i don't get this whole HID thing

do i need Hi/Lo, single beam, bi-xenon?

what's the difference between bi-xenon and hi/lo?

 

The hi/lo is a HID low beam and a 50w halogen hi beam (or low wattage day time running light). The bi xenon is one bulb that has a magnet to move it back and forth in the headlight bucket to change the focus from lo beam to hi beam. Your US model doesn't have DRLs so you can go with the bi-xenon option, most people have a problem running the low beams with the engine running, they flicker. Tim Garza supplied all my hids & he has great service after the sale. He makes the wiring harness and all, He is in the sponsor section I think.

 

Yea freejay, we need the bi-zenon...its a little more expensive but if you had a chevy, it would cost twice as much(two lamps)
Tim did all of mine, and he really helps out alot. He has an iPhone(so do I) so if you have a problem, just sit outside and email back and forth, he will mail back instantly. He makes his own harnesses , so there is no flickering either.
I got 5000K and they look great, pulled my neighbors 745 BMW next to it and matches the color perfectly

 

so on our trucks, one bulb does Hi and Low beam?? so why do we have two bulbs?

 

What do you mean two bulbs? Unless '04 is different you have one dual filament headlight bulb.

 

so what's the other big circle in the headlights for? are those for daytime running lights?

I know I sound like a complete Noob, but I have no clue here.

 

Turn your lights on and take a look. The outer circles are the park lights. I'm not sure where DRL's go. I thought they were just the headlights at a lower wattage and then you turn the headlights on at night to get full power.

Edit: looked in my manual. "The lights illuminate at less than 50% of normal intensity" (Canada and fleet vehicles)

 

True HID headlights are way more eficent, 35 watts, they run at 4200K which is about the closest thing to "Daylight". Factory Bi Xenon HID's Headlights use what is called a "Cutoff" to achive Low and High Beams, they use motors to lift the cutoff plate, which results in High beam, and with the Cutoff in place it results in the Low Beam.

For a true HID conversion youd have to cut up your headlights and mount a unit from a (BMW, Infinity, Acura TSX, Etc..) a True Bi xenon Headlight, in those cars "color" is Not achived from high Kelvin Numbers( 5000K, 8000K, 12000), it is achived from the lens, on the projectors that they use, and the way the Glass is Cut.

Higher Kelvin Numbers do turn the light output colors(Blue, Purple), darker, but at the sametime the amount of useable Light decreases.

I am not sure what HID kits they sell, But i Would Strongly Recomend not getting, anything over 5000K, if you research HIDs, almost all the Big names use 4200K, because it puts out the most useable Light Output, and is the Closest thing to "Daylight".

Dont know how much any of this will help you, but maybe it will help with understanding the HID light systems some.

 

That's good info chris. I agree the blue and purple lights look bad and are not as bright. My silverstar ultra fog lights are rated at ~4100k. And not to jack the thread but if anyone knows of comparable headlight bulbs I'm all ears.

 

Yes 4100K 4200K are the optimal Kelvin range,
Silverstars are good halogen bulbs.

I say just do your reseach and make sure if your buying a kit,
to get a reputable Name Kit. And like I said I wouldnt get anything
over 5000K, most of those plug in Kits offer 4200K, but sell you on higher
Kelvin(8000 & 12000K) Kits by giving the Color output as Blue and Purple,
which they compare to the BMW's and so forth.