YACT: Anyone Own Xenon HID Headlights?

[ChefJoe]

Originally posted by: LongCoolMother
imo they are a lot better than normal halegon lights. whenever i take the s2000 out at nighttime, the road is a lot easier to see because of the xenon lamps. as opposed to the camry, which has more of a dull illumination. the HID lamps on the s2k definately look more clear for some reason. whether they blind other drivers, i dont know. but one thing i noticed is that my own headlights are lot more noticable, on signposts, the road, and other cars. it could be because its a different color, or maybe they're just brighter.

Actually, depending on the year a lot of s2000 owners at s2ki.com say they were shipping with HIDs aimed way too high. Basically a slightly uneven road was blinding.

 

[Hoober]

My wife's XC70 came with them as an option. They're a lot better than the lights on my truck, and she loves them when driving at night.

 

[maziwanka]

i thought DOT made after market HID kits illegal (cuz they dont auto level like the factory ones do - i.e. if they're installed improperly they blind other drivers)

 

[helloedchen]

i have HIDs in my WRX, they're like night and day versus halogens. they do not blind on coming traffic if you aim them correctly.

edit: found a pic of my car, this was taken in pitch black darkness around midnight in my driveway: LINK

 

[NutBucket]

Originally posted by: maziwanka
i thought DOT made after market HID kits illegal (cuz they dont auto level like the factory ones do - i.e. if they're installed improperly they blind other drivers)

Actually a lot of factory HIDs don't auto-level (Acura comes to mind). But yes, its illegal now to sell HID kits.

 

[Ikonomi]

Is it possible to get the dealer to retrofit stock HIDs? My car didn't come with HIDs as an option the year it was made, but following model years did.

 

[NutBucket]

No need to get the dealer to do it but yes, that's definitely a viable option.

 

[nageov3t]

seriously, why would anyone need HID headlights? some perverse desire to blind and annoy every other drive on the road or something?

 

[SoyBoy004]

I had an aftermarket kit on my car. The visibility is amazing! clear white light illuminating the road is great as the distance it illuminates is great as well. make sure not to aim them too high or like others are saying, you will blind others.

 

[eLiu]

My dad drives a '99 E430...it has xenons.

 

[Nanotech]

I had the option with my Audi and I said hell no b/c:

A: They really don't look good at all
B: I despise drivers who have them
C: Newer cars really don't need them b/c newer regular headlights are bright enough as it is

Edit: the smiles were not suppose to be there it was suppose to be : ) but w/o the space

 

[z0mb13]

I have stock xenons on my 330ci...

the difference is AMAZING! I drove a honda before that with regular halogen lights

my only complaint is that sometimes its too bright, and the person in front of me thinks that I am flashing my high beams (especially if its a hilly road)

 

[Aharami]

yes

 

[z0mb13]

Originally posted by: Nanotech
I had the option with my Audi and I said hell no b/c:

A: They really don't look good at all
B: I despise drivers who have them
C: Newer cars really don't need them b/c newer regular headlights are bright enough as it is

Edit: the smiles were not suppose to be there it was suppose to be : ) but w/o the space

u ever driven in a car that has xenons?? the visibility is MUCH MUCH better

also audis have great xenons... it kinda have a bluish tint.. you can distinquish it from far away

 

[nageov3t]

want better visibility? buy a pair of glasses

I see cars with HID's all the time in the NYC metro area, and it pisses me off to no end. Even at night, this area is so bright that you could drive around without any headlights on and see fine (in fact, I've done so on more than one occasion accidently, and didn't realize it until I got out into the country). I just don't see the necessity, especially when your interfering with other drivers' visibility.

 

[toant103]

Originally posted by: isekii

Originally posted by: SilentZero
my M3 came with them as an option. Great lights!

you figure a car that costs 40k+ comes with them standard.

yeah. you can get HID for the protege 3

 

[Apex]

Originally posted by: dirtboy

Originally posted by: Apex

Originally posted by: dirtboy
I have quad halogen HIDs, does that count?

Probably not, since halogen =/ HID.

Just wondering, because they are halogen projectors and projectors are referred to as HIDs.

HID refers to high intensity discharge. It's a change in technology, as it uses a high voltage arc inside a gas (normally xenon) instead of a filament, like Halogen.

Projectors merely refer to the reflector and lens design.

 

[Nanotech]

Originally posted by: z0mb13

Originally posted by: Nanotech
I had the option with my Audi and I said hell no b/c:

A: They really don't look good at all
B: I despise drivers who have them
C: Newer cars really don't need them b/c newer regular headlights are bright enough as it is

Edit: the smiles were not suppose to be there it was suppose to be : ) but w/o the space

u ever driven in a car that has xenons?? the visibility is MUCH MUCH better

also audis have great xenons... it kinda have a bluish tint.. you can distinquish it from far away

That is exactly what I was trying to avoid by not opting for them. My vehichle stands out enough without them and I'm perfectly happy with my headlights. I rarely ever feel the need to turn my brights on.

 

[dirtboy]

Originally posted by: Apex
HID refers to high intensity discharge. It's a change in technology, as it uses a high voltage arc inside a gas (normally xenon) instead of a filament, like Halogen.

Projectors merely refer to the reflector and lens design.

All I know is my projectors put out a nice wide, bright beam of light, very similar to the BMW xenon's, without the blueish tint.

 

[MillionaireNextDoor]

If I needed visibility, I just drive with my high beams on, pointed down, of course, and never with another driver in front of me.

 

[Ikonomi]

Originally posted by: NutBucket
No need to get the dealer to do it but yes, that's definitely a viable option.

Ah okay, thanks. That's a big thing I want done eventually (and don't think I can do it myself).

 

[z0mb13]

Originally posted by: MillionaireNextDoor
If I needed visibility, I just drive with my high beams on, pointed down, of course, and never with another driver in front of me.

how can you point down ur high beams??!?!?

 

[welst10]

My acura CL has HID lights. All i can say is: so coool!

 

[Apex]

Originally posted by: z0mb13

Originally posted by: MillionaireNextDoor
If I needed visibility, I just drive with my high beams on, pointed down, of course, and never with another driver in front of me.

how can you point down ur high beams??!?!?

Some vehicles have separate manual adjustments for the high beams.

 

[NutBucket]

Originally posted by: Ikonomi

Originally posted by: NutBucket
No need to get the dealer to do it but yes, that's definitely a viable option.

Ah okay, thanks. That's a big thing I want done eventually (and don't think I can do it myself).

Either way, I wouldn't have the dealer do it. Big $$$$$$