LS40 1st gen headlight questions
#31
Lexus Test Driver
I also did the lexls mod on my fog lights. Broke out the yellow glass to make them white and converted to the more common and less expensive H3C bulb. This definitely helped with visibility at night. Doesn't compare to HID though...
#33
Lexus Test Driver
I saw that kit at Xenon Depot, but I want 4500k-5000k. That PURE white. For best visibility. I know it won't have a sharp cutoff like projectors, or a clear lens, but Just want to know how the output will be.
Will it illuminate well? Will there be a lot of "blinding glare"?
Will it illuminate well? Will there be a lot of "blinding glare"?
#37
Intermediate
#38
Intermediate
So as promised I have some shots of the beam that I get out of my "bixenon" HID's showing hi/lo comparison as well as the controversial "cutoff line".
Note: the car is currently empty [no extra cargo weight] with about 1/3 tank of fuel so the height of the beam is on the low side of its normal range.
I'll start with the cutoff.
First a couple full range shots.
Now from about 12 feet away.
This is against a wall. I've decreased the gamma so that you can more clearly see the progression from the direct light beam area into the darkness.
Here we can see the strength of the glare that is left over (the difference between the full beam that ends up on the road compared to darkness).
Stopped at a light about 6 - 8 feet away.
Now a hi/lo comparison.
Note: Camera settings are manually set so that exposure is exactly the same for both shots.
Note: the car is currently empty [no extra cargo weight] with about 1/3 tank of fuel so the height of the beam is on the low side of its normal range.
I'll start with the cutoff.
First a couple full range shots.
Now from about 12 feet away.
This is against a wall. I've decreased the gamma so that you can more clearly see the progression from the direct light beam area into the darkness.
Here we can see the strength of the glare that is left over (the difference between the full beam that ends up on the road compared to darkness).
Stopped at a light about 6 - 8 feet away.
Now a hi/lo comparison.
Note: Camera settings are manually set so that exposure is exactly the same for both shots.
Last edited by dfkd; 06-27-09 at 09:23 PM.
#39
Lexus Test Driver
DFKD,
Thanks for all the pictures. Very helpful. It looks like they throw a lot of light very effectively. If you were willing to take one additional shot from an oncoming drivers perspective, say 30~40 feet from in front of the car facing the headlights, I'd really appreciate it...
Jim
Thanks for all the pictures. Very helpful. It looks like they throw a lot of light very effectively. If you were willing to take one additional shot from an oncoming drivers perspective, say 30~40 feet from in front of the car facing the headlights, I'd really appreciate it...
Jim
#40
Lexus Test Driver
Dude exactly what I'm looking for. Thanks a million DFKD!
That looks a lot better than I thought it would. What year is your LS?
Another "oncoming" picture would be greatly appreciated.
What are the stats of your HIDs? 35W? 5000k? What brand? I really want to buy some now.
That looks a lot better than I thought it would. What year is your LS?
Another "oncoming" picture would be greatly appreciated.
What are the stats of your HIDs? 35W? 5000k? What brand? I really want to buy some now.
#41
Intermediate
My car is a 94 with the standard H4 bulbs. The bulbs are 4500K at 35W.
The bulbs a labeled with this website on them. Though they are from Hong Kong, the reliability for me has been excellent.
They actually have some pretty cool stuff like THIS projector kit that is meant to be retro'd into H4 lenses and the like. It seems that it is designed to be mounted from the inside of the original lens and through the H4 hole from a regular bulb. It apparently gives an oem HID cutoff line too.
Need to see if I could find something like that and if it would fit in our headlight casings.
This is a Honda Fit that would normally take an H4 bulb.
Pretty cool apart from the blue angel eyes which just isn't my thing.
Interesting stuff.
The bulbs a labeled with this website on them. Though they are from Hong Kong, the reliability for me has been excellent.
They actually have some pretty cool stuff like THIS projector kit that is meant to be retro'd into H4 lenses and the like. It seems that it is designed to be mounted from the inside of the original lens and through the H4 hole from a regular bulb. It apparently gives an oem HID cutoff line too.
Need to see if I could find something like that and if it would fit in our headlight casings.
This is a Honda Fit that would normally take an H4 bulb.
Pretty cool apart from the blue angel eyes which just isn't my thing.
Interesting stuff.
Last edited by dfkd; 06-28-09 at 10:49 AM.
#43
Intermediate
OEM for all manufactures comes with between 4300k and 4500k because this temperature outputs the highest amount of light that is visible to the human eye. That temperature has an extremely slight yellow colour because a bit of yellow cuts through fog and rainy conditions better than pure white light (about 5000k).
Last edited by dfkd; 06-28-09 at 12:10 PM.
#44
Lexus Test Driver
I just pulled the trigger on this 5000k kit. They said the bulbs were made in Germany. They also have a 4300k kit for the same price ($140)...
http://www.xtremehids.com/product_in...roducts_id=869
http://www.xtremehids.com/product_in...roducts_id=869
Last edited by JimsGX; 06-28-09 at 05:33 PM.
#45
Lexus Test Driver
How is the pattern on the ground? I know the 1st gens pattern sucks so pretty much anything is better than stock. But Silverstars on my 97 seem to work really well. I get great side coverage and light very far down the road.
I know pictures of headlights don't TRULY show how the headlights cover.. How far would you say the light travels? How's coverage on the sides??
Wow only $140?? Looks like a decent kit.. anybody have any experience with them??
I know pictures of headlights don't TRULY show how the headlights cover.. How far would you say the light travels? How's coverage on the sides??
Wow only $140?? Looks like a decent kit.. anybody have any experience with them??
Last edited by jcrome04; 06-29-09 at 10:17 AM.