Im currently using stock head lights on my 98 GLE, im a complete noob at any modifications, but the current head lights are not cutting it for me, i need brighter ones, like 6000k or 9000k ? I dont know what to look for or where to buy from, can you help me out please? Thanks.

 

Thats not brightness, thats color temp. The higher the color temp, the less useable light.

 

Well it depends on what you want to spend. If you want to get hid kits, then 6k would be pure white. You can either spend like 30-40 bucks on some silverstar bulbs or you can get some plug and play hid kits from the group deals for 160 shipped. Google the kelvin chart for hid colors, I personally like the 12k purple hids, but decide what temp color you like. Also, how do your headlights themselves look? You could polish them up if they are dull.

 

go with some nice silverstar bulbs.4300k would be good too.

 

Something else that you could do is the 9007 bulb conversion. It is superior to the 9004 bulb which our cars have from the factory. There should be a write-up in the stickies.

 

If you want better output, invest the time and money and make yourself (or have someone make you) a projector retrofit with HID's. HID's in stock housings will not help you much at all, as stock headlights output definitely isn't the greatest.

 

this is true, but sure is a bit costly.

 

Heres some vendors you can buy HID kits from. For the most light output buy 4300k. Anything over 6000k is worthless in rain/snow IMO. Your car stock uses 9004 type bulbs... so u would want a 9004 4300k HID kit. If you want some blue in your headlights get 5000k temperature. I wouldnt go higher then that if ur complaining about stock light output, cause it will be even worse.

http://forums.maxima.org/showthread.php?t=388232
($130 shipped for single xenon (this means u wont have brights))

http://forums.maxima.org/showthread.php?t=560215
($100 for 35watt kit, $150 for 50watt kit)

http://forums.maxima.org/showthread.php?t=541154
($145 for 50watt kit)

You decide which one u want... Just make sure you aim ur headlights low so u dont blind everyone. (ez to do just turn the aimer on the headlights)

Hope this helps...

 

Thanks guys, many good ideas and suggestions, helped a TON, thanks udienow snypa and everyone, hopfully i get some soon

 

Thanks for the link, I just received my 5000K HIDs in the mail today. Very fast overnight shipping! I will post up pics when I finished the install.

 

I'm pretty sure I want to go with 6000k. If I were to buy this kit
http://forums.maxima.org/showthread.php?t=541154
($145 for 50watt kit)
I just plug all this stuff up and I'm good or is there a whole involved process with it?
I'm also curious about the projector thing. I've been reading all the write ups on them and I'm kinda torn between the two. Which is the better to go with keeping in mind I want bright but I also want something that's fairly easy to install.

 

http://www.hidplanet.com/forums/view...46eba05ae117e3

go there and start reading everything you can. long story short, drop in kits in reflector housings are not only very poor in comparison to a projector retrofit, but in fact not legal. a projector retrofit however, is a good bit more expensive, and isn't a drop-in mod so ultimately it's up to you if the etra effort is worth it, but all the info you could want can be found on HIDplanet. hope this helps

 

Installing the HID kit is easy. You attach the positive and negative ends to the battery. Then those run to the ballast, then from the ballast you got another plug that goes to the bulbs. The bulbs also have a connector to the stock factory connector. So yeah, its mostly just plugging stuff in, quite simple and ez to figure out.
Projectors are a lot more involved, and I cannot tell you much on that, sorry. All I can tell you is that it will cost a lot more, and be a lot more involved.
With that HID kit you picked out, just know you wont have brights anymore because its a single kit. But not that you will need brights anyway... and as above person said, HID are indeed illegal. Tho im not sure how much the cops enforce that. Prolly depends on the state you live in. Id say just aim them low and dont drive behind cops.

 

I'll try the HID's for now. But I will need highs cause I travel to North Carolina alot and the streets out there are pitch black at nite. Which kit can I go with that would give me high and low beams?
P.S. didn't mean to jack your thread homie

 

You go for a "bi" kit, lol.

 

You might want to get new headlights if you buy HIDs to get the full effect of light out of them, I know my stock lights where really pitted and looked dull, So I bought a pair of AE headlights to get worse beam patten... lol

 

a little color wont hurt.

 

6000k look good.

 

6000K HID Projectors and 6000K HID Fog lights > All other lighting options....do it once and do it right (GET PROJECTORS!):







Not only that...but it LOOKS better aesthetically: