HID headlights
Burning Brakes
Joined: Apr 2009
Posts: 1,228
Likes: 10
From: That one city...you know that one. Idaho
Drifting
Joined: Apr 2005
Posts: 1,461
Likes: 378
From: Bellinum Wa
But a well made hid system with shutters on the bulb actually blind LESS than the crappy factory headlights and put more light on the road where needed even in normal headlight enclosures.
My F250 has hids in the stock headlight housings and has a nice clean cutoff line. I used to get flashed with the stock headlights. With the heads I don't.
The first pic is hids with normal housings on my truck.
The second pic is from the vette on low beam also.
My F250 has hids in the stock headlight housings and has a nice clean cutoff line. I used to get flashed with the stock headlights. With the heads I don't.
The first pic is hids with normal housings on my truck.
The second pic is from the vette on low beam also.
A clean cutoff line is good but even high quality Projectors have drawbacks
An HID bulb is merely a light source, albeit a brighter, cleaner source.
The apparatus that makes it more focused and less obtrusive is what gives an HID bulb a certified field of light is the Projector housing. without it all you have is the unfocused reflection most OEM housings create. Which is what everyone hates and works poorly.
But there is a few problems even when using a high quality Projector. If this member with the Ford or someone would kindly take a night shot with the SIDE of their vehicle within 5' of a wall directly beside the passenger side approximating what your own vehicle headlight pattern is and how it blinds a driver as you pass on a two lane highway you'll see the glaring blindness even a DOT certified Projector creates. It's a tradeoff, creating a much cleaner and focused straight ahead pattern allowing better driver vision but the cutoff pattern on the right hand (shoulder side ) still creates a blinding issue
Last edited by Hary Gahtoe; Apr 6, 2015 at 03:18 PM. Reason: better description
Melting Slicks
Joined: Jun 1999
Posts: 2,931
Likes: 127
From: Ashland Alabama
There's a few issues missing in this conversation
A clean cutoff line is good but even high quality Projectors have drawbacks
An HID bulb is merely a light source, albeit a brighter, cleaner source.
The apparatus that makes it more focused and less obtrusive is what gives an HID bulb a certified field of light is the Projector housing. without it all you have is the unfocused reflection most OEM housings create. Which is what everyone hates and works poorly.
But there is a few problems even when using a high quality Projector. If this member with the Ford or someone would kindly take a night shot with their vehicle within 5' of a wall directly beside the passenger side approximating what your own vehicle headlight pattern is and how it blinds a driver as you pass on a two lane highway you'll see the glaring blindness even a DOT certified Projector creates
A clean cutoff line is good but even high quality Projectors have drawbacks
An HID bulb is merely a light source, albeit a brighter, cleaner source.
The apparatus that makes it more focused and less obtrusive is what gives an HID bulb a certified field of light is the Projector housing. without it all you have is the unfocused reflection most OEM housings create. Which is what everyone hates and works poorly.
But there is a few problems even when using a high quality Projector. If this member with the Ford or someone would kindly take a night shot with their vehicle within 5' of a wall directly beside the passenger side approximating what your own vehicle headlight pattern is and how it blinds a driver as you pass on a two lane highway you'll see the glaring blindness even a DOT certified Projector creates
Melting Slicks
Joined: Jun 1999
Posts: 2,931
Likes: 127
From: Ashland Alabama
Now one thing Im pointing out is that not all hids are created equal and if aimed right they do not blind on coming traffic.
That line is cleaner than the factory halogen bulbs were doing. Just with the factory bulbs I had other vehicles flashing for me to dim my lights but they were already on low. With the hids I haven't been flashed any.
That line is cleaner than the factory halogen bulbs were doing. Just with the factory bulbs I had other vehicles flashing for me to dim my lights but they were already on low. With the hids I haven't been flashed any.
Melting Slicks
Joined: Jun 1999
Posts: 2,931
Likes: 127
From: Ashland Alabama
Also I got tired of paying for crappy h4 bulbs that are overdriven and short lived and over priced aka silverstar junk. Put some of those in daytime running lights and see how long they last 
Drifting
Joined: Apr 2005
Posts: 1,461
Likes: 378
From: Bellinum Wa
No. The light pattern of Projector headlights gets exaggerated close up and will shine right in the face of drivers you pass on highways or roads of two or more lanes traveling in the same direction.
Park up beside a wall (5-6' away) on the passenger side and see how high the light pattern shines.
Light patterns of all Projector lights is set to illuminate higher on the passenger side to highlight any objects on the the shoulder of the road, but unfortunately gets annoyingly high up close to drivers right beside you
Even though the light pattern shows a clean low pattern to oncoming cars it can be highly obtrusive to cars you pass in city or rural driving conditions
FWIW; True gauge of any auto lighting system is best viewed on a flat level dry surface against a flat wall 20-30' away and 20-30' wide in area void of other lighting like street lights etc.
All out, best viewed at least 30' - 50' away.
Park up beside a wall (5-6' away) on the passenger side and see how high the light pattern shines.
Light patterns of all Projector lights is set to illuminate higher on the passenger side to highlight any objects on the the shoulder of the road, but unfortunately gets annoyingly high up close to drivers right beside you
Even though the light pattern shows a clean low pattern to oncoming cars it can be highly obtrusive to cars you pass in city or rural driving conditions
FWIW; True gauge of any auto lighting system is best viewed on a flat level dry surface against a flat wall 20-30' away and 20-30' wide in area void of other lighting like street lights etc.
All out, best viewed at least 30' - 50' away.
Last edited by Hary Gahtoe; Apr 19, 2015 at 05:59 PM.
Thread Starter
Race Director
Joined: Mar 2015
Posts: 15,926
Likes: 579
No. The light pattern of Projector headlights gets exaggerated close up and will shine right in the face of drivers you pass on highways or roads of two or more lanes traveling in the same direction.
Park up beside a wall (5-6' away) on the passenger side and see how high the light pattern shines.
Light patterns of all Projector lights is set to illuminate higher on the passenger side to highlight any objects on the the shoulder of the road, but unfortunately gets annoyingly high up close to drivers right beside you
Even though the light pattern shows a clean low pattern to oncoming cars it can be highly obtrusive to cars you pass in city or rural driving conditions
FWIW; True gauge of any auto lighting system is best viewed on a flat level dry surface against a flat wall 20-30' away and 20-30' wide in area void of other lighting like street lights etc.
Park up beside a wall (5-6' away) on the passenger side and see how high the light pattern shines.
Light patterns of all Projector lights is set to illuminate higher on the passenger side to highlight any objects on the the shoulder of the road, but unfortunately gets annoyingly high up close to drivers right beside you
Even though the light pattern shows a clean low pattern to oncoming cars it can be highly obtrusive to cars you pass in city or rural driving conditions
FWIW; True gauge of any auto lighting system is best viewed on a flat level dry surface against a flat wall 20-30' away and 20-30' wide in area void of other lighting like street lights etc.
would like to see this too
Corvette Stories
The Best of Corvette for Corvette Enthusiasts
10 Reasons the C6 Z06 is Still A Performance Benchmark After 20 Years
Joe Kucinski
How Much Horsepower Every Corvette Engine "LOST" in 1972
Joe Kucinski
Top 10 DOs and DON'Ts for Protecting Your Convertible Top!
Michael S. Palmer
Top 10 Most Explosive Corvettes Ever Made: Power-to-Weight Ratio Ranked!
Joe Kucinski
150 hp to 1,250 hp: Every Corvette Generation Compared by the Specs That Matter
Joe Kucinski
8 Coolest Corvette Pace Cars (and Replicas) of All Time
Verdad Gallardo
Top 10 Corvette Engines RANKED by Peak Torque (70+ Years of Muscle!)
Joe Kucinski
Corvette ZR1X Will Be Pacing the Indy 500, And Could Probably Race, Too!
Verdad Gallardo
Top 10 Corvettes Coming to Mecum Indy 2026!
Brett Foote
Safety Car
Joined: Aug 2009
Posts: 3,751
Likes: 276
From: Melbourne, Victoria, Australia
Hi
I have had hi\lo H4 hid lights on my vette for around a year, yes they are illegal here in Australia as well.
I aimed them on the low side and never had any problems, i even checked how they looked doing a driveby in my company car.
No glare issues they have a shield over the hid bulb with cutouts to work with H4 lights, i got sick of the failures 2x ballasts and 1x hid light.
It is a weekend car so very little use, they are fantastic very bright great for night driving.
I went back to H4 but 140w high 100w low beam, i just live with them and make sure i let the globes cool down before closing the headlight doors. The early headlight doors close with a heavy thud, doing it like that i have no problem with fillament breakage.
It is very easy for the Police to find who uses HID, anyone who has used them can spot them. Big fines and unroadworthy sticker waiting for those wanting to use them without the correct projectors.
I have had hi\lo H4 hid lights on my vette for around a year, yes they are illegal here in Australia as well.
I aimed them on the low side and never had any problems, i even checked how they looked doing a driveby in my company car.
No glare issues they have a shield over the hid bulb with cutouts to work with H4 lights, i got sick of the failures 2x ballasts and 1x hid light.
It is a weekend car so very little use, they are fantastic very bright great for night driving.
I went back to H4 but 140w high 100w low beam, i just live with them and make sure i let the globes cool down before closing the headlight doors. The early headlight doors close with a heavy thud, doing it like that i have no problem with fillament breakage.
It is very easy for the Police to find who uses HID, anyone who has used them can spot them. Big fines and unroadworthy sticker waiting for those wanting to use them without the correct projectors.
Melting Slicks
Joined: Jun 1999
Posts: 2,931
Likes: 127
From: Ashland Alabama
Hi
I have had hi\lo H4 hid lights on my vette for around a year, yes they are illegal here in Australia as well.
I aimed them on the low side and never had any problems, i even checked how they looked doing a driveby in my company car.
No glare issues they have a shield over the hid bulb with cutouts to work with H4 lights, i got sick of the failures 2x ballasts and 1x hid light.
It is a weekend car so very little use, they are fantastic very bright great for night driving.
I went back to H4 but 140w high 100w low beam, i just live with them and make sure i let the globes cool down before closing the headlight doors. The early headlight doors close with a heavy thud, doing it like that i have no problem with fillament breakage.
It is very easy for the Police to find who uses HID, anyone who has used them can spot them. Big fines and unroadworthy sticker waiting for those wanting to use them without the correct projectors.
I have had hi\lo H4 hid lights on my vette for around a year, yes they are illegal here in Australia as well.
I aimed them on the low side and never had any problems, i even checked how they looked doing a driveby in my company car.
No glare issues they have a shield over the hid bulb with cutouts to work with H4 lights, i got sick of the failures 2x ballasts and 1x hid light.
It is a weekend car so very little use, they are fantastic very bright great for night driving.
I went back to H4 but 140w high 100w low beam, i just live with them and make sure i let the globes cool down before closing the headlight doors. The early headlight doors close with a heavy thud, doing it like that i have no problem with fillament breakage.
It is very easy for the Police to find who uses HID, anyone who has used them can spot them. Big fines and unroadworthy sticker waiting for those wanting to use them without the correct projectors.
Thread Starter
Race Director
Joined: Mar 2015
Posts: 15,926
Likes: 579
No. The light pattern of Projector headlights gets exaggerated close up and will shine right in the face of drivers you pass on highways or roads of two or more lanes traveling in the same direction.
Park up beside a wall (5-6' away) on the passenger side and see how high the light pattern shines.
Light patterns of all Projector lights is set to illuminate higher on the passenger side to highlight any objects on the the shoulder of the road, but unfortunately gets annoyingly high up close to drivers right beside you
Even though the light pattern shows a clean low pattern to oncoming cars it can be highly obtrusive to cars you pass in city or rural driving conditions
FWIW; True gauge of any auto lighting system is best viewed on a flat level dry surface against a flat wall 20-30' away and 20-30' wide in area void of other lighting like street lights etc.
Park up beside a wall (5-6' away) on the passenger side and see how high the light pattern shines.
Light patterns of all Projector lights is set to illuminate higher on the passenger side to highlight any objects on the the shoulder of the road, but unfortunately gets annoyingly high up close to drivers right beside you
Even though the light pattern shows a clean low pattern to oncoming cars it can be highly obtrusive to cars you pass in city or rural driving conditions
FWIW; True gauge of any auto lighting system is best viewed on a flat level dry surface against a flat wall 20-30' away and 20-30' wide in area void of other lighting like street lights etc.
Drifting
Joined: Apr 2005
Posts: 1,461
Likes: 378
From: Bellinum Wa
A clean alternative light source that can be used in a projector are LED bulb kits.
Albeit a problem may be lack of room in the rear of the C4 housing. LED bulb kits are deeper than OEM but LED's quite possibly could work using way less amperage than H4 Tungsten and use OEM standard gauge wiring without hurting the wiring harness.
Also LED's don't suffer the dreaded HID flicker with most aftermarket HID kits
Better yet a complete LED Housing that's plug and play. Very accurate and < 1/2 the weight
http://www.ebay.com/itm/Truck-Lite-2...-/371296916066
Albeit a problem may be lack of room in the rear of the C4 housing. LED bulb kits are deeper than OEM but LED's quite possibly could work using way less amperage than H4 Tungsten and use OEM standard gauge wiring without hurting the wiring harness.
Also LED's don't suffer the dreaded HID flicker with most aftermarket HID kits
Better yet a complete LED Housing that's plug and play. Very accurate and < 1/2 the weight
http://www.ebay.com/itm/Truck-Lite-2...-/371296916066
Last edited by Hary Gahtoe; Apr 19, 2015 at 11:28 PM.