Since acquiring my truck, one of the "minor" things Ive been wanting to get done is improve my headlights. They work ok but they are just not bright. They appear dimmer than I would like them.

I want to get HID bulbs and was wondering if you guys could recommend a good pair that doesn't cost an arm and a leg? If it costs more that 50 bucks or so I will just replace the headlights because mine are cloudy and I have been unable to get them back to a clear appearance.

 

Get some lightning headlights and Sylvania Silverstar Ultra bulbs, and you'll be very happy with the increased output.

 

Don't get plug n plan HID's, you will just blind others and have worse light output.

As above, just get Lightning/Harely Davidison lights with clear lenses and some good Halogen bulbs and you be happy.

If yo insist on getting HID, do a true retrofit.

an almost identical thread was started a few hours ago.
https://www.f150forum.com/f6/hid-hea...5/#post3458081

 

x2 on the lights. You can get a cheap HID kit, but you'll end up blinding oncoming drivers and get poor lighting. The best option is to go with the chrome or black lightning headlights, or the chrome or black Harley Davidson headlights. I've got the black harley style on my truck, which surprisingly is very scarce on these trucks; I rarely see them at all.

 

No sense in getting HIDs if your lenses are cloudy. I'm in the minority when I say that a good set of 35w properly aligned HIDs are just fine in stock housings. I've had them in a few vehicles and never got flashed. Whenever HIDs in stock housings is mentioned, people automatically think of those who put 55w 10k HIDs in stock housings from the 90s.

 

Hi.

See that's the thing - no PnP kit is properly aligned, in two fundamental ways. Nor can they ever be. It's a pyhsical impossibility optically.

-reflector focal point is never going to match the HID capsule

-default position of the HID arc is in the halogen hi-beam location (hence the glare on low beam) - the motorized solenoid that physically moves the bulbs for the ersatz 'hi beam' relocates that arc in an even worse position - it certainly does NOT place the arc in the correct position for glare-free output.

Sure - folks some folks will aim down - this just further reduces the already scattered, unfocused, splotchy output.

good luck
MGD

 

If you aren't expecting a sharp cutoff and even pattern like you get with a true HID, they work just fine.

 

I've got 15k in mine. I get flashed often. When it happens, I hit em with my light bar and my KC lights that I've aimed to the left a little bit. That'll teach em!

 

So this is the output you are working with, huh? Going for that black light look.





Ahhhhh...I missed the joker face. You almost had me.

 

I take 2000 grit sand paper and wet sand the lens until all the oxidized plastic is removed. The sanding residue will be yellow until you take off all the oxidation which will then turn to a milky white. You can then polish it with polishing compound and it will restore the clarity and some brightness of the headlights. Put a good coat of wax to protect them and it should last for a year until you do it again. Granted if your bulbs are old, I would replace them with new ones.

I did this to my truck and the factory headlight lens are almost as good as new. I noticed once I did it, the headlights lit the road up a little better but my left headlight is a little dimmer then the right side so ill be replacing that soon possibly. I do not do much night driving so its not a true necessity but does irritate my OCD a bit as I want to keep my truck the best it can be for being 12 years old lol.