Low cost alternative to doing a "drop in" HID kit.
"Drop in" meaning installing an HID kit in without the use of a projector housing (which are not made for Mustangs). There are issues including improper beam "cut off" and high glare. Unless you send your reflector style housings out to have projector lenses installed, you are highly at risk for the above mentioned issues.
There are "reflector" style housings for Mustangs that have a "bullet" or cap in front of the bulb that will cut down on the problems associated with just installing an HID kit in the stock or ultra clear housings. But the kits are still a bit expensive and you do lose the use of your hi-beams.
This is my current setup:
1. 3G alternator ( I went with a Powermaster 200 amp unit)
Many stang owners will upgrade their alternator for various reasons/benefits so this cost is not solely to increase headlight output but it does help.
2. Headlight harness upgrade (I used one from www.suvlights.com for $55)
Harness will increase light output of even stock headlights. Ford's electrical wiring isn't the best as many of you already know. This harness upgrade is definitely needed if you want to use higher watt bulbs unless you want to burn your stock wiring up!!
3. Ultra clear headlights (I went with the kit from www.ageclassic.com which included all 6 lights for $239)
Old faded stockers are very common in needs of replacing not only for light output but also from a cosmetic reason as well.
4. High watt headlight bulbs (9004 bulb- 80/100 by MTEC..they are the 4350 for white light $15 at the time I bougth them off Ebay)
Now for a while I had Sylvania Silverstars in and they made a great difference over the stock halogen bulbs in both light output and "whiteness" of the light. After installing the upgraded headlight harness I decided to put one high watt MTEC bulb in one side and the Silverstar in the other. Needless to say the high watt bulb shamed the Silverstar of course in brightness but also in color (they were whiter looking)
I have only driven for one night with the MTEC high watt bulbs in and love it. Very bright. Housings don't seem to be affected by the heat generated from the bulb. Roadmax high watt bulbs look to be another decent bulb to use as well.
Now my car is at the shop and I attempted to take a pic to compare the bulbs output. When the pic was taken it wasn't near dark enough, motor was not running, and I couldn't back up far enough to get a better pic of the light color and output. Nor could I get a pic of the light as it cast on the shop wall. In person you get a much better representation of the difference.
IT'S NOT HID BUT IT'S VERY NICE!! I will try and take better pics when I get my car back and it's darker out
Here are the two pics: Silverstar (left) and MTEC 4X 80/100 (right)
"Drop in" meaning installing an HID kit in without the use of a projector housing (which are not made for Mustangs). There are issues including improper beam "cut off" and high glare. Unless you send your reflector style housings out to have projector lenses installed, you are highly at risk for the above mentioned issues.
There are "reflector" style housings for Mustangs that have a "bullet" or cap in front of the bulb that will cut down on the problems associated with just installing an HID kit in the stock or ultra clear housings. But the kits are still a bit expensive and you do lose the use of your hi-beams.
This is my current setup:
1. 3G alternator ( I went with a Powermaster 200 amp unit)
Many stang owners will upgrade their alternator for various reasons/benefits so this cost is not solely to increase headlight output but it does help.
2. Headlight harness upgrade (I used one from www.suvlights.com for $55)
Harness will increase light output of even stock headlights. Ford's electrical wiring isn't the best as many of you already know. This harness upgrade is definitely needed if you want to use higher watt bulbs unless you want to burn your stock wiring up!!
3. Ultra clear headlights (I went with the kit from www.ageclassic.com which included all 6 lights for $239)
Old faded stockers are very common in needs of replacing not only for light output but also from a cosmetic reason as well.
4. High watt headlight bulbs (9004 bulb- 80/100 by MTEC..they are the 4350 for white light $15 at the time I bougth them off Ebay)
Now for a while I had Sylvania Silverstars in and they made a great difference over the stock halogen bulbs in both light output and "whiteness" of the light. After installing the upgraded headlight harness I decided to put one high watt MTEC bulb in one side and the Silverstar in the other. Needless to say the high watt bulb shamed the Silverstar of course in brightness but also in color (they were whiter looking)
I have only driven for one night with the MTEC high watt bulbs in and love it. Very bright. Housings don't seem to be affected by the heat generated from the bulb. Roadmax high watt bulbs look to be another decent bulb to use as well.
Now my car is at the shop and I attempted to take a pic to compare the bulbs output. When the pic was taken it wasn't near dark enough, motor was not running, and I couldn't back up far enough to get a better pic of the light color and output. Nor could I get a pic of the light as it cast on the shop wall. In person you get a much better representation of the difference.
IT'S NOT HID BUT IT'S VERY NICE!! I will try and take better pics when I get my car back and it's darker out
Here are the two pics: Silverstar (left) and MTEC 4X 80/100 (right)