I know that seems like a pretty generic title but this isn't a generic thread. I bought the Helios H/L HID kit from the GD. I know that all this is really doing is replacing a HID bulb for halogen as opposed to changing the whole housing, reflector and lense of the headlamp. I didn't feel like spending nearly $600 for 5.5 gen headlights so I went for this. Anyway, I know that many people with Maxima's and other cars have done this similar mod.

Daniel Stern says no to this for several reasons but I was wondering what everyone else had to say...

D Stern article

For example he ends this with, "But just putting an HID bulb where a halogen one belongs is bad news all around."

 

it IS bad news. your reflectors are designed for the halogen bulbs they have in them now and they will never be able to properly focus the hid bulbs. you'll get more light, but not nearly as much as you would with projectors or hid reflectors, and it'll largely be aimed into oncoming traffic anyway. i think that if you're not going to pony up the cash and work to do a projector retrofit, or to change your headlights for the 5th gens, you need to stick with halogen.

 

Trust me, Ive lived both worlds. Projector retrofit is the way to go. I had a 9004 kit in my housings a year ago. Yes it was great at first, but then I realized the downfalls. No high beams, extreme glare, and poor beam pattern. Now you can only imagine what projectors have done for me. Gives the car a great look too.