Need help with my headlights.

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I drive a 00' Mustang. It has normal halogen bulbs. I am fixing to take them apart and clean them to try to remove the weathering.

I figured I might as well replace the bulbs with the new HID lights. I'm not quite sure anymore..

After reading around on here, I don't know if it's a good idea.

I read somewhere it was illegal.. which I highly, seriously, doubt. Nor do I really care.

I was interested in the Silverstar found at Autozone or Wal-Mart.

What are the benefits besides a blue/white light?
Are there any problems I might run into?

My headlights (even without weathering) aren't bright by any means. I'm looking for something that will get me up to date with all of these newer cars, given they have these new bright HID lights.

Thanks for any advice.

 

[DaFABRICATA]

If the "Weathering" you are refering to is due to the plastic lense fogging up, there is a plastic polish that works amazingly well.

I'll go to the garage shortly and try to get the name. It comes in 3 bottles and needs to be applied in steps. Each bottle has a designation...step 1...step 2 and step 3.

One removes major scratches
two removes lighter scratches
three gives it the final polishing.


As for the lights themselves....I'm not much help. Someone else will be able to help better.

 

[Search]

If the "Weathering" you are refering to is due to the plastic lense fogging up, there is a plastic polish that works amazingly well.

I'll go to the garage shortly and try to get the name. It comes in 3 bottles and needs to be applied in steps. Each bottle has a designation...step 1...step 2 and step 3.

One removes major scratches
two removes lighter scratches
three gives it the final polishing.


As for the lights themselves....I'm not much help. Someone else will be able to help better.

I hope you haven't gone yet I've got some 3M stuff that works like a charm. I've just never done it on my car.

I know I could have already done it, but if I'm going to do something I like to do as much as a can at once. So I want to replace my lights too.. just not sure if it's really a good idea.

 

[DaFABRICATA]

Have you thought about aftermarket headlights?
There are a number of companies making different styles, and they might improve the beam also. Try eBay....theres a ton of choices.
Just an idea other than a simple bulb upgrade.

 

[Search]

Have you thought about aftermarket headlights?
There are a number of companies making different styles, and they might improve the beam also. Try eBay....theres a ton of choices.
Just an idea other than a simple bulb upgrade.

Haven't thought about it, nor interested.

I'm just wanting a little something more, not a total change. Just new bulbs is all I would be interested in. Just not sure if that's even worth it.

 

[LEDobsession]

Don't put HID in a non-HID housing. It is illegal and dangerous. The beam patterns produced are not safe to other drivers. If you decide to still get HID, DO NOT get anything above 4300 K as it has the highest lumens output and the best color. I had 8000 K HID in my truck for a year and took them out after joining CPF due to the illegal fact, dim blue output, and I heard so much bad about them in Halogen specific housings. If you really want to hear about all the bad of HID, just ask Scheinwerfermann. He know what he's talking about.

Any bluish lights just make it harder to see, especially in really rainy situations. That includes those stupid blue coated bulbs. White light is (from what I've read) what our eyes are used to as natural daylight is white. I've heard that the white HID is actually less stressing on your eyes at night. (Anyone know if thats true?)

I'm currently using the Sylvania Silverstars in my truck but they are junk. I would recommend against them. I also need to get some better bulbs.

If you want to clear up your stock headlights, there are kits available. Or, if you have access to some 600, 1000, 1500, and 2000 grit sand paper and a buffing wheel with plastic-purpose compound, you can sand them smooth and then polish them up. Thats kind of how those kits work using a series of compounds to polish the lens. Either way works.

Ebay does have a bunch of choices of aftermarket headlights too.

 

[Search]

Have you thought about aftermarket headlights?
There are a number of companies making different styles, and they might improve the beam also. Try eBay....theres a ton of choices.
Just an idea other than a simple bulb upgrade.

I guess I will be doing that. Just didn't understand the differences.

Don't put HID in a non-HID housing. It is illegal and dangerous. The beam patterns produced are not safe to other drivers. If you decide to still get HID, DO NOT get anything above 4300 K as it has the highest lumens output and the best color. I had 8000 K HID in my truck for a year and took them out after joining CPF due to the illegal fact, dim blue output, and I heard so much bad about them in Halogen specific housings. If you really want to hear about all the bad of HID, just ask Scheinwerfermann. He know what he's talking about.

Any bluish lights just make it harder to see, especially in really rainy situations. That includes those stupid blue coated bulbs. White light is (from what I've read) what our eyes are used to as natural daylight is white. I've heard that the white HID is actually less stressing on your eyes at night. (Anyone know if thats true?)

I'm currently using the Sylvania Silverstars in my truck but they are junk. I would recommend against them. I also need to get some better bulbs.

If you want to clear up your stock headlights, there are kits available. Or, if you have access to some 600, 1000, 1500, and 2000 grit sand paper and a buffing wheel with plastic-purpose compound, you can sand them smooth and then polish them up. Thats kind of how those kits work using a series of compounds to polish the lens. Either way works.

Ebay does have a bunch of choices of aftermarket headlights too.

10-4 on that.

If I still decide to upgrade my bulbs I'll be looking for an HID-housing.

 

[270winchester]

an HID retrofit will be expensive(bulb, ballast, projector, assorted hardware) and labor intensive. You will be better off re-finish the plastic lens(I use McGuires Plastix with good results) and use a decent halogen bulb(non tinted) as well as check and make sure all your wires are in good shape. 9 years a long time for wires to stay fresh.

 

[oronocova]

I'm planning on getting these whenever I have to replace a headlight(s) in our 07 Camry. Which, will probably be never, but still. I did some research on my own a while back and the HIR bulbs seemed like what most people said were the only ones that actually gave you a lot more light (compared to something like SilverStars, Nighthawk, etc...) I think they only sold a few sizes though so it might not work for you :-/ If the lenses are really wore you might have to wet sand them with some super fine, then super super fine sandpaper, or might just be better off replacing them ($$$.) I use Meguiar's Plastix also every time I wash/wax and it seems to help them last.

HTH

 

[JohnR66]

Philips Extreme Power halogen bulbs are the best non gimmick bulbs I have found. I have limited night vision, so I need good light. These are clear bulbs that drive the filiment brighter under a higher pressure gas. They are the same wattage as regular bulbs but produce much more light. They are expensive at $50 for a two pack. I am quite happy with them.

I think the polish the other poster was refering to is the Novus brand plastic polish that comes in bottles marked as 1, 2 and 3. 1 is the cleaner/polish. 2 is light scratch remover. 3 is the heavy scratch remover.

 

[bshanahan14rulz]

if your mustang uses 9005 or 9006 bulbs, look for Toshiba HIR1 (9011) and HIR2 (9012) bulbs. I've also heard good things about Philips xp, though I haven't seen them first-hand

 

[Search]

if your mustang uses 9005 or 9006 bulbs, look for Toshiba HIR1 (9011) and HIR2 (9012) bulbs. I've also heard good things about Philips xp, though I haven't seen them first-hand

9007. So I guess this means I'm going to start looking for a better halogen bulb?