Here's my review from off-road.com.
There’s been some discussion of this and other kits currently offered, so here is a brief review. In short, it’s nice, but I believe there are other legal options much cheaper offering virtually the same performance.
Kit design and quality :
Sylvania’s kit is a total headlight replacement providing a DOT legal upgrade to a 4,100k HID system.
The kit is very complete, providing:
2 Beam corrected replacement fluted lens with 4,100k HID and H3 bulbs
2 HID ballasts and mounting brackets
2 Wiring harnesses to wire each lamp separately.
1 Cross over harness, used to properly incorporate high beam operation.
Component quality is extremely high right down to the packaging.
Installation :
Basically it’s very straight forward, requiring only two modifications made to the vehicle. Mount the ballasts (may requiring drilling) and merging the exiting OEM 3 prong headlight connector into the new wiring harness.
The directions call for you to cut out the existing OEM 3 prong headlight connector then attach spade type connectors to the 2 hot lines and a bullet connector to the remaining ground. These connections then merge into the new wiring harness (more on this below).
Performance:
In order to receive DOT approval, the system must provide both a standard H3 high beam, and the high beam must work separately from the HID low beam. Turning on your high beams activates the H3 in addition to your HID low beams.
This was my second headlight upgrade. I’ve provided two reviews. One for my XJ which had already been upgraded to an H4 rear reflector halogen system. The second using a co-workers stock 1990 XJ.
OEM 1990 XJ sealed beam halogen comparison.
Far wider spread pattern, considerably brighter with crisper more defined edges. This was a vast improvement of the stock sealed beams.
H4 DOT legal rear reflector comparison
The H4 system was pretty decent to begin with. It provided a very nice even spread. I had no complaint with this lighting, simply believing I’d gain considerable more by going HID.
I can’t say I gained that much beyond a very different spread patten with a slightly whiter color. The HID’s have a wider but narrower spread, with a really sharp hot spot angled to the passenger on each lens. The hot spot is caused by a clear square on the fluted len. Sylvania must have had a reason for this, but frankly I don’t like it.
Would I do it again? Probably not. I don’t think the slight gains offset the price. I believe upgrading to a good H4 is still the most cost effective way to get better DOT legal lighting.
What I would have done differently :
Cutting the existing OEM 3 prong headlight connector eliminates that ability to fall back to your original halogen system. I believe this to be a huge mistake. For numerous reasons I believe this option should be retained.
In my opinion Sylvania should have designed/provided either a 3 prong adaptor, or enhanced their wiring harness to use 3 prong male spade connections allowing simply plug-in to the existing OEM connector.
Additionally, the high beam bridge contained in the kit didn’t match the wiring harness. I had to enhance the wiring on the bridge to get the system to work properly.
XJ 6054 headlight replacement
http://www.sylvania.com/xenarc/x60246054.htm
Final thoughts:
I would recommend Sylvania’s optional 1010 auxiliary HID system. It’s been outstanding! Both the spread pattern (fog) and the 5,400k light is outstanding.
http://www.sylvaniaperformanceshop....EAB5-4459-B566-8F010F520D30}&NC=1110200312597
Kent
