HID Headlight Kit

[NewfoundlandDude]

What is the difference between buying a set of HID Xenon bulbs that apparently replace the stock bulbs without any conversions, and buying a complete HID conversion kit?

A Kit might get kind of pricey, especially when you have to buy one for the fogs as well?

[MattB]

The "xenon" replacement bulbs that you just drop in are really just halogen bulbs with a blue coating. At best they don't last as long as standard headlights and at worst can damage your car's wiring harness. An HID conversion kit is actually HID-based.

You don't need to put in HID fogs, most cars that are HID-equipped don't have HID fogs.

[mtcookson]

Actually, there are HID bulbs that have halogen bulb bases (9004, 9005, etc). The big problem with these is the halogen housing won't project the HID light correctly. In most cases there will be so much glare that for other people on the road it would be like you driving with your high beams on all of the time. You would blind everyone passing you on the road.

Doing a retrofit with the proper housings is the only way to do a proper HID setup on a non-HID car.