YACT: Fake & misaligned HID's Rant *updated 2/26*

[NutBucket]

Originally posted by: CraigRT
I want to buy an HID kit for my car, I want to be able to see better at night.. after wrecking a car by hitting a deer,.... paranoia level goes way up. the need for all around brigher, better headlights is something i definitely feel worthwhile...

I recall reading somewhere that the aftermarket HIDs are now illegal in the US. Now, that doesn't matter to you but for those complaining.... They outlawed the kits that have read HIDs and ballasts and mount into "standard" halogen fixtures.

 

[Vic]

Ever driven on a dark rainy night on an asphalt road and noticed that it doesn't even seem like your headlights are on? Here in the Pacific NW, we get that a lot. High quality, properly installed and aligned HID's fix that. It literally is like night and day.

Unfortunately most of the ricers either get fake HIDs or they get "cool" JDM HID's which are designed for right-hand drive. Either way, they end up pointing right at oncoming traffic and not at the ground. This is why there is new DOT regulations forbidding them.

 

[NutBucket]

Well, then I guess other drivers should be happy I decided not to bother getting JDM headlights

 

[Doggiedog]

My properly adjusted aftermarket HIDs.

 

[Zenmervolt]

Originally posted by: vi_edit
Autoleveling is your friend

My Lincoln has this. It's really nice. No matter how I have the car loaded, it's level. Doesn't have HID headlights though.

ZV

 

[LordMorpheus]

Originally posted by: Grey
Ahh, you didn't insult anyone directly. Weak use of facts to back up your rant. 3/10


Seriously though, see if you can ride in a HID(genuine) equipped car. The difference in visability is amazing, everything is in true color and the contrast is enhanced.

Yeah, why don't you get out of our HID car and ride in a normal one for a while. With the influx of HID vehicles on the road, the difference in visibility is amazing: I can't even see my windsheild wipers when an HID car is pointing at me! How safe! Man, I bet that contrast helps you out a whole lot when I'm too damn blind to see the road and start swerving around!

And don't give me BS about"properly aimed/aligned" HID lamps. We all know that the world is not perfectly level. When an HID car hits a bump or crests a hill, I get the full blast of those satan-spawn lamps in my eyes, and believe you me, the vision imparement lasts for at LEAST a few seconds.

So, know this, whenever I get blasted by an HID lit-car, and no other 'innocents' are in front of me, I give him my brights. I feel no shame. Hell, I don't even feel satisfaction, I think it is more along the lines of a plea for the other driver to use only his running lights.

Unite behind me: Give your brights to any HID cars you see!

ARGH!! I can't freaking stand them. Driving a car with lights that bright may make things easier for you, but its a safety hazard for everyone else on the road. I can't believe they are legal. Its like owning an Excursion because it is safer . . . for you maybe, but its ten times more dangerous for everyone else on the road.

Even on a level straitaway, you can still get hit by a "properly Aligned" pair, as in last night with me in my Sable passing a monster SUV (Range Rover . . . I think), it was fine at first, but when I got closer its headlights were above my head. Me: AUGH!! MY EYES!!! Then I groped around until I found my blinker stalk (which has the brights controls on it) and let that jerkoff have it. Unfortunatly, my brights are less bright than a normal HID bulb.

I need to get a Naval Strobe light, and mount it on a turret for situations like these.

 

[Grey]

Originally posted by: LordMorpheus

Originally posted by: Grey
Ahh, you didn't insult anyone directly. Weak use of facts to back up your rant. 3/10


Seriously though, see if you can ride in a HID(genuine) equipped car. The difference in visability is amazing, everything is in true color and the contrast is enhanced.

Yeah, why don't you get out of our HID car and ride in a normal one for a while. With the influx of HID vehicles on the road, the difference in visibility is amazing: I can't even see my windsheild wipers when an HID car is pointing at me! How safe! Man, I bet that contrast helps you out a whole lot when I'm too damn blind to see the road and start swerving around!

And don't give me BS about"properly aimed/aligned" HID lamps. We all know that the world is not perfectly level. When an HID car hits a bump or crests a hill, I get the full blast of those satan-spawn lamps in my eyes, and believe you me, the vision imparement lasts for at LEAST a few seconds.

So, know this, whenever I get blasted by an HID lit-car, and no other 'innocents' are in front of me, I give him my brights. I feel no shame. Hell, I don't even feel satisfaction, I think it is more along the lines of a plea for the other driver to use only his running lights.

Unite behind me: Give your brights to any HID cars you see!

ARGH!! I can't freaking stand them. Driving a car with lights that bright may make things easier for you, but its a safety hazard for everyone else on the road. I can't believe they are legal. Its like owning an Excursion because it is safer . . . for you maybe, but its ten times more dangerous for everyone else on the road.

Even on a level straitaway, you can still get hit by a "properly Aligned" pair, as in last night with me in my Sable passing a monster SUV (Range Rover . . . I think), it was fine at first, but when I got closer its headlights were above my head. Me: AUGH!! MY EYES!!! Then I groped around until I found my blinker stalk (which has the brights controls on it) and let that jerkoff have it. Unfortunatly, my brights are less bright than a normal HID bulb.

I need to get a Naval Strobe light, and mount it on a turret for situations like these.

Now that's a proper HID rant! You even ask for assistance from fellow ranters 7/10


Just a couple of things though, for one I do not own a HID equipped car. In fact, I drive a Focus with halogen lamps. And last, if a cop observes you high beaming other drivers on the road you can get a ticket for improper usage of hi-beams so I would stop that practice.

 

[TechnoKid]

Properly aimed factory hid lights (especially those of the projectors nature) have less light above the cutoff than traditional halogen counter parts which results in less glare. This is especially true in projector applications. The new RX 330 from Lexus is the least glaring of any SUV hid I've ever seen.

However, I do agree with some statements here that when the beam hits you full on (say on a bridge, hill or bump etc) hid source is much brighter than halogen source (insert big duhh). Halogen are still pretty bright when the beam hits you full on. I am not sure if current auto-leveling systems are fast enough to compensate for hills and the like. Faster autoleveling would be a benefit not only to hid lights, but halogen as well. And the move to projectors (both halogen and hid) would significantly reduce the amount of light bleeding above the cutoff and reduce glare there.

 

[MercenaryForHire]

Originally posted by: Doggiedog
My properly adjusted aftermarket HIDs.

Let's see a "nighttime" pic of the light pattern.

- M4H

 

[LAUST]

LOL, Bows down to better ranter then I , and does admit to a good point about hills.

 

[WinkOsmosis]

I guess I have fake HIDs. Silvania Silverstars.. white, not blue, but most likely inspired by Xenons. I don't blind anyone though, and they are dimmer than regular halogens since the bulbs are tinted. But they are brighter than the old stock bulbs. Actually though, I think I prefer the slightly yellow light of normal bulbs.

 

[NutBucket]

Originally posted by: WinkOsmosis
I guess I have fake HIDs. Silvania Silverstars.. white, not blue, but most likely inspired by Xenons. I don't blind anyone though, and they are dimmer than regular halogens since the bulbs are tinted. But they are brighter than the old stock bulbs. Actually though, I think I prefer the slightly yellow light of normal bulbs.

They may be fake, but they're DOT approved and not blinding (tho overpriced and then tend to burn out quickly).

 

[Thegonagle]

I have newer halogens with the European style beams (definite cut-off and slight up-sweep to the right) and those are definitely alright with me.

 

[Doggiedog]

Originally posted by: MercenaryForHire

Originally posted by: Doggiedog
My properly adjusted aftermarket HIDs.

Let's see a "nighttime" pic of the light pattern.

- M4H

It isn't that bad. Pretty much focused. I actually aimed the lights a bit lower than before I got the HIDs. I have not been high-beamed by anyone yet.

 

[treemonkey]

Much cheaper, more effective and less annoying to drive around with your brights on. Those HID things are evil. Even the "properly adjusted" ones.

 

[CraigRT]

Originally posted by: MercenaryForHire

Originally posted by: CraigRT
I want to buy an HID kit for my car, I want to be able to see better at night.. after wrecking a car by hitting a deer,.... paranoia level goes way up. the need for all around brigher, better headlights is something i definitely feel worthwhile...

Go for it, just aim them properly.

- M4H

well you dont change anything that would cause the alignment to go off, all you do is change the bulb... (and the rest of the kit of course) but rest assured they would be aimed correctly I am anal when it comes to my light output anyways, i like my lights aimed properly, it really bothers me if they aren't!

 

[OS]

I think people with lifted trucks and SUVs and misaligned headlights are way worse than any HIDs or wannabe HIDs. So not only do these lifted abominations mean instant hospitalization for anyone in a car they should ever T-bone, also when they're not blocking people's view of the road, they're blinding them.

 

[LAUST]

Someone also noted that headlights in the city are really just for making others aware of you and not to see

 

[CraigRT]

Originally posted by: OS
I think people with lifted trucks and SUVs and misaligned headlights are way worse than any HIDs or wannabe HIDs. So not only do these lifted abominations mean instant hospitalization for anyone in a car they should ever T-bone, also when they're not blocking people's view of the road, they're blinding them.

agree.... i mean i like trucks and all... but they are definitely blinding!!

 

[LAUST]

well since Halogen lights are not a directed light it doesn't matter coming from the other direction so you must mean in your rearview mirror, yes that is annoying, but it doesn't burn an image of white in your eye's from the other side of the road like HID's do.