I know there are numerous bulbs that claim they give the "HID look". What are the most reliable bulbs out there? Is the phillips HID replacement system that much better for the money?

Well, I know this post was an old post, I'll reply anyway :) If you want the look of HID, then in my opnion get a real HID conversion kit. I have it on both my Legends, although it is not the Phillips kit, but the Xenonlights kit. The benefits are the real HID look, but also the real HID light output performance. The HID capsule will not burn out like the many other blue halogen HID look bulbs out there, so cost in the long run could end up being about the same or even less. Just think, the PIAA Plasma bulbs cost about $80, and if they burn out every 3-6 months like some peoples have, then the cost can get pretty high. <br><br>Now when buying an HID conversion kit, you must make sure that the kit is 9006 beam pattern corrected. Some kits out there will claim a 9006 beam pattern corection jsut because the base fits into a 9006 lens, but this is not corrected. Other kits will also claim beam pattern correction by modifying the base thickness, so the HID gas pocket is in the same location as what a filament in a conventional 9006 halogen bulb would be. Although this type will work, the manufacturing tolorences may not be top notch, and thus some kits may not perform as well as another. Not saying this is the way to go, but the kit I got were manufactured by an HID fabricator, to have the gas pocket in the proper location from scratch. It still uses a Philips D2S HID capsule, but if you held it up against another regular Philips HID capsule, the gas pocke is in a lowe possition aliong the glass. This was made that way so you don;t have to modify the base thickness to get the pocke in the correct location, becaue it is already there, and is made to manufacturers specs,and tolorences.<br><br>Anyway, if you just want better performing lights then stock, but don't care about teh HID look, then just buy regular replacement white bulbs, or like some do, modify sa 9005 high beam bulb to fit int he 9006 location.

Check out <a href=http://www.xenonlamps.com/xenonfaql2.html target=new>http://www.xenonlamps.com/xenonfaql2.html</a> for a picture of a 2nd Gen Legend Coupe(?)(<a href=http://www.xenonlamps.com/images/xenvshelio.jpg target=new>http://www.xenonlamps.com/images/xenvshelio.jpg</a>) with the HID kit installed vs. a hi-wattage blue-bulb. The difference is great, and visible. Personally, I use the APC 9006 80W bulb because I can't afford/don't want to get an HID kit for my 90 sedan. It lights up the road very well (much better than stock), cost me $35 incl. shipping from www.nopionline.com, and I have had NO problems with either melting or cops pulling me over. I often drive late at night, passing by many policemen, and have NEVER been pulled over. Even when I drive through cruising checkpoints (Sunset blvd. on the weekend), I don't get hassled. Then again, I have no rims/body kit/spoiler/loud stereo (soon to be fixed). When I finally get a 95 Type II, then I'll install the HID kit (only $875).<br><br>Art<br>Check out my photo album at <a href=http://www.geocities.com/artourb/legend target=new>http://www.geocities.com/artourb/legend</a> for a comparison of stock vs APC.

comparing your lights to the Lexus or Benz. do they have that bluish tint to them also? How much did you pay for them? and where did you get them from? thanks in advance

Ironically, I now the owner of the Xenonlights Co. and he owns that 92 Coupe in the picture. I was lucky enough to get my 2 HID conversion kits from him. However, he was planing on personally getting out of the business, so I'm not sure if you can get the kits directly from them anymore, however, he was looking into selling hte kits to other companies to sell.<br><br>Chirs

Well Chris, if he is getting out of the business maybe he will be will to sell the last of his present stock at a discounted price to a fellow legend owner. :) If not then maybe he can give me some leads to purchase the kits. You still didnt tell me if the light looked like the Lexus or benz HID (with the bluish tint)

Actually, he had already posted his last sets at a discount about 3-4 months ago on the Legend forum. Not sure if he still has any left.<br>As for if it looks likke the BMW and Lexus? Yes, and no, it definately looks like real HID, it has the sparckle, and the bright light, and it does have a slight bluish/purpleish color, and when you first turn it on, it is very blue/purple, then it warms up to the more whiteish/bluish/purple, but it is not as blue as the BMW, and Mercedes ones. It looks closer to the Lexus, but is more on par with the TL, and CL, although it is brighter then even the new CL lights.