Better H3 headlights.

[Huck BB62]

Hi folks, we live in the mountains and need better headlights, the stock ones are woefully inadequate. I don't want anything bolt on. I read the other posts, are the 100w highbeams bad for the vehicle? Can they be redone to utilize the stock wiring to run relays and power the headlights directly from the battery?

[Huck BB62]

Hi folks, we live in the mountains and need better headlights, the stock ones are woefully inadequate. I don't want anything bolt on. I read the other posts, are the 100w highbeams bad for the vehicle? Can they be redone to utilize the stock wiring to run relays and power the headlights directly from the battery?

[kodiakz]

Get an HID conversion. You will be glad you did!!

[H3H]

<BLOCKQUOTE class="ip-ubbcode-quote"><div class="ip-ubbcode-quote-title">quote:</div><div class="ip-ubbcode-quote-content">Originally posted by kodiakz:
Get an HID conversion. You will be glad you did!! </div></BLOCKQUOTE>

Where did you get the bi-xenons from?

[f5fstop]

100w bulbs push the limit of the 10 amp fuse (one for each headlamp). What people don't seem to understand is that generators fluctuate their output, and in the winter with all accessories on, it might drop to below 10 volts, if only for a split second.
The PCM which regulates the generator's output does not increase output instantaneously since this could shorten the life of the generator. (Ever notice how your lights may dim for a second when the brakes are applied?)
However, there are bulbs out there that draw 55/65W, but state they output the equivalent of 100W on the highbeam. Not sure if this is all that true.

I haven't checked, but I don't see why you couldn't cut the feed wire, run the headlamp side of the cut feed wire through a relay and power it directly off the battery. Just use the feedwire from the BCM to the relay to turn it on when the headlamps are turned on.
If the lights do not turn on then, you might have to install a resistor in the BCM wire to fake out the BCM into thinking there is a bulb on the other end. This might or might not be necessary. Not sure if the H3's BCM is designed to shut down the circuit if no resistance is sensed.

[WPBGUY]

The BCM monitors current to the lamps?
Is ther a bulb failure indication feature?

[kodiakz]

According to the application guide, your bulbs are H13. Here is a link to a conversion kit for the your H3
http:// www. xtralights .com/index.asp?PageAction=VIEWPROD&ProdID=31

[Huck BB62]

<BLOCKQUOTE class="ip-ubbcode-quote"><div class="ip-ubbcode-quote-title">quote:</div><div class="ip-ubbcode-quote-content">Originally posted by H3H:
<BLOCKQUOTE class="ip-ubbcode-quote"><div class="ip-ubbcode-quote-title">quote:</div><div class="ip-ubbcode-quote-content">Originally posted by kodiakz:
Get an HID conversion. You will be glad you did!! </div></BLOCKQUOTE>

Where did you get the bi-xenons from? </div></BLOCKQUOTE>

Looking at the literature for the kit that kodiak is talking about, it's only 3.2A. The HID seems to put out more light, less current. I may just try them.

[f5fstop]

<BLOCKQUOTE class="ip-ubbcode-quote"><div class="ip-ubbcode-quote-title">quote:</div><div class="ip-ubbcode-quote-content">Originally posted by WPBGUY:
The BCM monitors current to the lamps?
Is ther a bulb failure indication feature? </div></BLOCKQUOTE>

No bulb indication failure, but the BCM controls all lights. Can't verify at this time if the BCM controls each circuit separately or via via a relay.

[Sportsdude]

<BLOCKQUOTE class="ip-ubbcode-quote"><div class="ip-ubbcode-quote-title">quote:</div><div class="ip-ubbcode-quote-content">Originally posted by Huck BB62:
Hi folks, we live in the mountains and need better headlights, the stock ones are woefully inadequate. I don't want anything bolt on. I read the other posts, are the 100w highbeams bad for the vehicle? Can they be redone to utilize the stock wiring to run relays and power the headlights directly from the battery? </div></BLOCKQUOTE>
I'm using the high wattage bulb 80/100, 5000K at present until I can find a good HID that has both Hi/Low beam with the look of a traditional headlight rather than projector. I had to upgrade the wiring and run seperate relay and fuse directly from the battery. Much improvement from stock lighting.

[kodiakz]

<BLOCKQUOTE class="ip-ubbcode-quote"><div class="ip-ubbcode-quote-title">quote:</div><div class="ip-ubbcode-quote-content">until I can find a good HID that has both Hi/Low beam with the look of a traditional headlight rather than projector </div></BLOCKQUOTE>
Once you've seen the huge imporvements in light dispersion and direction provided by projectors, you probably would not want to give them up!!!

[HUMRCHIC]

Just reading through doing a little research. I bought these..Xenon Bulbs (http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&rd=1&item=8033562244&ssPageName=STRK:MEWN:IT)

Do I need a conversion kit? or do I just unplug the old ones and pop these in?

[BABHUMV]

<BLOCKQUOTE class="ip-ubbcode-quote"><div class="ip-ubbcode-quote-title">quote:</div><div class="ip-ubbcode-quote-content">Originally posted by HUMRCHIC:
Just reading through doing a little research. I bought these..Xenon Bulbs (http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&rd=1&item=8033562244&ssPageName=STRK:MEWN:IT)

Do I need a conversion kit? or do I just unplug the old ones and pop these in? </div></BLOCKQUOTE>

Pop and plug. I did this and am not happy at all with the results. Looking into the HID conversion setup.

[HUMRCHIC]

Oh No, What happened? And what don't you like?

[BABHUMV]

I found these HID conversions on ebay for about $200.00. But, I noticed that when converted you lose the High Beam function. Has anyone else done the convertion, and if so are the low beams bright enogh to not need the highs?
Any info would be appreciated.
Thanks

[BABHUMV]

<BLOCKQUOTE class="ip-ubbcode-quote"><div class="ip-ubbcode-quote-title">quote:</div><div class="ip-ubbcode-quote-content">Originally posted by HUMRCHIC:
Oh No, What happened? And what don't you like? </div></BLOCKQUOTE>

Even though the lights are a cool blue color, it seems they are not as bright as the original Halogens. The headlights were very easy to install, make sure to keep your fingers off of the glass, so try them and see what you think, but do not throw away the originals.

[HUMRCHIC]

Really? It says they provide 75% more light than halogens. May I ask what brand your are?
I'm starting to fret about it.

[FishnMan]

Check my previous post about my bulb switch. In a nutshell, the headlights look cool but actually produce/project less light, while the foglights are really quite bright (making you more visible, and lighting up the road better, in adverse weather.New lightbulb install (http://elcova.com/groupee/forums/a/tpc/f/2706067735/m/7531002251/r/7531002251#7531002251)

[Huck BB62]

I just properly adjusted my headlights (1.5 turns counterclockwise) and the world is good. Seems like they have them too low from the factory. The factory lamps, properly adjusted work great.

[usmctopgun]

I am not sure what size the H3 has, but I put a set of these in my H2. I love them, a BIG improvement over stock. I also replaced my DRL's with the PIAA 3157.
PIAA 9007 (http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/Hummer-H2-2005-H2-LAMBO-DRS-SUPERCHRGD-11-TV-2-SETOFWHEELS_W0QQcmdZViewItemQQcategoryZ43913QQitem Z4609577330QQrdZ1)

[Beastmaster]

In regards to the H13 HID kit retrofit:

You will not like the results of the H13 bulb conversion in a DOT spec reflector housing. The H13 bulb is a dual filament bulb that is relatively short and stubby (compared to 9007 or H4 bulbs).

If you used a stock headlamp reflector with an HID H2S bulb that was rebased for the H13 setup, the base would have to be thickened quite a bit to literally move the bulb back so that the "filament arc" of the HID bulb would match where the low beam filament position would be in a standard halogen bulb.

Also, the H13 bulb (similar to the 9007 bulb) is a stacked and offset filament bulb as well. This means that you have focus points that are different than a standard Z-axis aligned bulb (like the H4, 9006, and others).

If you did attempt a HID retrofit with stock reflectors, you'd end up with a huge hot spot that's off center.

So, your best bet for any headlight upgrades for the H3 will be:

-Brighter bulbs
-Reflector replacements to european code reflectors (usually an H4 bulb is used to do this, which means a rewiring job as well)
-Reflector replacements to european code reflectors AND an H4 HID upgrade
-Projector HID's (this is the way to go!).

To answer the question about HID's and losing high beams. No big deal. HID's are 3x as bright (as long as you use a 4300 to 5000k bulb) as any halogen out there. Road bounce of the light alone will provide you with enough light to brighten signs 1 mile away. I have HID low beam only on my H1, and I have not lamented the loss of high beams.

As for blue color bulbs - they actually produce less effective light than clear bulbs. A great chart would be one that's found on this link:
http://www.azhog.org/headlights/Hella_ecode_visionplus.htm

Towards the bottom, you'll see a chart of effective lumens vs. kelvin color temp of the bulb. The bluer the bulb, the lower effective light you actually end up with. In some cases, a overwattage 80w headlight bulb will produce more light than a HID 10000k bulb because of the inefficiencies brought in by the filtering/adding of the blue in the glass.

I haven't measured whether the H3's reflector is a 7" or 5". If it's either, I can give the "plans" for a retrofit kit in either reflector or projector format to HID. It's essentially duplicating what others have done. If it's 7", it's been done before on H1's and H2's. If it's 5", you can follow what was done before and match it to the H3's specific wiring needs.

-Steve

[HUMRCHIC]

OK< I installed the Xenon H13 bulbs yesterday. Low beam, Bright as hell. High beam [w/o) Fogs, SUCK!!!! Should I get a Conversion kit or just leave em, They are a crisp whitish blue, very nice! Just don't like losing the projection value of the high beams. Any input?