Need brighter headlights
Thread Starter
Intermediate
Joined: Jan 2016
Posts: 26
Likes: 0
Need brighter headlights
I have a 99 c5 vert and im planning on getting all my windows tinted within the next week or so and the stock headlights suck and i want to be able to see out of the windshield after its tinted so what is a good led or hid replacement bulb to make the lights better. i really like the blue look so if someone could point me into the direction of where to find some it would be greatly appreciated.
Safety Car
Joined: Apr 2004
Posts: 3,532
Likes: 79
From: pueblo co
any HID light system you install into a stock C5 headlight which was not made to deal with the light output of a HID system you will blind oncoming diver's with what they call hot spot's which is not good..and while it maybe brighter it's not the way to go...a proper HID system is one with HID projectors with a HID system in place to allow it all to work...dennis over at Radio Flyer innovations. has ACA full replacement HID projector systems that retain your stock pop-up light's while allowing a lot more usable light on the road
edit i meant to say the radio flyer and not dennis..lol
edit i meant to say the radio flyer and not dennis..lol
Last edited by momo20; Jul 27, 2016 at 01:09 AM.
Le Mans Master
Joined: Jul 2013
Posts: 5,699
Likes: 147
Well HID bulbs in the stock housings aren't optimal they're definitely going to be brighter.
You could do the rest of the upgrade later.
I had the unfocused chinese $125.00 ebay housings that use stock bulbs and with HIDs
they were like a flashlight beam.
Radioflyer sold me his housings for about $400 without the bulbs as I already had them.
You could do the rest of the upgrade later.
I had the unfocused chinese $125.00 ebay housings that use stock bulbs and with HIDs
they were like a flashlight beam.
Radioflyer sold me his housings for about $400 without the bulbs as I already had them.
Last edited by StrangelovesM6Vert; Jul 24, 2016 at 04:49 PM.
Instructor
Joined: Dec 2009
Posts: 147
Likes: 4
From: Chandler AZ
Install four HIR (9011/9012) bulbs, with the Hi-4 relay from Radioflyer. About $120 and no ballasts or burnt wiring. Also no glare for on-coming drivers, and I can see reflective road signs at 1/8 mile on low beam, over 1/4 mile on high.
Ken Edney
Chandler, Az
Ken Edney
Chandler, Az
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Le Mans Master
Joined: Jul 2011
Posts: 7,429
Likes: 973
From: Morristown New Jersey
Oldtimer
I thought that was illegal.Anyway, I had a cheap Chinese hid kit from eBay. I never was flashed by an oncomer. The light was MUCH better, but all depended on IF the whole setup actually worked. I had 2 ballasts fail, one caused the headlights to pop up on occasionally, or return one at a time. Turns out the pop up motors are very voltage sensitive, and the the cheap hid units are very inconsistent.
Le Mans Master
Joined: Nov 2004
Posts: 6,951
Likes: 449
From: Puyallup WA
You ask:
or hid replacement bulb to make the lights better.
There isn't just a "bulb" to swap in to make it better. You can use an HID kit in the stock housings, but as it was mentioned above, it throws the light around and can blind oncoming traffic and the light output is brighter, but not that great.
I have had:
Stock
HID kit in stock housing
Silverstars
Radio Flyer (http://shop.radioflyerinnovations.co...lights-015.htm)
Stock sucks for actual night driving.
HID kit in a stock housing throws the light around and is not focused.
Silverstars were just a bit brighter but still sucked.
Radio Flyer. Short answer-fantastic.
or hid replacement bulb to make the lights better.
There isn't just a "bulb" to swap in to make it better. You can use an HID kit in the stock housings, but as it was mentioned above, it throws the light around and can blind oncoming traffic and the light output is brighter, but not that great.
I have had:
Stock
HID kit in stock housing
Silverstars
Radio Flyer (http://shop.radioflyerinnovations.co...lights-015.htm)
Stock sucks for actual night driving.
HID kit in a stock housing throws the light around and is not focused.
Silverstars were just a bit brighter but still sucked.
Radio Flyer. Short answer-fantastic.
Last edited by 91LSMAN; Jul 24, 2016 at 05:54 PM.
Race Director
Joined: May 2006
Posts: 10,941
Likes: 478
From: EAST TENNESSEE
I thought that was illegal.Anyway, I had a cheap Chinese hid kit from eBay. I never was flashed by an oncomer. The light was MUCH better, but all depended on IF the whole setup actually worked. I had 2 ballasts fail, one caused the headlights to pop up on occasionally, or return one at a time. Turns out the pop up motors are very voltage sensitive, and the the cheap hid units are very inconsistent.
I've have HIDs in my stock headlights for the past 20k miles and have never been flashed by oncoming traffic.
Le Mans Master
Joined: Jul 2011
Posts: 7,429
Likes: 973
From: Morristown New Jersey
Oldtimer
As for this car, I knew I didn't want to go thru what I did with my Z06. (Btw, I ended up with PIAA bulbs)
Someone on the forum told me to consult Daniel Stern, an automotive lighting expert. He directed me to buy a set of 9011 and 9012 bulbs which required a bit of adaptation to the socket openings. They are significantly brighter, but not to the extent of what Radioflyer makes.
Someone on the forum told me to consult Daniel Stern, an automotive lighting expert. He directed me to buy a set of 9011 and 9012 bulbs which required a bit of adaptation to the socket openings. They are significantly brighter, but not to the extent of what Radioflyer makes.
Pro
Joined: Jan 2016
Posts: 524
Likes: 126
From: Sandown NH
Maybe this will work. Not very expensive and looks pretty easy to do:
http://www.angelfire.com/d20/hcivic8...onversion.html
http://www.angelfire.com/d20/hcivic8...onversion.html
Team Owner
Joined: Dec 1999
Posts: 34,873
Likes: 487
From: Lacey WA RVN 68-69
NCM Sinkhole Donor
First, the adjusters can be "un-stuck". It's not that hard to remove the entire headlamp assembly from the car; just a few nuts and bolts and some screws. Then use some WD-40 on the rod bushings and let it sit. Then gently start to turn the adjusters back and forth. Repeat with WD-40 as necessary until the adjusters turn freely.
The biggest issue with the C5 lamp housings is that the high and low beams cannot be independently adjusted. The factory buckets on my '02 had the high beams so far off that they were neatry 2 FEET higher than the low beams at a 30' distance.
I decided to go with the Bi-Xenon ACA projector headlamp package from Radioflyer. That was a huge improvement over stock in that the ACA housings themselves were molded so that the high and low beams were aimed properly. This kit is well worth the money if you drive a lot at night. The kit included the "Hi-4" relay so that the low beam lamps stay on when you switch to the high beams. George even sells the Hi-4 relay package separately for $25 and that is an easy way to improve lighting.
I recall reading that empty ACA housings are available by themselves on fleabay, but I don't know what the prices may be or how reputable the vendor is with regard to selling housing that will be properly adjusted.
The biggest issue with the C5 lamp housings is that the high and low beams cannot be independently adjusted. The factory buckets on my '02 had the high beams so far off that they were neatry 2 FEET higher than the low beams at a 30' distance.
I decided to go with the Bi-Xenon ACA projector headlamp package from Radioflyer. That was a huge improvement over stock in that the ACA housings themselves were molded so that the high and low beams were aimed properly. This kit is well worth the money if you drive a lot at night. The kit included the "Hi-4" relay so that the low beam lamps stay on when you switch to the high beams. George even sells the Hi-4 relay package separately for $25 and that is an easy way to improve lighting.
I recall reading that empty ACA housings are available by themselves on fleabay, but I don't know what the prices may be or how reputable the vendor is with regard to selling housing that will be properly adjusted.
Le Mans Master
Joined: Jul 2011
Posts: 7,429
Likes: 973
From: Morristown New Jersey
Oldtimer
Race Director
Joined: May 2003
Posts: 14,137
Likes: 2,985
From: Iowa
St. Jude Donor '03 thru '26
I do not necessarily agree with you.
Unsure exactly what the OP is planning but there is a clear film that is legal to put on the windshield whose purpose is to reduce the ultraviolet light from the sun in an attempt to help keep inside temps from getting as hot in the summer sun. I know several that have this coating and claim a significant improvement.
If that is what the OP is planning to do there should be no legality issue.
Unsure exactly what the OP is planning but there is a clear film that is legal to put on the windshield whose purpose is to reduce the ultraviolet light from the sun in an attempt to help keep inside temps from getting as hot in the summer sun. I know several that have this coating and claim a significant improvement.
If that is what the OP is planning to do there should be no legality issue.
Race Director
Joined: Sep 2005
Posts: 11,060
Likes: 291
From: Pasco WA
I've had the same since 2003. No problems with oncoming traffic, and the pattern thrown was identical to stock, as marked on garage door. Holy Crap level of more light.