Projectors or HIDs?

[VolsRam]

I'm planning to black out my '13 Express and have been looking at black housing headlights. I found a few projectors for around 300 that I like, but there are some for $15 more that look like there's a lot of extras in the housing. What should I be looking for when searching for headlights? What kind of bulbs should I get with them? Do I need to purchase bulbs desperate because they don't come as a full package with everything? Also, is 300 too much for what I'm wanting? Any help is appreciated.

 

[argray90]

What brands are you looking at? That is the variable for pricing. There are so many different types makes and all it is hard to say. Check out retroshop a vendor here he has many different options for projectors as well as HIDS. Projector headlights require H1 bulbs so if you get HIDS for your projectors make sure to order the correct bulb. Projector headlights can run anywhere from $250-$1,500 so there is a wide range of things to see.

 

[emjohn4]

Both.

But not the ebay projector headlights (Anzo and the like).

Get some good projectors and HID's, and you'll be very happy.

 

[VolsRam]

What about the Angel Eye Halos

 

[emjohn4]

What about the Angel Eye Halos

Odds are, they are junk - but I don't have any personal experience with those particular lights.

If you like the style, get the lights, and put in quality HID projectors in them in place of the existing ones.

Good projectors will have a beam pattern and cut-off like this (my retrofit in my Durango):


Have you considered painting the OEM housings black? They retrofit very nice, giving you a good output, and the paint really changes the look.

 

[VolsRam]

So what brand is considered a good quality brand? I like the look of the painted housing. How difficult is that?

 

[emjohn4]

So what brand is considered a good quality brand? I like the look of the painted housing. How difficult is that?

I would suggest looking at Morimoto projectors and HID's.

The Mini H1's are the easiest to retrofit, and a detailed how to is located here (http://www.ramforum.com/f75/how_install_morimoto_projectors_your_4th_gen_headlights-861/).

If you are mechanically inclined, the retrofit is just a PITA, but not hard. Worst part is opening up the OEM headlights.

If you're not a DIY'er (and it's ok if you aren't) - you can buy lights already retrofitted.

Check out RetroShop.us - Custom Lighting (site sponsor) and The Retrofit Source online: headlight upgrades for all applications for a lot of options and details on HID kits.

 

[VolsRam]

What do you mean by retrofit? Turn my current headlights into projectors?

 

[argray90]

Vols I have the projectors you are looking at. They are actually great headlights. Made by spec-d. PM me and I'll show you actual Picts of them on my truck running.

 

[emjohn4]

Vols I have the projectors you are looking at. They are actually great headlights. Made by spec-d. PM me and I'll show you actual Picts of them on my truck running.

Post them here!

 

[0212353]

yeah, post 'em here man! LOL

Its a hard call between $$ and quality here. I haven't found a set of premade lights that "do it" for me.........besides being a bit gaudy (some of them) vs performance (some worse than stock) - and....well, I like custom stuff.

 

[argray90]

I have more just too lazy to do them off my phone. For the price they are great. Way better quality then OEM. I might send out my extra set of stock headlights though to a company who retrofits them for $350. Have yet to find a price even close to that plus all work is money back guaranteed.

 

[argray90]

I don't have any of he cutoff yet living in the city makes it though to find a dark place ill get some soon.

 

[emjohn4]

What do you mean by retrofit? Turn my current headlights into projectors?

Yes, exactly. See my prior post with the pic of my ram headlight.

 

[emjohn4]

I don't have any of he cutoff yet living in the city makes it though to find a dark place ill get some soon.

Funny that!

Without output pics, it's pretty much impossible to judge the performance of a set of headlights.

I'd wager to say that the beam pattern is far from adequate, even if it is better than stock; and that the cutoff isn't very crisp/clean.

 

[argray90]

Funny that!

Without output pics, it's pretty much impossible to judge the performance of a set of headlights.

I'd wager to say that the beam pattern is far from adequate, even if it is better than stock; and that the cutoff isn't very crisp/clean.

Ok we'll I've driven with them at night and am way happier with them over stock. Ill make sure to try to get a cut off pict soon. If its better then stock isn't that an upgrade?!

 

[argray90]

Post them here!

You act like I have something to hide. I'm not trying to sell the brand just letting him know I think they are quality for the price compared to other people.

 

[emjohn4]

Ok we'll I've driven with them at night and am way happier with them over stock. Ill make sure to try to get a cut off pict soon. If its better then stock isn't that an upgrade?!

Yup, still an upgrade. Just not to it's fullest potential.

But, if you like the style, that's what matters.

 

[emjohn4]

You act like I have something to hide. I'm not trying to sell the brand just letting him know I think they are quality for the price compared to other people.

Not at all.

But, it's a pretty common statement about aftermarket headlights - 'they're great' but don't ask for any output shots, because I don't have any.

School me. Seriously, not being scarastic. I've just never seen a good set of aftermarket projector lights that don't require retrofitting.

 

[JCJ4290]

I'm not gonna hate on the "premade" projectors. But I will say I couldn't be happier with the output of my retro'd headlights. Nothing like having the lighting of an Acura but the power of a Hemi, just saying And I couldn't be a lifetime warranty on the HID's. Retro Solutions makes a killer product and JJ just so happens to do the dirty work of taking lights apart, so it was a no-brainer when I ordered.

All in all, these are your trucks! So do only what makes YOU happy. Just know that they are very dependent on their electrical system, so don't cut corners and end up hurting yourself later.