What's with these super bright car headlights?

[jcardona1]

i run HIDs on my headlights and foglights, 8,000k. i like the color and the light output is amazing compared to crappy stock yellow halogens.

i really dont give 2 craps if other drivers get annoyed. my car, ill do as i please. and if i can see better at night, more power to ME! it's not illegal, so until then, quit your whining!!!! a lot of people say HIDs are not made for reflector housings but that is BS. plenty of cars have reflector housings and HIDs, take the older Acura TLs for example.

if you notice the light output is blinding other drivers, a responsible person would adjust the headlight down a few screw turns, takes all of 30 seconds. Ive ran HID kits in all my cars since 2002. i paid $460 for my first kit years ago, now i get them from ddmtuning.com for about $40

*taken with my cell phone, white balance is off, making the light look a lot bluer than it actually is*

 

[jcardona1]

HID is one thing (assuming you do it right). What I hate are the 'kids' who just want color like HID, and buy colored bulbs (yellow, true white, blue, purple etc....).

I'm not a fan of something done to a car just for looks.

colored bulbs are absurd, and in fact, they reduce your light output

 

[krichardson]

i really dont give 2 craps if other drivers get annoyed. my car, ill do as i please. and if i can see better at night, more power to ME! it's not illegal, so until then, quit your whining!!!! a lot of people say HIDs are not made for reflector housings but that is BS.
View attachment 526812

I don't know who's whining here but just as was already stated,if these things are used properly then that's all fine,good and great but when a person has to actually turn down and adjust the mirrors in their car due to some jitbag behind them then that is something to complain about.They may be legal but the people who get these and overdo it is what causes things to change.

 

[jcardona1]

I don't know who's whining here but just as was already stated,if these things are used properly then that's all fine,good and great but when a person has to actually turn down and adjust the mirrors in their car due to some jitbag behind them then that is something to complain about.They may be legal but the people who get these and overdo it is what causes things to change.

i see plenty of people whining here. and it's not that it's overdone, it's that reflector housings are not designed for HID bulbs since they're so bright. most times the headlight housing will need to be adjusted down just a bit. but most people dont know or care to do so

 

[soulpatch]

Jcordona - You are aware that the older cars with the reflector housings for the initial batches of HIDs also had either brows on the headlight themselves, a downward facing bulb socket that did not allow the bulb to be aimed higher then so far, or a blinder on the bulb itself to limit the height of the beam.

Not sure what state your in but most states it IS illegal to run HIDs without projector housings unless you car came with them stock. True most shops do not care and will allow you to pass but it is what it is when it comes to being illegal and you could be ticketed for such if the cop wanted to be a stickler for the rules.

 

[knifegill]

I was whining about jerks who think they own the world and have no problem blinding me when I am driving. I don't really do anything about it now, but if somebody does that to me when I have kids in the car there will be insurance claims to file. Surprise, it's my road, too, and I can follow you pretty much anywhere until it's safe to get out of the car.

 

[jcardona1]

Jcordona - You are aware that the older cars with the reflector housings for the initial batches of HIDs also had either brows on the headlight themselves, a downward facing bulb socket that did not allow the bulb to be aimed higher then so far, or a blinder on the bulb itself to limit the height of the beam.

Not sure what state your in but most states it IS illegal to run HIDs without projector housings unless you car came with them stock. True most shops do not care and will allow you to pass but it is what it is when it comes to being illegal and you could be ticketed for such if the cop wanted to be a stickler for the rules.

i had a feeling something was different about those reflector housing, but i wasnt sure. either way, just goes to show reflector housings can be correctly if the person cares to do so.

i'm in CA. several years ago i got pulled over for my lights. cop asked what kind of lights i had, i explained what it was, he look inside my headlight, saw that it wasnt a colored bulb and said have a nice a day. i know for sure that colored bulbs are illegal. that was the only time ive been pulled over for the lights since '02. and these days, HIDs are extremely common. some guys go too far with the color getting 12, 14, 18, 20 or 30,000K and it looks like crap though.

here's another pic that better shows the color

 

[jcardona1]

but if somebody does that to me when I have kids in the car there will be insurance claims to file. Surprise, it's my road, too, and I can follow you pretty much anywhere until it's safe to get out of the car.

not sure what youre implying by this...

any headlight will be blinding if you stare it. it's a simple as looking away from an oncoming car with bright lights. and for those behind you...well i can say the same about american SUVs and trucks the size of school buses. should we complain about those as well? even at stock height they can blind a perosn in a small car in front of them.

 

[krichardson]

i see plenty of people whining here. and it's not that it's overdone, it's that reflector housings are not designed for HID bulbs since they're so bright. most times the headlight housing will need to be adjusted down just a bit. but most people dont know or care to do so

I already agreed that some of them look pretty nice but then again,should'nt one be concentrating on the road conditions rather than worrying about the color of their cars lights?and yes,some of the displays I've seen around here are overdone regardless of what bulbs,reflectors or other components are involved.I'm quite sure that some of the people who have these set ups know all about what has to be adjusted or turned down but because they are inconsiderate,choose not to....To Hell with everybody else,look what I've got!

 

[jcardona1]

I already agreed that some of them look pretty nice but then again,should'nt one be concentrating on the road conditions rather than worrying about the color of their cars lights?and yes,some of the displays I've seen around here are overdone regardless of what bulbs,reflectors or other components are involved.I'm quite sure that some of the people who have these set ups know all about what has to be adjusted or turned down but because they are inconsiderate,choose not to....To Hell with everybody else,look what I've got!

for me its mostly not about color, but the light output. you see much more of the road, both straight ahead and to the sides. the cooler kelvin temperature is also easier on the eye IMO. im pretty sure HIDs will be the future of car lighting, heck even LEDs at some point. as costs continue to go down, i wouldnt be surprised if you see this more vehicles straight from the factory equipped with HIDs. it's not only a luxury car thing anymore