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55w HID question

7K views 19 replies 10 participants last post by  ShaunJ 
#1 ·
Hello, I figured there would be a thread on here with the question but I cannot seem to find it so I will post it. I have my stock halogen headlamps and my stock fog light housings with a relay ran for the low beams. If I wanted to run 55w HIDs (around 4500-5000k) will I run into any problems with overheating and melting my housings for my fogs or headlamps?
 
#2 ·
i just put 6000k in top and bottom. It seems like my fogs do more blinding to people rather than my headlights. It could be that i have a 05-07 style bumper. You may have to adjust them to beam lower like Im planing to do while I wait on doing my srt conversion. Tons of light by the way.
 
#3 ·
55 watt right? And yeah I have the 05 bumper aswell. I've heard of some running a relay for the fogs and another relay for the lows.
 
#6 ·
you will be fine with the 55w. For the fogs you wont need a relay. For the lows, its a must for the WK. I used to run the 55w fog and low and it lit up the street.
 
#7 ·
I've never seen the 55w in person installed. Are they too unbearable for other drivers? Because I had my 35w set right and I never blinded or got flashed by anyone. Thanks guys
 
#8 ·
could be a bit rough since you are lifted, i would try to aim it as best as possible but you will still get flashed. I got flashed from time to time.There's a noticeable difference between the light output of 55w vs a 35w.
 
#9 ·
Yeah that's one of the things I'm really worried about. I had to turn my 35 watt pretty much all the way down so I didn't blind them
 
#10 · (Edited)
I know it's an old thread but here's a pic (just in case someone does a search on this) of the Kensun 55w hids in my fog lights that I installed last night. They're sooooooo much brighter than my 55w halogens lol. I've only had them in for a short while so I can't speak to any flashing issues from other drivers yet but after a night of driving around, no one has flashed me yet including the 3 or so cops I passed haha
 

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#14 ·
late to the party, but yep, watch the heat. I didn't run fogs, but i ran 55W with a relay for about 4 years. I had to replace 2 relays during that time. It's kinda gonna suck because you gonna come out and try to turn on your lights and they are not gonna work. The second time I couldn't turn the hid's off lol. When I ran 35W I never replaced a harness. You really oughta upgrade ur lights to projectors.... it's cool on a dry night, but when it's raining at night, and those kits in halogen housing reflect off the ground, you guys kill us lol. Now I run 4300K 35W in a 08-10 projector housing.
 
#15 ·
late to the party, but yep, watch the heat. I didn't run fogs, but i ran 55W with a relay for about 4 years. I had to replace 2 relays during that time. It's kinda gonna suck because you gonna come out and try to turn on your lights and they are not gonna work. The second time I couldn't turn the hid's off lol. When I ran 35W I never replaced a harness. You really oughta upgrade ur lights to projectors.... it's cool on a dry night, but when it's raining at night, and those kits in halogen housing reflect off the ground, you guys kill us lol. Now I run 4300K 35W in a 08-10 projector housing.
yep coming out and not having headlights blows... I got tired of the reliability issues and just went to an upgraded harness with some HIR 9011s in the factory housings and I couldn't be happier. also threw some 9005s in the factory fogs, huge improvement as well.

just some food for thought for the OP
 
#18 ·
Unsure of what the bump on this thread was for... but! with the Jeep WK you are going to want to use a relay harness with a capacitor. All because of the PWM headlight system.

Although I also must say I highly recommend using the type of bulb the housing was designed for. You will glare other drivers (regardless whether they flash or not. Most don't flash because people with PnP HID's never seem to care about others).

The 08+ OEM HID headlights can be made to fit on the 05-07's. There is little to buy. You will need to find something to cover the gap.


I would point you toward a projector retrofit. This will project the light where it needs to go and how it needs to go. They can be done for a rather low cost if you do a budget build.


If a projector retrofit is something that you don't have the time/money/energy to do I would recommend a HIR conversion. Following the below picture (Trimming of the base can be done with a file or nail clippers):


Here are some facts about the HIR conversion. All of this extra light with no glare! :thumbsup:
9005 -> 9011
9005: 1,860lm +- 12 %
9011: 2,500lm +- 15 %
Potential max increase of 75.6% more lumens
Best bulb: regular Philip

9006 -> 9012
9006: 1,095lm +- 15 %
9012: 1,875lm +- 15 %
Potential max increase of 131.7% more lumens
Best bulb: Volstra +30 HIR2

For a fog light you definitely DO NOT want HIDs (or LED pods). They act exactly how a fog pattern shouldn't by scattering light. If you are looking for a nice alternative to fog lights maybe take a look at my build using Morimoto LED assemblies here (Tutorial can also be used for JW Speaker assemblies):
http://www.jeepgarage.org/f187/how-to-morimoto-led-fog-lights-on-a-wk-99650.html



I will gladly answer any questions if people have them. I may or may not see them if it's posted here but certainly a PM will be seen quickly.

I can provide some tips and tricks or maybe a list of parts you would need to complete one of the options above. Hopefully this post was helpful in some way and someone will choose NOT to put HID's in a halogen reflector (headlight or fog light).
 
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