H.I.D. HeadLights.

[mx250]

Yeah I know it's not VMX - but hey, you all drive long distances so......

I was thinking of getting something like this for the Navara.

http://cgi.ebay.com.au/H4-H-L-8000K-HID-Philips-PL-Kit-PATROL-NAVARA-/190350050818?cmd=ViewItem&pt=AU_Car_Parts_Accessories&hash=item2c51bf4602

Any comment or advice?

[Nathan S]

Some Chinese kits are rubbish, some are good.
Keep the ballasts mounted securely, because vibration will kill them (even the good ones, eventually)
Beware the legality of HID high/low beam kits - they're not strictly legal unless they've got the movable reflectors. Whether you'll get caught is another matter.

Otherwise, its all win.

[LWC82PE]

Best addvice is to google search HID and find the 1000's of discussions out there already. The lighting is definitely an improvement. Go for 4300K to 5000k as its more of a natural colour. The higher the temp colour than the more blue the light and thats not what you want it you want to 'see' the blues/purples are more for show/bling and actually reduce your vision. Im not too keen on H4 hi/low conversions. The general consensus is that in hi/low applications its questionably illegal for low beam unless OEM fitted. No one has really come up with an ideal H4 conversion retrofit for H4 reflectors. Its hard to make a H4 globe have the focal points in the right spot for the reflector. Generally you will get heaps of uncontrolled unfocused light that is too glaring for oncomming drivers as the reflector is not designed for the HID type globe. There are 35W and 50W HID systems that are common now, but there is arguments for and against each one as to whats best. If you want HID, many people recommend using them only for hi beams if you have separate hi beam globes or for in spot/driving lights. From my research most manufacturers have got HID globes for H3 and H1 and a few other globe types that have got the focal points right for reflectors that originally housed halogen globes. Remember halogen globes have a filament, HID doesnt. It strikes an arc and ignites gases.

Try to avoid the cheap kits from ebay that come from china. Look for Phillips components, they are the market leader, but at the same time there are fake Phillips kits out there. Osram is another good brand. Just look for quality kits using German/euro/jap bulbs and ballasts

Just do a internet search and you will find tonnes of info out there and read the FAQ on various websites.

More info here

http://www.danielsternlighting.com/home.html
http://airtime-hid.com
http://www.hid50.com
http://hidextreme.com/
http://www.xtremehidkits.com/
http://www.xenonoz.com/products.php
http://www.xenonvalot.com
http://www.kbcarstuff.com/
http://www.kbcarstuff.com/HID-Kits-s/216.htm

........plus stacks more. Get onto some car/4WD forums and have a sticky beak there and see what they say there and read what other users have experienced.