This
and this.


go here for info on lighting... lots of really neat options out there.
HiDplanet : The Official Automotive Lighting Forum - The Buzz


as for retrofitting.
It all kind of depends.
If you are mechanically inclined and pretty crafty, you can get the pieces you need from the junkyard. Basically all you have to do is get a projector, and mount it into your stock headlight housing.
I've seen people buy cheap "HID" housing off of e-bay for 30 bucks. Cut the backs out. Shove a projector they got from the junkyard in there. epoxy it all together, then use one of those cheap HID kits, and call it a day.
Usually turns out ok.
But as you will learn from reading the info on HID planet, there is a major difference between the cheap bulbs and ballasts you get in those cheap kits, and the OEM parts you get from higher end cars.

Retro fits start getting really expensive when you want to get OEM projectors out of something like a Lexus or something like that, and use OEM light housings and all of that. The end product is usually better, but it is really a judgement call.
Its kinda like name brand wheels, versus knock off wheels.
Yes, the name brand wheels are better, but there are people that roll around on knock off wheels and it suits their needs just fine.

The key is educating yourself and then choosing the best route to take for yourself, based on actual fact and information you have learned.

 

Halogen bulbs that are white or blue have a tint over them to make them NOT yellow and reduces light output...

 

BMW Xenon bulbs and housings work pretty well. I know people who bought them off ebay.
They paid plenty more than $30. I have converted them into composite plastic housings.
It depends on clearance behind the bulb.
Xenon's don't last long at the junkyards I go to.-Bob

 

Halogen bulbs can actually emit a wide array of colors, just as HIDS have different color temperatures, as do halogens.



Wasn't I just talking about how you post things like this all the time, that are untrue?

 

TRUTH!!! that link will lead you to all that you will need to know!

 

So after reading through some threads in that forum, retro fitting projectors (if you can afford it) seems to be the best looking/classiest option.

Anyone in this thread retro fitted their headlights before?

 

For my particular case, what about retro fitting a set of 09 gti/golf headlights on to my jetta?

Stock Jetta Headlights
[ATTACH=CONFIG]186331[/ATTACH]


Jetta w/ GTI Headlights
[ATTACH=CONFIG]186330[/ATTACH]

 

in my particular example, I was talking about a 240sx.
stock, it comes with those square sealed beam bulbs.
you can get on ebay and get cheap "conversion" headlights like these... for about 30 bucks..


they are cheap plastic housings with a cheap, plastic "lens"
Then, go to the junkyard, find a J30 or something like that, and yank those headlights. The J30, while not totally awesome headlights, did have projector style headlights.
Take the cheap e-bay part, hack it up , so you can shove the J30 headlight into the back of it. Secure it however you want. Some have used a few bolts. Others have epoxied it in. One guy even used bondo.
Then get yourself a cheap HID kit, and boom, cheap, retro fitted HID's.
Not the best, but you can get the whole thing done for less than 150 bucks, including the cost of the HID kit, and you won't look like a douche blinding everyone with your ricer glare.


Did you really just use household light bulbs of a totally different technology to attempt to prove your point that automotive, halogen bulbs can come in different color temps?
a household florescent bulb is a far cry from an automotive halogen.

Bingo.
I've done it the cheap way. Been working on gathering the pieces to do a really nice retrofit to my 300zx, even though it technically has a projector style light. I'd like to step up to the "real deal"
Might even do a retrofit on my fog lights too.
A few others are gathering the pieces to do theirs too.
I know that forum I linked you to has some pretty decent guides. You might even get lucky and find someone who has already done your specific car if you search around some.
I know it sounds kinda "hacker" but it really is just a matter of modifying the stock housing to hold the projector and then adding the HID bulb and ballast.

Damn near looks like you could just swap the entire headlight housing.
then all you would need to do is swap the wiring over.
if that is the case, then you don't really have to modify anything, and if you do, it would be minimal.

 

Eh, I mainly used it as a reference to show that halogen bulbs can and do emit an array of colors(up to a certain temperature). Probably should've picked a better picture now that I look at it

Please try and keep your reply under 150 characters, no fucking bibles please.

 

Wasn't I just responding to you about how I was only one country off and my info is pretty close?
You just posted pictures of fluorescent and incandescent bulbs...
Do some research, they put a coating on them that reduces light output is AUTOMOBILE HALOGEN BULBS (this is what we are talking about in this thread in case you missed it)
As far as your horrible example goes, go find some 4500k halogens for me real quick. If you do, lets not try to compare a lambo to a civic mmmkay?