this is what I wrote to xenon-shop.com and their reply...any thoughts?
----------------------------------------------------------
Thank you for your inquiry. The 9004 headlight housing is very difficult to convert to HID due to the dual filament halogen lamp positioning. We have developed a Philips HID Kit that modifies the original Philips lamp and creates a new base that allows plug and play functionality. It also has been calibrated to position the arc (light output source) in the exact position of the halogen low beam filament. The beam pattern is about 90% the same as the original with some (10%) light diffraction.

The BMW Z8 is the only vehicle to come with a bi-xenon housing that has one lamp for both the low and the high beam. The way that it does this is that there is a servo that moves the HID lamp to adjust the angle of the light.

There are always new developments with regard to technology but we have not heard a scheduled date for this type of lamp. Then next major release is going to be the D1S lamp that will have the igniter integrated into the base.

Regarding our return policy. We do take products back if they are defective. Please note that there is no way to duplicate the beam pattern of the 9004. They closest we have gotten is 90%.

Thank you for your inquiry.

Rafael
RM Lighting

-----Original Message-----
From:
Sent: Monday, November 27, 2000 8:39 AM
To: support@xenonshop.com
Subject: 9004


Sir,
I am very much interested in getting a set of HIDs for my car but am very much concerned with the beam pattern. I was told that the 9004 housing would cause my beam pattern to be very dispersed and may even be dangerous to oncoming cars.
I am also concerned with losing my highs (brights). Although, I also recently heard from another friend of mine that there is a dual filament blub coming onto the market?!

Pls advise on beam correction / practicality of a HID kit for a 9004 equipped car. Also, if the dual filament blub is coming out soon, pls advise on availablity...(within the next few months?...etc?)

I would like a price quote on a kit for my 9004 car, I would also like to know if say the dual filament blubs are available...how much they would cost.
Lastly, I wanted to know, if I should decide to purchase the kit, upon your honest recommendation and find that the beam pattern is too dispersed ...etc, what are your return policies?


thank you and best regards

 

I for one do not wish to sacrifice my high beams and become a public nusiance just for the sake of brighter light.

The beam pattern on the 4th Gen headlamps is horrible enough, and I feel that I cannot afford to damage it another 10%. I would rather find a way to run the H4 bulb than to spend the $600 for an HID kit.

 

i am not sure about others thing they said, but they are full of **** by saying Z8 is the only bi-xenon setup.
The 911TT and CL600 are both bi-xenon setup.

 

I donno... I think you should spend maybe 1/6-1/7th less than that and get some higherwattage bulbs and a harness. The 9004 is going to throw a lot of light away. But I donno for sure.

I'll say this much, 9007, basically just 9004 with vertical filliment is 10X better than 9004.

-Shing

 

I thought the 996s had a 9005 and 9006 HID setup?

 

just confirmed with Z8 owner, the Z8 does NOT have bi-xenon, xenon-shop.com is full of ****.
and 996TT does have bi-xenon.