h.i.d's?? what brand are you guys using?

[Opticon]

Prove me wrong. Post a pic of your beam pattern against a wall.

 

[BKamp613]

Personally I'm getting tired of people making comments about guys who put HIDs on non projector headlights.I have bothered no one with mine, you want proof I'll give you the cops badge number and ext. so you can call and ask him which is what I did, when asked if I was "too bright" or "blinding" he said I was just fine. I installed those lights for one simple reason, I live out near the mountains and need to see the possible animals that may pop out of no where, so flame all you want but I have good reason to run HIDs and I'm not a "boy racer".

Just because no one flashes you or flips you off doesn't mean there's no glare or that no one's been bothered by them. I get blinded all the time and don't always let them know. Usually I'm focused on not crashing into a tree to worry about honking/flashing.

I'm interested in seeing some night shots of the beams and cutoff as well. Do what you want, but know you'd have 5x the performance if you had proper projectors.

For fun..some HID fails (there's quite a few):
the hid fail gallery

 

[SouthFLSonic]

Nice pissing contest you got going here, waiting patiently for the outcome. opcorn:

 

[sonic007]

lmao.....and the final answer iiisssssss.............WWHHOO CARRESSS??

Anyone coming on here and getting smart calling people names isnt going to change the fact that people can do what ever they want to their cars. And people are going to do it regardless of what you have to say about it. If they get pulled over for it, its noones fault but their own. Ive had hids in non projector housings for about 6 years. Never once have I gotten pulled over for it. That includes 2 sets in a 04 gsxr.

If I make the car payments and pay the insurance, im gonna do whatever I want, whenever I want to MY vehicle within the limits of the law. I am friends with most of the cops in my city and not one of them has said a word. Its getting rediculous with all the haters. He asked a simple question. Didnt need any name calling or bashing.

 

[Opticon]

Argumentum ad hominem. Draw attention to the personal motivation (disdain for ignorance) that drove me to bring up a valid warning related to the thread topic (HID retrofits).

I'm willing to entertain the idea that you considered ALL the effects of your beam pattern when choosing aftermarket headlamps. That you installed the lamps as a sort of Sonic pioneer and viewed the results objectively. Finding them acceptable, you insist that my prejudices are misplaced.

So let's make this an educational thread and post the Sonic's HID retrofit beam pattern for the consideration of all.

 

[sonic007]

Thats not the intention of this thread. One can be opened if you wish for those who care.

 

[Foxbox]

Then allow me to rephrase my post as an answer to the OP's question...

I would use a brand that produces bulbs that fit into the HID projector which you MUST install within your headlamp assembly to avoid being widely regarded as a flamboyant "boy racer" that does overtly childish things like black out turn signal lenses despite the obvious detrimental effect to the operation of said safety equipment.

Is that better? I feel like I'm at least getting closer.

Me and you, should be friends.

 

[Beastlick]

While the term "ricer boy" may be a little harsh. It is a direct correlation with adding cheap mods and arguing they have very little difference to the correct way of modifying. HID's aren't designed for a halogen housing period. I'd love to see people try and prove this wrong. There are enough relevant facts on why luxury/performance cars with stock HIDs also have projector housings. Maybe there is a reason? They could install the same PnP systems you find "acceptable" but it would be frowned upon in the automotive world.

To each their own. PnP kits are plentiful and people will continue to install them. The world will continue to revolve.

 

[sonic007]

I agree. And I never said that is was the right way to do it. I just disagree with people coming onto a thread and bashing the askers post. Especially name calling. If I could do the projector housing it would be amazing. because sexy..but I have no money nor the time to do so....

 

[radsonic08]

ive had projectors on my last vehicle they aim the light...i agree but i want brighter lights and if that pisses other people off oh well im gonna go about my day with a smile on my face. just beacuse a cop pulls you over and upsets you are you gonna think about getting rid of all the cops. i dont why you went on your rant maybe your missing something in life. i bought this car less then a week ago. i bought my girl a ring and proposed to her this past sunday so a retrofit is not a concern right now and the $$. but if you would like to paypal me to fill in that empty space you have pm me and ill send you my paypal. send it as a gift so you can feel better about yourself. thanks.

 

[Opticon]

but i want brighter lights and if that pisses other people off oh well im gonna go about my day with a smile on my face. just beacuse a cop pulls you over and upsets you are you gonna think about getting rid of all the cops.

lolwut?

i bought my girl a ring and proposed to her this past sunday so a retrofit is not a concern right now and the $$. but if you would like to paypal me to fill in that empty space you have pm me and ill send you my paypal. send it as a gift so you can feel better about yourself. thanks.

Just make sure you can afford condoms. The rest should work itself out in time.

 

[radsonic08]

lolwut?



Just make sure you can afford condoms. The rest should work itself out in time.

yeah too bad they werent used enough.....a dumbass like you came into this world.

 

[Opticon]

yeah too bad they werent used enough.....a dumbass like you came into this world.

 

[laborsmith]

I have posted my plea that people desiring HID lights do it right, because I am a driver who prefers not to be blinded by on-coming traffic. I believe the fact that oem use projectors speaks for itself. I mean, we are including Chevrolet in the oem group, and if there is any other auto making company who has a proven willingness to go for the less expensive route when making vehicles to sell in the US, I do not know who it could be. If a HID lighting system could be safely and coherently installed without needing projectors, than Chevrolet is the company to do it.

Chevrolet uses projectors in their HID equipped vehicles.

Enough of my plea. Those who would agree do not need it and those who see blinding other drivers as a right will not pay attention to it. Other than to blast me for making such an outrageous and uncompromising demand.

I am not a proponent of the police state and I also believe road patrols could be better used than staffing speed traps but I would be ecstatic if the head lamp laws would be rigidly enforced.


Laborsmith

 

[Macehammer]

If you believe in Natural Selection, and want the entire world to follow those rules, continue to be an a$$h0£€.

Otherwise, at some point you will be aware that there is certainly a difference between being a d!€k on purpose, and being a d!€k by accident. The latter is unavoidable, the former is unacceptable.

 

[Black Turbo LTZ]

Not all OEM HIDs are in projectors, more now today then ever before but earlier Mercedes and yes even GM were in regular housings, case in point the 98,99,00+ GMC Envoys had 4300k phillips (98-99) and then 5000k(00+)

 

[Opticon]

Those "regular housings" used either lens or reflective optics which were designed to accomidate the intensity and position of the HID bulb inside the housing. They were not anything like halogen reflector housings. Also, they sucked.

NHTSA Notice: Glare from Headlamps and other Front Mounted Lamps - FMVSS 108

Section 2.3...

Another disturbing trend in this look-a-like phenomenon is the substitution of OEM filament headlamp bulbs with aftermarket HID conversion bulbs. The desire is to achieve the look and achieve the more robust performance of HIDs. While not designed to be interchangeable, some aftermarket companies are substantially altering the HID bulb bases or providing adapters so that the HID bulbs can be inserted in headlamps designed for filament bulbs. The consequence of making these substitutions is to adversely affect safety. Filament headlamps are optically designed for the volume of light and filament placement and other critical dimensions and performance that OEM filament bulbs have. The HID conversions result in two to three times the volume of light and potentially imprecise arc placement. Such conversions often result in beam patterns that behave nothing like the original filament beam pattern, cannot be reliably aimed, and have many times the permitted glare intensity. In testing such conversions, the light intensity on one at a point aimed toward oncoming drivers was 22 times the allowable intensity limit. Another lamp was more than 7 times too intense. With poor HID bulb and arc placement, the glare intensity could be significantly worse.

 

[BKamp613]

Not all OEM HIDs are in projectors, more now today then ever before but earlier Mercedes and yes even GM were in regular housings, case in point the 98,99,00+ GMC Envoys had 4300k phillips (98-99) and then 5000k(00+)

That's true, but HID reflectors are designed differently. Case in Point:

2008 Mustang

Halogen

HID

Besides the fact the HID example has a cap, look at the ridges on the outside of the bowl as well as the horizontal edges above the bulb. Completely different than the halogen. This is to account for the increase in output and direct the light forward.

 

[radsonic08]

well anyway i got some hids had problems added a relay no more problems. i put them up against a wall and honestly the light is projected very well not scattered probably because it has that cap. so why need to go on some like projectors some dont, i question why some one would get an orange sonic but hey i dont cause that there deal. lets just all be friends........you got a friend in me....do do de bop you got a friend in me

 

[Black Turbo LTZ]

To be honest I'm enjoying this convo and we are all learning alot in the process and searching the net for all said info. When I have the money for retro fit I'd do it but for now what I have does the job and thus far hasn't bothered anyone but the neighbors cats!