Originally posted by Maugan_VX
I'm not trying to be a prick about it or anything,

but why in the hell are these kits so expensive? For lights?

For $400, they'd better do more than just light up the road in front of me.
The components used in these lighting systems are inherently more expensive than good ole filament technology. High Intensity Disharge lighting utilizes a sealed xenon capsule to produce an extremely high voltage arc between tungsten electrodes which provides a pure light source with wavelengths comparable to true daylight. This capsule is driven by a dedicated electronic ballast that takes your standard 12V supply voltage and ramps it up to a clean high-voltage charge, in addition to providing the higher start-up jolt for the lamp. All while consuming less amperage than a sealed beam and running significantly cooler. The light these systems produce has very little glare, illuminates much more efficiently and makes reflective materials flouresce for greater visibility.

Believe me, once you drive an HID equipped vehicle at night you'll be thinking of nothing else except how to get it yourself. The difference from the driver's seat is that dramatic.