Lighting upgrade options for '89 ellipsoids

[Sinnerman]

Hi folks: Seeking some advice:

I've done a fair bit of searching on the forum and have ascertained that my 89 635CSi ellipsoid headlamps use 9006 55w low beams. Output for the halogens should be ~1000 lumens. Several folks have gone the HID upgrade route while others have modded 9011 HIR bulbs to fit.

Im torn between replacing them with HIR bulbs which will give me an increase to appx ~1800 lumens or going the route of an HID upgrade (from what Ive read 35w HID is ~2500 lumens). Could any of you who have gone either route give me an idea of pros and cons as well as some real life experiences?

This is the HID kit Im looking at:
http://www.ebay.com/itm/Optix-Mini-Slim ... kQ&vxp=mtr

HIR Bulbs:
http://www.amazon.com/Philips-9012-Stan ... TMUD0JBR60

I am concerned about using an HID kit in an "incandescent" reflector as well as any potential additional load put on the stock wiring as I am looking to go strictly plug and play.

Thanks in advance!

[86_6series]

The HID set I put in my wife's Mariner used the light harness as a switch only to the ballasts.

The ballasts are connected positive to battery and negative to a ground, using a heavy gauge

wire to the bulbs. 6000 lumens or watts IIRC. Very huge difference in light performance. The kit was like $250 not $30.

Just a heads up. I'd be careful with a kit that costs only 30.

[Tommys 89 635]

I've experimented with many bulbs throughout the years and I upgraded to HID years ago (5+ yrs ago?) and love um. Nowadays HIDs are so much cheaper. I actually upgraded my wife's Honda Pilot a few months ago and she loves um too. I vote HID.

[dwcains]

I was on the interstate a few nights ago with an E30 glued to my rear bumper. He/she had HIDs in their ellipsoids, and honestly I wanted to kill whoever it was from all the glare. Sorry, but I just haven't seen a retrofit of HID bulbs that works. Brighter, yes, but beam pattern is far more important, IMO, and there are just better alternatives than HID conversion kits. HIR, for example, or just high-quality H4/H1 bulbs with upgraded wiring/relays.

[jacko]

HIDs are not a good match for those reflectors.