HID Car Lights – Buyer’s Tips
When buying HID car lights, be careful about those that are sold at very low prices. In most cases, those sold at $49 instead of the usual $175 to $450 are made from China. Most HID experts agree that the pricier ones come from Germany, USA and Japan, and they are considered authentic. Also, one way to check if they’re not counterfeits is to check for clear bulbs. If the lens have colors in it, or you see words, such as “Filter” or “Colored Lens,” then be very careful. In most cases, these are just regular halogen lights that are “filtered” or “reproduced” to look like some white color with bluish tints. If there is color in the lens, then you can bet that the lens are taking away some of the light’s lumens. This means that it is not as bright as it should be.
So be smart when you’re buying HID car lights. There is no reason why you should settle for anything less than the best ones around.
HID Lights – My Favorite Cars
I’ve always been a fan of HID lights. Nowadays, these lights have been climbing the popularity vine ever since they became more affordable in the market. Right now, even some high middle-class cars have installed HID headlights. I really won’t be shocked when in the near future, I will read about ordinary and cheap cars that are “spiked” with HID. It’s not an impossibility, you know. Whoever would think we’ll have an African-American President, right? It’s the same with HID lights.
Before we time warp to the future, let me just give some of the cars with HID headlights that have caught my fancy for years now. They are:
Mazda 3 2.0 Sport £15,500
Mazda’s Sport Trim is now available with Xenon lights. With a 150bhp 2.0-litre engine, the Mazda 3 lives up to its name, with its speed reaching 60mph in just 9 seconds. Check its suspension, and you’ll see muscles. What’s more, the Mazda 3 is often overlooked in its class, but if bright lights are a priority it’s worth taking a second good look.
Peugeot 407 2.2 Executive £19,950
It seems the French like their cars well equipped, as four out of our top ten here come from across the channel. The newest of the bunch is Peugeot’s 407. This car is proving to be a classy and eclectic – with a look that challenges the conservative cars available in the market right now. Driving is also enjoyable too – it has a tidy handling and a cosseting ride, which is something Peugeot cars are known for. Once again to get Xenon lights as standard you’re looking up the range, but the 2.2-litre Executive model comes fully-loaded with equipment as a result.
Honda Accord 2.4 Executive £21,600
Driving a Honda is an experience, because it combines quality and functionality in one. With the 2.4-litre engine, you get maximum distances while at the same time offering one of the most exceptional manual gearboxes this side of Porsche 911. To get Xenon lights as standard you need to opt for the pricey Executive model, but you’ll also get extras like Sat Nav and leather seats too.
Obama the Car Lover
I never thought Obama was a car guy. Okay, I admit — I’ve heard from a very reliable source that he’s into basketball and cigarettes, BUT CARS?!? What the heck, right? Well, it’s true. Anyway, when the whiff of his presidency was still in the initial stages of political construction, guess what he bought? A Chrysler. Yes, a Chrysler 300C. Who would ever guess that someone who espouses correctness in everything bought a car with high torque and horsepower, a crazy gluttonous need for gasoline and a “gangsta-hip hop” character? Really — how un-politically correct was that?
Sadly, he parted ways with the car when he ran for presidency. He settled with a nice, straight, and conservative Ford Escape. I think his political advisers gave him good advice when they recommended Ford — he won the presidency. Haha. Well, maybe it’s not the reason why he won, but let’s assume that he still loves cars. One thing I would like to ask is this: Will his influence affect the dwindling automotive industry we have right now?
I hope so. General Motors and Chrysler have been temporarily bailed out from their woes, and Obama will be directly responsible in bringing these giants back on their feet again. I hope in the long run, his influence will also cover the lesser known automobiles that we have right now.
There is no doubt about it – the car manufacturers have been in the dumps for too long. More than anything else, I think it’s about time that the automotive industry is revived from its near-death experience.
HID Lights – Beware of the Look-alikes
They are designed for style and safety. This means that aside from its classy appeal, HID lights have evolved to be one of the most coveted possessions of car aficionados everywhere.
Since they are popular right now, it’s not surprising that they are imitated by a lot of manufacturers. These are achieved by using coated, tinted, filtered for halogen headlamps that are used as an alternative to HID bulbs. In addition, aftermarket headlamp housings with similar coating, painting, tinting and filtering are sold as replacements for HID lights. Their main goal is to create lights that are not the same as halogen lamps but closer to the actual HID lights sold in the market today.
Another disturbing thing that’s happening right now is substituting headlamp bulbs to HID conversion bulbs for used vehicles. In most cases, aftermarket companies provide adapters to HID bulbs so they can insert it in headlights that are originally made for the traditional filament bulbs. Consequently, this is dangerous for all drivers. Filament headlamps are customized differently than HID conversion kits. In many cases, HID are two or three times the volume of light than filament bulbs. Placing it in adapters designed for filaments often result in beam patters that act differently than the original pattern. These problems may give the driver a difficult time in focusing the beams or controlling the intensity of the glare. In one study, the light intensity toward oncoming drivers was 22 times the allowed intensity limit. This kind of intensity can be very irritating to drivers on the road.
So now that you know the fakes, how do you spot the real ones?
First, try to check if there is a ballast and a starter. HID lights require these things to function properly. Real kits include two sets, one for each light.
Also, look if the bulb has traces of filament. Most of the real kits have two sets, one for each bulb. Remember, HID lights DON’T HAVE FILAMENTS! They only contain Xenon gas. If you look inside, you’ll see that there is a huge power line on the external part of the bulb. This power line completes the circuit in all HID lights.
Also, look for the power rating. If you see 55W or 100W, then it’s definitely not an HID light. Real ones only use bulbs use 35W, 32 or 50W.
Lastly, look for clear bulbs. If the lens have colors in it, or you see words, such as “Filter” or “Colored Lens,” then be very careful. In most cases, these are just regular halogen lights that are “filtered” or “reproduced” to look like some white color with bluish tints. If there is color in the lens, then you can bet that the lens are taking away some of the light’s lumens. This means that it is not as bright as it should be.
Now that you know what to look for in a true HID light, be smart. Use what you’ve learned, and inform other drivers about it so they will get their money’s worth all the time.
HID Car Lights are Cool!
Thinking of buying HID car lights? According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA):
1. Some drivers are not well-informed of what type of headlamps they have.
• According to NHTSA, 18% of the respondents are unaware that their vehicle had HID lights
• 20% didn’t know if their headlights were “directionally adaptable.”
2. Drivers are generally pleased with their HID lights
• 88% of the respondents said they will purchase another one
• 75% would favor using HID instead of other headlights
• Owners found the lights very useful in seeing lane lines of curved roads, pedestrians, and the roadway ahead when they’re drawing near a hill
3. Modified driving behavior with HID headlights
• 23% were willing to drive faster when they are using HID headlamps
• 40% were more willing to drive at night
• 70% with HID headlamps believe that their behavior will not change if their headlights will be changed to the more traditional lights. However, 9% will restrict night driving, 9% will not go to unfamiliar places at night, and 10% will stay clear of dark roads.
4. Driver’s perception of HID light’s safety
• 57% believe that they are better and safer drivers because of HID.
• 17% didn’t want to purchase HID lamps because they think these lights will distract other drivers
5. Glare and HID headlamps
• 18% of HID headlamp users reported receiving high-beam flashes from other drivers
• HID headlamp owners who have used up 30,000 miles on their vehicles were more likely to report receiving high-beam flashes from other drivers.
• Among older respondents, HID headlamp owners were more likely than non-HID headlamp owners to tolerate vehicles who use these lights
6. When compared to younger students, older respondents
• Tended to have less driving experience with their current vehicles.
• Were more likely to wear glasses (less likely to wear contact lenses)
• Were more likely to report having cataracts or undergoing cataract surgery (less likely to have had Lasik surgery)
Obviously, the advantages of buying HID car lights outweigh the disadvantages. This is definitely good news for all car lovers (like me) out there.
HID Car Lights Banned?
I don’t understand why some HID Car Lights are limited to off road driving in some states. According to this article that I read, some purple lights are not allowed for driving. It’s really frustrating for me, because I love purple – and I just bought an HID Conversation Kit yesterday!!!
And another thing: Why are these HID Car lights regularized unlike some of the other common bulbs used in cars today? Take this — the International Regulations in charge of the road are very strict when it comes to implementing the rules about these lights. According to them, a driver should meet three International regulatory conditions before they can use their on the road.
1. The headlamps must be correctly aligned according to the regulations.
2. The vehicle must be adapted with an automatic headlamp leveling system.
3. The car should be fitted with an automatic headlight cleaning system.
Can they just scrap all of it? Or if not, can somebody just please take that purple ban thing? It’s the least they can do for someone who loves purple HID car lights.
HID lamps
I was having a talk with our gardener and he said that HID lamps are a hit to most horticulturists around. At first, really didn’t understand what he was talking about, but when he said that these are the kind of lamps that my brother, Harry, is driving, then I got really curious about it. So I asked him how he could use it on both, and he told me it’s all because of the bulb. According to him, the bulb does not have filaments, but instead, filled with Xenon gas. . They come in different forms, one is the High Pressure Sodium (HPS), Metal Halide (MH), Mercury Vapor and Low Pressure Sodium. The ones used for plant growth are HPS and MH systems.
There was another interesting thing I’ve learned about HID lamps. He said that you can use the lights to make plants grow. Ain’t that cool? He said that when you are dealing with leafy crops or actively growing plants, use MH lamps because it gives more of the blue/green spectrum. And if you want your plants to actively bear fruit, use HPS lamps to provide more yellow/orange/red spectrums.
I never thought HID lamps are so versatile! Now I feel like doing some gardening outside
Hid Conversion kits
CHOOSING THE RIGHT ONE
There really isn’t any doubt that HID conversion kits are gaining a lot of appeal in the automotive industry. Ask most luxury car owners and it’s one of the things they would like to include in their “To Buy” list. In fact, most car aficionados have started thinking of upgrading their halogen reflectors to HID headlights.
Thinking is one thing; being smart is another thing. Choosing the right HID conversion kit can be overwhelming if you don’t know anything about it, so make sure that you do your homework first. Here are some of the things you need to know before you part ways with your hard-earned cash: The different HID kits available in the market today, the types of colors you can choose from, the color temperature of the HID lights, and the warranties.
Four Common HID Conversion Kits
There are many kinds of conversion kits. The first one is the Single Beam Kit, which includes two pairs of HID bulbs and two ballasts. Also, If your vehicle uses two pairs of bulbs, one for low beam and the other for high beam, you can take this single beam hid kit for your low beams. Common Bulb sizes are H1, H3, H4-1, H7, 9004-1, 9005, 9006, 9007-1 and so on.
The second is the High/Low Beam Kit. It comes with two pairs of HID bulbs, which consist of HID and one halogen on each HID bulb to perform the high and low beam function, and Halogen for high beam and HID for low beam, plus two ballasts. Common bulb sizes are H4-2, 9004-2, 9007-2.
The third one is the Telescope Kit which includes a single HID. It can switch between high beam and low beam, with two ballasts and installation clamps. Common bulb sizes are H4-3, 9004-3, 9007-3.
The fourth one is the Bi-xenon Kit, which comes with two HID bulbs on each bulb, and they work for high and low beam. It also includes four ballasts and installation clamps. Common bulb sizes are H4-4, 9004-4, 9007-4.
Most of the HID Conversion Kits on the market are 35W/12V, you need 24V for a truck. Some HID kits are using 55W, so the buyer has to read the specifications carefully.
Types of Colors and Temperature
No doubt about it — the colors of HID lights look good on all kinds of vehicles, whether they are luxury, muscle, or course racing cars. One thing you should learn about them is that they also use the term, “temperature,” which measures the lighting output, like golden yellow, white, crystal white, and etc. It is commonly measured in degrees (K). Take note: K only refers to color. Lumen, on the other hand, refers to the intensity of the light. The higher the higher the color temperature (degrees K) doesn’t necessarily mean that it has a higher light intensity (lumen). Here is the summary for the common color temperature on the market — Some of the colors available today are golden yellow (3000K), bright white (4300K), white (5000K), crystal white (6000K), crystal blue (8000K), aqua blue (10000K), and purple-blue (12000K).
The most popular right now are the 5000K (white) or 6000K (crystal white) color temperature. If you plan to buy HID conversion kits white 10000K (aqua blue) or more, make sure that you know if it is legal in your country. Some lights might not be suitable for driving or drivers so they are restricted to areas only. For instance, most of the 12000K (purple blue) or 14000K (purple) are only used for off road.
Warranty
There are many ways to get your HID conversion kits. You can even buy them on EBay or other auction sites at a cheap price. However, warranty issues are much more delicate. Make sure that you buy from reliable shops or online stores that will help you follow up on your warranty without too much hassle.
Now that you know what to look for, be smart. Make sure that you are already armed with the right knowledge before you choose the right HID conversion kit for you. Soon, you’ll enjoy the benefits of having these lights installed in your vehicle.
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