Advice needed regarding HID upgrade for a 2010 Insignia

[i.rosca]

Hello everyone!

I am the owner of a 2010 Insignia that is factory equipped with a pair of halogen headlamps. I should also mention it has headlamp washers and manual leveling. 

I use this car daily mostly to and from work. During autumn / winter I finish work after night fall and my daily commute includes a 30 km piece of road through an unlit field that has been known to have the occasional jaywalking rabbit or other, larger, 4 hoofed creature.

I recently drove a friend's car equipped with factory HIDs. The light output, the crisp cut off and the uniform light distribution made my halogen lamps feel like candles by comparison and I've since been considering upgrading my siggy with a pair of HIDs but I don't really know where to start. So far, these are the options I came up with:

• Install a pair of new halogen bulbs (the current set is as old as the car itself) and see how much of an improvement it makes
  
• Get an HID kit, blind any oncoming driver, have a rubbish light pattern and also break some laws (worst idea of the bunch, I believe)
  
• Hack the current lamp units to install a lens and an HID kit which may result in a decent result and, as long as I don't ruin the lights, might prove cost effective
  
• Do it properly and install the OEM HID headlamps and all that it ensues. This is the most expensive of all options as the OEM units themselves are quite hefty priced, nevermind the self leveling, the wiring and programming (which I wasn't able to find out if it is necessary).
  
• While the OEM self leveling, adaptive headlamps sound nice, I lived with static headlights up to this point, I could live with them longer. That being said, the last option would be to buy and use an aftermarket head lamp unit and install an HID kit. 
  

As far as I can tell, the last option would constitute the best compromise in regards to the end result and the cost. I can get myself these or these which can use either halogen or HID and are compatible with the existing wiring loom so I can plug in an HID kit as well. What I do not know is how good these aftermarket headlights actually are. Another concern is the effect this would have on incoming traffic. Even if it would have a lens, it won't self-level...

Can anyone chime in and offer an advice or an opinion as to what the best option would be and why?