Thinking like this will get us nowhere. What if car manufactures of the past decided that gas lamps were good enough. I hate to have to get out and light my headlights. What about an electric starter, the battery could die, give me a crank any day, HA!
C7 Headlights
Race Director
Joined: Jun 2001
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From: CA
Le Mans Master
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From: North/Central NJ - a.k.a. Gotti in the CFNE section
St. Jude Donor '05
Le Mans Master
Joined: Sep 2004
Posts: 7,978
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From: North/Central NJ - a.k.a. Gotti in the CFNE section
St. Jude Donor '05
Team Owner
Joined: Dec 2003
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From: queensbury ny
I remember going into my 05 when I got it after getting out of the 01 I had.I turned on the car and the headlights on the 05 basically "popped' on.I was stunned and amazed at the better clarity of the headlights as opposed to my c5. I wonder if the c7 will make that much of an impact... Once I saw the c6 headlights,everything else looked "old"!
Le Mans Master
Joined: Jul 2009
Posts: 9,526
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From: Los Angeles California
Honestly, I'm hoping the C7 has an option for LED headlights rather than HID...
My reasoning is simple:
LEDs require less energy to output the same amount of like as HIDs. And since LEDs have no warm up or cool down time, they are more reliable and durable. Also, their color doesn't change when you turn them on. The color you see is the color you get. HIDs have to warm up to give you their full light and color.
Also, LEDs last longer as far as how many hours you'll get out of them. The 60w LEDs I have will go 7 years of constant on time. That means they won't have to be replaced for a VERY long time. Maybe the life of the car.
One of the best parts about using LEDs is that the driver (what looks like an HID ballast) is really cheap to manufacture because LEDs don't require super high voltage like HIDs. They require lower voltage and slightly higher amperage so the conversion on a low voltage system like a Corvette is more suited for LEDs. I bought my LED drivers for $22 each. And that's the more expensive version! The LED itself was somewhat expensive, at $60 each, but not that expensive when you compare it to what BMW charges for halogens that won't last more than a year of constant on. LOL
My reasoning is simple:
LEDs require less energy to output the same amount of like as HIDs. And since LEDs have no warm up or cool down time, they are more reliable and durable. Also, their color doesn't change when you turn them on. The color you see is the color you get. HIDs have to warm up to give you their full light and color.
Also, LEDs last longer as far as how many hours you'll get out of them. The 60w LEDs I have will go 7 years of constant on time. That means they won't have to be replaced for a VERY long time. Maybe the life of the car.
One of the best parts about using LEDs is that the driver (what looks like an HID ballast) is really cheap to manufacture because LEDs don't require super high voltage like HIDs. They require lower voltage and slightly higher amperage so the conversion on a low voltage system like a Corvette is more suited for LEDs. I bought my LED drivers for $22 each. And that's the more expensive version! The LED itself was somewhat expensive, at $60 each, but not that expensive when you compare it to what BMW charges for halogens that won't last more than a year of constant on. LOL
Race Director
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From: CA
Michael
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From: Los Angeles California
55w HIDs produce approx. 3200 LM at 4300K
50w LEDs produce approx. 4500 LM at 5000K.
I've been doing research on this for years. I can tell you with confidence and experience that LEDs do produce more light watt for watt.
Standard OEM halogen 55W 9006(HB4) = 1100lm (lumens)
4300k D2S Philips = 3200lm (lumens)
4300k D2R Philips = 2800lm (lumens)
4300k D2S Philips = 2400lm (lumens) actually 5800k
4300k D2R Philips = 2000lm (lumens) actually 5800k
4800k D4S/R (brand) = 3800 (lumens) ** brightest in the market
5800k D4S/R (brand) = 3300 (lumens)
7000k D2S other = 1790lm (lumens) *(other bulb brand)
7000k D2R other = 1390lm (lumens) *(other bulb brand)
8000k D2S other = 1180lm (lumens) *(other bulb brand)
8000k D2R other = 780lm (lumens) *(other bulb brand)
4300k D2S Philips = 3200lm (lumens)
4300k D2R Philips = 2800lm (lumens)
4300k D2S Philips = 2400lm (lumens) actually 5800k
4300k D2R Philips = 2000lm (lumens) actually 5800k
4800k D4S/R (brand) = 3800 (lumens) ** brightest in the market
5800k D4S/R (brand) = 3300 (lumens)
7000k D2S other = 1790lm (lumens) *(other bulb brand)
7000k D2R other = 1390lm (lumens) *(other bulb brand)
8000k D2S other = 1180lm (lumens) *(other bulb brand)
8000k D2R other = 780lm (lumens) *(other bulb brand)
Drifting
Joined: Aug 2010
Posts: 1,641
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From: wolfeboro nh
And as a matter of fact I am tired of people trying to hold back Corvette for emotional reasons rather than technological ones. It seems to me that the only requirement should be, "Does it work better?" Certainly there is still plenty of discussion possible to answer that simple question. I don't want the Corvette to become a dinosaur even if the Tyranasaurus Rex was the best ever. Let's be on the cutting edge as much as financially possible. Corvette can never become a Veyron at over a million dollars or even close and still fulfill what I se as it's mission statement to provide the very best possible sports car at a price many can afford. The C6 was able to do that for years but now it's time to push the envelope further. If the LED lights do that then we should suport it. If they don't then let's say so but not in the vein of, "My Daddy's Corvette was never like that!" JMHO 
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Drifting
Joined: Aug 2010
Posts: 1,641
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From: wolfeboro nh
I remember going into my 05 when I got it after getting out of the 01 I had.I turned on the car and the headlights on the 05 basically "popped' on.I was stunned and amazed at the better clarity of the headlights as opposed to my c5. I wonder if the c7 will make that much of an impact... Once I saw the c6 headlights,everything else looked "old"!
Melting Slicks
Joined: Feb 2007
Posts: 3,488
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They also seemed unfinished without the reflective filler and mirror-ing components . Hopefully that will not be the case with the C7.
Race Director
Joined: Feb 2012
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Totally disagree...love the look of the C6 headlights for the very reason you don't. I love the body color around the lights. Looks way more unique and finished than the typical run-of-the-mill headlights
Burning Brakes
Joined: Mar 2011
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From: “Out there”
Team Owner
Joined: Apr 2001
Posts: 36,453
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From: Overwhelmed as one would be, placed in my position.... DFW, TX
St. Jude Donor '05
HIDs made my C5 driveable at night. LOL
Seriously, the stock headlights are awful on C5s. I put the Sun Guns on my car and drove my dad's stock C5 and the difference is literally night and day.
I've gone through a LOT of different light setups. Headlight design is very important.
Now, GM does sell a vehicle with LED headlights. (http://www.greencar.com/articles/bui...s-priority.php) The Cadillacs have been offered with LED headlamps for a while.
There's a specific reason they're not that popular though: not enough heat emitted. They won't melt frost like Xenons, HIDs or halogens.
BTW, it's BMW that's working on the laser headlights...
Seriously, the stock headlights are awful on C5s. I put the Sun Guns on my car and drove my dad's stock C5 and the difference is literally night and day.
I've gone through a LOT of different light setups. Headlight design is very important.
Now, GM does sell a vehicle with LED headlights. (http://www.greencar.com/articles/bui...s-priority.php) The Cadillacs have been offered with LED headlamps for a while.
There's a specific reason they're not that popular though: not enough heat emitted. They won't melt frost like Xenons, HIDs or halogens.
BTW, it's BMW that's working on the laser headlights...
Le Mans Master
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From: Los Angeles California
Burning Brakes
Joined: Jul 2011
Posts: 1,168
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From: Saint Johns Florida
Some of them probably are illegal. I know I have issues with oncoming lights too, and I work nights so no real way to avoid it. I have noticed that many times it is obvious to me the lights are just mis-adjusted and would probably be fine if adjusted properly. And I noticed the most mis-adjusted vehicles I see are Ford trucks and SUVs. Not sure why. I'm assuming most dealers never check headlight alignment, and the Ford truck factories have the sloppiest specs.