If you’re looking for impressive aesthetics or high performance for your car then HID headlights are what you’re looking for. HID headlights are far superior to the OEM (original equipment manufacturer) bulbs your car has. This is because HID headlights are more powerful than halogen lights.
HID lights have superior illuminating power and they come in a wide range of colors. This can add a level of customization to your car that standard headlights can’t match.
Because HID headlights are so popular there are many products on the market to select from thanks to manufacturers who want to profit from the craze. So how do you find a kit that suits the design of your vehicle? Take a look at the following guide to help you find the ultimate HID headlights for your car.
- Features to Consider in Good HID Headlight Kits
- Top 10 Best HID Headlight Kits 2024
- 1. Kensun New Technology All-in-One LED Headlight Conversion Kit
- 2. Innovited Premium AC Canbus HID Kit
- 3. SDX HID Xenon DC Headlight Replacement Bulbs, 9006, 6000K
- 4. XtremeVision Headlight Conversion Kit
- 5. Kensun HID Kit with Xenon Lights
- 6. Lumenon 55w HID Kit
- 7. H11 Morimoto Elite HID Kit
- 8. Aukee 55W H11 HID Kit
- 9. XtremeVision 35W HID Xenon Kit
- 10. HID-Warehouse S2 72W 8,000LM LED Bulb - H1 LED Headlight Kit
- Guide to Buying the Best HID Headlight Kits
- Final Thoughts
Features to Consider in Good HID Headlight Kits
2 Types of Headlights
The Halogen Light Bulb
The halogen light is formed by a combination of nitrogen and argon gasses that are trapped in a heat resistant case containing a tungsten filament. An electric charge is sent to the tungsten by the vehicle’s battery which heats the filament to 2,500°C. This subsequently ignites the glow you can see outside the bulb. It’s what’s known as the incandescent process.
It would seem the only advantage of halogen light bulbs is the low cost. After about 450 to 1000 hours (or around 800 hours on average) the halogen light bulb comes to the end of its lifecycle. In most cases, it’s caused by the fracture and evaporation of the tungsten filament.
What are HID Lights?
HID (High-Intensity Discharge) was launched in the early 1990s and has slowly gained favor as the superior choice compared to halogen light bulbs. HID lights are also referred to as Xenon in reference to the gas used in the incandescent process. These headlights are valued for their high-intensity light and color temperatures.
The Xenon headlight first appeared in the 1991 BMW7 series and was initially viewed as a novelty vehicle feature. Since then other automotive manufacturers have adopted HIDs.
HID lights function similar to neon lights. Current passes through a tube filled with gas with electrodes at both ends. HID lights have currents passing between the two electrodes which stimulate halide salts and Xenon gas within a quartz enclosure.
It starts with a spark of high voltage typically between 24-27Kv which ionizes the Xenon gas and sends a current between the two electrodes. As the temperature rises the metallic salts in the bulb are vaporized. This brings down resistance between the electric arc which is sustained by the engine’s power supply.
So why are HID headlights more superior to halogen bulbs? Well, the lumens of the HID and halogen bulbs reveal which one of the two has the advantage.
HID headlights manufactured today generate over 3000 lumens and 90mcd/m2 which is powered by 35w ballast. This is twice the amount of halogen bulbs which produce 1400 lumens and 30mcd/m2. The advantages of the HID headlights are as follows:
- Longer lifespan
- Brighter light
- Premium sufficiency
- Further light reach
- Broader coverage
- Less power consumption
Now you know why you should consider these bulbs. Here are a few of the best to put on your shopping list.
Top 10 Best HID Headlight Kits 2024
1. Kensun New Technology All-in-One LED Headlight Conversion Kit
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Another advantage is the price tag on the Kensun HID headlight kit. It’s an affordable kit which is rare for high-quality packages.
About the Product
The Kensun comes with a range of high-end features. The design of the Kensun kit is a plug and play product which makes it easy to install. It shouldn’t take you more than 30 minutes to install the Kensun HID headlights into your vehicle as you don’t need any additional tools for the process.
In fact, Kensun mentions it should only take you 20 minutes to install their HID headlights. Although it’s always best to take your time and enjoy the fact that you can install your own headlights without the aid of a mechanic.
What’s more, you’ll receive a smart aluminum protective case with your lights. You can use the case to store all your fragile auto parts such as additional light bulbs and wiring.
Key Features
These premium light bulbs are 30W products with 9005 bright power. They can reach 500m in front of your vehicle when you’re driving at night. They’re better value for money as the Kensun light bulbs have a lifespan of 30000 hours.
The Kensun HID headlights are waterproof (IP68) and have the ultimate heat protection. These light bulbs have an integrated fan and cooling chip to dissipate heat effectively. The cooling system extends the life of the light bulbs and ensures the wiring will never melt.
Select between two colors as the Kensun bulbs have a yellow and blue tint so you can fully customize your headlights.
Pros
- Comes in two color filters
- Inexpensive
- User friendly
Cons
- The bulbs don’t fit all applications
- Problems with one bulb in the pair being a different color tint
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The Innovited Premium AC HID kit comes in funky colors of blue, purple, green and pink tints for you to pick from.
About the Product
Innovited’s Premium AC kit works 100% without flickering or problems with the current. The cable lengths are perfect as they can reach all the specified adaptors in your car. This product is a plug and play design so you won’t need any additional tools when installing the HID lights.
These lights can easily produce three to four times the illumination of your OEM (original equipment manufactured) lights. The light bulbs are of a universal fit so they can easily be installed into any vehicle model. You can even use this kit for motorcycles.
The Innovited Premium AC kit is robust as the product is dustproof, waterproof and shockproof so they will work in any weather conditions.
Key Features
Innovited’s 6000k light bulbs are a beautiful crystal white color which improves the design of your vehicle. The light bulbs are powerful as they’re 35W with AC/12V. Innovited’s premium HID light bulbs have an operating temperature of -40 to 105 which means they won’t burn out or melt the components powering the bulbs.
The design is streamlined which makes it easy to securely fit the lights into any vehicle. These light bulbs also have a lifespan of 5500 hours which makes them economical.
Pros
- Produces a beautiful crystal white color
- Comes in multiple colors
- They’re a universal fit
Cons
- Sometimes produces an unnecessary error warning
3. SDX HID Xenon DC Headlight Replacement Bulbs, 9006, 6000K
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Because it’s an extension product it comes with the advantages of the Kensun brand. You’ll receive Kensun standard customer service and a two-year warranty.
About the Product
Because of the plug and play design, it will take you less than 20 minutes to install this product. If you have any trouble installing your SDX HID headlights consult the Kensun customer service.
The SDX brand is the best in the business when it comes to ballasts. SDX’s ballast holds the same durable elements of Kensun’s premium HID kits. The SDX brand sells ballasts with three times the power of factory OEM bulbs.
Key Features
These are 6000k HIDs that produce crystal white color brightness. This kit uses a DC (direct circuit) connection directly from your battery. The DC connection draws a stronger power that prevents the HID headlights from flickering.
The SDX HID bulbs only consume about 3amp of power which means it won’t flatten your battery. Remarkably they’re extremely bright even though they don’t pull as much current from your vehicle’s power source.
These headlights are 35W bulbs which mean they’ll produce three times as much light in comparison to standard bulbs. The brightness of the lights is an excellent safety feature to have on your vehicle. The bulbs can light up to 500m in front of your vehicle when you drive at night.
The SDX product is compatible with different sized applications but it’s best to check whether these light bulbs are compatible with your vehicle. They also come in many different color temperatures for you to select from.
Make sure the color you select is legal in your state before you purchase the light bulb hue of your preference.
Pros
- Easy to install
- No flickering or error codes
- They’re durable
Cons
- Some problems with the lights not turning on at times
4. XtremeVision Headlight Conversion Kit
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The XtremeVision headlights are bright and they add an elegant aesthetic feature to the front of any car.
About the Product
XtremeVision’s headlight kit is perfect for those who live in areas that are dark at night with no street lamps to light your way. The reason for the brightness is because of the DC feed. It brings more raw power to the bulbs which creates a brighter appearance.
The internal design of these light bulbs is ideal for anyone who has problems with products overheating. XtremeVision manufactures their light bulbs with an aluminum body with an air flux or fan cooling system. The cooling system ensures the light bulbs won’t overheat or melt the wiring of the product.
Key Features
XtremeVision’s headlight kit produces three times as much light as halogen bulbs and it lasts 10 times longer. The lifespan of these bulbs is 30000 hours on average as they’re waterproof, dustproof and shockproof.
These are 36W bulbs with a color temperature of 6500k which produces an iceberg blue tint that creates a sophisticated flair to add to your vehicle. But make sure the color of your lights is legal in your state.
Installation is relatively easy as it is a plug and play product. Simply check if your vehicle is compatible with these HID lights. It’s a universal product so you shouldn’t have any problems.
Pros
- Durable
- Has an integrated cooling system
- Can be used for any vehicle
Cons
- Some issues with flickering
5. Kensun HID Kit with Xenon Lights
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These HID headlights are extremely durable and can withstand any weather conditions.
About the Product
Kensun HID headlight kits are known to be the best self-service products on the market. This is because their kits are plug and play headlights that don’t need additional tools for installation. But if you require help you will receive a customer care package from Kensun for free.
With your Kensun HID headlights, you’ll receive an additional aluminum carry case. This case is an excellent addition to the product because you can use it to store delicate automotive parts.
Key Features
The light bulbs achieve its HID through the 55W 12V ballast that maintains a bright light after the ignition of the Xenon. These bulbs also conserve power by 3amp after the 20amp ignition consumption.
These Kensun bulbs can produce five times more brightness than standard halogen headlights. The bulbs are bi-Xenon and they’re compatible with different sized applications (check to see if they match your vehicle). The Kensun HID lights are an AC product and integrate into your OEM car wiring system easily.
The wiring won’t decrease the flow of current to your headlights which means you won’t experience flickering or dimness. Simply check if the Kensun HID headlights fit your car model before purchasing as you don’t want to be stuck with a product that’s too small or too big.
Pros
- Consumes less power
- User friendly product
- Comes in a variety of colors
Cons
- Problems with the lights not staying on
6. Lumenon 55w HID Kit
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These headlights are beautiful diamond white that immediately improves the aesthetics of your vehicle.
About the Product
The Lumenon HID headlight kit cranks out an impressive amount of light. Installation is easy and you won’t need any professional assistance as the lights are plug & play types. You won’t need any additional tools to install them.
If you’re having some trouble you can refer to the user manual as the guidelines for installation is self-explanatory. You also have the option of contacting the Lumenon technical support team. They will gladly assist you with your troubleshooting.
These are powerful light bulbs and the brightness of the headlights covers a vast area in front of you as you drive. You’ll have more awareness at night as you’ll be able to see the road clearly. The Lumenon HID kit is perfect for people that suffer from night blindness.
Key Features
The Lumenon HID headlight kit cranks out an impressive amount of light. Installation is easy and you won’t need any professional assistance as the lights are plug & play types. You won’t need any additional tools to install them.
If you’re having some trouble you can refer to the user manual as the guidelines for installation is self-explanatory. You also have the option of contacting the Lumenon technical support team. They will gladly assist you with your troubleshooting.
These are powerful light bulbs and the brightness of the headlights covers a vast area in front of you as you drive. You’ll have more awareness at night as you’ll be able to see the road clearly. The Lumenon HID kit is perfect for people that suffer from night blindness.
Pros
- Plug and play installation
- Durable
- Premium quality
Cons
- No color options
7. H11 Morimoto Elite HID Kit
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This is a high quality HID headlight kit made from premium materials. This ensures that your headlights last and won’t cause any problems while you’re driving.
About the Product
The Morimoto Elite headlight kit has a double relay harness. This makes the Morimoto HID compatible with virtually any car wiring system. It’s one of the easiest plug and play HID headlight installations available so you won’t need any power tools or alterations on your car to install them.
You’ll also notice that Morimoto has some of the longest running warranties on the market. They provide you with a five-year warranty for the 35W bulbs and a three-year warranty on the 55W ballast & bulbs. You can get your light bulbs replaced for free during the warranty period if you experience faults.
Key Features
The Morimoto Elite headlight kit has a double relay harness. This makes the Morimoto HID compatible with virtually any car wiring system. It’s one of the easiest plug and play HID headlight installations available so you won’t need any power tools or alterations on your car to install them.
You’ll also notice that Morimoto has some of the longest running warranties on the market. They provide you with a five-year warranty for the 35W bulbs and a three-year warranty on the 55W ballast & bulbs. You can get your light bulbs replaced for free during the warranty period if you experience faults.
Pros
- Easy to install
- Inexpensive
- Superior light dispersion
Cons
- Relay harness is too short
8. Aukee 55W H11 HID Kit
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The Aukee HID kit has many of the same features as other premium brands but you get it at a lower price.
About the Product
The Aukee HID headlight kit provides all the equipment you need for installation. You get additional cable ties and double sided tape which makes your installation task easier. The plug and play design allows you to install your HID headlights in under 20 minutes.
The only device the Aukee kit doesn’t come with is a ballast. But the H11 light bulbs are compatible with a 35W and a 55W ballast. So if you have either of them in your car you’ll be able to use these HID headlights with no foreseeable problems.
What’s more, the Aukee light bulbs consume 35% less power than standard halogen products. This also generates less heat during the incandescent process. Because of this, your wires won’t melt and your headlights will last for up to 30000 hours.
Key Features
The Aukee features 55W Xenon light bulbs that achieve ultra bright 4500 lumens. These headlights are three to five times brighter than OEM lights.
It should be noted that these light bulbs are only compatible with AC ballasts. They will flicker and they will be dim if you use DC ballast. So make sure your integrated ballast is an AC device. The Aukee HID headlights are designed to fit into your OEM housing without any modifications.
The color temperature on these headlights is 6500k which produces a diamond white color. Not only will they improve the look of your vehicle but they’ll also provide safe driving conditions when you’re driving. They reach almost 500m in front of your vehicle so you can see the road clearly at night.
Pros
- Plug and play installation
- 35% less power consumption
- Produces three times more light than standard bulbs
Cons
- Doesn’t come with a ballast
9. XtremeVision 35W HID Xenon Kit
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The XtremeVision HID headlight conversion kit is compatible with both AC and DC ballasts.
About the Product
The installation for the XtremeVision is effortless as it’s a plug and play kit. You won’t need additional tools and you don’t need to splice wires to install them. This makes it the perfect product for amateurs. But if you’re experiencing any trouble XtremeVision offers tech support via phone, email or chat.
This kit really has everything you need to make installation easyYou’ll receive your light bulbs, mounting bracket, a ballast and zip ties. The mounting bracket is to install the ballast so that it doesn’t slide around or hang dangerously over other vehicle components while you drive.
Key Features
The installation for the XtremeVision is effortless as it’s a plug and play kit. You won’t need additional tools and you don’t need to splice wires to install them. This makes it the perfect product for amateurs. But if you’re experiencing any trouble XtremeVision offers tech support via phone, email or chat.
This kit really has everything you need to make installation easyYou’ll receive your light bulbs, mounting bracket, a ballast and zip ties. The mounting bracket is to install the ballast so that it doesn’t slide around or hang dangerously over other vehicle components while you drive.
Pros
- Quality light dispersion
- Easy to install
- Top customer service
Cons
- Problems with the ballast current
10. HID-Warehouse S2 72W 8,000LM LED Bulb - H1 LED Headlight Kit
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Another attractive feature is the price tag. It’s an extremely inexpensive kit for the premium quality you receive.
About the Product
The Warehouse HID headlight kit is compatible with many car models but you may need a canceller or a harness cable for some models. This brand manufactures numerous bulb sizes as well as colors so you will have many options for your vehicle.
HID Warehouse’s bulbs’ casting is made from plastic so you may want to purchase additional bulbs. This is because the bulbs may not be weather resistant. But if you’re not traveling in harsh weather conditions you won’t have any problems.
Key Features
The Warehouse HID headlight kit is compatible with many car models but you may need a canceller or a harness cable for some models. This brand manufactures numerous bulb sizes as well as colors so you will have many options for your vehicle.
HID Warehouse’s bulbs’ casting is made from plastic so you may want to purchase additional bulbs. This is because the bulbs may not be weather resistant. But if you’re not traveling in harsh weather conditions you won’t have any problems.
Pros
- Consumes 35% less power
- User friendly
- Top customer service
Cons
- Light casing is not durable
Guide to Buying the Best HID Headlight Kits
What’s the Wattage?
Kits will come with different types of wattages but there are two that are the most popular. These are 35W and 55W HID bulbs.
The 35W bulbs are still powerful as they can produce three times the amount of light that standard bulbs can. They’re also gentler on the wiring system because they create less heat. 55W light bulbs are brighter but they consume more power.
There are some issues that arise from using the 55W HID kits. This is because some of the 55W HID kits don’t actually use 55W bulbs. The 55W stamp typically refers to the ballast and the bulbs themselves are 35W.
Some manufacturers will use 40W bulbs but the extra 5W doesn’t always mean a brighter illumination.
With the 55W bulbs, there are some durability issues to consider. Most standardized headlights are 35W. The arrangement of the headlights such as the housing, wiring and headlight cover are all compatible with 35W bulbs. When you introduce an extra 20W into the arrangement designed for a 35W structure the entire headlight device is placed at a 60% higher risk of failure.
This issue could be linked to the fact that 55W HID kits are not gauged to handle the extra energy and it melts the wires.
To solve this problem you’ll need to purchase an entire projection kit to handle the extra energy produces by 55W HID bulbs.
Ballast
There are two primary ballasts when it comes to HID headlights; you could either have AC ballast or DC ballast. The type of ballast depends on whether they can run the power to your battery directly or convert the power into alternating currents before sending it to the bulbs.
An AC (alternate current) ballast produces more of a consistent current as it sends power through a circuit alternating between positive and negative voltages. As a result, electricity runs in both directions. The AC ballast reverses the polarity on the same electrode with the aid of a reverse switch so there is an equal distribution of ions.
The DC (direct current) ballast works thanks to an electric current that flows in one direction from a power source. It uses a constant positive voltage in a circuit which is distributed unevenly on the electric components.
DC ballasts move positive ions to the negative side only and increases the temperature of the bulb. This makes the one side of the bulb hotter than the other which reduces the lifespan of the light.
But HID headlight kits with DC ballasts are more popular because they’re inexpensive. The DC ballasts are also easy to manufacture because it doesn’t need to convert the power into AC.
Although the DC kits may be cheaper they burn out faster and car enthusiasts may end up spending more money replacing the parts. On the other hand, AC kits require voltage regulators and inductor coils inside the ballast to convert the current which makes these ballasts more expensive.
It’s highly recommended that you select a product that has a longer lifespan regardless of the cost. Otherwise, you’ll end up spending more replacing faulty products.
How to Install HID Headlights
HID headlights are known to be easy to install. The reason for the plug and play models are so that anyone would feel confident in installing the headlights themselves. So if you’re a DIY kind of person follow these easy HID headlight installation steps.
- Open your vehicle’s hood
- Turn on your headlights and not the high beam. This is to check which bulb is your main headlight as you only want to change the main light and not your high beam.
- Once you’ve checked which are the main headlights turn them off as you don’t want the bulbs to be hot when you remove them.
- There will be two lights in your headlights incasing. The smallest bulb is the parking light. Leave that bulb in place and only remove the main headlight.
- You’ll need to open the back cap on the headlight assembly and remove the stock bulb by carefully twisting it out of the socket. Don’t touch the bulbs with your bare hands. Always wear safety gloves when performing this task.
- To remove the bulb from the socket there’s usually a clip or lever that releases the bulb from the wiring. Use the clip or lever to unclip the bulb from the wiring.
- You can now install your HID bulbs. If you’ve purchased an HID kit you’ll get a ballast adaptor and the light bulb which is in two separate parts. The easiest way to install both components is to install the HID lights first and then attach the ballast afterward.
- Another reason to install the ballast and the HID bulb separately is that the light has a protective plastic cover over it that you’ll need to remove. It’s easier to remove the plastic covering from the bulb when it’s separate from the ballast adaptor.
- Once you’ve removed the plastic covering you can install the light bulb into the available socket inside your car.
- There are about five wire connections coming out of the light bulb that you’ll need to clip onto the wires inside your vehicle and the ballast. You’ll know which connections to clip into place as they all have a specific shape.
- Remember the lever or clip you used to uninstall your previous bulbs? Well, when the HID light bulb is in place you can now connect one of the wires to the adapter your previous light bulb was attached to.
- Now you’ll need to install your ballast. There is one connection on your HID light bulb that will connect directly to your ballast’s input connection.
- Makes sure the connection clips securely into the ballast’s input.
- There will be two other connections on your ballast. Connect the two wires on your ballast to the additional wires from the light bulb. Again both connections have a specific shape so you’ll know which clips to use.
- If all the wires and connections are securely in place your lights should switch on immediately. Once you’ve tested that everything works you’ll need to place your ballast adaptor in a secure place under your hood.
- Some people mount the adapter securely under the hood in a place that won’t obstruct the other parts of the car.
- Now that you have your lights installed you can drive on an unlit piece of road to see how well the HID headlight kit illuminates your path.
Why Use HID Headlights?
Brightness
As mentioned before the HID light bulbs are brighter than standard halogen lights. The HID light bulbs will illuminate a larger area when you’re driving at night. This can help you spot and avoid potential hazards in your path.
The brightness of the lights will also make your vehicle more visible to other motorists on the road. This is an important aspect because even though there’s 60% less traffic at night there’s more risk of accidents after sundown.
HID Lights are Affordable
HID headlight kits are cheaper than LED lights. Because the popularity of HID headlights is ever increasing there are more merchants selling them at competitive prices. So you’re more likely to find a kit that’s cheap but still made with high-quality materials.
They’re Easy to Install
HID headlight kits are extremely easy to install. These kits are plug and play products which mean you don’t need to alter any components in your car to install the lights. Most brands also offer top quality customer service to guide you through the process.
Headlight Color
To suit the aesthetics of your vehicle you can select HID headlights that will complement your car’s design. The most common HID colors are 6000k white headlights and 8000k blue (aka iceberg blue) headlights.
There are some legalities to consider when it comes to headlight colors in the USA. The only color that’s legal is white. It’s advised that you research the laws of your state before you customize your headlights to a color other than white.
Final Thoughts
There are many advantages to upgrading your headlights on your vehicle from halogen to superior HID. So if you want to improve the aesthetics of your vehicle install HID headlights into your vehicle. HID headlights will light your way home and keep you safe on those dark & dusty roads.
