HID Headlight Conversion,

mcali17 · July 17, 2002

I am picking up a 2002 Envoy next week. I am considering installing an aftermarket HID Headlight system for the low beam headlights. On my 1996 Jimmy I had Piaa SuperPlasma for the low beam and Piaa SuperWhite for the High. I still have the bulbs, as I saved them before I sold the truck, and could just pop them into the Envoy. The superplasma bulbs looked pretty good, "HID Like," but I don't think they really increased performance at all. So, that is why I am considering the HID conversion. I have seen setups anywhere from $439, on sale, up to $750. I was just wondering if anyone has tried one of these on their truck, and how did it work out. I have done some research, and I am concerend that the optics of the headlight lense will just disperse the increased light output and I won't get the performance I am hoping for. Although one guy said he used them on his Corvette and they were fantastic. I know they are easy to install. Thanks for any information anyone can provide, I appreciate it.

jr.parrish · July 17, 2002

I picked up a HID system from my local BMW Center about a month ago. I modifyed the bulbs to fit in the 9006 housing. I only had them installed for a day before I took them out and sold them. (This is on my 99 Silverado by the way). They do not look like HIDs in the factory housing not only because the are reflector housings but because they are the "frosted" type and not clear. However I picked up a pair of projector housings and am getting another kit towards the end of next week, and I suspect with the projectors I will accomplish the BMW X5 look I want.

Let me know if you want me to update you when I get them installed next week.

mcali17 · July 18, 2002

jr.parrish-Thanks for the insight. Please update me when you get them installed next week. I am pretty sure the Envoy lamps are clear not frosted, but are reflectors not projectors. But I am curious to know how they look. Just out of curiosity what did you pay for them?

jr.parrish · July 18, 2002

From BMW, I paid $725 and was only able to sell them on ebay for $465 just a few days later. The kit I am expecting is not OEM equipment for any manufacturer, it is just an aftermarket kit. With shipping I paid $255.01. I do not recommend getting the kit from BMW because they are way too expensive, (they are on ebay for around $300 to $400 now) and plus you would have to modify the bulbs which can be difficult and easy to mess up. You can get the kits online like I just order that are already rebased so that they go into your housing just like your halogens. You are correct the new envoys headlights are clear so the look you would recieve would be similar to an acuras. When I was first looking in to doing this I was extremly confused about all the D2R, D2S, 4100k, 6000k, and lumens numbers. If you would like me to explain it just let me know. Just out of curiousity, is there a particular conversion kit you are looking at?

mcali17 · July 18, 2002

jr.parrish. Yes, currently I am considering three, 9006 conversion kits. One kit is from eurolights. They have a special going for $439 with free shipping. These are a Gen2 6000K plus system which is plug and play. I have been emailing back and forth with them and am waiting for Warranty information. The other two kits I am considering are both from nextcollection.com. They have a 6000K and 7000K kit for $550.00 each. Most of the components are made by Hella, who I trust. I had seen one 7000K kit, with a five year warranty for $750. That is a bit much. Where did you get the kit for $255?

While I think I know what the "k" number means maybe you can explain it, and the D2R, D2S just so I feel a little more confident about what I think I know.

One more thing. Not only am I interested in how they look, I really want to know if they perform better from a driving in the dark standpoint. If they just look good but don't cast more light on the road. I am just going to through my Piaa SuperPlasma bulbs in that I already have and call it quits. They look pretty good, but don't do anything for performance. Thanks a lot.

jr.parrish · July 19, 2002

Hey-

I am getting my kit off ebay this time around. D2R bulbs are optimized for reflector housings has they have a shield to reduce glare, and D2S bulbs are designed for projectors, however D2S bulbs will work in reflectors. K means kelvin, which is a measure of the color. All vehicles that come with HID uses 4100k Philips bulbs. Some look bluer than other because of the use of projectors i.e. - BMW X5s appear much more blue than Acuras do, yet it is the same bulb, ballast don't matter so much. There is only one other bulb that produces a more bluish purple and that is a 6000k bulb (actually it is 5800K but marketed as a 6000k Philips Ultinon). Anythink higher such as 7000k is just a marketing ploy, these bulbs generally just look blue put out hardly any light. I would NOT reccommend buying a kit that says any more than 6000k. By the way- they 4100k bulbs put out the most light, 3200 lumens I believe, which is about three times any halogen. If you do go for a 6000k system those put out less light but you get the more blue color (I would say about 2 times than halogen. I would go with the 4100k. Even though my BMW system looked like halogen color, they put out so much light they would put the best, and I mean the best halogen bulb to shame. It lit up everything, I mean it was light day out in the middle of the night.

Check out xenondepot.com and look at the pics that will give you a good idea of how they would look. The pic that compares the two 4100k to 6000k doesnt do justice for the 4100k because the camera does its own white balancing. I think xenon depot is overpriced though.

Also check out http://www.intellexual.net/hid.htm, they really do a good explaination of HID.

Hope some of this helps you.

Ill let you know how the kit goes next week.

-Justin

mcali17 · July 21, 2002

jr.parrish. Thanks for all the great information. But now I am not sure what I am going to do. The Envoy low beams are relflector housings and the bulbs have that shield over them. While the high beams don't have a shield. The lenses are definelty clear. My other problem is the Envoy has DRLs (Day Time Running Lamps) I thought these were going to use the highbeam but they don't, they use the lowbeam. How are HID's going to react to DRL's. I need some more good advice. To I just get the setup and put them in the high beams. Or will the HID's glow dimmly with the DRL's. Or do I have to remember to shut the DRL's off every time I start the truck.

jr.parrish · July 22, 2002

I think that you would want to use the bulbs in the low beams, I wouldn't worry to much about the shield on the bulb, it should work either way. As for the DRL's, that is a problem. You see, HID bulbs require 12V to continue to run once they have fired up. The ballast is required to start the bulbs, because within the first 5 seconds, when the bulbs are trying to fire up, they require about 20,000V (alot of power,and I'm not sure hows the ballast can do it, yet the do). Therefore, if used as DRLs, it would cause damage your HID bulbs, HID ballasts, and I wouldn't be surprised if it was harmful to your electrical system. I would imagine that this is a way to override your DRLs permentantly, as I know there is a way to permentantly override them on my Silverado. My suggestion would be to post something here and I'm sure someone would know. If you could find away to overide your DRL's, it would work perfect.

mcali17 · July 23, 2002

I asked Xenon.depot about the DRL issue and this is the answer I got from their technical support:

I have a 2002 GMC Envoy with 9006 low beam and 9005 high beam. I have two questions.

1) The low beam on the 2002 Envoys have a shield over the bulb that reflects the light from the headlight. How will your HID bulbs perform with this type of setup?

2) The Envoy also has DRL, Daytime Running Lamps on the low beam bulb. How will this affect the HID system? Does it work? Will the HID bulbs just glow very dim, or is this not recommended for these bulbs?

Xenon.bulb depot's answer:

Thanks for your interest in our product. In regards to your inquireis, you would simply need a 9006 conversion kit. Many cars (Such as Audi A4) have a single bulb for both DRL and low beam. Our kits come with their own wiring harness that connects to the battery. This will ensure that the bulbs get sufficient power at all times. In your case, it is impossible for the HID bulb to glow dimmer. Your HIDs will simply be on all the time. With whatever kit you end up getting, make sure that the kit comes with its own wiring harness that connects to the battery as if it does not, you will burn out the bulbs and ballasts because of insufficient power. Furthermore, our 9006 kit comes with Female 9006 connectors that will simply plug into you stock male 9006 connectors. There is no wire cutting or splicing involved. Our kits also come with a custom moulded 9006 base as opposed to cheap adaptor rings. This will ensure you get both proper fitment and beam pattern.

Regards,

Steve

After reading this answer, I emailed the same question to another HID manufacturer to see what kind of response I got. So, I am leaning toward going with Xenon.depot just becuase of the Phillips brand name and the fact that they have the setup for the DRL. The other system, with HELLA components, is comparable in price, from nextcollection.com. I have to see what their answer to the DRL question is. But then I have to decide 5000K, 6000K or 7000K. Xenon.depot offers 5000K and 6000K and next collection offers 6000K and 7000K. After what you told me about light output, I am thinking the 6000K will give me the light output and color I am looking for. Let me know how you make out with your lights and I will wait for my answer from the other company.

jr.parrish · July 24, 2002

Hey gald to know that there is a wiring harness that will allow HID to work with the Envoy. I let you know how my kit goes, I should have it by tomarrow. Just remember that the higher the kelvin # the less light the emit.

mcali17 · July 26, 2002

Hey jr.parrish

Just wanted to let you know that Steve at xenondepot has been extreamly helpful. The other HID distributors either won't answer my questions or won't even email me back, so I think I am going to go with xenondepot. I asked Steve the difference between their 5000K and 6000K set ups. He said that the 5000K is a 4100k with a coating on the bulb, becuase the light was so white at 4100K, it didn't have that HID look. He said the 6000K bulb has the 6000K color, no coating. The 6000K is $75 more, but he told me that his margin is the same on both so it doesn't matter to him which one I order, just so I know he is not biased. Just wanted to say thanks for suggesting xenondepot.

Z71GUY · July 30, 2002

Hey gald to know that there is a wiring harness that will allow HID to work with the Envoy. I let you know how my kit goes, I should have it by tomarrow. Just remember that the higher the kelvin # the less light the emit.

Just wondering how your install went. I really want to do a HID conversion on my Silverado, but I keep reading conflicting ideas. Your setup sounds like the best I've read so far.... any pics? Thanks!

Jake99Z71 · August 2, 2002

I bought a set of Hella Blue-White 6000K 9006 HID kit off ebay for $350. I have installed them about a month ago now. They do not have the reflector on the front but throw a great amount of light out there. I have never beed flashed by anyone. The truckers ask what I am running when I'm on the Interstate. They are great for spotting the deer crossing your path. The big thing about HID is having them aimed properly. Just my 2 cents.