[s-cars] Lighting poll - McCulloch HIDs vs HIR bulbs

[Eric Rechlin]

Dave Forgie wrote:
> Sean D. may disagree but I think, for the money, the McCullough
> HIDs with the Euro lenses are VERY close to the factory HID
> set up, at least to my eyes.

I have some experience here so I will comment.

A few years ago I installed a genuine Philips HID 4300K kit in the low beams
and HIR 9011 bulbs in the high beams of an S6 (not my own) with otherwise
stock DOT headlights.  The grand total was close to $600 at the time, if I
remember correctly.

At the time, I contemplated cutting the shield on the projector to make it
angle up on the right to give a European beam pattern, though in the end I
decided against it.  I have since read that factory European HID headlights do
not angle up to the right like the halogens, in order to reduce glare, making
their beam pattern similar to the US beam pattern.  If this is true, it means
that a European halogen headlight with an HID conversion probably would not be
comparable to a European HID headlight.  Hopefully somebody with true European
HIDs can confirm or deny this.  Note that I am not arguing what you are saying
about Euro lenses -- I am just talking about the entire headlight here.

A couple weeks ago I installed no-name, semi-counterfeit Philips HIDs in my
own S6.  I didn't want to go with the McCulloch kit for several reasons.
First, the McCulloch kit has separate ballasts and igniters, meaning I would
have to find a place to put two things on each side rather than just one.
Second, it seems the McCulloch kit is only available beginning at 5000K, and I
wanted 4300K because that produces the most light.  Third, the McCulloch kit
(or at least one that was guaranteed to not be counterfeit) was still a
significant fraction of the price of a true Philips kit.

I ended up buying my made-in-China fake Philips kit on eBay for $133.98
including shipping.  I call it "fake Philips" because the integrated
ballasts/igniters look absolutely identical to the Philips LVQ 212-L300
ballasts in the real Philips kit, just with a different brand name (in my
case, "TENON") in place of the Philips name.  This is approximately one-third
the price of a real Philips kit, so I figured that even if I burned out a few
bulbs or ballasts I would still come out ahead.

So far it seems to have worked just as well as the Philips kit in the other
car.  This kit doesn't relay the lights, but I don't see that as a concern
because the factory fuse box says the fuses are for gas discharge headlights
as well, and their 15-amp rating (on each side) supports that.

By the way, in neither car did the bulb check system indicate a burned out
bulb, either with relays or without relays.  Autocheck was never lobotomized,
as it properly indicated burned out halogen bulbs.

Currently, HIR bulbs are over $60 a pair with shipping (unless somebody knows
of a cheaper source).  That makes them approximately half the price of the HID
kit.  Though I only have experience with HIR bulbs in the high beams, I think
the HID kit is well worth the difference in price.

I have not yet upgraded the high beams in my S6.  I never use the high beams
so I see no point in spending over $60 on HIR bulbs.  I might get them anyway,
though, if I can find a cheaper source.

I would suggest that if you are looking for the best lighting without spending
too much money, get a cheap 4300K HID kit for the low beams and 9011 HIR bulbs
for the high beams.  If your lenses are pitted, replace them with European
glass.  Don't bother with anything more (except maybe HID high beams, though
I'd worry about longevity if you flash them a lot), because it probably won't
be worth it.

Regards,

Eric Rechlin