I just sat and read through a great many of the headlight threads on here and it seems that most of them focus on aesthetics first and light second. I would like to gather as many opinions/parts recommendations/install technique as possible on the best way to increase light output. Then compile it into an faq. It seems like there are 3ways of modifying the headlights.

1) HID

2)Xenon

3)LED

 

I heard HID was no good, you want Xenon instead

I know you claim to have searched and read a bunch, but I would suggest doing so again.

 

You might be right I was asking for multiple opinions on the different options.

 

HID and xenon are the same thing.

 

Projectors versus Halogen and HIDS .. night and day difference. Go projectors with HIDS all day. Just throwing in HIDS in the OEM housing will give you $hitty beam pattern.

 

HID and xenon are not necessarily the same thing.
http://www.candlepowerforums.com/vb/...non-vs-Halogen

Any recommendations on projectors?

Are leds not presently a viable option/?

 

Look at my retrofit thread. It is the option with the absolute best output and I've done the same conversion to my C5 corvette. The retrofit source is actually having a labor day weekend sale now.

 

That cost you $400 and an enormous amount of time. I am not willing to put in 400 just for headlights where I would then still have to spend a day creating them.
Was looking for a more reasonable options

 

I personally think the stock look the best. Just me thoigh.

 

Plug and play LED options for headlights and fog lights aren't better than halogens, yet.

LED projectors aren't better than HID projectors, yet.

 

Any recommendations are halogens or hids (ones that dont take an enormous amount of time and money) that give a high light output?

 

a little more searching would have helped you greatly like others have said, but if you need an upgrade to lighting you either need to dish out the money for HID & projectors or if you have 2002-2003 headlights you already have xenon and xenon/hid reflector housing and have much better lighting than halogen bulbs and halogen based reflector housings.

you never mentioned your year so I can't safely say just get HID bulbs because it is not that simple.

based on the fact that you are looking for an upgrade in the functionality in your lighting I am guessing you have a 2000-2001 with halogen bulbs and halogen based headlights. IMO best advice at the most practical, long term, cost effective solution (remember those points) is to buy an upgraded halogen bulb like Sylvania - SilverStar ULTRA or PIAA's Xtreme Whites. I have used them both multiple times and have been extremely happy with their brighter technology and clear white looks, no rice blue or dingy yellow.

Also remember if your headlights are faded and colored and yellow then you are loosing a lot of functionality in general from those and you need to resurface the headlights for any bulb inside to perform at it's best.

 

HIDs would give you what you want but I don't recommend it due to the a pub of glare they put out.

Either save for a retrofit or '02-'03 headlight conversion at the very least. Don't expect to see that much better with the '02-'03 headlights though.

 

I have the the sylvania silverstar ultras or whatever the whitest they offer in my 2001.
They do make a noticeable difference compared to the cheaper ones.the light is noticeably whiter as well.. But its by no means white. Especially compared to my white sidemarkers. I will say that i feel like the road is MOST visible while driving my max in comparison to an 03 passat, 08 Odyssey, 2010 tl, 2010 saab, etc.. That could be me though

I toyed with the idea of retrofitting a projector in my 01 housings.. But i like the style of 02s better. I just picked up a relatively clean set for $180 off craigslist. Ill let you know how the output compares HID vs. halogen wise

 

If you want an upgrade, but don't want to put too much work into it, just do an 02/03 upgrade and be done. However retrofitting opens up some avenues and the level of performance with the right projector choice, and proper tuning. My quad projector retro is flat out overkill...but it's what I wanted, and adds uniqueness to my car. I'd always choose retrofit.

S

 

I have two sets of old retros, one in my car, the other is sitting collecting dust. If you interested, I can sell one of them. It is 100% functional other 2 years old and showing some old age. PM if interested.

 

I have an 01 ae max.
I have the sylvania bulbs and I have done the 3m lens clearing (which worked great) but the light output is terrible.

 

You could at least thank the guy. You asked for all options in your first post, and well, I'll be damned if he didn't give you a good one. Cost is subjective. Mine cost more than double $400 so...

That's an oxymoron. That's like asking if you can add 100hp to your Max for under $100.

Well, if you call that terrible, than maybe a projector retrofit is the only thing that is going to satisfy you. Might just have to put in the time and $$ as I'm not convinced you'll be satisfied with HID's. You just might though. If you don't want to put in the time and $$, then middle of the road (HID's) is what you're going have to accept

 

I agree with wizard. It takes time and money to get a good setup(output and looks) into the max. I was able to save some money on mine, because I found some good deals. I spent about $320 just on parts. I ended up spending about 30+ hours with the install(into headlights and into car), running back and forth to hardware stores, and getting everything exactly the way I want(projector rotation, cutoff sharpness and color, brightness, bixenon integration, etc).

Cheap and great ouput(brightness) will not happen in the HID retrofit world(or HID world overall).

 

For an extreme low budget improvement, clean the socket connections or even replace with an upgraded light harness. That'll get you like a 4% improvement in output. Halogens are sensitive to even the smallest drop in voltage. Something a like a drop from 12.8 to 12.4 and the light output drops dramatically.

Also, HIDs are interesting in that they suck in the rain. The blueish tint is the killer. Halogens are actually better rain compared to HID.

In terms of looks, though, HID projectors are

IMO if cost was no object, I would get a set of the old Infiniti J30 dual projector housings, then HID it with a non bluish light output. The main beam projector would be HID. High beam projector would be bulb or LED.

 

^^ great point, a grounding kit may help a bit too !

 

I have a grounding kit. I will see if I can measure the voltage drop across the bulbs