2014 w/ Quads HID's installed...

[TwistedJake]

Once again Jeremy from Retro Shop gave great info and made things happen. He helped out big time with a retro projector install on my 07 a few years back so when I picked up my new 14 the other day I went right to him for an HID solution.

Kept it simple this time, real simple, just wanted a plug and play kit, no harness, no retro, just simple. He hooked me up with his 35w system in 5000k and canbus adapters. Was able to get the ballasts and canbus adapters to fit into the housings so everything is self contained, no exposed components or wiring.

I also had some 9005 yellow Nokya bulbs sitting here so I threw them into the hi beams just to see. Figure if I don't like them I will need to replace them with something more white anyways.

 

[GreenClassic]

Without projectors, oncoming vehicles are going to hate you.

 

[TwistedJake]

Without projectors, oncoming vehicles are going to hate you.

I guess we're going to find out. If it's bad I'll do something about it but from what I've read it sounds that the quads are actually decent with HID's about glare and such.

I know projectors are the way to go for guaranteed results but there is such a thing as halogen housings that work pretty good with HID's. My Cherokee had HID's in Hella housings and the cutoff was super sharp, no glare. We've got a Rubicon that doesn't have HID's yet but reading on those sounds that they factory housings work better with HID's than they do with halogens. Almost like they were designed for HID's but then cheaped out on halogen bulbs.

 

[GreenClassic]

I've had HIDs with Hella housings in my Cherokee before. The Hella housings still scattered light pretty bad. I had my mom drive my Jeep while I drove her Corolla in front, and it was a still a lot of glare, and that was with the housings aimed pretty far down at the ground. I also had Autopal housings (actually still do) with the HIDs, and they were about the same. Ultimately, I ended up removing the HIDs after less than 2 months. I installed a heavy-duty harness to make the stock lighting better (kept the Autopal housings, which also helped a lot). At the time there was only one projector housing available, and they were going for more than I wanted to spend.

If you install HIDs in reflector housings, you are going to scatter light. Some housings will be worse than others, but it will not be right until you get the projectors. I've never come across HIDs in reflector housings weren't too bright.

Edit: I'm not trying to come off like a jerk, just passing on my personal experiences with it.

 

[TwistedJake]

I've had HIDs with Hella housings in my Cherokee before. The Hella housings still scattered light pretty bad. I had my mom drive my Jeep while I drove her Corolla in front, and it was a still a lot of glare, and that was with the housings aimed pretty far down at the ground. I also had Autopal housings (actually still do) with the HIDs, and they were about the same. Ultimately, I ended up removing the HIDs after less than 2 months. I installed a heavy-duty harness to make the stock lighting better (kept the Autopal housings, which also helped a lot). At the time there was only one projector housing available, and they were going for more than I wanted to spend.

If you install HIDs in reflector housings, you are going to scatter light. Some housings will be worse than others, but it will not be right until you get the projectors. I've never come across HIDs in reflector housings weren't too bright.

Edit: I'm not trying to come off like a jerk, just passing on my personal experiences with it.

Nope, didn't think you were coming off as a jerk at all. I understand what you're saying but think there is an acceptable level of light scatter.

Out of pure morbid curiosity which Hella housings did you have? I had the older off road only ones with the sharp cut off. My understanding is the newer ones have a different setup. I ran them in a 97 XJ, just over 6" of RE lift, 1 ton stearing, 4.56 gears, locked on both ends, very good street manners as I daily drove it, and was a tank off road. Loved that rig, freezing rain on a bridge one morning heading to work resulted in a roll over that totaled it. I walked away without any major injuries at all so felt fortunate. I don't care what people say about those unibody XJ's, mine held up awesome in the rocks and the roll over.

 

[danmp]

Any of you heard about glare shield here ??

Those bulb exist for our h11 headlight.


I custom made a set for my chevy few years ago, and I got the same result as this video.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mxf2vTc4hjM

 

[TwistedJake]

Any of you heard about glare shield here ??

Those bulb exist for our h11 headlight.


I custom made a set for my chevy few years ago, and I got the same result as this video.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mxf2vTc4hjM

I remember many years ago reading about such a thing but I had forgot about them. You've got me curious again....

 

[GreenClassic]

I had Hella e-codes, which are European spec.

 

[dkmesa]

Without projectors, oncoming vehicles are going to hate you.

Yep, I loathe cars with aftermarket HIDs, that just have kits dropped in and call it a day.

 

[GreenClassic]

I guess my phone didn't want to load photos because I Just noticed the photo of your XJ, ouch. I would cry if that happened to mine. Although living in Southern California makes ice kind of unlikely, lol. My '99 has treated me well and owned it for the last 7 years. It's my first vehicle. It'll be kind of sad when I sell it when I get my Ram.

 

[danmp]

I don't know why every after market bulb doesn't come with those shield