YACT: Noob car light questions

[LOLyourFace]

I'm looking to get one of those bright clear headlights (For the low beam)

I'm told that I could get those ultra bright halogens for $80~ or HIDS for $400.

Now, what does HIDS actually stand for and how is the quality?

More importantly, are the halogens worth the $80 compared to HIDS? Your typical clear lights you see on the streets are halogen or HIDS?

Thanks.

 

[Sluggo]

Leave them the way they are.

 

[fyleow]

$80 out of spec halogen lights will melt your headlight housing and wiring harness. If you want a brighter, whiter light then go for HIDs. They use less wattage and last longer. They are also legal.

EDIT: HIDs do not cost $400, they cost upward of $1000 because you need to replace the housing as well. Your stock housing is not made for HIDs and will blind people. I suggest going for the OEM HID lights.

 

[MercenaryForHire]

High Intensity Discharge.

Typical headlights on the street are halogen. Unless your car came with HIDs or you are a professional installer, do not put them in. You'll only blind everyone else on the road.

- M4H

 

[LOLyourFace]

Originally posted by: fyleow
$80 out of spec halogen lights will melt your headlight housing and wiring harness. If you want a brighter, whiter light then go for HIDs. They use less wattage and last longer. They are also legal.

EDIT: HIDs do not cost $400, they cost upward of $1000 because you need to replace the housing as well. Your stock housing is not made for HIDs and will blind people. I suggest going for the OEM HID lights.

well, i read bits and pieces from the mazda6 forum and it SEEMS like installtion and the compatibility is a breeze:

1. buy the correct halogens that won't melt or whatever as you described. (this is provided in the site)
2. install them using the online guide with pictures.
3. viola!

hmmmmmmm im half nervous, half eager... any more thoughts? educate me on this.

 

[fyleow]

The correct Halogens that don't melt usually means same wattage as your stock bulbs. If that is the case then your lights will actually be not as bright as the OEM bulbs. They tint the Halogens to make them look white and in the process they lose lumens. The only way to get brighter and whiter lights without upgrading to HIDs is to use something with a higher wattage. If you do so you run the risk of melting things.

 

[McCarthy]

May I ask why you want to make your low beams brighter?

High beams sure, when you're using them the idea is that there isn't anyone else around. Low beams mean you're facing oncoming traffic or following someone. Stock lowbeams are bad enough these days, what's considered a low beam now outshines the highbeams people managed to see with for the first 90 years of driving.

Are you having trouble seeing?

Or is this an attempt to make your car look cool? Blinding people isn't cool imo. Furthermore I am entirely serious in saying HID lights should be considered reckless endangerment and anyone using them should have their license pulled on the spot. This includes cars and motorcycles that came with them from the factory. Department of Transportation showed what a paper tiger bureacracy it is once again by approving the damn things.

 

[LOLyourFace]

Originally posted by: McCarthy
May I ask why you want to make your low beams brighter?

High beams sure, when you're using them the idea is that there isn't anyone else around. Low beams mean you're facing oncoming traffic or following someone. Stock lowbeams are bad enough these days, what's considered a low beam now outshines the highbeams people managed to see with for the first 90 years of driving.

Are you having trouble seeing?

Or is this an attempt to make your car look cool? Blinding people isn't cool imo. Furthermore I am entirely serious in saying HID lights should be considered reckless endangerment and anyone using them should have their license pulled on the spot. This includes cars and motorcycles that came with them from the factory. Department of Transportation showed what a paper tiger bureacracy it is once again by approving the damn things.

i have no interest in HIDs, I was trying to distinguish what they were from the typical clear light halogens.

As for halogens, I would have to admit they provide very nice visibility and for $80, I'll sure go for it.

 

[fyleow]

Originally posted by: McCarthy
May I ask why you want to make your low beams brighter?

High beams sure, when you're using them the idea is that there isn't anyone else around. Low beams mean you're facing oncoming traffic or following someone. Stock lowbeams are bad enough these days, what's considered a low beam now outshines the highbeams people managed to see with for the first 90 years of driving.

Are you having trouble seeing?

Or is this an attempt to make your car look cool? Blinding people isn't cool imo. Furthermore I am entirely serious in saying HID lights should be considered reckless endangerment and anyone using them should have their license pulled on the spot. This includes cars and motorcycles that came with them from the factory. Department of Transportation showed what a paper tiger bureacracy it is once again by approving the damn things.

Usually if HIDs are properly installed it's not a problem (leveled properly and with self leveling motors). I agree it's over the top though and just used as a status symbol more than anything else.

 

[MercenaryForHire]

Originally posted by: fyleow
Usually if HIDs are properly installed it's not a problem (leveled properly and with self leveling motors). I agree it's over the top though and just used as a ricer mod more than anything else.

Fixed your typo.

- M4H

 

[fyleow]

Originally posted by: MercenaryForHire

Originally posted by: fyleow
Usually if HIDs are properly installed it's not a problem (leveled properly and with self leveling motors). I agree it's over the top though and just used as a ricer mod more than anything else.

Fixed your typo.

- M4H

Hahaha true...but what are all the rich yuppies going to do when they buy their bling bling benz with HIDs pre installed? Are they ricer boys too?

 

[Mill]

Originally posted by: MercenaryForHire

Originally posted by: fyleow
Usually if HIDs are properly installed it's not a problem (leveled properly and with self leveling motors). I agree it's over the top though and just used as a ricer mod more than anything else.

Fixed your typo.

- M4H

Nah, I wish I had them on my car. My low beams are weak for some odd reason.

 

[MercenaryForHire]

Originally posted by: fyleow
Hahaha true...but what are all the rich yuppies going to do when they buy their bling bling benz with HIDs pre installed? Are they ricer boys too?

Factory-installed HIDs = properly fitted, aimed, balanced, and matched with quality housings & reflectors.
Riceboy-installed HIDs = none of the above

Originally posted by: Millennium
Nah, I wish I had them on my car. My low beams are weak for some odd reason.

Ford Quality.

Beats me. Bad wiring, smoked-out lenses ... Pics?

- M4H

 

[Mill]

Originally posted by: MercenaryForHire

Originally posted by: fyleow
Hahaha true...but what are all the rich yuppies going to do when they buy their bling bling benz with HIDs pre installed? Are they ricer boys too?

Factory-installed HIDs = properly fitted, aimed, balanced, and matched with quality housings & reflectors.
Riceboy-installed HIDs = none of the above

Originally posted by: Millennium
Nah, I wish I had them on my car. My low beams are weak for some odd reason.

Ford Quality.

Beats me. Bad wiring, smoked-out lenses ... Pics?

- M4H

Naw, not on the Mustang, on the Audi. I was going to get them when I bought it, but they didn't have one with Xenons that I wanted. You can buy a whole Xenon kit for like 800. Oh, it's not due to wiring either because the high beams are fine, and I had the dealership check them out.

 

[etech]

Look into the Sylvania silverstar bulbs.

They may not last as long but many people are quite happy with them.

 

[Mermaidman]

I will poke your eyes out if you install those annoying bright lights.

 

[NutBucket]

Originally posted by: etech
Look into the Sylvania silverstar bulbs.

They may not last as long but many people are quite happy with them.

The Cool Blues are much cheaper and really the silverstars aren't a huge improvement over the cool blues but the cool blues are a huge improvement over stock. I've got these on my car and even though they're illegal they're not blinding and quite white. And yes, my friends and I have done some testing and they are in fact not blinding at all.

 

[Zee]

If you want HID's I can hook you up for better then 400. but before you decide on HID i suggest 2 things first.

1) take some Fantastic or something and a paper towel and clean you headlights.
2) Try white lights. Cheaper then HID's.

You are supposed to change the housing but most people don't anyway. But if you live in NY and you drive an SUV then i refuse to help you get one cuz nothing pisses me off more then a high riding SUV with hid's. Otherwise I can direct you to a friend that sells them and body kits and all those car things. and get you an ATOT discount.

 

[LAUST]

people with HID's should be drove over by a big truck. If you have trouble seeing the road it's time to get off the road.