I have an 01 and the headlights are brutal. I had a 6 volt VW that had brighter lights. I can't use my PIAA's anywhere around people so I need to do something to improve the lights.
I was going to start with an upgraded wiring harness, but I had also heard that the 03 reflectors were properly designed to throw light in the right places. Anybody try them yet?
I was considering the projector lamps, but the required sheet metal mods have caused me to reconsider.
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No Boundaries '01 PSD - U codes, Rancho 9000's & stabilizer, SCMT, Isspro EVA trio on pillar, BFG 285's, badges, Fabtech Desert Guard, PIAA 580 driving and pencil beam, dome override, ART brakes.....
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Some people are like Slinkys. They are good for nothing but still put a smile on your face when you push them down a flight of stairs. 2003 X Limited Ultimate, Mineral Grey Metalic. DVD, Limited Slip, Badged, Cab Lights, Magnaflow, Thule Rack, 3" Lift, T Prodigy, Air Bags, Edge Programer, XM Radio, Extreme sound system. 315/70/17s on AR Chrome/Aluminium.http://community.webshots.com/user/stellinm
I posted this earlier with no response. The APC Projectors are junk,they are low quality and fill with water. I put factory Ford units from and 03 model on, and the beam pattern is improved. Although mine were free (came off a total) if I had laid out the $200 they sell for on eBay (make sure they are OEM, not knock-offs) I would be happy.
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Rich DeFrancisco
2000 Excursion Limited PSD 4x4, Oxford White, X-code springs, F350 blocks, Husky Liners, Banks 4" Monster Exhaust w/Power Elbow, Hutched and Pooned, Ford Outfitters/Hella 60mm Driving Lights, Bilstein.
1998 BMW M3 Dakar Yellow (her car), 18" M-Parallel wheels, always at the mall.
1974 Truimph TR6, will be Sapphire Blue, in the process of restification.
There is no sheet metal mods required to install the APC headlights. You do have to make a cutout in the grill support which is a fiberglass composite material. JS.
Is this from your personal experience with APC headlights? We sell over 100 sets a year and have never had water in them, clear corners are a different story. JS.
How about upgrading the bulbs in your existing lamps?
I did this on the '02 Ex I had and on the '03 Ex I now have with good results...
I got the PIAA Super white 9007 replacemnts for the headlamps and 65W 9005's in the foglights in place of the 37w bulbs... MUCH improved !
Course I also put a westin bull bar and piaa 520's up front and moved the stock fogs to the bottom of the bar...
I can SEE !!!
And on the back did the 50 Watt upgrade in the reverse lamps and added a set of 55 watt fog lamps on the bottom of the bumpers...
Even though I use and trust the reverse sensors all the time, I still like to see what I just hit :-)
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05 4x4 6.0L EB Ex.... only 2 mods..8.9 @ 74 1/8th
gone but not forgotten 03 4x4 6.0L Lim Ult Ex...
even goner 02 4x2 7.3L Lim Ex buyback
See my post on upgrades general forum regarding karkraft.com 2003 style headlight/reflectors, which appear to be OEM. Should fit the x as well as my F250. These give the crystal clear 'door' [the plexiglass front] with a bright chrome reflector [the 'back'] that appears to be the 2003 OEM fix for the deficient illumination many have posted about. At $180, far less than APC, and no cuttin' or wirin', a cheaper and much easier fix. If you add the sylvania xtravision +20% 9007 bulbs, you will see a drastic improvement in illumination. I was looking for feedback on whether the suvlight.com or APC wiring harness upgrade would make a further improvement worth the expense and labor, but have not heard back from haul'n'horses or others who did the wiring upgrade. As for the APC kit, you have seen the vendor posting vouching for them, and probably the gripes about them from users of earlier [apparently] versions of that retrofit. I am very pleased with the karkraft.com / xtravision +20% 9007 bulb solution, even without taking the next step of adding heavy duty wiring and/or the 'brite box,', an electrical connection fix that leaves the low beam on with the brights ..... Notoriously touchy Atlanta drivers I have approached from behind haven't been upset with the low beams on my 2wd F250, even though I have them aimed probably a little higher than factory to project enough in front of the truck to be of value. They are still aimed such that the lows don't go into the rear windows of even small cars immediately in front. If your X sits lower, as I expect is the case, shouldn't be a problem .....
My experience with the APC's have been in taking them off customers trucks after they start to look and perform poorly. We even bought a set of new ones and sent them to Hella in Germany for testing. They were considering an upgrade kit using the 90mm inserts, but determined the housings, design and structure to be of low quality. If you are going to spend the money, go with the newer style OE lightsTo answer the original post, yes, the pattern is better.
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Rich DeFrancisco
2000 Excursion Limited PSD 4x4, Oxford White, X-code springs, F350 blocks, Husky Liners, Banks 4" Monster Exhaust w/Power Elbow, Hutched and Pooned, Ford Outfitters/Hella 60mm Driving Lights, Bilstein.
1998 BMW M3 Dakar Yellow (her car), 18" M-Parallel wheels, always at the mall.
1974 Truimph TR6, will be Sapphire Blue, in the process of restification.
I put the 03 light and the silverstars in my wifes Excursion and we both LOVE the light. She hates to drive at night because she can not see but will drive at night now!!! I think the 03 are worth the up grade. [img]/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/cool.gif[/img] [img]/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/smile.gif[/img] [img]/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/grin.gif[/img]
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