Bosche e-code H4r lights and bulbs

One of the venders on the Miata forum I'm a member of is having a group buy on 7" Bosch e-code H4 lights and bulbs. $50 for a pair.
Here's the link to the group buy: http://www.flyinmiata.com/groupbuy/
(scroll down)
Here's a link to the Miata forum thread: http://forum.miata.net/vb/showthread.php?t=364151

You DO NOT have to be a member of the Miata forum to purchase these.
I already have some Hellas in my Miata, but I'm probably going to buy a set for my IM.
For the group buy to happen they need 50 buyers. So far they have 37 in less than two days, so the group buy is probably going to happen.

No affiliation.
Just a 'heads-up' on a good deal.
Ron

Bosch apparently is closing out that model. Not DOT approved if that matters in your state - Hella ones I mentioned in prior post are DOT approved. They are about same price other places --- the Miata deal includes bulbs and you need to add the bulbs to link below -- or go with Sylvania Ultra Vision bulbs.

http://www.busdepot.com/details.jsp?partnumber=0301600118

You can get a HID H4 kit for about $60.00 that will give you a bitchin' new look, lots more light and half the power with a run cool light system. If that's legal where you're at! I installed 8000K HID kit on my Jag. The night time vision is incredible yet not blinding for oncoming cars.

I can't fathom why HID's are $1200 option on new cars when they can be bought for $60. Does that include the glass or just the bulb and ballast. Any indication as to expected life - not that many drive Speedies much at night. I'm sure its the same reason the sound system is $2k and you can get decent Alpine for $600 with more options. Guess I need WIKI education on HIDs.

The new car HID's include an auto leveler which adds some cost but no way near $1000.00. HID for 60-100$ include the bulbs (choose 50Watt for running lights), ballasts and the wiring. It takes about 30-60 minutes depending on space to install and is too easy.

In order to not blind the person when you install after market without self levelers point a little lower and have the left light point a little more to the right.

The difference is obvious right out of the box. I had trouble with wet roads at night seeing the headlight illumination. Now I swear I can see the shine on dry pavement during the day.

The bulbs run cold, have a multi-thousand hour use (like 5000 hours or more) and use 1/2 the power of normal halogen. It's a no brainer. But in some states (although I would think hard to apply) it is not legal.

I guess if you get nabbed you can always switch back...

I just did a little online looking about H4 HID. The cheap ones are single element, so low(one???) beams only. The more expensive ones either have two elements or physically move the bulb via an actuator to give low and high beams.

I have had Empi h4 halogens on my car since day one. I had to replace one bulb so far in five years. I drive with my lights on all the time.

Most conversion cars would have a Bi-Xenon which means that your everyday light would be Xenon and the HI would be your normal light. I have 4 lights in the front. Outside lights are now Xenon and the inside is Halogen.

The reason is that if you wanted to flash someone with a high beam flash using Xenon it would be ineffective because the Xenon bulb needs a few seconds to power up.

Do these HID H4 require less power than the old incandescent lights?

Would I have to install bigger wires?

They use about 50% less power because the power goes through the ballasts that gradually pass power to the Xenon bulb.

Do the ballasts require any special or new wiring?

BTW, I was talking about the 7" round lights that we all have. It makes a lot of sense to have the bi-xenon setup on cars with 4 headlights. So I guess the ones we would get have the Xenon low beam with an integral halogen high beam?

Lane, it looks like they plug in to the headlight harness with the addition of a hot wire to the battery for the ballast, and possibly a ground also. The existing harness just tells the electronics H/L beam.

No, no special wiring. The headlamps already have a hot and ground... the ballasts are in series.

Thanks for your reply Mike.

I thought they might require more current.

Are the ballasts small enough to tuck in the headlight bucket?

No the ballasts are about 3"W x 5"L and about 1/2" thick. They have to be about (because of the wiring) 1' away from the bulb. But can be tucked anywhere.

Interesting article:

http://www.danielsternlighting.com/tech/bulbs/Hid/conversions/conversions.html

Guess anything "Made in China" should also shout "Caveat Emptor"

Thanx Mike, that article was very illuminating!

~WB

But it isn't true. The Internet is full of specialists until someone actually uses it.... I don't agree with this supposed diatribe! Me thinx this guy is cheesed that he sells halogen.