housing and HID housing is the mount area for the HID running light that is on some Vision models. The rest is the same |
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Tourer
Posts: 353
| Tennessee Vision - 2010-11-29 3:52 PM
Has anyone who did this conversion had any problems from the heat put out by these lights? Any damage to the light housing designed for the Halogen?
The claim for HID is that they run cooler than halogen.
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Cruiser
Posts: 111
Prairie Dog Heaven, CO | and they do as they draw 40% less power on average and some of that is burned up in the external ballasts. |
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Visionary
Posts: 1229
Rancho Cucamonga, CA | Thanks, I'll be doing the bi-xenon HIDs whenever the halogen goes (maybe sooner). Is there any issues finding room for the ballasts? Should I get the slim one's? |
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Tourer
Posts: 324
New Orleans, La, | Yes definitely get the slim ballast. I mounted mine under the front access panel on the opposite side of the factory HID ballast. I think I used a longer set of screws two mount them sandwich style to the factory bracket on that side. |
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Tourer
Posts: 446
East TN | OK, so the people who got the HID kits...Where did you get them? (link please) What color temperature did you get? From what I have read for my truck to get HID's the 6K is the best WHITE light for headlights...Who has Bi-Xenon's in their Vision and can you post some pictures or video showing the headlights!! Do you have any issues with LEO? Due to unfocused HID lights? I had read this is an issue in some states...
Thanks in advance.... |
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Cruiser
Posts: 111
Prairie Dog Heaven, CO | I had a kit from DDM tuning on my beemer for several years with no issues. Slim ballasts etc. for less than $80
I got the 4700K (IIRC) did not like 6000K as it is almost blue-ish. |
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Tourer
Posts: 324
New Orleans, La, | 5000K is as "hot" as you would want to go. I did the 6000K and although they're bright they don't penetrate the darkness as far as the 5000K. I believe a halogen is 3000-3500K and the stock HID driving light is 43 or 4500K. |
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Iron Butt
Posts: 935
Rockford, IL | Some very good reading for those that are possibly considering going this route...... http://www.danielsternlighting.com/tech/bulbs/Hid/HID.html
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Visionary
Posts: 1229
Rancho Cucamonga, CA | That is a very good article. I kinda figured that if it was so easy, why doesn't everyone do it? Cost isn't that much more, especially if you calculate in labor. Has anyone who did the conversion noticed a focal compromise?
Edited by Nozzledog 2010-12-02 11:44 PM
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Visionary
Posts: 3006
San Antonio, TX | I have seen some of these cars running around and the glare really gets me hot. I really have to resist the urge to modify their lights myself.
Ride Safe |
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Cruiser
Posts: 111
Prairie Dog Heaven, CO | I had no problems with the optical alignment on the beemer using the DDM kit (H7). There are hundereds of people in the BMW community who have done this to their bikes.
That does not mean you could not potentially have these issues on the VV. The H4 HID's are more complicated as they have a mechanical shutter to switch between Hi and LO beam, if I recall correctly. |
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Tourer
Posts: 324
New Orleans, La, | Yes mine do use a mechanical shutter, but it is really simple and the + lead plugs into the factory high beam socket the origonal H4 used. Not really complicated at all. |
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Visionary
Posts: 1229
Rancho Cucamonga, CA | Was thinking of going 6k for the primary lights, but don't know wich way to go with the driving light. I think something on the blue/violet side would look very cool, but I don't. Think that cuts thru fog like a driving light is suppose to. Any experience out there? |
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HID vs. H4 durability?