HID hues
Racer
Joined: Feb 2001
Posts: 1,348
Likes: 7
From: NY/NV
Hoops.....Just my opinion and experience with the HID kits. Our lights werent designed with HID in mind. Although its not too tough to fit the HID bulbs in place with a little modification, there is still a problem with focusing the beam pattern...It looks like less light than the stock bulbs.
My guess is its because of the projector lens in the headlight. I think that retrofitting the lamps with a HID kit also requires quite a bit more modification to the light housing to correctly position and focus the beam pattern. This would also require you to remove both headlight to do it right.
I remember reading about a site the would do the up-grade and focus if you sent them your headlights. Sounds like a pain, but take my word for it....in the end, I wish I had done it this way. I have the cool blue HID look but cant see $hit at night cause the beam is every where except in front of me.
Others may have had better luck, and I welcome some input/suggestions on this.
gadgetSC
My guess is its because of the projector lens in the headlight. I think that retrofitting the lamps with a HID kit also requires quite a bit more modification to the light housing to correctly position and focus the beam pattern. This would also require you to remove both headlight to do it right.
I remember reading about a site the would do the up-grade and focus if you sent them your headlights. Sounds like a pain, but take my word for it....in the end, I wish I had done it this way. I have the cool blue HID look but cant see $hit at night cause the beam is every where except in front of me.
Others may have had better luck, and I welcome some input/suggestions on this.
gadgetSC
Pole Position
Joined: May 2001
Posts: 369
Likes: 0
From: California
Man am I glad I didn't fork over the $450. Good info and thanks for the honest input.
I will wait and see what others say, but my guess is the HID isn't all that great unless you have some serious jack to spend on the headlights themselves.
Peace
I will wait and see what others say, but my guess is the HID isn't all that great unless you have some serious jack to spend on the headlights themselves.
Peace
Lexus Test Driver
Joined: Feb 2001
Posts: 1,130
Likes: 1
From: \
gadgetSC, do you have the correct bulb for projector type lense? I believe that for the SC you need the D2S bulb (no shield). I'm asking because I have HIDs installed on my SC and it is a substantial improvement. They don't blind others on the street or anything, like OEM but much brighter. It weird that your setup is/was worse than halogen.
Oh, and out of the 4 options, I prefer super white.
Nick
Oh, and out of the 4 options, I prefer super white.
Nick
Trending Topics
Pole Position
Joined: May 2001
Posts: 264
Likes: 0
From: Pacific Northwest
just wondering
I thought than having (true) HID required auto-leveling.
Have the manufacturer's gotten around this requirement by producting HID bulbs that have lower light outputs equivalent to halogen?
The OEM HIDs in my vehicles are very noticeably better than the halogens
Have the manufacturer's gotten around this requirement by producting HID bulbs that have lower light outputs equivalent to halogen?
The OEM HIDs in my vehicles are very noticeably better than the halogens
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Lead Lap
Joined: Apr 2001
Posts: 704
Likes: 0
From: Alabama
okay... if you the the D2S bulb for the HID system.... will they work well...cause im sick of having hyperwhites...they aer always burning my plugs..... im not happy with them at all.
i want the HIDs that will work better
i also thought that in my opinion that the hyperwhites did not give me more vision at night
i put the stock bulbs back in and i saw an improvement
but i have to have the white appearance that will not fry my stuff to nothing
so if i get the right bulb.....will it work and give me more light
or not
next ...how much fitting is going to go into getting the bulb to fit
or does it jsut simply fit like a normal 9006 bulb
lemme know .....
i want the HIDs that will work better
i also thought that in my opinion that the hyperwhites did not give me more vision at night
i put the stock bulbs back in and i saw an improvement
but i have to have the white appearance that will not fry my stuff to nothing
so if i get the right bulb.....will it work and give me more light
or not
next ...how much fitting is going to go into getting the bulb to fit
or does it jsut simply fit like a normal 9006 bulb
lemme know .....
Pole Position
Joined: May 2001
Posts: 264
Likes: 0
From: Pacific Northwest
hyperwhites
are burning your plugs because that need a lot more electrical current than the plugs and wiring were designed to carry...
end result, hyperwhites at not operating at their design voltage so they are dimmer than you want.
True HIDs will be better anyway.
end result, hyperwhites at not operating at their design voltage so they are dimmer than you want.
True HIDs will be better anyway.
Check out my before and after pictures. Lighting improvements after HID's are obvious. I had no problems with focusing, modifications, etc. Simply plug and play. Installation takes 5 minutes.
Before:
Before:
wow howie! those are bright? why are you selling your rims and hid's?
I too was wondering about the projector effects on the HID'S. i'M still kinda iffy on the whole thing. I would love to see it in person on howie's car though. hehe.
I too was wondering about the projector effects on the HID'S. i'M still kinda iffy on the whole thing. I would love to see it in person on howie's car though. hehe.
hey do-luck,
I was considering selling my rims, cuz i liked the new GTC a lot. But I just picked up my 4th rim...finally...and i decided to just stick with these.
And the HID's...I'd just like to free up some money. If you want to see my HID's in person, let me know. We can meet up since you're in orange county too. I'd love to see your car. If you wanna see my lights, let me know soon cuz I've been getting a lot of inquiries for them...
I was considering selling my rims, cuz i liked the new GTC a lot. But I just picked up my 4th rim...finally...and i decided to just stick with these.
And the HID's...I'd just like to free up some money. If you want to see my HID's in person, let me know. We can meet up since you're in orange county too. I'd love to see your car. If you wanna see my lights, let me know soon cuz I've been getting a lot of inquiries for them...
Thread Starter
Lexus Fanatic
Joined: Nov 2001
Posts: 8,387
Likes: 1
From: bat country
Originally posted by do-luck sc
wow howie! those are bright? why are you selling your rims and hid's?
I too was wondering about the projector effects on the HID'S. i'M still kinda iffy on the whole thing. I would love to see it in person on howie's car though. hehe.
wow howie! those are bright? why are you selling your rims and hid's?
I too was wondering about the projector effects on the HID'S. i'M still kinda iffy on the whole thing. I would love to see it in person on howie's car though. hehe.
With HIDs...
~the cut off line is much sharper compared than halogen lights resulting in more defined verges and making them less irritating to other drivers
~the bulbs are at minimum twice as bright (average of 3000 ansi lumens) as any available halogen (450 ansi lumens on our car, 1300-max with $80 aftermarket halogens)
~dispersion angle or 'flux' is widened dramatically
~glare from reflective surfaces is reduced at 6000 kelvin
~nominal power consumption is reduced from 55/65w to 35w
~contrast is improved with a truer white light (deer don't blend in with the brushland) which is a typical effect of yellower lights (halogens)
~HID emits true daylight/sunlight brightness
~HID bulbs have longer lifespan (over 3000 hours) typically outliving the cars they are placed in
~also have a much higher lumen mainenance (bulbs don't dim or fade towards the end of it's life)
~halogen lights burn hotter than xenon gas-discharge lights
~have no fragile filiments and are not as shock sensitive as halogen
~you get an altogether better lighting due to much higher intensity especially apparent in bad weather conditions (fog, rain, snow, dust storms).