rtcaravan Posted April 3, 2012 Share Posted April 3, 2012 i have a hard time seeing at night and when it rains it's really bad. i'm looking to get brighter headlights for low beam but dont want to spend $40 on bulbs if they aren't going to inprove anything. what is everyone else running light wise? 0 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
FusionSVT Posted April 3, 2012 Share Posted April 3, 2012 6000k HID Kit are best for night vision plus they look good with the stock projectors (if you own a 2010-2012 model) 0 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
FusionDiffusion Posted April 3, 2012 Share Posted April 3, 2012 Things to improve light output (in order of cheapness): Wash your headlights Aim your headlights (see p.50 of your manual). They droop down over time. Polish your headlights if they're cloudy or scratched ($10 kit). Replace bulbs with something brighter (Sylvania XtraVision $20 or SilverStar $30). Note that all these can be done for less than $40 and you can easily double your light output while staying 100% legal. If you get new bulbs, I recommend you get the XtraVisions because they won't burn out as often as the SilverStars (changing the bulbs is somewhat of a pain). HID kits are more expensive, illegal, create tons of glare when used in your stock reflector housing, and may create electrical problems since the car's systems were designed for halogen bulbs. In some cases with cheap Chinese kits the ballasts don't last very long and you might have trouble getting your bulbs to strike. 0 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
rtcaravan Posted April 3, 2012 Author Share Posted April 3, 2012 mine is an 07 so no projectors. head lights are in great shape (not cloudy) and are aimed . just need better bulbs. i was looking at both xtravisions and silverstars. i didn't want to spend the money and be disappointed. i an putting in factory driving lights too. i have a switch and one light and need to get one more (less then $10 at the junk yard). 0 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
xmech2k Posted April 3, 2012 Share Posted April 3, 2012 If it's anything like the 2010, the driving lights (when aimed properly) will make a HUGE difference in rain and wet road conditions. I put in Silverstars in my 2010 and I think they already come with them ,as there was no really noticable difference. I wish I did them one at a time just to see, but it wasn't like, 'Wow!' or anything. Of course that's with a 2010 so it might be another story with your 07. Good luck! http://www.fordfusionforum.com/index.php?/topic/2725-drivingfog-lights/page__p__23009__hl__%2Breach+%2Bplastic__fromsearch__1&do=findComment&comment=23009 0 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
andrewdingemans Posted April 3, 2012 Share Posted April 3, 2012 definitely if you don't want to go the HID route, I have had good luck with the xtravisions in my parents' Hyundai Elantra, great output. I ended up having the dealership install a set in my highbeam when I bought the car as they wouldn't budge on the price. I havn't tried the silverstars so wouldn't be able to give you any input on these. Would anyone have any pictures of stock vs. xtravisions vs. silverstars in the '07-'09 housing to give him an idea of the light output? 0 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Oldguy16 Posted April 4, 2012 Share Posted April 4, 2012 PIAA Claims they make the brightest halogen bulbs. This is simply because they draw more power than a standard bulb. I personally feel halogens are a waste of money, they really can't get much brighter than the one that comes in the car. You'll never see more than 1100 lumens from a halogen that draws 55w. The stock bulb is around 900 lumens, and the new bulb is going to be only 200 lumens brighter. Many of these manufacturers, including PIAA, put a blue tint on the lens so the output looks more white, but the actual output is no different until you increase the wattage. If you want a whiter bulb, you can go with xtravisions. Or if you want more light, but want to stick to halogen, look at PIAA (Although they will draw more power). If you want the brightest possible, its an HID. Now as far as an HID in a reflector housing, that's up to you. If you do go HID, I suggest getting them from ddmtuning.com. I've ordered maybe 30 kits from them now and never received a bad one. As long as they're wired properly they will work. Mine are about 2 years old and still look the same as when I got them. Whatever you do decide, good luck! 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
companycar Posted April 5, 2012 Share Posted April 5, 2012 old guy 16 seems to be on track. My experience with an upgraded 55w bulb (halogen) in a 2001 crown vic was similar..a little better. "double output"..no way. Blue painted? dont get me started.. The 2012 fusions high and low beams are not bad in my judgement...I just like lights that are better. We all know the POTENTIAL problem with HID bulbs NOT working with the reflector....I have not heard about a HIGH beam HID replacement.....experiences? Lastly I would not be averse to mounting real driving light, but w/o access to a machine shop to make some dog-legged bracket, I see no way to do this on the 2012. 0 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
andrewdingemans Posted April 5, 2012 Share Posted April 5, 2012 HID replacements for the high-beams I think are useless, unless you drive with them on for long periods of time, they will not serve a purpose. The required time they need to warm up is usually the time another car is coming your way and you have to turn them off. Flashing of your high beams can shorten the life of the bulbs and/or the ballasts. I just aim my regular daytimes a tad higher than they should be and that usually does the trick for driving on long stretches of unlit road. I rarely use my highbeams (except for flashing ricers who throw HID's in their pos civics) 0 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
rtcaravan Posted April 6, 2012 Author Share Posted April 6, 2012 hell yeah on the pos civics, dont forget the farfromgroovin vdubz. :hysterical2: has anyone taken the reflector out and put the hid's in. worst comes to worst i can find a higher watt bulb too. 0 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Oldguy16 Posted April 6, 2012 Share Posted April 6, 2012 Yea agreed on the high beams. I left halogens in mine, but I have HID's in fogs and low beams. The halogen high beams are ok. If anything, I'll buy some 100w PIAA's and use a relay if I want more output. Then again, is all that work really worth an extra 1000 lumens? If you're leaving high beams on for that long, might as well go HID and get 5000 lumens. You don't need a 100w bulb for flash to pass. That's my logic for just keeping high beams halogen. Anyone done a bi-xenon retrofit for a 2010 in the high beams? That's probably the best option if you really want the brightest possible high beams. 0 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
billm0066 Posted April 6, 2012 Share Posted April 6, 2012 6000k HID Kit are best for night vision plus they look good with the stock projectors (if you own a 2010-2012 model) Not even close. In terms of kelvin rating, 4,300k is the best because it has the highest light output. If you want the best do a retrofit. Stay away from pnp hids. Or just replace the bulbs, but chances are it's not going to help much. Their life span is usually much shorter as well. Your budget is what's going to determine which direction you can go. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
munruss Posted April 7, 2012 Share Posted April 7, 2012 6000k HID Kit are best for night vision plus they look good with the stock projectors (if you own a 2010-2012 model) 4300K is OEM. Pure white light. 0 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
rtcaravan Posted April 7, 2012 Author Share Posted April 7, 2012 has anyone done LED bulbs ? 0 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
andrewdingemans Posted April 11, 2012 Share Posted April 11, 2012 LED's I don't believe have enough light output to use for headlights. Used for accent lighting or signal bulbs, they work great and look awesome, but as far as being a brighter light, I have yet to see any that are brighter than stock halogens or HID's. 0 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Oldguy16 Posted April 12, 2012 Share Posted April 12, 2012 I believe the Porsche Cayenne is the only car to use LED headlights stock. Otherwise, all those bulbs you find online, are only 450 lumens, and that's half a stock halogen, just not enough output at all. LED's work amazingly for other purposes on a car, but the affordable technology for LED headlights isn't there yet. The Porsche was the only car I've ever seen driving with LED headlights. 0 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
akirby Posted April 12, 2012 Share Posted April 12, 2012 The 2013 MKZ will have adaptive LED headlights. They swivel to illuminate curves better. 0 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
billm0066 Posted April 14, 2012 Share Posted April 14, 2012 I believe the Porsche Cayenne is the only car to use LED headlights stock. Otherwise, all those bulbs you find online, are only 450 lumens, and that's half a stock halogen, just not enough output at all. LED's work amazingly for other purposes on a car, but the affordable technology for LED headlights isn't there yet. The Porsche was the only car I've ever seen driving with LED headlights. There are quite a few cars on the road with oem led headlights. They are very expensive and performance has not surpassed hid yet. Give it a few years and they will be more common. Hid has been on cars for almost 20 years, and they are still a pretty expensive option on many cars, and are considered a luxury item. 0 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
klink1983 Posted April 26, 2012 Share Posted April 26, 2012 Things to improve light output (in order of cheapness): Wash your headlights Aim your headlights (see p.50 of your manual). They droop down over time. Polish your headlights if they're cloudy or scratched ($10 kit). Replace bulbs with something brighter (Sylvania XtraVision $20 or SilverStar $30). Note that all these can be done for less than $40 and you can easily double your light output while staying 100% legal. If you get new bulbs, I recommend you get the XtraVisions because they won't burn out as often as the SilverStars (changing the bulbs is somewhat of a pain). HID kits are more expensive, illegal, create tons of glare when used in your stock reflector housing, and may create electrical problems since the car's systems were designed for halogen bulbs. In some cases with cheap Chinese kits the ballasts don't last very long and you might have trouble getting your bulbs to strike. Legal in Canada as long as they don't exceed 6000k, well in Ontario anyways. I totally get what you are saying on cheap Chinese ballasts. I have 6000s in my car right now, $350 installed I believe, driver side flickers from time to time or doesn't come on. Its worse in the winter. I have to turn them on and off a few times...crappy ballast I am guessing at. 0 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
12_AWD_SPORT Posted November 4, 2015 Share Posted November 4, 2015 Don't do LED here is the link showing my kit I'm not happy 0 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
tyron695 Posted November 7, 2015 Share Posted November 7, 2015 The 2013 MKZ will have adaptive LED headlights. They swivel to illuminate curves better. My brother has a 2013 Lincoln MKZ with LED and those lights are bright!!! 0 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
drolds1 Posted November 7, 2015 Share Posted November 7, 2015 My brother has a 2013 Lincoln MKZ with LED and those lights are bright!!! They sure are! 0 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
thefoeyouknow Posted November 15, 2015 Share Posted November 15, 2015 For an 07 Fusion, the best lights are standard OE replacements. Make sure the lenses are clean and not cloudy and that the bulbs are from Phillips or Sylvania. 0 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DuratorqSupporter Posted November 19, 2015 Share Posted November 19, 2015 Just wanted to throw in that in inclement weather (raining, snowing, etc) putting more light out may actually reduce visibility since you will get more glare. This is why they tell you not to use your brights in a snow storm or if it is raining heavily. Don't get me wrong I totally want to know what options are out there for HIDs or LEDs and which one works better with the stock projector in the 2013+ models but don't think that getting more light will increase your visibility in every scenario. 0 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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