Headlight Question

[NutBucket]

So I finally put some 80W halogens in my car. Before all the bashers come out, let me be the first to say that my friends, all of whom hate ricers and illegal halogens, agree that mine are not overtly blinding by any means. Anyhow, my question relates to the beam pattern. I noticed that with the new bulbs the beam pattern seems to be "lower". In other words, where before there was a noticeable gap on the ground between the front of my car and where the headlights illuminate, now there is none. I find this quite odd.

Before any smart@sses get the chance, no I did not hit anything after changing the bulbe and no my car is not riced.

 

[amnesiac]

I think halogen bulbs have a wider and more consistent light pattern, but I'm not sure.

 

[OS]

Does changing the bulbs affect the alignment? On my car, to change the bulbs, you have to take out the entire lamp assembly, which can change the alignment.

 

[NutBucket]

On my car you can remove the bulbs without having to touch the mounting of the headlights. 9006 style for the informed.

'Square: Good to see you made it back to Rancho in one piece.

 

[jer22]

more than likely the extra power has allowed the lens configuration to be optimized. the lens is dispursing the light as usual, but you have more light. just a guess, jer

 

[BlueApple]

So you were a cheap ass and got the halogen rip-offs and not real Xenon's (HID's)?

 

[OS]

Originally posted by: NutBucket
On my car you can remove the bulbs without having to touch the mounting of the headlights. 9006 style for the informed.

'Square: Good to see you made it back to Rancho in one piece.

Hmm, sorry can't help you then You can try swapping back in one of the original bulbs and doing a side by side comparison. If the stock bulb is higher up than the other ones, the cause is probably the new bulbs.



Yeah, I didn't even get a ticket this time.

On the way back, two slammed civics were having a freeway race and were ripping around other cars. I was thinking about tearing them both a new one, but I'm a good boy these days.

 

[yakko]

Originally posted by: BlueApple
So you were a cheap ass and got the halogen rip-offs and not real Xenon's (HID's)?

Considering what a true xenon HID will cost if it is even made for your car I would not call him cheap.

 

[OS]

Originally posted by: yakko

Originally posted by: BlueApple
So you were a cheap ass and got the halogen rip-offs and not real Xenon's (HID's)?

Considering what a true xenon HID will cost if it is even made for your car I would not call him cheap.

No kidding. True HID conversion kits cost around 500 dollars.

 

[NutBucket]

Originally posted by: OuterSquare

Originally posted by: yakko

Originally posted by: BlueApple
So you were a cheap ass and got the halogen rip-offs and not real Xenon's (HID's)?

Considering what a true xenon HID will cost if it is even made for your car I would not call him cheap.

No kidding. True HID conversion kits cost around 500 dollars.

$500 that will be applied to my motor/tranny thank you very much. Maybe once I get the car running 13's I'll consider getting real HID's.

 

[ChangLi]

You better get a relay hooked up way quick or you're gonna toast your headlight switch!



<=speaks from experience

 

[BlueApple]

If you couldn?t tell, I was JOKING in my previous post.

Anyways, the cheapest way to get them (in my experience) is to get them as an optional accessory when ordering your car. Or could always steal them for Jerboy?

I?d look around on the net for a comparison of different halogen headlights and see if this is mentioned in any of them. Has adjusting the level on the lights helped at all?

 

[NutBucket]

I haven't touched the adjusters yet.

FYI: HID's weren't available in 1991.

 

[etech]

What brand of bulbs did you install?

One possiblity is detailed in this article.
superwhites

To keep it short, the manufactuers can wind the filiaments differently giving a different beam pattern. They still put out the same amount of light for the same wattage(not your case) but focus it more tightly.




car headlights question
Good chart on different bulbs 9007 but should cross to different types

 

[NutBucket]

I have Matrix "Ultimate White".

 

[N8Magic]

Originally posted by: OuterSquare

Originally posted by: yakko

Originally posted by: BlueApple
So you were a cheap ass and got the halogen rip-offs and not real Xenon's (HID's)?

Considering what a true xenon HID will cost if it is even made for your car I would not call him cheap.

No kidding. True HID conversion kits cost around 500 dollars.

I wish were $500.00 for my car. The true Bosch OEM HID conversion kit for my car (02 VW) is $1500-2000USD.

 

[yakko]

Originally posted by: N8Magic
I wish were $500.00 for my car. The true Bosch OEM HID conversion kit for my car (02 VW) is $1500-2000USD.

You need to hurry up and get that done so I can steal your car.

 

[divinemartyr]

Sounds like you may need to adjust your headlights... You might not be getting your maximum visibility out of them now since your beam pattern is lower... Anyhow, have a dealer or repair shop adjust them to give you the best headlight alignment it's very hard to do as an individual who has never done it.

dm

 

[NutBucket]

That may be the case. You say to take it to a pro. In my Chiltons it explains exactly how to aim headlights. IMHO this isn't any different then what a pro would do anyway?

 

[divinemartyr]

Not everyone has a Chilton's book That should do the trick! If you can't get it quite right, because it CAN be difficult, then take it to someone who knows how to do it.

dm

 

[NutBucket]

Yeah, I don't like being a slave to mechanics so I tend to be fairly well informed/skilled when it comes to fixing my car Besides, I think its fun.

Disclaimer: Changing my clutch last week was not fun, at least not when I ran into problems.