C5 HID projection headlight system

aside from all that, do you understand WHY they are not good to use?
they are not good to use on the street for safety reasons, yours and other peoples safety.
I had them in my car for almost a year, after I got used to them I started to realize that I still wasn't seeing far enough down the road. Then I started reading about HID lights and found out why I couldn't see as much as I wanted with those HID kits.
lots of interesting reading there!






Bro!
you may not want to respond, but I guarantee that you will be back in this thread to read this!
I have "generalized" nothing!
I have given you valid reasons why these HIDs are not good to use on the street, shown proof that not only are they wrong to use in the stock housings. and by "trying" to use the highbeams you're dramatically shortening the life of your HID bulbs.
you have given nothing back except your own opinion.
also, once "properly" aligned (aimed so that YOU can take full advantage of the extra light), BECAUSE the C5 sits lower than most other vehicles they blind other drivers, the only way to reduce the glare (I said reduce not eliminate glare) is to aim them LOWER than the correct aim height.
I could care less if you use them or not, just understand what they really are, and have no disillusions about it.
but here are the facts!
they are not designed for the factory halogen housings, and as a result of that......
#1:
they WILL produce unacceptable glare to oncoming traffic
#2:
although they are brighter than the stock halogen bulbs, they are misleading you into thinking that you're seeing farther because of the fact that the stock housing was not designed for HID and cannot focus the light where you need it.
#3:
by turning the highbeams on and off you are killing your HID bulbs!
I'm not telling you the remove them!
but if you want to use them because they "are" HIDs and they only cost $300.00, then "have at it", but don't come here and try to blow warm sunshine up my a$$ about how, for $300.00, they are as good as a projector HID housing!
Oh, and they only cost $300.00!
BTW, these HID kits are going for much cheaper than $300.00, so you could have gotten the the same thing for a little more than half the price you paid!
THAT'S what you should be upset about!

but I still love ya'
Last edited by RPOZ4Z; Feb 8, 2007 at 08:39 AM.
you may not want to respond, but I guarantee that you will be back in this thread to read this!
I have "generalized" nothing!
I have given you valid reasons why these HIDs are not good to use on the street, shown proof that not only are they wrong to use in the stock housings. and by "trying" to use the highbeams you're dramatically shortening the life of your HID bulbs.
you have given nothing back except your own opinion.
also, once "properly" aligned (aimed so that YOU can take full advantage of the extra light), BECAUSE the C5 sits lower than most other vehicles they blind other drivers, the only way to reduce the glare (I said reduce not eliminate glare) is to aim them LOWER than the correct aim height.
I could care less if you use them or not, just understand what they really are, and have no disillusions about it.
but here are the facts!
they are not designed for the factory halogen housings, and as a result of that......
#1:
they WILL produce unacceptable glare to oncoming traffic
#2:
although they are brighter than the stock halogen bulbs, they are misleading you into thinking that you're seeing farther because of the fact that the stock housing was not designed for HID and cannot focus the light where you need it.
#3:
by turning the highbeams on and off you are killing your HID bulbs!
I'm not telling you the remove them!
but if you want to use them because they "are" HIDs and they only cost $300.00, then "have at it", but don't come here and try to blow warm sunshine up my a$$ about how, for $300.00, they are as good as a projector HID housing!
Oh, and they only cost $300.00!
BTW, these HID kits are going for much cheaper than $300.00, so you could have gotten the the same thing for a little more than half the price you paid!
THAT'S what you should be upset about!

but I still love ya'

you may not want to respond, but I guarantee that you will be back in this thread to read this!
I have "generalized" nothing!
I have given you valid reasons why these HIDs are not good to use on the street, shown proof that not only are they wrong to use in the stock housings. and by "trying" to use the highbeams you're dramatically shortening the life of your HID bulbs.
you have given nothing back except your own opinion.
also, once "properly" aligned (aimed so that YOU can take full advantage of the extra light), BECAUSE the C5 sits lower than most other vehicles they blind other drivers, the only way to reduce the glare (I said reduce not eliminate glare) is to aim them LOWER than the correct aim height.
I could care less if you use them or not, just understand what they really are, and have no disillusions about it.
but here are the facts!
they are not designed for the factory halogen housings, and as a result of that......
#1:
they WILL produce unacceptable glare to oncoming traffic
#2:
although they are brighter than the stock halogen bulbs, they are misleading you into thinking that you're seeing farther because of the fact that the stock housing was not designed for HID and cannot focus the light where you need it.
#3:
by turning the highbeams on and off you are killing your HID bulbs!
I'm not telling you the remove them!
but if you want to use them because they "are" HIDs and they only cost $300.00, then "have at it", but don't come here and try to blow warm sunshine up my a$$ about how, for $300.00, they are as good as a projector HID housing!
Oh, and they only cost $300.00!
BTW, these HID kits are going for much cheaper than $300.00, so you could have gotten the the same thing for a little more than half the price you paid!
THAT'S what you should be upset about!

but I still love ya'






you may not want to respond, but I guarantee that you will be back in this thread to read this!
I have "generalized" nothing!
I have given you valid reasons why these HIDs are not good to use on the street, shown proof that not only are they wrong to use in the stock housings. and by "trying" to use the highbeams you're dramatically shortening the life of your HID bulbs.
you have given nothing back except your own opinion.
also, once "properly" aligned (aimed so that YOU can take full advantage of the extra light), BECAUSE the C5 sits lower than most other vehicles they blind other drivers, the only way to reduce the glare (I said reduce not eliminate glare) is to aim them LOWER than the correct aim height.
I could care less if you use them or not, just understand what they really are, and have no disillusions about it.
but here are the facts!
they are not designed for the factory halogen housings, and as a result of that......
#1:
they WILL produce unacceptable glare to oncoming traffic
#2:
although they are brighter than the stock halogen bulbs, they are misleading you into thinking that you're seeing farther because of the fact that the stock housing was not designed for HID and cannot focus the light where you need it.
#3:
by turning the highbeams on and off you are killing your HID bulbs!
I'm not telling you the remove them!
but if you want to use them because they "are" HIDs and they only cost $300.00, then "have at it", but don't come here and try to blow warm sunshine up my a$$ about how, for $300.00, they are as good as a projector HID housing!
Oh, and they only cost $300.00!
BTW, these HID kits are going for much cheaper than $300.00, so you could have gotten the the same thing for a little more than half the price you paid!
THAT'S what you should be upset about!

but I still love ya'


A few things to cover
I have NEVER claimed that my kit is superior or equal to the full HID replacement kit. I am offering a kit to those who don't want to spend 1000$ ish and spend hours taking there headlights apart. I have read numerous post that people have bought these kits (not all from me ) and are very satisfied with the "cheap" mod. They are very happy with performace of the product.
http://forums.corvetteforum.com/show....php?t=1615187
The are 100's if not 1000's of products that people put on their vette for every day driving that are for "off-road" use only. I have seen my kits coming @ me on the road and do not find the light offensive or glaring. Although I can't say that for some OEM hids I have had coming my way. By the way, I drive a 4x4 and i still thought the lights were to high. If my kit is properly installed and aimed correctly you WILL have a huge improvement over stock.
STOCK

HID

Also,
here is a video in traffic. Nobody is flashing that the lights are too bright
sorry for the music.
I don't have enough data other than the information that has been provided here that the bulbs life will be shortened when you use the high beams. I'm curious the age of the write up. The bulbs have been improved over the years. I do understand that the full replacement kit offers a more structured light display due to the projector. I'm not arguing that @ all. The output of my kit is different But some people are ok with this and would rather spend the extra 700$ elsewhere. I really got to get back to work. I really do appreciate most of the input and data that has been provided.
The Best of Corvette for Corvette Enthusiasts
Better than your faux HID setup, and a ton more light, especially where you need it -- down the road on high beam.
You will then own the night.
1-I'm happy.
2-He's happy.
3-I got more bang for my buck.
4-They are not offending to oncoming vehicles.
5-If I screwed up a year from now because any one of the 50 items I have bought so far fail me I am a big boy and will deal with it.
Most of the "common" guys I am around that drive Vettes agree.
I also see a Mustang or ???? every now and then that looks dang good too!
Now that is said, let's go have some fun!





NTRBL33,
the bulb swap HIDs do put out more light than stock halogen bulbs, there is no denying that.
but in looking at your pics, I noticed that the "hot spot" in your HIDs looks like it's aimed to hit the ground around 30ft in front of the car.
looks a tad too low to me...
considering the "hot spot" on my projector HIDs is aimed at about 150ft in front of my car.
The problem is that even if you point the lights down, they don't shine down the road far enough to be useful and the glare is still there. The meat of the beam is exceptionally bright and more or less in center, but the "glare cone" is very broad. So you can really move the bright (useful) part of the beam around but it has very little effect on the problem glare. I think of taking them out often and will eventually, they really are a safety hazard. If you are driving dark twisty two lane roads at night, you will eventually met up with a 70+ year old driver coming the other way, and you will blind the hell our of them for a dangerous amount of time, no matter how low you have the bulbs pointed. That is a fact. I'm a moron and have done stupid stuff like remove my airbag to enjoy a cool MOMO steering wheel and add half a$z HID kits. While it may seem nice and you can really see down the road well, installation of these kits on a street car is really a bad idea. The problem is that you are risking other peoples lives, not just your own. I don't want to sound like a "square", but the projector HIDs are worth the extra coin for more than just asthetics...
Just because no one flashes you/me doesn't mean you/me are not impairing someone's night vision in a dangerous and unnessesary manner. BTW, I avoid driving the C5 at night and hop in my M3 primarily because of this.
I really hope you guys don't take this as a slam to your personal choice and give it some thought if you are running or planning to run one of these cheaper kits.
Dave "no affiliation with any of the HID kit builders" DeBuhr
I have a close friends who have HID lights on their Volvo SC80, and I was really disappointed the first time I saw them from the front seat at night. I remember thinking to myself, "Is that all there is to it?" -Boy is that not worth it!
Last edited by Bluemill; Feb 8, 2007 at 09:28 PM.
I have a close friends who have HID lights on their Volvo SC80, and I was really disappointed the first time I saw them from the front seat at night. I remember thinking to myself, "Is that all there is to it?" -Boy is that not worth it!
If you're getting flashed like that, you lights suck.
Thank you for providing the knowledge for me to make my decision.
Robert
A few things to cover
I have NEVER claimed that my kit is superior or equal to the full HID replacement kit. I am offering a kit to those who don't want to spend 1000$ ish and spend hours taking there headlights apart. I have read numerous post that people have bought these kits (not all from me ) and are very satisfied with the "cheap" mod. They are very happy with performace of the product.
http://forums.corvetteforum.com/show....php?t=1615187
The are 100's if not 1000's of products that people put on their vette for every day driving that are for "off-road" use only. I have seen my kits coming @ me on the road and do not find the light offensive or glaring. Although I can't say that for some OEM hids I have had coming my way. By the way, I drive a 4x4 and i still thought the lights were to high. If my kit is properly installed and aimed correctly you WILL have a huge improvement over stock.
STOCK

HID

Also,
here is a video in traffic. Nobody is flashing that the lights are too bright
sorry for the music.
I don't have enough data other than the information that has been provided here that the bulbs life will be shortened when you use the high beams. I'm curious the age of the write up. The bulbs have been improved over the years. I do understand that the full replacement kit offers a more structured light display due to the projector. I'm not arguing that @ all. The output of my kit is different But some people are ok with this and would rather spend the extra 700$ elsewhere. I really got to get back to work. I really do appreciate most of the input and data that has been provided.
Question --
Those pics. Are they low beam, or high beam?
And if they are low beam, can you show what the high beam look like?
Thanks.











