Thread: Headlamps - To HID or not to HID?

Originally Posted by BigJon

Headlight washers are required with HID low beams because dirty lenses cause the light to "scatter". This will dazzle oncoming drivers.

It is not such an issue with ordinary halogen lights because they aren't as bright.

BigJon is right. The bullbar that came with my POS is really a modded RRC bumper extended up with a RHS frame and 3x2 steel mesh inside, cut out around the headlights.

With dirty lenses the HID scatter lights the whole thing up.

I don't mind the slight blue tinge to mine now because they look a bit like aftermarket halogens to others. Been pulled up by the plod at night and they said nothing about them.

Mine are aimed lower than stock and I still have never been flashed by oncoming traffic while on low beam.

cheers, DL

Originally Posted by DeanoH

Why are HID's illegal ? I would have thought a properly installed HID setup would be no different from a 'normal' setup apart from a brighter higher temperature (as in light temperature) light. A lot more efficient than filament type globes.
What's with the washer setup being mandatory? Does dirty glass cause the world to stop turning or something ?
One thing I did notice when looking at imported Chinese H4 HID's was that some 'threw' the wrong way. ie. they were designed for LHD vehicles. With H4 HID's they have a small actuator that moves a shield to 'throw' the light properly for low and high beam, though I did see some that had a neutral throw for low/high beam. ie. it threw the light up /down but not to the side.
The OKA has 2 rectangular headlamps each side with standard high/low in the bottom and driving lights in the top. My thought was to put single beam HID's in all four and set the bottom pair for low beam and the top pair for high beam. With the power saving with HID's I wouldn't turn off the low beams when going to high beam but leave all four on. Anyone see any problems with this?

Deano

The problem with HIDs is simply that they are much brighter than halogens, so scattered light from dirty lenses is more obtrusive. Similarly, the self levelling is because out of aim low beams are more dazzling than with halogens.

A less obvious problem arises when HID bulbs are fitted to reflector/lens combinations designed for halogens. The filament in most halogen bulbs is horizontal and straight (actually it is coiled or doubly coiled but the coil is straight), and the reflector/lens combination is designed for this. It is impossible to have a HID arc that is horizontal and straight, because of the effect of convection. This means that the beam is out of focus compared to a halogen one in the same reflector/lens (This is not a problem for reflector/lens designed for HIDs as the design takes into account the curved arc.).

Worth noting that there is a similar effect on halogens after a few years, and headlights can often be improved simply by fitting bulbs - which are better focussed! However, with HIDs on low beam, the much brighter bulb means that the out of focus scattering is much more of a problem for oncoming drivers, although the effect is pretty unpredictable as it depends on the detail design of the reflector/lens.

John

Originally Posted by KarlB

On the weekend, I replaced my standard halogen globes with Philips X-tremePower globes (supposedly 80% increased light output). Certainly a vast improvement and perfectly legal, unlike mosy aftermarket HID headlight replacements.

Cheers
KarlB

Thanks Karl,
I took your word for it and ordered these on ebay after reading this post yesterday arvo.
They arrived at my door this morning
I'll comment on them when I get the D2 back from the panel shop.

Originally Posted by KarlB

On the weekend, I replaced my standard halogen globes with Philips X-tremePower globes (supposedly 80% increased light output). Certainly a vast improvement and perfectly legal, unlike mosy aftermarket HID headlight replacements.

Cheers
KarlB

Top move Karl. I think anyone fitting spot lights would be much better off doing what you have. I was worried when I got my 2nd hand 2005 d3 se untill I found it had HID. I had HID on a Lexus RX and my wife with a 12 month older sedan did not. on our street the difernace between HID and other high end lights was clear as chalk and cheese.

Interested in what you said about some after market HID not being legal. I few cars I passed on atrip to SA and Back for a tuna trip ( No Fish- doh) had what I assume where HID which seemed to have really bad alignment. afte your comment I wonder if they were just non legal HID
The saftey improvements of being able to see further at night with HID will i hope see them on all cars soon. being able to refit our older cars with leagal ones is great

I see a lot of dazzling lights while driving between Horsham and Adelaide and the worst of the lot seem to be AU Falcons.

I don't know if it is just poor alignment or poor quality aftermarket headlights, but I would say well over half of the blinding lights are the AUs.

Originally Posted by BigJon

I see a lot of dazzling lights while driving between Horsham and Adelaide and the worst of the lot seem to be AU Falcons.

I don't know if it is just poor alignment or poor quality aftermarket headlights, but I would say well over half of the blinding lights are the AUs.

It is said hope springs eternal but Ford rear springs are hopeless.

Here's a link to a Victorian's review of the Philips X-TremePower alternative.

Review: Philips X-Treme Power Halogen Bulbs [Archive] - Ozhonda Forums

I just bought these. Bloody Cheap. Usually use Philips Crystal Visions to match the whiteness of the HID Driving lights and LED parkers. But for the price I'll give these a shot.

Osram Night Breaker Nightbreaker H4 Bulbs +90% Light - eBay Bulbs Lenses, Lights Lighting Accessories, Car Tuning Styling, Vehicle Parts Accessories. (end time 18-May-10 23:11:10 AEST)

(FWIW I bought a set of Philips Blue Vision - they lasted several months and I've now got the OE 1998 GE Globes back in my car. I'll still carry them as spares, too!)