I've been looking at the myriad of options for replacing the bulbs on my vehicle. HID kits look impressive, but require some wiring and messing with the balance of the electrical system. Xenon, Halogen, and LED all seem to be plug and play, but which offers the best field of vision and color (or colour for my friends across the pond)?

Anyone have any suggestions?

 

https://www.jaguarforums.com/forum/x...asy-way-89851/

 

^^ +1
Going to do this myself come next winter and the days are dark

 

The upper cutoff pattern seems to have been completely lost in the photo he showed.

In the end, good halogen bulbs and upgraded wire gauge for both power and grounds seems to be the best for actual usable lighting with the stock globes.

 

I've run the HID's for 2 years, the output is far better than halogen. I'm pro conversion, but follow the MOT guidance on UK legalities about headlight washer kit and cabin adjust lamp levelling. The car has to have both.
HID lights are proven, the kits have been around a while now and the bulbs aren't as expensive as when they where introduced. There's always a for and against with these conversions.
The cut-offs are important, when I dig mine out of hibernation I might post a beam pattern. I had mine aligned on the beam pattern tester at the MOT station with a real stickler of a tester. No flashes and I enjoy actually seeing further down the road over the standard lights. I use them on the E Type and MKII restorations along with 5 speed gearboxes....what's not to like about modern motoring? I see it as 'value added' - and safer....

 

That would be nice. And please note the specific components.

The problem with many HID conversions is the quality of the components. Those would be the death stars coming at you at night. It's not about whether something is "modern", but rather what can be achieved with the existing globes.

Even factory high power lighting can be a problem. Especially noteworthy are BMW with particularly high aiming.

The US market X308 globes have a very distinct rectangular hot spot on the low beams when the proper halogen bulbs are fitted. I have yet to see a picture where the hot spot even appears.

 

I changed all my original bulbs for blue tip xenons, straight swap, improved vision on dark country roads by at least 50%. Very worthwhile half hour exercise.

 

HID conversion does not mass anything