jdkobe Posted December 9, 2005 Share Posted December 9, 2005 Are you guys happy with the color and brightness? How does it compare to other BMW, Accura, Lexus, Etc you see in in traffic? I ask because I live in an inclement weather area and prefer a bright white light that won't scatter like the blue hues in fog/snow.. so wanted your opion since I'm leaning this way. Thanks. Jdkobe Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
cschneider Posted December 9, 2005 Share Posted December 9, 2005 I got the Xtec 4500K from RPM and am very satisfied. The light is very white and as I understand it, the most light output. I have only used them in rain twice and they are cetainly much better than stock. No experience in fog though. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RockyMtnGT Posted December 9, 2005 Share Posted December 9, 2005 I'm waiting for my xtec 4500's to be delivered- so BUMP for some feedback Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
highwaydrifter Posted December 9, 2005 Share Posted December 9, 2005 waiting for del here:) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jdkobe Posted December 9, 2005 Author Share Posted December 9, 2005 I got the Xtec 4500K from RPM and am very satisfied. The light is very white and as I understand it, the most light output. I have only used them in rain twice and they are cetainly much better than stock. No experience in fog though. Cschneider - how would you compare the color to Audi, BMW, Lexus and other factory HIDs you see on the road? Have any pics? Thank you buddy! Jdkobe Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
soobynooby Posted December 10, 2005 Share Posted December 10, 2005 Please pardon the dumb question from the nooby. Are HIDs a total headlamp retrofit, ir do they sorta plug into the old bulb socket? I also like to see whee I'm going, and even after upgrading to ultra bright whites (which made almost NO difference) I still have pretty poor lighting. Also, can you, and has anyone, replaced their white driving/fog lamps with yellows for better fog/snow visibility? Thanks for any info... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
cschneider Posted December 10, 2005 Share Posted December 10, 2005 I really don't have any idea how they compare directly with the high end luxury makes but I would guess they're very close. As I recall Audi seemed to be more on the blue side but I think BMW and Lexus are both in the 4200K range so these lamps should be almost identical. The new bulbs plug directly into where the old bulbs were. The hardest part is finding a place to mount the ballasts, the rest is just plug and play. Also there is no reason to drill anything as some have said, you simply take out the stock grommet and feed the wires through there. Pictures attached: 0420 is stock 0422 is with the new hids Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jdkobe Posted December 12, 2005 Author Share Posted December 12, 2005 Cschneider - Thank you for the pics! That definetely looks more white then the 5000k pics floating around. If only there was a side by side that RPM could do. Much appreciated!! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
laz Posted December 12, 2005 Share Posted December 12, 2005 With the Xtecs you need to drill. Which ones do you have cschneider? I did not want to drill either, but it would have been clumsy to bend the wire so much not to drill. Danger of breaking something. I have seen the mcculloch kit and I can see how you do not have to drill with those. X --- Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
agctr Posted December 12, 2005 Share Posted December 12, 2005 The light output including colour I would assume to be very close as the Kelvin Rating is very close. OEM BMW, AUDI, Lexus, MB & alike run 4300K. Ada///M. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
cschneider Posted December 12, 2005 Share Posted December 12, 2005 I have the Xtec kit and did not see the need to drill. You do have to bend the wires a bit but nothing that I think would cause any problems. This however is my fourth HID installation so I might take a few more chances than those who have never done this before. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jc51373 Posted December 13, 2005 Share Posted December 13, 2005 Ok, I am sorta new at this, but maybe you guys can clarify some simple questions on the headlight upgrade. What are the major benefits to going with an HID in comparison to the stock lights? Is it the blue color you are looking to get or is it a brighter light output? From reading this post it sounds like both. These xtec kits, are they plug and play? Do they have detailed directions? thanks! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
cschneider Posted December 13, 2005 Share Posted December 13, 2005 The Xtec is completely plug and play. The main benefit is light output and the higher color temp. The point of this thread is shying away from the blue color and going for the maximum light output in the whitest kits. The Xtec HID system will output about 2.5x the light of the stock bulbs and the whiter light makes it easier to see in most conditions. As far as instructions, they are spartan to say the least. There really isn't much to it though, you simply plug in the right ends and you're good to go. The hardest part is finding a place to mount the ballasts and running the wires through the headlight grommets. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jc51373 Posted December 13, 2005 Share Posted December 13, 2005 The Xtec is completely plug and play. The main benefit is light output and the higher color temp. The point of this thread is shying away from the blue color and going for the maximum light output in the whitest kits. The Xtec HID system will output about 2.5x the light of the stock bulbs and the whiter light makes it easier to see in most conditions. As far as instructions, they are spartan to say the least. There really isn't much to it though, you simply plug in the right ends and you're good to go. The hardest part is finding a place to mount the ballasts and running the wires through the headlight grommets. Hey man, thanks alot, I really appreciate you answering all my questions. I am curious to know if people flash you more since you put in the brighter lights?? I am considering this myself, but was on the fence because I don't want the blue lights that some cars have. I like the white, but could use some more brightness. Do you have pics of where you mounted your ballasts? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RockyMtnGT Posted December 13, 2005 Share Posted December 13, 2005 cschneider awesome comparison pictures- thanks! Still waiting for my 4500's to arrive. I already have some "before" pics, I'll post some "after" pics of my own as soon as I get them installed. I'm hoping that getting flashed by other drivers isn't too much of an issue, since the stock housing provides a pretty sharp cutoff point for the light. If you want to go REALLY bright, I'm pretty sure XTEC makes 50 watt (!) HID's for "off road" use only... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
05 Outback 2.5i Posted December 16, 2005 Share Posted December 16, 2005 Okay, I must admit, these Xtec HID bulbs are quite tempting. Can anyone who has them comment on things like how they are in the rain/snow (5000K), if oncoming drivers seem to be offended, and if they provide the factory beam pattern (is the HID Arc position matched correctly to the projector housing, so there is no stray light, and the light is properly focused)? Thanks… __________________ ~Scott & Nadia '05 Outback 2.5i Wagon Willow Green Opal/ Moss Green Metallic 225/60HR16 BFG Traction T/A's Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
laz Posted December 17, 2005 Share Posted December 17, 2005 I got pics here of stock vs 5000K Xtec's: http://legacygt.com/forums/showthread.php?t=22268 I like the 5000K a lot, and the glare is very small. I have not had one single car flash me, and I have driven in two lane roads in dark parts. X --- Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RockyMtnGT Posted December 27, 2005 Share Posted December 27, 2005 Pics of my Xtec 4500's!! Installed them today in about an hour. I have to say that I LOVE these lights! Just FYI, I also have ion yellow fog bulbs, and "Xenon" look high beam bulbs, which appear blue when turned off. Here is a "before" shot with my stock headlights and ion fogs... http://img218.imageshack.us/img218/1250/nohid24fu.th.png Now on to the HIDs! I tried various settings on my camera because I wasn't sure how they would come out. I also took some with fogs "on" and others with the fogs "off". http://img218.imageshack.us/img218/8563/hid52ly.th.png http://img218.imageshack.us/img218/8530/hid40qd.th.png http://img218.imageshack.us/img218/9793/hid32bn.th.png http://img218.imageshack.us/img218/1378/hid28iu.th.png http://img218.imageshack.us/img218/6746/hid16xc.th.png Finally here is a shot of the beam pattern with the fogs on... http://img218.imageshack.us/img218/1135/hid61jr.th.png Thanks RPM! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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