[Stealth87]

Took the Escape in for service this morning, routine oil change and inspection, all free of charge since I have the maintenance plan.

Asked if they could adjust my headlights, since I put in new HID lights. Tried to charge me 129 bucks to do so. I said get outta here and give me a call when it is ready.

Thinking maybe the HID lights may have been a premature decision. They look nice, but the light output seems to be all over the place. I read somewhere on here that the headlight housing is not meant for HID lights, which makes sense.

Might try to sell the HID lights and just upgrade to a brighter bulb like Sylvania Silverstars??

 

[slavrenz]

Took the Escape in for service this morning, routine oil change and inspection, all free of charge since I have the maintenance plan.

Asked if they could adjust my headlights, since I put in new HID lights. Tried to charge me 129 bucks to do so. I said get outta here and give me a call when it is ready.

Thinking maybe the HID lights may have been a premature decision. They look nice, but the light output seems to be all over the place. I read somewhere on here that the headlight housing is not meant for HID lights, which makes sense.

Might try to sell the HID lights and just upgrade to a brighter bulb like Sylvania Silverstars??

Someone else just asked this question on the forum yesterday. I'll tell you what I told him, as politely as possible : people are not going to like you on the roadway. Everyone wants the HID bulbs because they look cool, but our housings are not properly designed for these bulbs. Like you said, they just shine all over the place, blinding every other driver on the road.

My opinion: sell those bulbs ASAP to someone with a proper projector setup, and then get some Silverstars or PIAA bulbs if you want an "upgrade".

Sorry if I come off as a jerk - that's not my intention. I just wish that everyone without proper HID projectors would stop putting these lights on their cars.

 

[Airmapper]

My Silverstar Ultras are great, very bright and nice white color. They won't last forever, good for about a year, maybe more, but to me it's worth it as I drive in the dark both in the morning and evening to work and back in the months with shorter days.

 

[slavrenz]

My Silverstar Ultras are great, very bright and nice white color. They won't last forever, good for about a year, maybe more, but to me it's worth it as I drive in the dark both in the morning and evening to work and back in the months with shorter days.

I had silverstar ultra in one of my cars, but the bulb life was a lot shorter (only a few months at a time). I ended up buying some Philips Nightvision bulbs instead (great visibility, whiter light), and I've had them now for almost 2 years.

 

[Ajax]

I had Silverstars in my Escort ZX2 for 2 years, they worked when I traded them in. I also replaced my fogs years ago (maybe 4) with Silverstars but they don't make low beams for 05 Escapes. I do recommend them (I put them in my Jetta as well).

 

[SUVord]

The PIAA's I have give me good light and last long also.
As for the HID's slavrenz summed it up nicely, softly, gently, politely and without any ounce of dielectric compound!!!

 

[tang]

My Silverstars are running 18 months strong... now if only they made a set for the 5202 fog light bulb.

 

[Stealth87]

I think i am going to go with the Silverstars. What would be the correct size for the headlights? (H13?) Maybe I will change the fogs as well, what size would that be (h11?)

Thanks in advance!

 

[etrailer]

Headlights, both low and high, are H13. Not sure on the fogs.

 

[slavrenz]

The PIAA's I have give me good light and last long also.
As for the HID's slavrenz summed it up nicely, softly, gently, politely and without any ounce of dielectric compound!!!

Lol, I just assumed dielectric compound was a given :lol:

 

[Stealth87]

Thanks for the advice everyone. I was foolish to purchase the HID lights without further research. Hopefully I can get some money for them.

I will have to see if I can remove them and install the silverstars myself.

 

[RobtRoma]

As for the HID's slavrenz summed it up nicely, softly, gently, politely and without any ounce of dielectric compound!!!

I feel the same way as slavrenz. I'm not a fan of any HID lighting, aftermarket or factory. In my area there are a lot of intersections at hill crests. Whenever there is someone with HID's on the opposite side it absolutlely blinds me. I have to wait for them to go or try to block thier lights with my hand or arm. I'm having more and more issues with my sight as I get older and things like this aren't helping...

 

[kmoose]

It amazes me that the Euro-pattern headlamps are still illegal in the USA, but these stupid HID lights are legal. It seems like the DOT wants you to just splash light all over the road with little regard for oncoming motorists.

I had Euro pattern headlamps in the past, and my wife's Mercedes has them. You can actually see the pattern on the road, and as long as they are adjusted properly they are fantastic. When I drive her car at night it is a blessing compared to US spec headlamp patterns. A longer beam of light down the right side than the left gives good visibility to the curb/ditch/ etc without blinding oncoming drivers.

Of course, this is why British cars have headlamp adjusters so when you drive on the continent (our side of the road) you don't blind oncoming motorists with the extra light on the left side (their kerb, our oncoming traffic)

 

[tang]

Of course, this is why British cars have headlamp adjusters so when you drive on the continent (our side of the road) you don't blind oncoming motorists with the extra light on the left side (their kerb, our oncoming traffic)

Durp. I'm pretty sure I have headlamp adjusters in my car. If you wanted to raise or lower the beam, I'm sure you could.

 

[slavrenz]

Of course, this is why British cars have headlamp adjusters so when you drive on the continent (our side of the road) you don't blind oncoming motorists with the extra light on the left side (their kerb, our oncoming traffic)

Durp. I'm pretty sure I have headlamp adjusters in my car. If you wanted to raise or lower the beam, I'm sure you could.

+1. Almpst every car has headlight adjusters - it's just a matter of taking the time to aim them

 

[kmoose]

Of course, this is why British cars have headlamp adjusters so when you drive on the continent (our side of the road) you don't blind oncoming motorists with the extra light on the left side (their kerb, our oncoming traffic)

Durp. I'm pretty sure I have headlamp adjusters in my car. If you wanted to raise or lower the beam, I'm sure you could.

Both cars I had when I lived in the UK had an adjuster in the car - My Mondeo was manual, kind of like an old school wing mirror adjuster, and my VW was a switch. The Golf had 2 settings, one for right hand drive/left side of the road, one for the opposite. The VW actually reverted back to the RHD setting every time the car was turned off just so you wouldn't be driving around Britain after getting off the ferry or Eurostar and blinding oncoming traffic.

Not sure if continental cars (LDH, our side of the road) had it or not or if all cars in the UK are so equipped.