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Upgrading to HIDs

How Cheap And Easy Are They Really?
December, 2009
By Frank Gilliland
Photography by Frank Gilliland
Upgrading Hidguy Hid Headlights Kit
The whole package (two HID... 
   
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Upgrading Hidguy Hid Headlights Kit
The whole package (two HID fog bulbs and two dual-beam HID bulbs) from HIDguy.net was less than $300. When I looked online, I couldn't find a single name brand HID auxiliary light for cheaper than that.
My truck came with halogen headlights. They work okay, but I've been in some friends' cars with HID headlights, and they had some great light output. They also look kind of cool, and I've seen them on trucks that did not come with HIDs originally. I've also seen different color HID lights, and wondered if the light color difference has to do with quality, or intensity, or what.

Upgrading Hidguy Hid Headlights Hid Fog Bulb Replacements
The HID fog bulb replacement... 
   
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Upgrading Hidguy Hid Headlights Hid Fog Bulb Replacements
The HID fog bulb replacement for my truck was a two-wire input. It plugged directly into the ballast box that the company provided, and I was able to get my fog light HIDs going with about ten minutes of work......
Upgrading Hidguy Hid Headlights Hid Fog Bulb Replacements 2
......HIDguy.net provided... 
   
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Upgrading Hidguy Hid Headlights Hid Fog Bulb Replacements 2
......HIDguy.net provided adapter wires so I could directly plug in my factory fog light harness to power the HID fog light ballasts. Once I had these installed, the yellow light than came out of the housings made foggy night driving much better.
Upgrading Hidguy Hid Headlights Ballast Box Location
Here is the one downfall of... 
   
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Upgrading Hidguy Hid Headlights Ballast Box Location
Here is the one downfall of add-on HIDs: for every bulb you install, you must find a location for a ballast box. It's actually not that big of a deal, and I simply used the provided sticky tape to stick them to the truck's body. If you're using sticky tape, make sure to clean the spot and remove any dirt that could make the sticky tape adhesive loose.
Upgrading Hidguy Hid Headlights Dual Beam Hid Headlight Bulbs
The dual-beam HID headlight... 
   
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Upgrading Hidguy Hid Headlights Dual Beam Hid Headlight Bulbs
The dual-beam HID headlight bulbs took a little more time to install. If I had just gotten single-beam headlights, it would have been plug-and-play just like the fog lights. The dual-beam HID headlights utilize a little more power and actually come with their own wiring harness that draws power directly from the battery.....
Upgrading Hidguy Hid Headlights Dual Beam Hid Headlight Bulbs 2
.....Your factory headlight... 
   
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Upgrading Hidguy Hid Headlights Dual Beam Hid Headlight Bulbs 2
.....Your factory headlight harness plugs directly into the new HID light harness and is used to trigger the "high-beam, low-beam" actions. The dual-beam HID bulb is also a three-wire hookup, but I'm guessing you all can figure that out since I was able to.
Upgrading Hidguy Hid Headlights How They Shine
How Did They Shine? There... 
   
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Upgrading Hidguy Hid Headlights How They Shine
How Did They Shine?
There are little things you can do to your vehicle to make it more much enjoyable and/or comfortable to drive-a better steering wheel, a new stereo, new supportive seats-and these HID lights definitely fall into that category. Visibility was not only improved in clear-sky conditions, it was also greatly improved when the nights got foggy and I had to utilize my new yellow HID fogs. And, (I almost hate to admit this) I felt a little cooler driving down the highway at night.
HID Guy
10761 Jamacha Blvd Suite G
Spring Valley
CA  91978
619-646-7441

http://www.hidguy.net/

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