My first post

SteveSkal · #1 (**permalink**) 03-31-07, 11:44 PM

Hello all, tonite I just became the proud owner of a 2002 Escalade. I previously had a 1999 Jeep Grand Cherokee Ltd so this is quite and upgrade. The Caddy only has 45k miles on it and is the nice pearl white color. I've always liked the Escalades and very much spur of the moment today I jumped in my Jeep not knowing I wouldnt be returning home in it!!! Traded it in and bought the Caddy, looking forward to tinting them front windows and putting some bigger chrome wheels on it. Any other suggestions for upgrades????

Thanks
Steve

JonCR96Z · #2 (**permalink**) 03-31-07, 11:56 PM

Welcome, congrats on the new ride. There are plenty of upgrades for these things, and that is the best part about joining a forum. Just search around on here and I'm sure you'll get some ideas. Also try to learn from others mistakes. And as always have fun and enjoy the ride.

**Playdrv4me** · #3 (**permalink**) 04-01-07, 12:34 AM

First thing I would do if I had an 02 is buy some of the Xenon headlamp assemblies from an 03-06 on ebay and get rid of the halogens.

By the way, congratulations on getting out of the 99 Grand Cherokee no matter WHAT you got into. Of the 23 or so cars Ive owned, the 99 Limited was by FAR one of the worst I ever had.

SteveSkal · #4 (**permalink**) 04-01-07, 12:41 AM

So you need to change the entire headlight assembly just to use xenon bulbs??

03lade · #5 (**permalink**) 04-01-07, 12:44 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by SteveSkal

Hello all, tonite I just became the proud owner of a 2002 Escalade. I previously had a 1999 Jeep Grand Cherokee Ltd so this is quite and upgrade. The Caddy only has 45k miles on it and is the nice pearl white color. I've always liked the Escalades and very much spur of the moment today I jumped in my Jeep not knowing I wouldnt be returning home in it!!! Traded it in and bought the Caddy, looking forward to tinting them front windows and putting some bigger chrome wheels on it. Any other suggestions for upgrades????

Thanks
Steve

That's kinda funny cause I too just got rid of my Grand Cherokee...I LOVE my new(used) 03 escalade....Just got some new 22's on it and am ready to add some more "stuff" to it..

**Playdrv4me** · #6 (**permalink**) 04-01-07, 01:13 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by SteveSkal

So you need to change the entire headlight assembly just to use xenon bulbs??

No the whole assembly needs to be changed because the "assembly" consists of the ignitor, the ballast, and the Xenon bulb (burner). Dont buy anything that tells you its a Xenon "bulb" to just stick in place of your factory Halogens. They are just cheap korean or chinese made replacements with a blue tint that can burn out your wiring. Beware of "conversion kits" too. They are the ones that you can stick in your factory housings and include the ballast and ignitor, but your stock housings ARE not designed for this and you will blind oncoming drivers.

The prices may SEEM expensive when you search out the assemblies on Ebay, BUT they are MUCH more reasonable than alot of cars because there are so many of them out there. And trust me, once you have HIDs, you NEVER go back. I would pay any amount of money to do it if mine didnt have them.

SteveSkal · #7 (**permalink**) 04-01-07, 01:26 AM

Oh thats pretty cool. So once you get headlights from an 03 and up just install them and when going to the autoparts store for bulbs buy ones for 03 and up and I'd be all set?

**Playdrv4me** · #8 (**permalink**) 04-01-07, 01:36 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by SteveSkal

Oh thats pretty cool. So once you get headlights from an 03 and up just install them and when going to the autoparts store for bulbs buy ones for 03 and up and I'd be all set?

Well, in a Xenon headlight, the "bulb" is just a loose term used to describe what is really the gas burner tube. They can be a little pricey too if you just go to the dealer to get a new one, about 150 and up a piece. Unfortunately, as of yet they arent something you can just buy at the hardware store... YET.

BUT AGAIN, I bought some for a bmw on ebay a year ago for 55.00 for the pair.

Heres the thing though... A xenon burner is DESIGNED to last the LIFE of the vehicle. They usually WILL burn out or fail at SOME point, but not NEARLY as frequently as a regular Halogen bulb. They are designed to last MANY years.

hcvone · #9 (**permalink**) 04-01-07, 07:33 AM

Welcome to the Forum.

medlines · #10 (**permalink**) 04-01-07, 08:08 AM

Welcome to the Cadillac community and to this Forum, I am sure you are going to find a lot of upgrades up to your taste to Bling your new SUV.

DLE · #11 (**permalink**) 04-01-07, 01:19 PM

Congrats and welcome to the forum.

As for the HIDs, you can get an HID kit. I did it to my wifes 02 lade, and it sure looks good.

I got a Pilot HID kit on ebay, 8000k, and it looks very nice. Cost is under $200 too, and direct plug and play. Pretty simple.

**Playdrv4me** · #12 (**permalink**) 04-01-07, 02:01 PM

Like I said. I STRONGLY suggest against that. It may look good to the installer, but it aint great for the person across the road from you or on the other side of the intersection.

Take me seriously on this. These kits have actually been outlawed due to a massive amount of customer complaints that rolled into NHTSA. They specifically state they are for OFFROAD use ONLY. They really burn me up because they make those of us with legit HIDs get all the "I hate those lights they blind me" complaints thrown on us and I am a passionate Xenon fanatic (One of our moderators coined the phrase "If Ian could get Xenons on ice cream... he would)

.

If nothing else, I can tell an aftermarket swap from a factory kit like night and day. It just looks different.

Im sure DLE's looks very good, and in some cases the glare isnt even that bad (some of the members here have done some nice retrofits), but if your going to spend 200 bucks, why not spend a couple hundred more and get the factory pair?

The absolute WORST I have EVER seen is some IDIOT who rolls around South Tampa in a Toyota Sienna Minivan with a retro-kit in the Headlights *AND* the fog lights that absolutely blinds the crap out of everyone coming toward him. I see this guy at least twice a week on the road and I want to drag him out of his car everytime I see that stupid van.

DLE · #13 (**permalink**) 04-01-07, 02:45 PM

To be honest, my kit did have a bit of a glare to it, BUT, I fixed it by adjusting the beam down a bit so its pointing to the ground and not up at oncoming traffic. Never had ANY problems after that, and it sure lit up nice and bright on the roadway.

**slk230mb** · #14 (**permalink**) 04-01-07, 06:18 PM

Ian, now that my extended warranty is up I might have to think about doing this. I need to find the post with the write up info.

**Playdrv4me** · #15 (**permalink**) 04-01-07, 06:23 PM