So now that my friend just got some new headlights installed I'm wondering if it would be worth it to upgrade them to HID and how easy it would be?

First off he got the aftermarket housings with projectors often branded Spyder or Sonar lights which use an H1 bulb for the low beams.

here's what they look like:



They sure were a pain to get installed though. So with that said has anyone managed to replace the bulbs in these without taking the headlamps out at all? also did you have to do any modification to the back of the projector H1 bulb housing? it looks to me like the bulbs just clip in the back with a metal bar mechanism so I'm thinking an HID bulb should fit in place of the halogens.

The only other thing I have noticed is the beam patterns aren't perfectly smooth with halogen H1 bulbs in there. Understandable for aftermarket headlamps. But they do put out a good amount of light. I suspect HIDs would be even better and likely less radiated heat with a 35w kit

 

Your gonna want to pull them back out I had to dremel the housing because the hid bulbs were larger than the halogen ones took me about 20 minutes to clearance both sides, my bumper was not on when I installed mine so it was a cake walk.

DDM has hid kits for cheap and have had mine in for about 4 months without a problem

 

Thanks for the input I figured that would likely be the case as well.