Well i finally have a hid thats going out (getting pink and dim). They have served me well
Im going to attempt to install the (Kaixen 6000K per 01tl4tl's recommendation) if i have any problems ill come here and ask for help...(i will need to go out and purchase a set of security torx--about the only tool i dont have)

Oh and they better be good or im him)

 

Maybe if you kids are lucky ill try to remember to take pics and write up a DIY

 

If you don't mind me asking, what would you say your usage amount was with them? Only at on at night, DRL, or random? I can only hope mine last that long.

 

We always leave ours"on" As in all the time lol... I dont see them lasting till 235K

 

good question cause one of mine are a lil pinkish and i have no where as much usage as fsstyms does. accually both were changed when my headlights were stolen.

 

pinkish? like when they turn on? mine are blue as shit! but they are pink fo rlike 1 sec when they turn on, are you saying that they stay pink?

 

not bad for all the hours of use!

 

One of the death warning signs is pink tint for a few seconds- then it goes blue.
Eventually it will do the pink/purple start and then not work at all.
Replace in pairs!
You can use a dremel to turn the torx screw into a flatblade~
put the screws back in with thread-lock if you are worried about bulb theft.
The Kaixen package says 3000 hours life, but HID bulbs start to lose intensity with age.
Installers should make sure to use the new lights as much as possible so they get 100 hours of "burn in" time. Like brakes, they get better after a little while, then begin to amaze

phee- when you get nice new real bulbs- you will be blown away, as will fsttyms with his new-found superior night vision.

 

Mine start out blue and turn pink. Thats a sign that they are worn. The light output looks more like halogens than HIDs.

As for hour use, it was alot. I would use them during the day alot when on the HWY (which was also alot) and i did a ton of night time driving.

 

wow= You continue to have parts that last so long they present new dimensions in wear patterns
Are you keeping all this stuff for a museum?

 

I passed the 200k benchmark a while back as well... my HIDs are crystal clear. everything else in the car's pretty much in good condition except for my current charging system issue.

 

I never understood why people have their headlights on during the day, i noticed this trend started a number of years ago with newer cars

 

most newer cars come with daytime running headlights wich means they come on automatically.

 

that wont help against a crowbar.

 

if they use a crowbar they take the entire housing
I was making a joke about the casual bulb thief- the housing is gone in seconds, it would take longer to remove the bulbs

 

Because its far easier to see a car coming at you with the lights on.

 

Ok, well i changed them. Took about 25 min (passenger side gave me some trouble) I took pics and will do a quick DIY writeup, but i had to take them with my phone, I still havent gotten my camera back from my parents

I also took the time to wetsand the headlights and polish them up. WoW what a difference. (i took pics of that as well.

 

Post pics and let us know. Mine is fading also....

 

pix soooooon plz, especially the sanding and polishing of the housing

 

Before

Wetsanded

After

New Light

 

Ill try to get the DIY install up tonight

 

WOW what a difference! looks nice.

BTW what is that thing beside your TL in the background of the first pic? Are you a park ranger or something?

 

I have been thinking about 6000ks, how do you like them so far?

 

kris.
is this just a bulb replcement?
or did you change ballasts and ignitors?

 

First pic thats my 4 wheeler.

Just a bulb swap, ?? dont know how i like them yet, its still daylight. Ill post more later after having driven with them in the dark

 

looks great

 

they get a little less blue with the burn in
Go find some semi trucks and white road markings and other road signs
Thats where you really see the differance, plus those clean lenses!

nice job o Great Leader~

 

They look great, I'm very interested in the DIY for wetsanding the headlights. Mine are somewhat sand blasted and I'd love to have them crystal clear again.

 

there is a complete kit for headlight lens restoring at parts stores about 10 dollars
3 grades of paper= some cleaner compound, and plastic polish
I believe~

use of a powerball buffer could really put the shine on them, followed by a few coats of synthetic car wax- most are approved for plastics, check label

 

looks good.

 

Thanks for the info, I'll have to look into that. I ordered the Ultimate detailing machine with swirl mark remover kit from Sonus. Waiting for that to arrive, it should help with the buffing.

 

They are alot brighter than i had thats for sure.

 

As for the diy for the headlight polishing i wasnt going to. Its not hard though. I simplu wetsanded the lenses with 1500 grit till the surface was a uniform haze/smooth, then polished it
Get a good polish (i used #85 and # 83 with my buffer to make life easier, but it can be done by hand)

 

Thank you for the info. Now all I need is the weather to cooperate. haha

 

Congratulations for hitting such a milestone for your car. I'm very impressed. I know you changed the engine to manual and all, but this is a great feat of accomplishment. I hope one day my car can achieve this goal. I have about 200,000 more miles go to lol.

 

Yea take some pictures of the light output onto the ground, been thinking of getting 6000k bulbs also. Headlights looks 1000x better now.

 

Ill try to get some friday night.

 

You should buy 2 new HIDs. They should be replaced in pairs.

As for the instructions, there is a #20 security torx screw you have to remove.



After its removed you have to twist the black cover about a 1/4 turn (it shows on the cover which way to turn)



After its turned you can pull it out of the way. Then there is a metal clip that is a spring loaded that you push in and move to the side and up. Once thats is uncliped the bulb simply pulls out.
(The bulb is removed to show the clip)




Old (original) bulb


Be careful not to touch the new bulb as the oils from your finger will cause them to burn out.

 

Well I was hoping to make it to 250,000 like you, LOL. Didn't quite make it that far. After about 210,000 miles my passenger side hid is has finally started to go south with the pink and dim look as well. The drivers side is still hanging on, but I am sure it won't be long as well. Well done for ten years!! Now I am forced to make a decision to go either with Kaixen 6000K or the Phillips 4300K. I have my research to do this evening, hopefully the bulb will hang on in there for a few more days while I make up my mind!!

 

Don't use just any thread lock! Read the bottle- get the type that is removable or you'll wish you never used it.