If you are looking for high performance, impressive aesthetics – or perhaps even both – then HID headlights fit the bill. Far superior in every respect to the standard halogen bulbs your car probably rolled out of the factory with, they are more powerful than even LED headlights.
In addition to the raw illuminating power, they can be supplied in a wide range of colors, adding a level of customization to your car that other headlight installs simply cannot match.
For such a popular product there are of course going to be a range of conversion kits on the market. We’ve taken the hard work out of searching for the best one however, producing this handy guide to illuminate (get it?) the best kits on the market right now.
The Best HID Conversion Kits
Everything you need to upgrade your vehicle can be found in the Innovited Xenon HID Lights system. We appreciate the efforts of Innovited to create an efficient unit that operates really well for an extended period of time. These 35W HID lights come with a two-year warranty and are simple to install. The entire setup process takes only 20 minutes, which leaves you with hours for other tasks around the home.
The Innovited Xenon system is a plug-and-play unit for compatible vehicles. It delivers up to three times the brightness of a typical halogen bulb. It is waterproof, resistant to shock and dust, and it doesn’t require any extra wiring or resistors. Included in the package are HID bulbs, an instruction manual, ballast, and mounting brackets.We recommend this HID bulb system because it consumes less power and tends to last longer.
- 35W AC HID Lighting System
- All bulb sizes and colors
- Slim Ballast
- Two-Year Warranty
- Brand Innovited
- Weight 1.5 pounds
Easy to use
Waterproof sealed
5,500-hour service life
Some vehicles may require professional installation
The H11 Morimoto Elite HID Kit features a design that makes it compatible with a select group of ballasts. This enables customers to find the ideal unit, preventing any damage. It comes with a pair of high-quality bulbs, each one made by the professional Morimoto team.
The H11 HID system is an excellent kit with similar features from its other models. The significant difference, however, lies in the input plug type that enables it to deliver a better performance than its predecessors. The plug-and-play design makes it very user friendly, while the several mounting options expand its installation versatility. You can follow the instructions from the manufacturer as all instructions are clear and straightforward. With this unit, you’ll get a brighter, better view of the road.
- Genuine Morimoto model
- High-quality bulbs
- Heavy Duty, durable double relay harness
- Five-year manufacturer warranty
- Brand Morimoto
- Model M-H11-KIT-XB35Ballasts-XB355500K
- Weight 3.05 pounds
Produces a bright light
Doesn't provide a ton of heat
Easy to install
The kit is a bit expensive
Not as good as an AC ballast
If you’re going to call yourself ExtremeVision, then you better bring a decent product to the table. This is a regular HID conversion kit that runs 35-watt bulbs with a DC (Direct Current) feed. That is potentially going to bring more raw power to the bulbs for a slightly brighter appearance, but it can also put more strain on the wiring. The 35-watt bulbs should make that less likely, however.
Installation is plug and play variety and designed to be as straightforward as possible. If you do have any problems, purchasing this product also gets you access to live tech support, available on the phone or over e-mail.
- Easy Installation
- 35% Lower Power Consumption
- 2-Year Warranty & Live Tech Support
- Brand ExtremeVision
- Model H11-6K-35W-Kit
- Weight 1.1 lbs
Very Easy Installation
Uses 35 Watt Bulb
Excellent Tech Support
Mid-Range Pricing
DC Power
The OPT7 Bullet-R HID Kit is impressive. We recommend this HID kit because it is highly functional. This HID system doesn’t back down after regular use and offers the necessary brightness for driving. This system lights up three times more than regular bulbs, so you gain more value for your investment.
It is a compact HID headlight kit designed with an aluminum shell for durability. This system features eight different color options, which add a touch of variety to your unit whenever it is in use. Keep your HID bulbs fresh at all times with help from the SafetyStart voltage control system that is included in the design. If you have any technical issues, you can contact OPT7’s team for assistance. This HID system comes with a two-year warranty, which shows the brand’s confidence in its products.
- Compact aluminum shell
- Exclusive xenon gas formulas
- Eight color options
- 2-year warranty
- Brand OPT7
- Model 3XL3-11-5
- Weight 1.65 pounds
Remains true to its color rating
The bulbs are bright
The color is spot-on
Not a plug and play product
Needed to be installed properly
Many of us love halogen bulbs because they are very affordable. The price makes us forget or ignore their short lifespan and limited brightness. To cater to our economic needs, HYB has offers an affordable HID system. Meet the HYB Canbus Slim. It’s a digital HID system that comes in a pack of two bulbs for most cars with computers. In seconds, this system delivers 80-percent brightness.
The HYB Canbus HID headlights can be installed in under 10 minutes. The kit comes with simple and easy to understand instructions that allow the user to set up without extra wiring or professional help. In total, this HID system boasts of up to 35,000 hours of wiring life from the second it comes out of its box. We recommend this system as an excellent alternative to halogen lamps. It is highly compatible, very durable, and comes with a one-year replacement warranty. It works with vehicles such as Porsche, Jeep, and Audi.
- For most of the cars with computer
- Alternating current pattern
- Easy installation
- One-year replacement warranty
- Brand HYB
- Model 13
- Weight 1.95 pounds
Produces a bright light
Doesn’t overheat
Has just a tint of blue
Isn't it easy to install
Expensive
In a world full of problematic halogen bulbs, Kensun provides a unit that offers more brightness using less energy. The Kensun Slim HID kit comes with Xenon lights and is designed with new technologies for better performance. With its two-year warranty, it operates with 23,000 volts to deliver hours of extra bright light whenever it’s needed. The Kensun Slim kit replaces the filament of the typical halogen bulb. Its design helps it to last 10 times longer than the average halogen bulb.
The Kensun HID kit features a ballast that is connected to your battery and comes with a glass chamber that replaces the filament of halogen bulbs. Enjoy less power consumption but more brightness with this product and stay illuminated for longer.
- Ballasts are 100% dustproof, 100% shock-proof
- Installation Smart aluminum carry-case
- 2-year warranty
- Produces more light than a halogen bulb
- Brand Kensun
- Model S-K/E-9005-6K
- Weight 2.17 pounds
Plug and play installation
Fast warmup time
Long-lasting
Not as bright as other kits
Isn't it easy to install
The HID Warehouse AC Xenon HID lights are the latest addition to the brand’s collection of exceptional HID kits. This HID kit possesses many modern features known to aid in better performance. The HID kit operates in different sizes and colors. It has a lifespan that supersedes halogen bulbs by six times with five times more brightness. You can use this as a replacement for all halogen bulbs because they are more cost efficient and resistant to water. For durability, the kit comes in a rugged aluminum casing that has rumble resistant padding.
If you want extra bright lights, you will love this product. Use this unit for up to two years straight and benefit from its magnificent display. The variety of sizes and colors also aid in keeping your headlights lively and more exciting.
- Premium slim AC ballast
- 2 Year Warranty
- 50% more light output
- 35% less power consumption
- Brand HID-Warehouse
- Model H11-6K-55W-AC
- Weight 1.5 pounds
They’re extremely bright
They’re very inexpensive
This product is easy to install
They run a little hot
Not as good as an AC ballast
The Xentec Standard Ballasts form a part of an even greater HID system. All its features work together to enable it to fulfill its purpose of extremely bright light. The Xentec ballasts feature a super-bright xenon bulb, which offers 1.5 times the brightness of a halogen lamp. The ballast is made with a reduced flickering technology that ensures your bulb operates steadily for longer. For installation, some amount of professional help will be required, so users are advised to consider assistance from skilled personnel.
The Xentec Standard HID light kit is a digital ballast system that is highly compatible with a wide range of bulbs. It features a zinc alloy casing and a high resistance to water. With its excellent cooling feature, this HID light system will change the lighting and brightness in your headlights for the better.
- Xenon bulb
- Reduced flickering technology
- Zinc alloy casing
- Water-resistant rating IP65+A
- Brand XENTEC
- Model XENTEC55WREGKIT-95-W-6K-20130701
- Weight 15.2 ounces
This product is inexpensive
It’s easy to install
Kit works well
High-beams aren’t bright
Bulky in nature
The Canbus HID lighting system takes less than 20 minutes to set up using plug-and-play installation and QuickSnap connectors. No resistors or extra wiring are required. The lighting system is 100-percent waterproof as well as dustproof and shockproof. The bulbs are three times brighter and last five times longer than halogen bulbs while consuming 35 percent less energy.
The kit comes with a ballast, two 35W HID bulbs, mounting brackets, and an installation manual. The bulbs have a service life of 5,500 hours and are 3,300 lumen. The manufacturer also provides a two-year warranty. These lights come in a variety of colors, including golden yellow, bright daylight, pure white, and brilliant blue. They also include built in anti-flicker technology.
- 35-Watt Bulb
- Anti-flicker Technology
- 3,300 Lumen Performance
- Brand Innovited
- Weight 2.14 pounds
Easy Installation
Wide Range of Headlight Sizes Available
Multiple Colors
Expensive
This digital CANbus HID lighting system comes with a ballast, two Xenon HID bulbs, and a plug-and-play wiring harness. The 3,500 lumen bulbs are three times brighter than halogen bulbs and have an expected life expectancy of 5,000 hours. They are simple to install and usually take 20 minutes or less to get operational in your vehicle.
These HID lights are 100-percent waterproof, dustproof, and shockproof. The built-in capacitor in the CANbus ballast minimizes error codes on the dashboard. The ballasts have an aluminum housing, making them vibration resistant. This system is designed for vehicles such as Audi, BMW, Lexus, Mercedes, Volvo, and new Chevy and Dodge vehicles. The lights comes in a variety of colors: 3000K, 4300K, 6000K, 8000K, 10000K, 12000K.
- CANbus HID lighting system
- 3,500 lumen bulbs
- Plug-and-play installation
- 5,000-hour lifespan
- Brand O-NEX
- Weight 3 pounds
Built-in capacitor to reduce error codes
Durable aluminum housing
Some vehicles may require professional installation
Bulb lifespan may be shorter than advertised
The Kensun HID bulbs are an excellent xenon replacement. These products have a wattage of 55, and they can be set up in under 20 minutes. The smooth and quick installation of this kit makes it one of the most sought-after brands available. Though wiring is simple, some external help may be required for certain aspects of the process, so be sure to include professionals during the installation process.
The Kensun replacement bulbs are shock proof, waterproof, and dustproof, so they have a longer lifespan. They deliver three times more light than halogen bulbs and also contains ballasts. These gas-filled HID lights have a 4,500-hour lifespan. The light produced by this system can be likened to natural daylight when it comes to brightness and comfort to the human eye. We recommend the Kensun HID replacement bulbs for those seeking excellent light intensity, efficiency, and purity from their headlights. It is user friendly, reliable, and economical.
- 55 watt HID bulbs
- Simple installation
- 100% Waterproof
- Produces as much light as a halogen bulb
- Brand Kensun
- Model YG2566
- Weight 6.4 ounces
Built with high-quality materials
It’s easy to install
Kit works well
Very complex configuration
High-beams aren’t as bright
The Lumenon HID Kit is unique in more ways than one with its sole aim to provide users with more bright light for less. It operates at 35W and delivers up to 5,500 hours of service. The best feature this kit possesses is its ability to shine three times brighter than halogen lamps. This makes it a great replacement to the halogen bulb. It also has the ability to last five times longer than regular bulbs.
The Lumen HID headlight kit increases safety when it comes to visibility. It is straightforward and swift to install, and the plug-and-play feature makes it a new unit to have in your arsenal.
- Lasts 5x Longer
- 35% Less Power Consumption
- 100% Plug And Play Installation
- No Modification Required
- Brand Lumenon
- Weight 1.47 pounds
Affordable
Efficient brightness
Ease of installation
Designed with a set car compatibility
Not a worthy investment
This HID conversion kit comes with two 35-watt bulbs, two ballasts, and accessories. The xenon bulbs come in a variety of colors, such as 3000K, 5000K, 6000K, 8000K, 10000K, and 12000K. It includes a digital slim ballast and a zinc alloy casing that has a water resistant rating of IP65+A. The AMP connector fits most HID bulbs.
The xenon gas chamber is precisely placed to match the OEM bulb to create an accurate beam pattern. The kit is available in most sizes.Pre-assembly may be required, and the manufacturer recommends professional installation.
- 35-watt bulbs
- Multiple color options
- Water-resistant zinc alloy casing
- Brand Xentec
- Model H11
- Weight 2 pounds
Compatible with most ballasts
Includes bulb, bridge ballast, and car harness
Digital ballast provides consistent output
Professional installation recommended
Another HID kit from OPT7 is on our list of recommendations. This is the OPT7 Bolt HID Kit, the most efficient kit in the OPT7 family, and also the most affordable. If you need a bulb that last longer, produces brighter light and comes in a variety of colors to match your setting and environment, this is the perfect kit for you. The OPT7 HID system is not like other typical HID kits. It delivers 25% brighter light and lasts six times longer than the regular halogen bulb. It makes use of the AC adapt technology, known to increase its reliability and also durability.
THIS HID kit from OPT7 comes in a bulky duty aluminum casing for longevity. This casing is resistant to water and rumble, thanks to its incredible padding system. This kit is expertly designed, and as such, it maximizes bulb life and performance. You can replace your old halogen bulbs with the OPT7 HID system and experience a more and consistent precise beam pattern. This kit delivers 6,000 hours of operation time and is available in several, exciting colors.
- Z-Arc "Mini-ball" Xenon bulb
- Directly replaces your stock H10 halogen bulbs
- Durable aluminum casing
- Rumble resistant padding
- Brand OPT7
- Model BOLT55-11-6
- Weight 2 pounds
The color is spot-on
The bulbs are bright
Not a plug and play product
Morimoto has a wide range of products in its arsenal, and each item is produced to provide excellent and unbeatable service. Their latest design is the H1 Morimoto kit HID system, which is one incredible system and is our final product in this lineu. This product is versatile in use and very efficient. It comes with all the typical features of an HID system with a few additional features that set it apart from popular models in the market. It is considered the most genuine Morimoto model by all its users and comes highly recommended for those seeking to change their halogen bulbs. What’s more, it has been manufactured to replace all your energy-consuming bulbs, helping you save loads of money and also comes with ballasts and lamps that are highly compatible and very durable. These units can also be paired with various product selections to offer you the best performance you can ever receive.
The setup of this system is straightforward, as manufacturers provide you with the necessary instructions and equipment. With such a product you don’t need any external help thus you get to save more money. We love that the Morimoto kit has a double relay, heavy-duty harness because it prevents you from spending on an anti-flicker capacitor which are usually very expensive.
- High-quality bulbs
- Heavy-duty harness
- 5-year manufacturer warranty
- Durable product
- Brand Morimoto
- Model M-H1-KIT-XB35Ballasts-XB355500K
- Weight 3.6 pounds
Quality hardware and parts
Awesome customer support and guides
Fast delivery
Reasonable price
Wire harness was a pain to install
Very complex configuration
This is premium kit from Kensun, with a premium price tag to match. There is though no doubting that this product comes with a range of high-end features that go a long way to justifying that price tag. The most important to note is that this is very much a “plug and play” style of conversion kit. From the point you open the box it should not take more than 30 minutes to get these bulbs installed and ready to go.
In fact, Kensun say it should only take 20 minutes – we’re giving you an extra 10 minutes to read the instructions and have a Coke before you get going. The kit achieves this by using 35-Watt bulbs that run on AC power. That means they happily plug into and use the power supply and wiring already in your vehicle, with no danger of overloading the wires or draining the battery.
They come out around 3 times brighter than standard factory lights, and are also available in a wide range of colors.
As a little added bonus, the kit comes in a very fetching Aluminum case. So once you’ve unpacked and installed the kit, you also get a free case. This may or may not be a true benefit, but we thought it was worth mentioning!
- Weather Proof, Shock Proof Ballast
- Compete Conversion Kit
- 35-Watt Bulbs
- Brand Kensun
- Model P/KIT-H11-8K
- Weight 2.3 lbs
“Plug & Play” Installation
Uses 35 Watt & AC Power Supply
Range of Colors
Expensive
Whilst marketed as being sold by SDX, these are actually Kensun products being sold under a different brand. That is actually pretty good news, as Kensun make good products, and here, just by avoiding their brand name, you can save yourself about 10 bucks compared to the equivalent Kensun branded kit. So we’re off to a good start!
These are plug and play install kits, with straightforward instructions. As with the own branded products, the claim is repeated here that you should be able to complete installation within 20 minutes. As before, we suggest taking an extra 10 minutes to thoroughly read the instructions and have a sugary beverage of your choice (save the beer for afterwards).
In use, they are going to provide around 3x times more light than factory issue bulbs, for less power overall. Should you have any issues during install, the excellent Kensun customer service team will help you out too.
- Straightforward Instructions
- Tech Support
- Brand SDX
- Model SDX-H-1154
- Weight 2.3 lbs
Easy Installation
Uses 35 Watt Bulb
Outstanding Customer Service
Mid Range Price Tag
Doesn’t Fit All Headlight Sizes
If you are looking for bright then these are the bulbs for you! There are none of the bells and whistles you’ll find on other products, and no colors are available except for Diamond White.
No, instead this HID kit is all about cranking out a very impressive amount of light from your headlights. It does this by employing a 55-Watt bulb – one of only two kits on our list to do this. Now, as we will discuss in our buying guide below, a bulb with that level of power can bring some issues. But it can’t be denied that it is extremely powerful and bright and if that is what you’re looking for than that is what this kit is designed to provide.
Installation is of the typical Plug and Play variety and, again, should be relatively straightforward. Any issues and you have the ability to contact the technical support team.
- 55-Watt Bulb
- Plug & Play Installation
- 5000+ Hour Lifespan
- Brand Lumenon
- Model 9006 6K 55W KIT LMN
- Weight 1.7 lbs
Easy Installation
Uses 55 Watt Bulb
Very, Very Bright
55 Watt Bulb Too Strong for Some Cars
No Color Options
This kit from Apex brings a lot of the features of many of the other kits on this list, but the main stand out is that it is a little cheaper than the rest – but only by a few bucks.
The product is of the Plug & Play types; so no wire splicing involved and a nice and simple installation. It’s a nice touch that they include pretty much everything you are going to need to complete the installation, even down to zip ties and double sided tape.
In operation, we have 35-Watt bulbs here, so expect lights that are going to be about 3 times as bright as the factory supplied halogens in your headlamps, whilst also using around 35% less power.
One drawback we have heard is that the customer service can sometimes not be up to the high standards of some other manufacturers on this list – though we’re sure this is an issue that Apex will be working to resolve.
- Plug & Play Installation Type
- 35% Power Savings
- Easy Installation Diagram
- Brand Apex
- Model APEX-wepe-90066Ks
- Weight –
Fast Installation
35 Watt Bulbs
Complete Kit – Even Includes Zip Ties
Poor Customer Service
That is our run down of the best HID Conversion Kits on the market right now. Broadly speaking, they are all somewhat similar and, with a margin of only about 10 to 20 dollars between the cheapest and most expensive models, it can be hard to decide which kit is the best for you.
Therefore, we’ve put together our usual buying guide to answer a few common questions about these kits, discuss some of the features you should keep an out for and generally help you to select the right kit for you.
What are HID and LED Headlights?
If you are looking to upgrade your car headlights, then you may have also seen that there are LED headlights on the market too. Now, both systems have Pros and Cons, which we’ll get to shortly, but for now it’s worth looking at just what exactly each type is, and their main differences.
Both HID and LED are of course acronyms, which stand for:
HID = High Intensity Discharge
LED = Light Emitting Diode
Basically, a HID bulb is somewhat similar to the halogen bulb that is probably already in your vehicle’s headlights. However, where a Halogen bulb has a wire filament that glows as electricity passes through it, a HID bulb replaces that filament with a capsule of Xenon gas. It is this gas that is ignited by high voltage, and as it burns so it throws out an extremely intense light.
An LED uses a diode to emit light, essentially a tiny electric circuit whose glow is concentrated outwards by the plastic cap that sits above the diode. Each individual LED produces a frankly puny amount of light. However, because they are physically very small and also use a tiny amount of electricity, they can be closely mounted in clusters to boost the amount of light generated.
Why HID Over other Options?
So why choose HID lights over the other options out there? Well they bring a number of advantages, such as:
Brighter – A 35-Watt HID bulb is going to be much brighter – about 3 times brighter in fact – than a factory issue Halogen bulb. That is going to help you see further down the road and see potential hazards that much better. At the same time, they will also make you more visible to other road users. That is very useful, because even though there is around 60% less traffic on the road at night, around 40% of fatal accidents occur after sundown. So whatever you can do to make driving at this time safer it really is worth it.
Cheaper – A HID conversion Kit is almost always going to be cheaper than an LED version. The technology behind HID bulbs (essentially burning Xenon gas in a capsule) has actually been around for centuries. Because of this, the manufacturing process has been so finely honed that high quality but very cheap kits are common. There is also a lot of manufactures in the sector now, and where competition is high then prices are often low.
Easy Install – We have selected kits of the Plug & Play variety for this list. Broadly speaking, that means that you simply remove the old halogen bulbs, plug in the new ones and away you go. Whilst many of the manufacturers boast an install time of less than 20 minutes, that is going to apply to majority of cars but not all, so don’t worry if yours takes longer. We also included kits with straightforward instructions, lots of trouble shooting information and, where possible, good technical support to help you out.
Customization – A Halogen bulb has one color. LED kits can usually be bought in one of 4 colors. HID has 7. This is because the color is changed by subtle adjustments in the power being delivered to the Xenon gas in the bulb. As the power increases, the color changes, running a gamut of pinks and blues to brilliant, Diamond White.
An Important Note on Headlight Color – Technically, the only legal headlight color you can use in the US is White. However, any blue tinting in a HID bulb’s light is actually Pure White. It’s more to do with the way the light tricks your mind rather than actually being blue. So they conform to the law.
You should of course consult the local laws in the city and state where you live before installing any vehicle upgrades. Typically, headlights with a slight tint will not draw the attention of the police, however you should bear in mind the legalities behind this issue before you select your product.
They Look Good – Ok, lets not underestimate this point too – HID bulbs really do look good, and are a real asset to the visuals of your car.
They are the main reasons that HID bulbs are so popular, and as you can see there are different reasons that they appeal to different people. For some it will be the appearance aspect, for other the added safety of brighter lights and for some of course it will be all of them. Irrespective of which though, it is at least easy to see why they are so popular.
How to Pick The Top-Quality HID Kit
This is really going to come down to personal choice, but there are a few things to look for:
Wattage – Kits will come with bulbs of either 35 or 55-Watts. Both can be high quality but both have different pros and cons. The 35-Watt is still very powerful, being about 3 times brighter than factory standard bulbs. They are also gentler on the wiring and create less heat than their 55-Watt big brothers, which in turn is easier on headlight mounts themselves. 55-Watt are even brighter of course, but also take more power, placing a strain on the wiring and the battery.
Current – Typically the better kits will have AC power supply. Again, this is gentler on the wiring than having to keep up a DC supply. On the other hand, DC kits will generally be a little cheaper and will see more power delivered directly to the bulb.
Customer Support – This may seem a little strange, but hear us out. Yes, these products are relatively easy to install in most instances. But they are still high-tech electrical devices, and as such it’s not uncommon to have a few issues during install, especially the first time you try. Therefore the mark of a quality kit is really going to be that they provide good after care and customer/technical service.
How to Install HIDs
The beauty of these products is that they really are pretty simple to install. In fact, the whole point of selecting these Plug & Play models for our list was to choose items that just about anyone would feel confident of installing at home.
If you want to see an install in action before you do your own, then give this video guide a try.
Other than that, just read the instructions before you dive in and remember that a good kit manufacturer should also have good customer service to help too. If you’re really stuck, then you can take the car and the kit to a pro body shop that should be able to hook it up for a few bucks. Just remember to ask that they show you what the issue was so you know how to solve it in the future.
Sources:
- How to Upgrade Headlights – WikiHow
- Numbers of Accidents at Night – Serious Accidents