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HID or LED for headlight replacement - function over aesthetics


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Ah. Thanks gentlemen. I was thinking one thing and read another. I assumed "retrofit" was hid installed in halogen projectors.

 

Yes, TRS aftermarket projectors can give you some unbelievably sharp cut-offs.

 

I have been nothing but thrilled with my TRS HID kit. Having said that, my wife has DDM 35w setup in her cx-9 and it has been going for over 6 years without issue.

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to clarify also, I tried to find a pic from about the same distance (120-150ft) I was from the fence in the photo. Tonight I went back with my Fusion (Halogen projector) just to get a comparison from the same distance and also close. I'll eventually go back and get a nice 50 foot(ish) shot with my Edge too.

 

Fusion Halogen from same distance
20160123_1904191_zpslia1axcb.jpg

 

20160123_1904461_zpspumyei8i.jpg

 

From about 50ft
has a pretty flat cutoff the width of the car and then drops on both left and right sides. impressed, doesn't look like direct light is above that cutoff, ideally I wish I had a building around me to look at this more indepth but this gives a pretty good idea.

20160123_1915271_zpsdwrbaafn.jpg

 

20160123_1915411_zpsw7fkqcu1.jpg

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On the topic of HID light pattern, it seems Ford is using a different projector on the MKX (maybe other Lincolns also) versus Ford vehicles. On Ford (seen it on the Explorer, Edge & Mustang), the HID pattern looks like a Halogens pattern only brighter, on the MKX it has a clear cutoff with the right side going up. The light on the MKX also shines considerably wider on the road. I recently rented a Nissan Altima with HID & it also had a similar pattern as the MKX.

 

This is the pattern from my OEM HID lights (sorry for the low quality pictures):

 

post-24673-0-62455900-1453705262_thumb.jpg

 

post-24673-0-66897500-1453705290_thumb.jpg

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Couldn't go to my normal fence cause the edge sits to high. Here's my factory 15 HID cutoff. Note4 could capture the blue cutoff on the concrete but it did on a container I found. Factory doesn't have the best steps in the cutoff but it's also not the worst I'be seen either.

1st pic shows steps up close, 2nd from a distance.

post-25864-0-39951900-1453710676_thumb.jpg

post-25864-0-01502400-1453710711_thumb.jpg

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If you look at the 2011-2015 Owners manual of the MKX, it shows the difference in light pattern between Halogen & HID. In the 2015 Edge Owners Manual there is only 1 pattern shown and it is similar to the Halogen pattern in the MKX.

 

For color & that bluish line, don't take my photos as a guide due to the cellphone camera I am using, the bluish line/cutoff is there. I have a 2011 MKX with factory HID.

 

post-24673-0-20216000-1453712021_thumb.jpg

 

post-24673-0-63253900-1453712031_thumb.jpg

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Do you have fogs on in your pics? The light bleeding in the top left is why I ask. If you don't have fogs on, have you ever taken the drivers HID out? May not be seated correctly

I didn't have them on at the time, and yes, the driver's HID was taken out recently. Thanks for pointing that out, I'll try to re-seat it.

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After getting them installed, I took a cut-off pic, but not as far away from objects as you all. It seems from about 20 feet to stay under a sedan's rear windshield on flat ground.

 

I went with the 35w 5500k from Retrofit Source, a 9012 bulb. They said the anti-flicker wasn't needed, and used the HD relay. Turns out my headlight was out because the stock bulb melted the harness, so I went hardwired.

 

 

post-32863-0-81604000-1453822854_thumb.jpg

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For the best observation of your cut off, you ideally want to view it at about 50ft. The garage photo is kinda like sitting 1ft in front of a 80in TV. Here's 2 pics of my oem hids. One right in front of garage and other from about 50ft. Notice the hotspot is more spread out. Ideally you want an even hotspot spread out throught the whole light but only a tuned projector is normally going to accomplish that. The blue line is just for looks but it blures the cutoff as opposed to have a sharp cutoff line. Most people love the blue cutoff and enhance this (see led photo i posted earlier).

post-25864-0-49887100-1453838437_thumb.png

post-25864-0-30293300-1453838497_thumb.png

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