Thread: - RANT - HID low beam conversions

Some people opt for greater than OEM 4300/5000k, the chinese kits go to 25000k.

Originally Posted by V8Landy

I thought HID'S where white light not Blue.

4300 kelvin is said to be about the closest to true white. Higher kelvin numbers move the light more towards blue and even purple colours.

Some people use a blue filter over their HID lights to cut out light from the yellow-red end of the spectrum. This results in a little less light getting to the ground, so to speak, but of a spectral range that some people consider is more 'natural' and 'day light' like. The lighter blue filters are sometimes said to increase clarity and lead to less eye strain when night driving. Others simply use a blue filter because they think it looks 'awesome'.

Cheers
KarlB

Well, somebody has to put the opposing view, so I suppose it might as well be me.

Yes, I agree that poorly installed and adjusted headlights, using ANY light source are a pain. However, to claim that just having HID low beam conversions is the cause of the problems is purely ill informed rubbish.

I have had a conversion in my D2 for almost three years now and, apart from the first night they were installed and I hadn't quite got the adjustment right, I have NEVER been flashed by oncoming traffic. I drive regularly between Kalgoorlie and Perth at night. I have asked oncoming traffic (including cars and trucks) on radio whether my lights were annoying to them, and have never received a negative response. I have also gone out of town in the wife's car (Camry) and got her to drive the D2 towards me on a long straight to see for myself - the lights on the D2 caused me no problems at all, and I am easily affected by poorly adjusted lights.

What I have found to be the issues that matter are -

1. The light source needs to be in exactly the same position relative to the reflector as was the original source (claims that a reflector has to be "designed" for HID are just crap - a reflector is a reflector). The globe design needs to be such that the light source is in the same position as were the two sources (hi/lo beam) in the originally supplied globes.

2. The lights should be kept clean - dirty lenses can possibly cause different diffraction of the light, possibly being annoying to oncoming traffic, though I have never experienced this myself.

3. The lights should be adjusted slightly lower than when using conventional globes. I originally installed mine at the same adjustment as halogen globes, and quickly found that they needed to be wound down a bit to lower the "cut-off" line.

4. I have found that you should probably not go for higher than about 3600k globes, and definitely not greater than 35W. Anything above this will start to give a "blue" light and is quite annoying to look at. 3600k, 35W HID globes produce a clean, white light - and this is what is typically used in OEM installations. unfortunately, too many people mistakenly think that more kelvins and more watts equals better light - it does not.

5. You should definitely NOT use HID conversions if you load up the rear of your vehicle (heavy loads or towing) and this changes the vehicle's attitude, unless you have self levelling headlights or self levelling suspension. When I adjusted mine, I did it with a full tank of fuel and about as big a load in the rear as I am ever likely to carry. I do not tow anything heavy at night.

And as for the claim "how many females are going to flash a big modded 4WD" - well, I can only laugh at that one it's so ridiculous. When you see a set of lights coming towards you, especially if they're bright and annoying, how the hell do you know it's a "big modded 4WD" ? If you've waited until it's close enough to tell what it is before deciding whether to "flash" it or not, your "flash" is going to have absolutely NO effect on the oncoming driver anyway. If somebody's lights have been left on high beam or are so badly adjusted that they're affecting me, believe me I give them a quick flash well before I'm close enough to be able to identify the vehicle.

Anyway, my $0.02 worth.

In my honest opinion ALL HID's should be illegal, even when fitted from the factory....even a new mercedes/bmw will blind you as it comes over a hill, or hits a small bump in the road.

Steve

My argument ridiculous... Your setup unlawful... Though really I don't care, I'm happy with my setup, you with yours

I think part of the problem is the wattage and heat they use, they get the brightest they can, which is stupid really.

Baz.

Personally I think that we should all go back to candles.

I also think that its loaded vehicles that shine up with their headlights.


If someone is going to drive towards me with their highbeams on "to let me know", then I also drive with my highbeam on "to let them know".

No I don't have HID.