Not so legal HID kits

[Hilldweller]

The more I look, the more I see sites/shops mixing and matching items and assembling "kits" for use on the street.

Example:
http://www.bajahid.com/products/hid-headlight-housing/

No wonder I squint on my way to work so often.
Do you think they're aware of what they're peddling? Or don't they care?

 

[-Virgil-]

Of course they know and don't care. There's a great link early in this writeup on the topic, near the end of the 2nd paragraph, where you can see the page of all the shelf stock packaging offered by just one Chinese maker of "HID kits". Lookit all the famous-name brands they'll happily knock off. And these yuk-yuks are playing with fire, counterfeiting Philips' name and graphic identity like that. I wonder if DOT or Philips will come down on them first.

 

[Hilldweller]

It would be a huge task to enforce; there are endless websites with HID kits these days.

 

[Databyter]

I drive at night for a living, and I'm getting mad!

It's maddening enough to have morons driving around all night with thier high beams on (back in the day EVERYONE knew not to do that, did the IQ of the general public suddenly go down?).

But some of these new HID lights can completely blind you, ruin your night vision, especially on hills.

And it's not just the illegal ones.

I think they should set common sense regulations in place to limit at least low beam brightness so that they are dim enough to preserve at least some night vision which is proven to be critical.

The only reason people need brighter lamps now is because they need to compete with the next jerk who blows them out of the water. But night vision goes out the window and road blindness rules the day!

I'm all for tricking out your ride but do it responsibly, when driving in traffic keep it on low power, and on low beam.

Keep your tricks for empty open roads, and yuppy conventions.

 

[Buck91]

Databyter, I hear ya. Seems like everyone around here is driving either 1 of three options
1. High beams
2. Low beams aimed at on coming traffic
3. HID in their stock halogen housings

Now, I find properly projected HIDs frustrating enough as they are like a laser each time you hit a bump but these people are getting rediculous. I remember 5-10 years ago in my Camaro the worst thing out there was wet pavement (just soaked up my lights!). Definately was lower slung than my current ride (Mustang GT) but seems like everyone and their brother is just bleaching my retinas now

 

[bshanahan14rulz]

It's hard to convince people that there's a reason why we don't have brighter headlights on cars, and it's not because we don't have the technology.

 

[Hilldweller]

It's hard to convince people that there's a reason why we don't have brighter headlights on cars, and it's not because we don't have the technology.

You mean it isn't gummint oppression?

 

[bshanahan14rulz]

Lol this is one of the few times that I'll say this, but since everybody with a car affects everybody else, cars shouldn't be allowed to be uber bright because it will make it less safe for people around that car who just lost their night vision because of the fool with 8 50W HID kits blazing out the front.

Now, off-roading, I'm all for as much light as you can put out. I don't off-road, but I wouldn't want people driving off a cliff because their lights don't cover that angle too well or something crappy like that.

 

[Hilldweller]

Now, off-roading, I'm all for as much light as you can put out. I don't off-road, but I wouldn't want people driving off a cliff because their lights don't cover that angle too well or something crappy like that.

This is my buddy's truck. Yes; they're all HID and it's an awesome sight to behold.

 

[Mdinana]

This is my buddy's truck. Yes; they're all HID and it's an awesome sight to behold.

Beamshots!!!

 

[Hilldweller]

Beamshots!!!

I keep meaning to take a decent picture and even put a tripod in the back of the Jeep to do it.
Next time we're out late. Should be on a run on March 6 in a heavily wooded area with some nice river fords; the lights should look good off the river.

 

[Mdinana]

I keep meaning to take a decent picture and even put a tripod in the back of the Jeep to do it.
Next time we're out late. Should be on a run on March 6 in a heavily wooded area with some nice river fords; the lights should look good off the river.

That would be sweet. I was kind of being silly/sarcastic when I said that. But seriously, I've thought of putting some HID's onto my truck (for off-roading too!), but not the name brand stuff. I'm ok with the cheaper Kragen-type HID's

It would be nice though, to see how well those kinds of lights work, since most off-roading lights seem to be halogen still.

If you remember, thanks!

 

[Hilldweller]

A member on Jeepforum liked This Site; it is legit?

 

[John_Galt]

He seems to have a well put together site...

And he points out safety features of converting to projectors, not just replacing bulbs...

 

[tay]

It is completely possible to put HID projectors in a halogen headlight. If they are mounted so they are aimed properly and stay aimed properly, you will have a safe beam pattern that is the same as whatever car the projectors are from had.

The site for that, of course, is HIDPlanet. A couple of us are members at both. CPF has more info on halogen and more technical info, but HIDPlanet has more DIY, modification, and HID info.

I'll post a quick photo summary of what those guys do. This is from when I did it for my friend's car about a month ago. Cut reflector, mount projector, re-seal it all up, and voila! Safely add HIDs to a car that never had them as an option.

 

[QualityAir]

Did you install a leveling feature, I thought all approved HIDS by law had to have a self leveling feature to keep the light at the proper angle to the ground depending on load.

 

[-Virgil-]

Did you install a leveling feature, I thought all approved HIDS by law had to have a self leveling feature to keep the light at the proper angle to the ground depending on load.

In Europe (and much of the industrialized world where European car equipment regs are in force), yes. In North America, no. Same with lens cleaning systems.

 

[tay]

yup, no requirement to have auto-levelling or the sprayers.


auto-levelling is pretty important in trucks and SUVs that might have heavy loads in the back or a trailer or something, and high ride heights and soft springs.

The car in those pictures is very low and has very stiff springs and is not used for carrying heavy loads, so it's not really going to need them.