On Sat, 8 Jan 2005, John Diamond wrote:

> I have a 96 Lincoln Mark 8. I don't care for my current headlights,
> which are metal halide bluelights.

OK. You don't care for them because...?

Background info on your headlamp system:

That HID (MH) system (ANSI 9500) is a DC system that was used ONLY on the
Lincoln Mark for a couple of years before it was scuttled due to
erratic/short bulb and ballast life. All subsequent automotive HID systems
use the substantially more robust AC-operated D1/D2 system, with
world-standardized components with much lower pricetags. Unfortunately the
bulbs don't interchange directly.

The DC components' manufacture was discontinued forever at the end of
1998; there exist some remaining pieces in the Ford parts system (which
was the only source for them all along), but when they're gone, they're
gone.

> My question: Is it possible to convert them over to regular halogen
> headlights. If so, how would I go about this?

Well, first step is to disregard this "Burt Squareman" joker, who
obviously hasn't a clue. A halogen bulb will not physically fit into the
large (almost 2" round!) bulb hole in your headlamps, and even if it
would, beam performance would be exceptionally poor because the optics are
different for halogen vs. MH. And "cool blue" bulbs are never better than
clear-glass items. So much for Mr. Squareman.

Second step is to go purchase the halogen headlamp assemblies. You can get
them new at the dealer, and you should not attempt to install used ones,
for the early runs of these headlamps deteriorated quickly and badly
(lenses opacified, reflectors corroded and peeled).

Install the headlamps in the car. Be advised these headlamps perform
poorly, because they are too small for the job they are asked to do. To
try to compensate for the grossly undersized optic unit, Ford installed
the most powerful halogen bulb available at the time of manufacture (the
9005, which is normally used only as a high beam bulb) in both low and
high beams. It made the low beams legal, but only just. Add in Ford's
notoriously inadequate headlamp wiring, and things get ugly.

Results are halfway decent if you install 9011 bulbs instead of 9005s (see
http://bmwz.org/articles/lighting/0506trick/ ) and feed 'em with relays
(see http://www.danielsternlighting.com/t...ys/relays.html ).

-DS