Upgrading 2003 headlights

[Fred Stiteler]

Wife has a 2014 Escape Titanium. And I would love to be able to upgrade the ST's headlights to be close to what hers are. Is that even feasible? Can you point me in the right direction to see if anyone else has done this please?

 

[Todd Z]

Many people have installed quality HID kits or retrofit projectors..... some places even custom make for you.

 

[Fred Stiteler]

Not sure I understand "retrofit projectors"!

I have seen LED and HID kits for the Sport Trac, which would be most like the Escape? I couldn't find any projects, your advice would be greatly appreciated.

 

[Fordtruckfan89]

Projector retrofits are an option, and now even quality drop in leds are. Nicer ones will have no glare, more light output and pretty similar beam pattern. I picked up some hikari 2020 9007s off amazon. I need to aim them up a little, but I'm pretty happy with them. Check into headlight revolution on youtube to learn more on leds/ hids/ projectors. These are what projectors look like

 

[Wade J]

Theretrofitsource.com
If you’re handy you can install your own projectors. The light is focused on the road and won’t blind on coming drivers like installing hid or led bulbs in your existing headlight housing.

 

[StephenL]

@Wade J

How.where do you get cool looking headlights like that? Mine a re a bit sun damaged so I would be down for an upgrade. That isn't just from the bulb is it?

That link you posted seems to just sell bulbs?

 

[Wade J]

The headlight housing are black ones off eBay I believe they were anzo brand.

Then I cooked them in the oven to get the lens off and installed projectors and 35 watt hids from theretrofitsource.com I went with the square projectors

Projectors have a sharp cut off to keep the light on the road and not into the eyes of on coming drivers. There’s plenty of videos on YouTube for doing the projector retro fit. None specifically for a ST but you’ll get the idea after watching a few videos. So much better than standard old school reflector style lights that came stock on our trucks.

 

[StephenL]

very cool. thanks for the write up

 

[Stan P]

I bought replacement headlight kits from Amazon and replaced myself. One key was to seal the housing all the way around to avoid water penetration. They are so much brighter and the old yellowed look is gone. I use silicone calk

 

[Fred Stiteler]

Stan P, do you have pictures?

 

[Fred Stiteler]

Wade J, is the image of the road, low or high beams?

 

[Wade J]

That pic was low beam
Here’s high beam

This is just the headlights no fog or light bar. That’s the reflection of a sign at the end of the road, way down there. The projectors with hi/low built in, on low beam there is a shudder that blocks some of the light that’s how you get that sharp cut off line on low beam. When you switch to hi beam the shudder moves up out of the way allowing all the light to pass through the projectors. I have lower powered 35 watt hids (there are 55 watt also) and mine are very bright. 5000K color temp.

 

[Stan P]

I bought replacement headlight kits from Amazon and replaced myself. One key was to seal the housing all the way around to avoid water penetration. They are so much brighter and the old yellowed look is gone. I use silicone calk

Stan P, do you have pictures? Here’s the light kit and on dim and bright

 

[DILLARD000]

I bought replacement headlight kits from Amazon and replaced myself. One key was to seal the housing all the way around to avoid water penetration. They are so much brighter and the old yellowed look is gone. I use silicone calk

Do you have an Amazon link?

 

[Stan P]

Eagle-Eye-Lights/b/ref=bl_dp_s_mw_20046585011?ie=UTF8&node=20046585011&field-lbr_brands_browse-bin=Eagle+Eye+Lights