Anyone used Hella HID lights?

[Supracharged]

I have been looking at off road lighting systems, and I wondered if anyone has used or seen the Hella HID Rally lights in action? They are about $700 each, so they have to be pretty bright. Either that, or you are paying for the "cool" color... Also, the HID system would draw fewer amps than a comparable 150W light.. correct?

Thanks,
Abraham in Michigan
'89 Supra Turbo
'90 Subaru Legacy
'03 Xterra SC next year...:licker:

[ned946]

Its funny you post, cuz I just about died when I asked for pricing on the HID's a while back. If you check out the SCCX board, there are pics from the latest EXPO and some of those rigs were running what seemed to be 10 or so lights (HID).....the cost of the lights alone on those things!

[Philosopher]

I'm sure they're bright as the sun and well constructed but goddamn, who has that kind of money to spend on lights?

[Ag_xterra]

i think they only draw 35 amps but yet put out a greater light output than a comparable halogen light. for the price you could buy three times the number of conventional offroad lights and probably have a greater output and more coverage overall. not worth the price if you ask me.

[Supracharged]

Good point Philosopher, for the price of two HIDs you could get an ARB and a full set of new M/T tires. I would look more in the $200 range, in either IPF or Hella.

Abraham in Michigan
'89 Supra Turbo
'90 Subaru Legacy
'03 Xterra SC next year...

[Philosopher]

Originally posted by Supracharged
Good point Philosopher, for the price of two HIDs you could get an ARB and a full set of new M/T tires. I would look more in the $200 range, in either IPF or Hella.

Abraham in Michigan
'89 Supra Turbo
'90 Subaru Legacy
'03 Xterra SC next year...

I have 2 sets (one set not actually wired up right now) of IPF 960's (440W, pulls about 36 amps) and that's plenty of light. Those HID's are crazy.

[Mobycat]

Aren't the HID lamps arc lamps? Wouldn't the rod eventually wear away, meaning a very expensive replacement?

[Matthew's X]

They are great but a waste of $1400. What I could do with an extra $1400.:smoker2:
Stick to some PIAA 80XTs.

[Pleasure2000]

New at this forum...

HID lights are great. I have them on my car as headlights and are expected to last the life of the car.

You can pick up a set of HID lights, not auxillary lights, but headlights for around 400 per set.

I'll be posting around the forum...looking to buy a 2002 SC Xterra

[ToeJam]

DUDE!! No matter how much play money I had, I could never justify spending that much cash on such a breakable item.

If you want to drop that kind of cash, then more power to you. You're doing more than me to keep this economy going..... but.... There isn't a single place you can mount those that you don't risk hitting them with something. All of us have experienced trail damage and expected it every time we go play in the mud. However, I'd go postal if I took a rock into one from the rig ahead of me or (if they were mounted to the top) ripped one off with a branch.

I dunno.... if they're your thing, then go for it. Most people here that have offroad lights don't have a problem with amperage.

[Pleasure2000]

I don't have much off road experience, but all I'd have to say is that if you have HID lights, you'd never buy a car without them.

As soon as I get an '02 X, that's the first thing I'm going to do to them. Stage II HID lights in the headlights. My first modification.

I think it's the most valuable thing one could do for their driving. My .02

[Mobycat]

Originally posted by Pleasure2000
I don't have much off road experience, but all I'd have to say is that if you have HID lights, you'd never buy a car without them.

As soon as I get an '02 X, that's the first thing I'm going to do to them. Stage II HID lights in the headlights. My first modification.

I think it's the most valuable thing one could do for their driving. My .02

As long as you stay completely accident free...

I'm not willing to take that chance on lights that pricey.

Hmmm....maybe I'll go buy some HMI lights for my truck...not.

[Matt Peckham]

probably the closest you can get to the HIDs are the Lightforce 240DL. They are big and bright, and light, and have the added bonus of an adjustable focus. they run about 109 a piece.

[Kerensky97]

KC HID's pull 35watts, 2.7 amps and put out 600,000. Price is comparable to the Hellas.

"The starter ignites mercury gas inside a glass tube. The heat from the mercury casues sodium, chlorine, and bromine salt particles to vaporise and give off daylight like color."

The bulb burns at 4000 degrees kelvin.

I'm sure the hellas work in much the same way.

If you get them for your headlights remember that the high intensity discharge is going right into other motorists eyes.

[Mobycat]

Originally posted by Kerensky97
KC HID's pull 35watts, 2.7 amps and put out 600,000. Price is comparable to the Hellas.

"The starter ignites mercury gas inside a glass tube. The heat from the mercury casues sodium, chlorine, and bromine salt particles to vaporise and give off daylight like color."

The bulb burns at 4000 degrees kelvin.

Couple things...aren't true HID lamps arc lamps? That is, not a gas?

Also - I would hardly call 4000 Kelvin daylight. Indoor lighting (your regular home lightbulb) is about 3200 Kelvin, and sunlight is around 5600 Kelvin. They are closer to indoor light than outdoor light. They'll be a little bluer than indoor light, a little yellower than sunlight.