Gen 1 Headlight Project w/ HID install

[NoLimit95]

Alright, last night coming home from work, I got a few more pics out on bigger streets. In the first one setting at the light, notice to my left. Do you see the stressing halogens? I'm setting over on the right making the flowers grow and one of his halogen beams is trying to get over into my HID path but they're just to strong. I remember those left side halogen days. Never again. Also, look ahead in the first pic, dead center. There is a 55 mph speed sign exactly 1/2 mile ahead. That's just how good these HID's reach out. Anyway, I thought I would add 3 more and one of them wasn't easy at 70mph and holding a camera steady.

In this pic, if you look just to the left of the yellow arrow signs and up just a tad, those are two reflective signs nearly a mile away. I'm not blinding anyone as you can see where my main beam is hitting and no one has flashed at me yet.

This last one is my 70 mph pic. The HWY is smooth but it does have it's dips at high speeds and keeping the camera steady right in front of my face with both hands and steering with my knee was a little hard to do. Madison, AL. police do not play when it comes to half way crossing into another lane and I don't drink but they would have said I was drunk.

Hope these help anyone thinking of buying the kit for better lighting. Again, please remember. My headlight housing, lenses and reflective backing all look like new because they are only about 4 years old and rarely were ever used and garage kept, also underground parking at work. These are the 10,000K Brilliant Blue HID's. This does help with the brightness that I have and anyone having Jamie redo their housings will also see the same brightness. If you have yellowed lenses and burnt inner chrome, you will not see very good results.

 

[Aquabrit]

Excellent pictures!

Good job!

 

[BAD97LSC]

you and your blue hid's, and my are purple but mine were also free lol, otherwise you wouldnt see them in my car. i cant stand the color when looking at the front of my car, but driving it at night they dont look purple and they lighting is awesome, i'll take some pics like you did too when i remember!!

 

[NoLimit95]

I know what you mean about looking at the front and seeing one color but driving down the road, it doesn't look like what you see when you stare directly at them. Mine look blue standing in front of it but driving, they have more of a bright white look with a touch of blue. White, blue, or purple, I would have them any day over any halogen bulbs. Halogens simply suck a$$ compared to the HID's. I think what's his name over on the other Lincoln site might want your purple ones.:shifty: Wait, they might not fit a Porsche. Get some pics, I wanna see

 

[turn_on68]

This makes good reading
http://www.danielsternlighting.com/tech/bulbs/Hid/conversions/conversions.html

 

[Aquabrit]

I've read that and other articles before.

Given the choice between damaged, yellowed gen 1 housings that didn't light up sh1t and completely ILLEGAL restored housings with a non DOT approved HID kit which allowed me to see just fine, the decision was a no brainer. If Ford / Sylvania hadn't provided us with JUNK in the first place, then this whole thing would be a non issue.

Lol @ the fear mongering by Auto Express. I can honestly say i have NEVER been flashed by an oncoming driver. The gen 1 halogen housing and lense is small and heavily fluted. It also has a metal box covering most of the bulb. I have checked and re-checked my 4300K ILLEGAL and DANGEROUS lights over and over from various distances and can honestly say they have less glare than some modern OEM lights, like those on the new BMW 5 series.

Now, I don't doubt that the POS (circa 98) Renault Megane featured in that video had glare issues - different car, possibly different color temp, possibly different brand kit. Apples and oranges comparison with regard to an HID converted gen 1 Mark VIII with halogen housings. Motoring journo's are full of it anyway. Wouldn't surprise me if they specifically chose the worst car and the worst kit to sensationalize and get their British government approved point across.

Lol @ what they paid for a kit - 300 English pounds - that's about 500 or so dollars!

 

[NoLimit95]

Maybe it's just me but when they were driving that car down the street, it looked like they never bothered to aim the lights. It was like they had them blasting up and out. All I can say is that I'm glad I live in the US and in Alabama where they could care less about HID's.

1. I have never been flashed by anyone.
2. I can see much much better now with HID's
3. They look better than the simple yellow halogens (that should be illegal) for Mark VIII's
4. I don't have the 9004, 9007, H3 and H12 bulbs

 

[catmech]

it soundslike more govnt propaganda. dont breath its unsafe!!!!!!

 

[altitude_19]

This, plus a leaking mirror, plus the ODO button, plus...

Man am I glad I found this forum! So, I've got the classic problem. My housings on my 95 base model are badly yellowed. I've tried polishing and installing silverstar bulbs (sure worked on other models in the past!). I've already ruled out manual re-chroming/rebuilding. Such projects have NEVER ended well for me. So here are the ideas I've got from your input:
1.) Install a rampage headlight kit. I'm having trouble finding anyone who has used it and can attest to its functionality.
2.) Replace the housings with a new OEM housing and install a reputable HID kit.
What does everyone think? Either one seems perfectly viable, so long as I can get reliable testimony from someone who has actually done either one.

 

[Aquabrit]

I've already ruled out manual re-chroming/rebuilding. Such projects have NEVER ended well for me.

Contact jamie97lsc - he can restore your headlights for a fee, may also be able to help you with finding a good OEM mirror glass and O/D switch / wire, as he is a Mark VIII parts man. (unless you want new OEM stuff, in which case contact Max at five Star Ford and / or keep an eye on Ebay etc.)

 

[altitude_19]

I've already got a lead for OEM parts, now I just have to decide of that's the direction I want to go. Are we SURE nobody has used the rampage headlight kit here???

 

[Aquabrit]

I've never heard of those Rampage things. Where are they supposed to fit? Behind the grille?

 

[altitude_19]

I read the description as them being direct replacements. Problem is, there's a turn signal in the same housing, so I'm pretty darn cautious here about whether they will serve adequately as direct replacements. I won't even try them if I can't see a set on a shelf or know someone who has installed them. Sounds more and more like I'd better just try for the new headlight housings (I've got the money saved and allotted already). I reckon that'll fix the problem in the short term.
I've gotta take a road trip as soon as I take the car out of storage when I get back to the states. I don't want to mess with wiring when I'm about to take a road trip. So I think this is the plan:
Change the housings and install the HID kit as soon as I get settled at my next base. That'll minimize the chance of complications on the roadie while still providing an immediate improvement. Opinions?

 

[catmech]

send your housings to jamie and he will restore them for you. he rechromes the inside and cleans the lenses. if you seen the work he does its impresive. they look like new when he is done.

 

[altitude_19]

The vehicle is in storage and I can't send the housings in. After I get it out of storage, I have to have it on the road within a couple days, so I don't have time to ship parts and wait for a return. I'll install the new housings (NEW, not "like new") and need only figure out if that will be sufficient until I can install the HID kit when I get to my new assignment. WILL NEW HOUSINGS MAKE IT DRIVEABLE AT NIGHT?

 

[Aquabrit]

WILL NEW HOUSINGS MAKE IT DRIVEABLE AT NIGHT?

Be good enough until you get an HID kit. I don't know how long the new lights will stay good though - the chrome coating doesn't seem to last. Maybe the coating will last longer with an HID kit? Dunno...

 

[altitude_19]

Exactly what I needed to hear. Thanks, Blue! I'll throw the new housings in, and install the HID kit as soon as I'm bedded down at the new duty station. Thanks to all! Everyone has been a HUGE help! At least I know I'll be able to see if I end up driving at night before I get to Omaha. Should be smooth sailing after that...

 

[The Rev]

Maybe the coating will last longer with an HID kit? Dunno...

Yeah it will. Standard 9005 halogens are what, 55w? (Most) Hid kits are 35w, less power consumption, less heat generated.

But I went ftw and scooped up a 55w, installed in the highbeam sockets, manually rechromed, yeah...never been flashed yet.

 

[Aquabrit]

Important Update!!!

Ok, as it's been over a year running the 35w HID's, I decided to check out the durability of the chrome I'd done:

As you can see, all good!

Two things though:

1. The chrome I'd placed on the metal diffusers burnt up, so I won't chrome those again for myself or anyone else.

2. My left headlight lens had a layer of white on it's inside. (Jamie knows what I'm on about, as he gave me a good lens to substitute). Anyway, when I opened up the housing, I found there to be a white, chalk like dust on everything. Only conclusion I can draw, is that the adhesive of the chrome tape evaporated inside the housing and formed a residue - no biggy - cleaned right out.

So yeah, so far, so good!

EDIT: Maybe that white powder is from the chrome that burned up on the metal diffusers? Dunno, but no big deal.

 

[Aquabrit]

Hey Green, this is the chrome that's on the way to you!!!

I've spent the last few weeks making and perfecting a chrome set for the gen 1 halogen DIY'er. This is the kit that's on it's way to you, Green. My apologies to others that have been waiting - I had no idea how much work was going to be involved in making this 72 piece set from scratch! More kits are in the pipeline!

Anyway, take a look at the fruits of my labour!

 

[catmech]

looks good blue.

 

[Aquabrit]

Thanks - took me a ridiculous amount of time to get right! Lol.

 

[catmech]

yeah, but now they are already patterned out so mass production should be a breeze.

 

[Aquabrit]

Well, I have new templates made, but it's still tricky to get each piece exact. It's the sections around the bulb holes that take the longest - real hard to get just right. And that chrome - it came so tightly rolled, that working with it was a real pita. Anyway, I'll get more and see how I go. Practice makes perfect!

 

[catmech]

I Know Thats Right!!!!!!!!!!!:I