Pair of 7" HIDX or Hella FF1000's?

[Superu]

With the low key mods progressing on my DW's Suburban, I'm now considering lighting choices.

Quick recap: 03 Suburban LT 1500 4WD added factory skid plates and installed my National Luna PPP. Scored a nice Go Rhino 3000 Step Guard and installed that yesterday.

Planning to upgrade the factory fogs with a PnP 3000k HID kit from DDM Tuning.

Now, I need to decide on a pair of lights for the grill guard. I'd like to get opinions on the 7" HIDX versus the Hella FF1000's.

I can score the Hella kit for about half the price of the HIDX but am not sure they'll do what I want.

So, you ask, "What do I want to get out of these lights?"

Primary use will be back road / forested road driving where lighting up the entire road ahead of me is key. I don't need to see forever, but I do need to see the deer before they jump in front of me or when they are in the road 1/4 to 1/2 mile away. I want to be able to stop in time rather than swerving around them. :Wow1:

Max price range is ~$300 for the lights, relay, wiring and switch.

Also, do the newer HID's fire up fast enough to flash to pass?

 

[R_Lefebvre]

I have FF1000's with 100W bulbs, and they do exactly what you are wanting them to do. I might like a few more lumens, but the beam spread is pretty good. They throw about 1/4" mile up the road, which at 60mph, gives you 15 seconds, lots of time. More importantly, they put some light on the shoulders up ahead, instead of just being laser beams that only light up the roadway.

 

[off-roader]

FF1000's are ok. I had a set on my previous Montero. The problem I found with them though is the mounting system was mediocre at best and the plastic broke within a year of use off road. Heck, my Hell 500's lasted longer than that!!

Hella now makes a steel mount but I'm not sure if it's what's currently sold with a new ff1000.

Alternatively with a 300 price range you may want to consider the Hella FF4000 2 light kits. This model has the advantage of having an all metal housing & mount however it is larger with an almost 9" diameter housing.

 

[Hilldweller]

HIDx are GodLights but have a couple of drawbacks:
not instant-on (no HIDs are)
a bit cheaply built
6000K temperature is bluer than ideal

I'm using a pair but I tinted the lenses to selective yellow to make them easier on the pupils and more effective in foul weather.

 

[java]

i have the shucks version, same thing really as the HIDx, love them, best lights for the price ive used.

 

[Superu]

HIDx are GodLights but have a couple of drawbacks:
not instant-on (no HIDs are)
a bit cheaply built
6000K temperature is bluer than ideal

I'm using a pair but I tinted the lenses to selective yellow to make them easier on the pupils and more effective in foul weather.

Good points.

The more I think about it, I'm inclined to move my Lightforce 170's with the combo filters from the Superu to the Suburban and throw a set of Hella 500FF's on the Superu.

I like having them tied in to the high beams and maintaining the flash to pass and the 6000k is too blue for my old eyes. :ylsmoke: