Headlight swap ?? Help

[Glorywagon]

Will the headlights off a 1997 Mark VIII inter change with a 1995 Mark VIII ?
The lights on a 95 suck I have a bad eye anyway (macular degeneration) and need all the light I can get on these country roads. Thanks Danny

[luxuryrules]

Nope, not interchangable. What happens on GenI headlights is that the bulb literally cooks the reflective coating off the inside of the assembly. Bulb makes light, but the light fails to get projected out of the housing.

Here is what to do:
Invest in a pair of brand new headlight assemblies. 1-800-866-1520, ask for Max in parts.
Invest in a set of HIR bulbs. http://hirheadlights.com/
Invest in a relayed harness. http://www.danielsternlighting.com/products/products.html
Lastly, investigate pulling a set of the L shaped headlight vents from a junkyard and installling them in your headlights.

Alternatively, you can open the old headlights up and try replacing the reflective coating. Some guys have done this with that flexible mirror stuff, others with paint (not recommended).

[Glorywagon]

Ok Thanks will look into it. Maybe cheaper just to install driving lights.

[bojo68]

I just bought 2 sets of 50w hid lights, want one? The HIR lights are supposed to be 75% of standard HID(which is about 3x factory) 50w HID is supposed to be 4~5x factory. There are people here with 35w HID systems and have had no trouble, the way I see it, if 35W HID works, so will 50W HID, they all run cooler than factory.

[luxuryrules]

HID bulbs will do little to help. The problem is that the reflective surface is burnt away. Without anything to reflect the light forward, the brightest bulbs in the world will not produce adequate lighting.

Now, new housings with HID bulbs after that? You're in business.

[Glorywagon]

I just bought 2 sets of 50w hid lights, want one? The HIR lights are supposed to be 75% of standard HID(which is about 3x factory) 50w HID is supposed to be 4~5x factory. There are people here with 35w HID systems and have had no trouble, the way I see it, if 35W HID works, so will 50W HID, they all run cooler than factory.

I could use them will have to mail a check if thats ok. :)

Danny Martin
9 Angel Drive
Greenbrier Arlansas
72058

[bojo68]

I could use them will have to mail a check if thats ok. :)

Danny Martin
9 Angel Drive
Greenbrier Arlansas
72058

Well, they haven't physically arrived yet, it'll probably be a week or 2. We can figure something out if ya want.
Far as the new assembly's, yeah, just looked in mine, while the lens is fine(no yellowing or scratching) the reflector is pretty much no longer silver, it's white plastic. While I'll agree that would never match a new set, I think the new ones are factory defective and refuse to give ford any money for such a bs maneuver.(can you tell I'm more than a little smoked about fords crappy headlights in general?) I will disagree that the lack of reflective matl. can not be overcome with light though. Doesn't really matter, for me, they're gonna get the trim brite treatment. I figure that by putting a metalic finish in there, I can ground that and shield the wires between the ballast and the light and cut emf considerably too.

[luxuryrules]

I will disagree that the lack of reflective matl. can not be overcome with light though.... I figure that by putting a metalic finish in there, I can ground that and shield the wires between the ballast and the light and cut emf considerably too.

You're doing exactly what I think you should do :) Just [both of you] be forewarned that aftermarket HID conversions are not DOT legal.

Try this:
Install the HIDs first. Then give those assemblies the trim brite treatment. You'll see how much of a difference it makes. Post pics too!

More importantly, can we talk you into writing an article on your method for putting a metallic finish in there? Since this is such a common problem it would be nice to have a writeup we can refer to.

[bojo68]

You're doing exactly what I think you should do :) Just [both of you] be forewarned that aftermarket HID conversions are not DOT legal.

Try this:
Install the HIDs first. Then give those assemblies the trim brite treatment. You'll see how much of a difference it makes. Post pics too!

More importantly, can we talk you into writing an article on your method for putting a metallic finish in there? Since this is such a common problem it would be nice to have a writeup we can refer to.

My hid sys is dot approved.(so says the seller, and I have a copy of the statement)

More than likely mine will get hid and trim brite at same time, more interested in getting rid of PITA than documenting half assed cures.

Far as a write up, fine by me, fair warning though, I'm slow at gettin things done..:)

I have access to a heat gun that puts out a lot of HOT air, and if that doesn't do it, I'll get my US Senator, he REALLY is full of hat air.

[luxuryrules]

My hid sys is dot approved.(so says the seller, and I have a copy of the statement)


That's gold. DOT approves only bulbs in conjunction with housings, so there is really no way it is legal. But, you got your bases covered because now you can pin it on the seller. Nicely done :)

[luxuryrules]

More than likely mine will get hid and trim brite at same time, more interested in getting rid of PITA than documenting half assed cures.

Please watch the language. Curiosity begs, then, if the reflective coating is the half-butted cure; or if the HIDs are the half-butted cure? I think we can leave that to the philosophers.


I have access to a heat gun that puts out a lot of HOT air, and if that doesn't do it, I'll get my US Senator, he REALLY is full of hat air.
Well said. I'll be happy to send you mine too. And feel free to keep her.

[bojo68]

That's gold. DOT approves only bulbs in conjunction with housings, so there is really no way it is legal. But, you got your bases covered because now you can pin it on the seller. Nicely done :)

I figure part of the game is not appearing unusual, and being as 4300, 4800, 5000K is right about the most efficient, and has no traces of ricer blue that flags cops down, shouldn't be a problem long as I make sure of proper aim. I doubt seriously cops are gonna be equipped to do a proper test of a headlight in that range, but I do have my back up as you say!:)

[luxuryrules]

In all honesty, I've yet to come across anybody who's actually had legal problems as a result of non DOT lighting (that wasn't tied with many other driving offenses). So I wouldn't worry too much about it anyways.

[bojo68]

Please watch the language. Curiosity begs, then, if the reflective coating is the half-butted cure; or if the HIDs are the half-butted cure? I think we can leave that to the philosophers.


Well said. I'll be happy to send you mine too. And feel free to keep her.

Can't imagine me getting along with any female senator I know of. Only thing I could think of to do with her is do what a friend did with his ex, took her to a swap meet. He got a set of used golf clubs and a used toaster for her.
Far as the cure, to me, either without the other is patchwork.

[luxuryrules]

Only thing I could think of to do with her is do what a friend did with his ex, took her to a swap meet. He got a set of used golf clubs and a used toaster for her.

Now that's a good deal! Were they nice clubs?

[jamies98lsc]

i have factory halogen housings in one of my 93's, i opened the housing, rechromed them, put back together and installed a 9005 based hid kit. honestly, i am so tired of people complaining about this dot crap. we need to see, plain and simple, these kits are based off a 9005 base, so they fit in the housing exactly where they should and if you arent stupid, you leave the refractor in the housing like i did, some guys remove them, thats dumb to do, because then you lose your beam pattern. i have yet to have someone flash me because im too bright, i even went with a 6000k temp too and they are awesome. i aimed them down a little and can now tell i did not need to. my other 93 has factory hid's from a 96 lsc and they dont come close to my after market ones. dot, dot, dot, screw the dot, its an hid kit, it isnt like you are putting the sun in your headlight housings come on.

these are mine.
http://i221.photobucket.com/albums/dd281/jamies98lsc/headlightrestore076.jpg
http://i221.photobucket.com/albums/dd281/jamies98lsc/headlightrestore079.jpg
http://i221.photobucket.com/albums/dd281/jamies98lsc/headlightrestore077.jpg
http://i221.photobucket.com/albums/dd281/jamies98lsc/headlightrestore078.jpg

[luxuryrules]

jamie, your PMs are disabled so I'm going to hijack this thread temporarily:
Any chance that you guys have a GenII Mark with a Light Graphite interior? Color code is D2 or Z2.

I'm looking for a pair of door panels.

[jamies98lsc]

i will have to check i may, i also enabled pm's i had no idea it was set to not allow them to me. all fixed now!

[bojo68]

Jamie, you got any tips on opening the light??

[Sonny Day Out]

Danny,

Install a set of 1996 HID Headlamps !

Good Luck,
Sonny

[luxuryrules]

Danny,

Install a set of 1996 HID Headlamps !

Good Luck,
Sonny

Nah, since the HID capsules have been discontinued this is no longer a viable option.

[jamies98lsc]

thats exactly why i just sold my hid bulbs, ballasts and housings, and replacing them with stock halogen housings that i will refinish and go aftermarket hid's in my green 93 just like i did in my black 93. the bulbs are readily available for 22.95 for a pair. now how can you not want to do it vrs paying 150 bucks or better for a used factory hid. i used to sell the factory hid's, for as much as 325 bucks a bulb 2 years ago to around 100 bucks if i am lucky today. no one is buying them anymore, the cost and hard time finding them now is finally driving people to use alternate solutions. i only went after market in my black 93 because it cost me under 100 bucks for the hid kit and the material needed to rechrome my stock housings, thats less then one factory hid bulb. my stock hid's worke perfect, but some day a bulb is gonna burn out, and im not waiting for that day to happen before i do something about it, so i'm doing it now.
and to get the housings open i use mini cut off wheels on my dremmel at low speed. i cut right along the seam where the lense meets the housings, its very easy and cuts super clean, it makes glueing them back together a breeze.
bojo email me directly at jamies98lsc@aol.com i cant give you any info even in a PM it wont let me.

[luxuryrules]

jamie, you have PM :)

[Glorywagon]

been gone for 24 hours.
I can see with them on bright and they don't seem to bother anyone. That will work till I can figure out what I'm gonna do.

[turborich]

I put HID's in my hallogen housings as well. They work great & don't blind anyone. They light up the road way better then the halogens ever did! As I have said over & over again, You can't go wrong with this simple & inexpensive mod.:)

http://i114.photobucket.com/albums/n280/vegasfordguy/1995%20Lincoln%20Mark%20VIII/markviiipics327.jpg

http://i114.photobucket.com/albums/n280/vegasfordguy/1995%20Lincoln%20Mark%20VIII/markviiipics326.jpg

http://i114.photobucket.com/albums/n280/vegasfordguy/1995%20Lincoln%20Mark%20VIII/markviiipics324.jpg

[Glorywagon]

i will have to check i may, i also enabled pm's i had no idea it was set to not allow them to me. all fixed now!

What about a right fender and right door with door handle for 1995 Mark VIII

[Glorywagon]

I put HID's in my hallogen housings as well. They work great & don't blind anyone


Well please tell this dumb old boy what HID's is. Wou lost me thanks Danny

[bojo68]

I put HID's in my hallogen housings as well. They work great & don't blind anyone


Well please tell this dumb old boy what HID's is. Wou lost me thanks Danny

High Intensity Discharge, instead of using a tungsten element they use an arc, somewhat similar to fluorescent lights. They use ballasts and starters too.

[Glorywagon]

High Intensity Discharge, instead of using a tungsten element they use an arc, somewhat similar to fluorescent lights. They use ballasts and starters too.

where do find that?Is there a site that sells the kit?

[luxuryrules]

where do find that?Is there a site that sells the kit?

The others here can point you towards decent kits, but as I've been going over with bojo, I can almost guarantee you need to give your headlights the trim-brite treatment to get any serious improvement. Brighter bulbs will do very little if all that extra light is not getting reflected out of the housing...

[Glorywagon]

Part might be because the rusty brown in color is there a way to clean them ?May be thats all they need.

[luxuryrules]

That rusty brown color is the problem - it used to be the reflective coating in those housings, but it does not reflect anymore. Do a little searching and you'll find a procedure for opening up the headlights so you can cut a few strips of trim-brite to adhere in there and restore the reflectivity.

You can bug bojo for a writeup on it, since it appears he's the next person that will be doing it :)

[Glorywagon]

found this on cleaning the lights up.Interesting

http://www.popularmechanics.com/automotive/how_to/4252611.html


http://www.e90post.com/forums/showthread.php?t=14156

[jamies98lsc]

glory, i have been doing this for years with headlights, me and my buddy martin have a step by step write up on 1st gen headlights for the mark VIII and how to even rechrome the inside of them and instal hid's, but this board will not allow me to post a link to another lincoln website. if you want to see it, email me directly at jamies98lsc@aol.com and i will send you the link. you can do it yourself its very easy and very cheap. i am currently working on two more pairs in my shop right now for a customers pair of mark's. he currently has factory hid housings and bulbs in both cars, but with the bulbs being obsolete and so expensive used, he decided to have me do the same thing to both of his mark's that i did to my black 93 and i am going to do to my green 93 also. either email me, or write your email in here and i will send you the link. i will send it to anyone who wants to see it.

[93' Blue on blue]

Yup, search and you will find! ;)

Very easy to do. (although time consuming)

Cheap, effective and lasts! Been running mine for 2 months now - still very good light, no deterioration, no condensation and most importantly of all: No significant glare. I have never been flashed by other drivers or stopped by police (since the mod, anyway - Lol) A good solution. :)

[Glorywagon]

glory, i have been doing this for years with headlights, me and my buddy martin have a step by step write up on 1st gen headlights for the mark VIII and how to even rechrome the inside of them and instal hid's, but this board will not allow me to post a link to another lincoln website. if you want to see it, email me directly at jamies98lsc@aol.com and i will send you the link. you can do it yourself its very easy and very cheap. i am currently working on two more pairs in my shop right now for a customers pair of mark's. he currently has factory hid housings and bulbs in both cars, but with the bulbs being obsolete and so expensive used, he decided to have me do the same thing to both of his mark's that i did to my black 93 and i am going to do to my green 93 also. either email me, or write your email in here and i will send you the link. i will send it to anyone who wants to see it.

Thanks
I have trouble sending e mail off of here so send to

glorywagon@windstream.net

Thanks Danny

[Philip]

In all honesty, I've yet to come across anybody who's actually had legal problems as a result of non DOT lighting (that wasn't tied with many other driving offenses). So I wouldn't worry too much about it anyways.

As far as getting busted for illegal headlights, so long as they're real HID instead of some blue/purple looking halogens, I don't really think that any cop or civilian would notice since the Mark VIII had HID on both body styles. Put HID in a Civic or F150 and someone's going to notice something different.

[bojo68]

As far as getting busted for illegal headlights, so long as they're real HID instead of some blue/purple looking halogens, I don't really think that any cop or civilian would notice since the Mark VIII had HID on both body styles. Put HID in a Civic or F150 and someone's going to notice something different.

As I understand it, HID's are available in color temperatures into the blue purple range, but WHY anybody with an IQ greater than their shoe size would want them is beyond me. They're most efficient as far as candlepower in the 4~5k range, which isn't really all that far from the halogen temperature. Past that they get dimmer and dimmer. I've had 250w aviation landing lights on a rig, and believe me, if there's ANY moisture in the air, you get a big blue blob with 2 lines down to the front of your truck. Last thing I want is to induce blue.
I spose I should point out also that when ya get SERIOUS about headlights, they can be dangerous in that when you light everything up like daylight, the streetlights think it IS daylight, and turn off. It takes them awhile to come back on.(or at least used to) I live at the top of a hill, and could turn off the street lights for 3 blocks coming home. This was mostly because in topping the hill the headlights were aimed up, wasn't a sure thing on a flat.

[luxuryrules]

I spose I should point out also that when ya get SERIOUS about headlights, they can be dangerous in that when you light everything up like daylight, the streetlights think it IS daylight, and turn off. It takes them awhile to come back on.(or at least used to) I live at the top of a hill, and could turn off the street lights for 3 blocks coming home. This was mostly because in topping the hill the headlights were aimed up, wasn't a sure thing on a flat.

I have never seen that phenomenon with any headlights, ever. Maybe it's just a west coast thing?

[bojo68]

I have never seen that phenomenon with any headlights, ever. Maybe it's just a west coast thing?

Aviation landing lights and day/night sensors would be pretty hard to restrict to just the west coast. By nature, they have to be pretty much worldwide. Not a whole lot of people have run 250watt landing lights, so your never having seen it is hardly surprising. Think about it, that's 42 amps in just high beam headlights, one has to be prepared for that.

[luxuryrules]

Aviation landing lights and day/night sensors would be pretty hard to restrict to just the west coast. By nature, they have to be pretty much worldwide. Not a whole lot of people have run 250watt landing lights, so your never having seen it is hardly surprising. Think about it, that's 42 amps in just high beam headlights, one has to be prepared for that.

Soooooo.... what you're saying is that aviation landing lights can turn off street lights, so we need to be careful what kind of headlights we put in our cars?

[bojo68]

Soooooo.... what you're saying is that aviation landing lights can turn off street lights, so we need to be careful what kind of headlights we put in our cars?

NO, I'm saying "I spose I should point out also that when ya get SERIOUS about headlights, they can be dangerous"

[luxuryrules]

I guess what I am not following is the connection between headlights and turning off street lights. Is there one? Or are you just using aviation lights to illustrate what serious lighting can do?

[jamies98lsc]

well since none of my cars can fly yet i dont have to worry about shutting street lights off, and besides that i aim my lights on the road in front of me, not in the trees so i can spot owls at night! the blue and purple hids you see are mostly for import crap show, and not for lighting, i have 6000k in my 93 and they are still white and i am very happy with them and have yet to have a car oncoming flash me the brights, i aimed mine lower then needed but i can still see plenty far enough in front of me to avoid any potential road hazards.

[93' Blue on blue]

Yeah, i did the same just to be safe. I have the 4300K - look very similar to Jamie's, just without the hint of blue. Those 'ricer types' give HIDs a bad rep - i don't understand why they want such high color temps. I guess show is more important than light output to them. Thats ok though - they will be the ones being pulled by the Police while i sail on by.

[jamies98lsc]

yeah me and 93 put our cars side by side at my shop in the dark and he went with the 4300k i have 6000k and mine just have the slightest bit of blue compared to his bright white but its very very slight difference, overall they looked pretty much the same.

[bojo68]

I guess what I am not following is the connection between headlights and turning off street lights. Is there one? Or are you just using aviation lights to illustrate what serious lighting can do?

Street lights work off a daylight sensor, if you crest a hill with a lot of light, the sensor will believe it's daylight and shut off. No magic, no flying, just bright headlights, properly aimed.

[jamies98lsc]

dude where do you live where you are cresting hills high enough to make your headlights shut a street light off, come on, unless the poles they use where you are , are only 10 feet tall. i have yet to see someones car shut a street light off, even an off road truck with 40 kc daylighters on the roll bar lol.

[bojo68]

Look, I'm not going to argue with you, and could care less if you believe it. Fact of the matter is it happened, regularly, if you wanna think i"m full of it, fine. For those that are interested, they've already seen what I have to say on the matter.

[mikemark8]

I did the conversion on my 96 mark with a kit that cost me $77 including shipping-I used a holesaw blade to open the bottom of the lens housings enough to do the trimbright fix, then glued/duct taped the discs back into place again after I was done. I had done the fog lights behind the grill about 18 months ago,and it was better than just halogens, but no comparison to the new hid's on my Gen 1.

Back in my desperate days, I also removed the metal diffusers, so my housings no longer have them-it has not been a problem, no one flashes me about my lights, and I have them aimed properly so it is not an issue with police or oncoming drivers. I bought 5000 kelvin bulbs with the kit, so they are more white than anything else. I do not use my autolight feature anymore, since I feel I need to decide when to fire up the ballasts-I have not opened up the steering column to bridge the low and high beam circuits so that they both go on when I go to highs. When I go to highs, I hold the lever towards me (both low and high are on this way) until I do not need the highs again-kind of a pain, but the HID's are so bright I rarely need to use highs.

The other thing is the 'check exterior lights' warning goes off when I fire the HID's up. I know there is a wire that can be cut to fix this, but pushing the reset button so that the warning goes off is a small price to pay for being able to see at night. Since the HID system just uses the existing connectors, I do carry a set of 9005's in case of emergency, it would not be a big deal to plug then in if needed in a pinch.

I have nothing but good things to say about the seller of my kit. They have a listed phone number and replied to questions quickly, and the kit I received was first class. There is also a one year warranty on the bulbs and ballasts, others on the auction site were only 90 days. Good luck.

[Philip]

Look, I'm not going to argue with you, and could care less if you believe it. Fact of the matter is it happened, regularly, if you wanna think i"m full of it, fine. For those that are interested, they've already seen what I have to say on the matter.

I've had it happen with both halogen and HID. To further complicate this, it has happened in town with streetlights everywhere and in the country where one or two streetlights were all that existed. Hey, even a lightening flash does it occasionally.