W8TVI's 2000 Yukon XL SLT

[W8TVI]

One thing I have notice with going from reflector low beams to projector low beams, is that even though they are just as bright where they project the light, the hard cutoff makes it seem like they are dimmer lights.

When I got the XL, it had 55w low/60w high. These new headlights came with standard halogen but both bulbs are 65w (both bulbs are high beam bulbs). I find myself now wanting to get an HID kit for it...

 

[Countryboy07]

Retro fit them! I'm in the process of doing mine

 

[W8TVI]

Retro fit them! I'm in the process of doing mine

So I bought this set of cheap 5000K HID headlights on Amazon. I figured for $30, if they didn't work right, I could toss them and only be out $30.
All I did was mount the ballast and trim the rubber behind the driver side headlight (and unclip the washer tubes from their holder) to get clearance for their wires. (passenger side I did nothing)

I've hooked these directly to the factory low beam plugs, and I have no trouble with flicker, and I see no change in light when starting up the truck with them on.
The pattern they put on the wall is the same as the stock halogens in these projectors. They do seem to fill the pattern on the ground right in front of the truck better than the stock bulbs.
They also seem to light the road signs on the side of the road better than the stock bulbs.

For being the cheapest (OEM Denali style) projector+HID kit I could find, I'm amazed they worked this well.

I think I might try a set of 4300K next time.

 

[W8TVI]

I just ordered some more parts for the truck:

Left and right turn signal assemblies

A pair of JDM ASTAR swtich-back turn signal LEDs

A pair of JDM ASTAR 10W LEDs for the DRLs

A pair of amber non-polarity sensitive 194 LEDs for the side marker bulbs.

And an EP29N electronic turn signal flasher (must have an LED compatible relay).
The EP29N will not fit without removing the extra plastic around the top of the socket in the truck.

I hope I like the switch backs...
My dad got some 9011 HIR bulbs for the high-beams in his '98 Sierra, so he isn't using the Silverstars he had in there, so they are going in the high-beams in my truck.
Looks like Thursday is front end lighting upgrade day.

 

[W8TVI]

Here is a video of a cheap $20 set of LED tailgate lights installed on my dad's '98 Sierra, that don't work on our SUVs (but would be fine on a truck):

 

[W8TVI]

"Pure Michigan"
​

 

[W8TVI]

LED (switchback) turn signals, side markers, and DRLs are installed and working, along with brand new turn signal assemblies on both sides!

Action packed video:

The hardest part was cutting off the shroud around the relay with my dremel so the new one would fit.
The EP29N will not fit without removing the shroud around the top of the socket.

​

If you get 194 LEDs that say they are non-polarity sensitive (got mine from superbrightleds.com), the side marker lights will function like the stock lights (as you can see in my video).

When I swapped out the DRLs, I noticed the sockets were heat damaged. I'm going to have to replace those some time...

 

[Rocket Man]

So I bought this set of cheap 5000K HID headlights on Amazon. I figured for $30, if they didn't work right, I could toss them and only be out $30.
All I did was mount the ballast and trim the rubber behind the driver side headlight (and unclip the washer tubes from their holder) to get clearance for their wires. (passenger side I did nothing)

I've hooked these directly to the factory low beam plugs, and I have no trouble with flicker, and I see no change in light when starting up the truck with them on.
The pattern they put on the wall is the same as the stock halogens in these projectors. They do seem to fill the pattern on the ground right in front of the truck better than the stock bulbs.
They also seem to light the road signs on the side of the road better than the stock bulbs.

For being the cheapest (OEM Denali style) projector+HID kit I could find, I'm amazed they worked this well.

I think I might try a set of 4300K next time.

View attachment 73178
View attachment 73179
View attachment 73180
View attachment 73181

FYI if you start blowing HID ballasts due to the auto headlight function you can disable it. I went through 3 ballasts in a few months until I disabled mine. Seems they didn't like to fire up at the same time the starter was drawing so much current.

 

[W8TVI]

FYI if you start blowing HID ballasts due to the auto headlight function you can disable it. I went through 3 ballasts in a few months until I disabled mine. Seems they didn't like to fire up at the same time the starter was drawing so much current.

I figured with this set only costing $30, if I didn't like it, I could go back to the halogens, and if I did like it, I could spend a little bit more and get a better set.
I've also been waiting to start the truck until the HIDs looked like they were warmed up.

 

[BADRIDES]

New LED tails:
Edit: forgot the video of the tail lights:

I like them