HID Pictures & Questions

[Guest MegaloManiac]

Ok I have been getting into HIDs now, I think I will buy some hopefully by December. I just want to clear things up.

Here questions I have asked in the past and a summed-up response that i have translated into what I interpreted.

1. What does the term HID mean?

    - High Intensity Discharge

2. Are they brighter than your halogen lights?

    - Yes they are brighter and they run more efficeint.

3. Is the higher the Number brighter?

    -No, the number is actually the temperature of the light in Kelvin scale. The higher the number "hotter" the lower the lumens it will produce. So usually the lower the number the brighter the HID's will be. Also about every 1k in temp change the light color will also change.

3000k will emit a yellow light

5000k will emit a Bright white light

6000K will emit a Bright white light with a hint of blue

8000k will emit a Bright Blue light

after that it will gradually turn into a purple light that you see on the BMW 7series

edit: Most people use 4800k and the 5000k range

4. Are they better housed in a Projectile housing or regular?

  -Depends on what you desire. In many peoples opinions when the HID's are placed in a Projector the light doesnt travel as far and doesnt have a wide range. Also you have to focus the lens of the projectors right. In a regular housing it will emit light farther and wider spread out.

edit: The projector actually bends the light spreading it wider, also giving a straight cutoff which reflectors can not. Reflector housing = glare and hot spots.

5. Can HID's be used through OEM housing?

    -Yes, but it will not have a cutoff point

6. Are they expensive?

    - Yes they can be expensive for the average joe, a kit usually runs around $489+.

Edit: Quailty bulbs/lamps are Philips brand

7. Easy to install?

    - If you have common sence and logic it is. Your OEM harness pluggs into the Ballast and the ballast has some wires leading to the HID lamp, all runs on 12V.

edit:the ballast's are selead, someone said he submerged the whole thing in a fishtank and operated it.

8. Does it distract the people in front of you?

    -What do you think? most likely it can "blind" the driver in front of you, but who cares thats what tint is for...

edit: It distracts IF you use them in reflector housing because of the horrible glare (or in other words, "blinds").

All questions & answers can be added & edited upon request.

~If anyone has pictures of their HID's in action to show the difference that would be great, please post them, but watch your resolution~

[Guest MegaloManiac]

here is one of a friends motorcycle his are in Projectile casings. Pretty bright for 8k.

[Guest MegaloManiac]

Thread updated as of 10/22/06 7:50pm

[emperorjj1]

when you say projectile do you mean the oem housings? or them aftermarket projector housings?

[Guest MegaloManiac]

projectile means projector housings. they are aftermarkey in most cases.  Reflector housing are usually  OEM.

[emperorjj1]

ya this is what i got on the cobalt

I like that look of the painted headlights so im thinking of either painting my stock ones blue or going with the porjectors off ebay like these

[Guest MegaloManiac]

that first picture is a OEM one "reflector" housing

[emperorjj1]

right... so if i were to use those they would be crazy bright with glare and hot spots?

[meade916]

i agree with most of that list...i have 7000k headlights AND driving lights (fogs).  Cost about $400 each so 8 bills.

I also have them in my Honda now and i will never go back.....Halogen is for sissys  (j/k) and so are the gay "silverstars" or whatever..i dont care how "bright white" the halogen box says, if its not a real HID it is weak.  I can make the brightest white halogen look yellow in comparison.....i have a side by side somewhere on this harddrive but the digital really doesnt show it that good.  The color looks different in real life then what is really being seen.  Mine are a bright white with a purplish/blue tint but not "pull you over" kinda blue.  Its like they are perfect but the pics look super colorful.

Anyway let me see if i can find a pic or 2

[meade916]

Here is the difference between my old bulbs that used to be in the honda and the Tahoe.....those bulbs in the Honda are actually some expensive Piaa's (bright white) LOL.