Any truth to this article about HID Kits?
Any truth to this article about HID Kits? I have been thinking about getting a HID kit for my car, but when using the search to make myself a bit smarter, I found a link to this article:
http://www.danielsternlighting.com/t...s/Hid/HID.html
What's everyones take on that?
Do you guys with HID kits have people flashing you because they get blinded by your lights?
Do you not see as far into the distance as you did with the stock lighting?
Do your pupils get smaller and due to the bright light right in front of you and therefore limit your ability to see?
Just wondering about what I am getting myself into, besides the legal issue of no HID conversion kit being legal anywhere in the US.
All opinions welcome!
http://www.danielsternlighting.com/t...s/Hid/HID.html
What's everyones take on that?
Do you guys with HID kits have people flashing you because they get blinded by your lights?
Do you not see as far into the distance as you did with the stock lighting?
Do your pupils get smaller and due to the bright light right in front of you and therefore limit your ability to see?
Just wondering about what I am getting myself into, besides the legal issue of no HID conversion kit being legal anywhere in the US.
All opinions welcome!
Copy & Paste Moderator
Joined: Apr 2002
Posts: 9,764
Likes: 208
From: Eastern MA
Which part do you concerned with: Hype or Conversions?
The issue is putting the right bulb in the right housing and focusing the light correctly. That sight has plenty of good useful information.
The issue is putting the right bulb in the right housing and focusing the light correctly. That sight has plenty of good useful information.
Copy & Paste Moderator
Joined: Apr 2002
Posts: 9,764
Likes: 208
From: Eastern MA
Here is some more good info:
http://faqlight.carpassion.info/
http://faqlight.carpassion.info/links.htm
http://faqlight.carpassion.info/car-...projectors.htm
http://faqlight.carpassion.info/forum/
http://www.autolamps-online.com/howwhy/index.htm
http://www.network54.com/Forum/216460/
http://members.misty.com/don//dschlamp.html
http://www.hidplanet.com/forums/index.php
http://www.hidtech.com/
http://www.intellexual.net/hid.html
http://forums.vwvortex.com/zerothread?id=400738
http://www.toyotanation.com/forum/t65571.html
http://www.danielsternlighting.com/
I researched quite a bit before installing the projectors I have now. I may eventually install HID, but I am still undecided.
This topic has been discussed quite a bit and I can't explain it any better than what you can find in those sites. Basically, putting the wrong bulb in the wrong housing will send the light in places it is not needed and shouldn't go. That will lead to glare for you and worse for on-comming drivers. HID kits are "re-based" HID capsules. In other words, the manufacturer starts with a D2S capsule and uses the base of a halogen bulb so that it will fit in a halogen housing. Halogen projectors often can do a decent job of focusing and distributing the light (not all though), but halogen reflectors cannot. Some aftermarket Halogen retrofit housings may work, but its still not recommended. Its mostly a focusing issue since the HID arc and Halogen filament won't be located in the exact same spot.
http://faqlight.carpassion.info/
http://faqlight.carpassion.info/links.htm
http://faqlight.carpassion.info/car-...projectors.htm
http://faqlight.carpassion.info/forum/
http://www.autolamps-online.com/howwhy/index.htm
http://www.network54.com/Forum/216460/
http://members.misty.com/don//dschlamp.html
http://www.hidplanet.com/forums/index.php
http://www.hidtech.com/
http://www.intellexual.net/hid.html
http://forums.vwvortex.com/zerothread?id=400738
http://www.toyotanation.com/forum/t65571.html
http://www.danielsternlighting.com/
I researched quite a bit before installing the projectors I have now. I may eventually install HID, but I am still undecided.
This topic has been discussed quite a bit and I can't explain it any better than what you can find in those sites. Basically, putting the wrong bulb in the wrong housing will send the light in places it is not needed and shouldn't go. That will lead to glare for you and worse for on-comming drivers. HID kits are "re-based" HID capsules. In other words, the manufacturer starts with a D2S capsule and uses the base of a halogen bulb so that it will fit in a halogen housing. Halogen projectors often can do a decent job of focusing and distributing the light (not all though), but halogen reflectors cannot. Some aftermarket Halogen retrofit housings may work, but its still not recommended. Its mostly a focusing issue since the HID arc and Halogen filament won't be located in the exact same spot.
Last edited by VIP1; May 22, 2007 at 07:55 PM.
I think I am like many people, oblivious to the problem that putting a HID bulb into a Halogen housing can cause. I was under the impression that the HID kits that consist of just a ballast and bulbs with some wiring harness will make my lights work just like the lights on my buddys S2000 which came with HID's. Reading above article kind of opened my eyes to the reality of physics. I guess if you want to do it right, you gotta pay the money.
Copy & Paste Moderator
Joined: Apr 2002
Posts: 9,764
Likes: 208
From: Eastern MA
Originally Posted by jimmypop13
What is the right way to do HID's on a Camaro?
Originally Posted by jimmypop13
Does anyone sell a kit that makes it easy?
There are projectors setups you can buy for the Camaro, but they use a H3 bulb which has its filament rotated 90* from where a HID arc is located. Placing a HID capsule in it would not be an optimal solution.
Read this for clarification:
http://www.danielsternlighting.com/t...nversions.html
Check out the new Lighting FAQ for alternatives:
https://ls1tech.com/forums/appearance-detailing/710357-lighting-faq.html
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Guess I got lucky with the lights I have.
The company that manufactures the Non-pop-up lights on my car actually offered a DOT approved HID version of "the kit."
So . . . before reading that entire article, the guy's info was flawed from the start
I do a LOT of high-speed driving . . . STOCK halogens vs. "aftermarket" HID'S at 120 to 180 mph - NO CONTEST
Just TRY and "see" how clearly and far you can see on a halogen at 150 mph (a speed any LS1 can achieve and maintain). THEN see how much better illumination is at 150 mph
My Wife's WS6 has the stock halogens for the next 8 weeks . . . we've tested this illumination theory many times and She can't wait until I install the HID'S in Her car
The company that manufactures the Non-pop-up lights on my car actually offered a DOT approved HID version of "the kit."
So . . . before reading that entire article, the guy's info was flawed from the start
I do a LOT of high-speed driving . . . STOCK halogens vs. "aftermarket" HID'S at 120 to 180 mph - NO CONTEST
Just TRY and "see" how clearly and far you can see on a halogen at 150 mph (a speed any LS1 can achieve and maintain). THEN see how much better illumination is at 150 mph
My Wife's WS6 has the stock halogens for the next 8 weeks . . . we've tested this illumination theory many times and She can't wait until I install the HID'S in Her car
LOL, speed has nothing to do with the lighting. Your not gonna outrun the light beams. They shine out just as far if your sitting still or moving. They still shine from the same spot in the headlight assembly out to whatever point your lights allow. Weather it be Halogen or HID. The only thing that will affect brightness or visibility will be how the bulbs are installed, how they are aimed & quality of the bulb to begin with.
Well the guy from LED Gauges offered me to return the lights if I don't like them. Sounds like a stand up thing to offer and I just might go for it!
Big Mike, where did you get your HID's from?
Big Mike, where did you get your HID's from?
http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/98-02...15739817QQrdZ1
so stuff like these headlamps are a dumb idea if you want true HID function??
so stuff like these headlamps are a dumb idea if you want true HID function??
TECH Enthusiast
Joined: Sep 2005
Posts: 541
Likes: 0
From: RGV Texas
i have a 10k kit on my camaro running halos. the halos suck have very poor lighting especially is your running stock bulbs. to this day no one has flashed me i also have the matching set on the fogs 10k i see way better with the hids
i've got HID's in my LT1 and they are GREAT. much better then stock. I do get flashed and they are aimed perfect but they are just that much brighter
thumbs up to LEDguages.com and his kit.
thumbs up to LEDguages.com and his kit. 
Originally Posted by ColeTrains'96Z28
I do get flashed and they are aimed perfect but they are just that much brighter
Originally Posted by NightWindDriftr
No offense, but you have terrible logic. Being flashed, especially on level road, means that your HIDs AREN'T aimed optimally. I've NEVER been blinded by an oncoming car that came with factory HIDs. Being "that much brighter" has NOTHING to do with being flashed; poorly focused HIDs, however, does.
And that's what seems to be the problem if you use the stock, or in my case, the Halo housing....it won't be focused properly and will cause, potentially, my car to blind other drivers, correct?
A friend of mine has HID's in his car and it came from the factory with them and they're aimed correct and he gets flashed all the time and don't tell me he needs to correct them cus they have been done at the dealership with the equipment to do it. HID's are just that much brighter and can be blinding.
Originally Posted by MannyZ28
Well the guy from LED Gauges offered me to return the lights if I don't like them. Sounds like a stand up thing to offer and I just might go for it!
Big Mike, where did you get your HID's from?
Big Mike, where did you get your HID's from?
Originally Posted by Coltrains96Z28
I've got HID's in my LT1 and they are GREAT. much better then stock. I do get flashed and they are aimed perfect but they are just that much brighter thumbs up to LEDguages.com and his kit.
Originally Posted by 4U2BNVS
A friend of mine has HID's in his car and it came from the factory with them and they're aimed correct and he gets flashed all the time and don't tell me he needs to correct them cus they have been done at the dealership with the equipment to do it. HID's are just that much brighter and can be blinding.
The misinformed people posting about "factory HID'S not blinding you . . . " are giving a matter of opinion; a FLAWED matter of opinion
I have state law-enforcement to back that statement up in a minute
Most of the naysayers probably don't live in large metropolitan cities like Fort Lauderdale or Miami, Florida where seeing Mercedes, BMW'S, Ferrari's, Lambo's, etc. with factory HID'S is commonplace on every other car; I do obviously
One of my best friends owns a law firm in Aventura-Miami Beach and, until very recent, MANY of his colleagues and friends were getting pulled and ticketed for "too bright lights" . . . FACTORY MERCS AND BIMMERS
Obviously they beat the tickets out of court but the moral is YES; factory HID'S can be considered "blinding" or "too bright" and could cause other drivers to "flash" you . . . so aftermarkets having similar effects is just par for the course
HID'S, whether stock or aftermarket, illuminate better, farther, and more of an overall area. If you want them, get them.
Copy & Paste Moderator
Joined: Apr 2002
Posts: 9,764
Likes: 208
From: Eastern MA
Originally Posted by The Dragon
So . . . before reading that entire article, the guy's info was flawed from the start
Originally Posted by jimmypop13
http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/98-02...15739817QQrdZ1
so stuff like these headlamps are a dumb idea if you want true HID function??
so stuff like these headlamps are a dumb idea if you want true HID function??
Originally Posted by LS1 Terror
i have a 10k kit on my camaro running halos. the halos suck have very poor lighting especially is your running stock bulbs. to this day no one has flashed me i also have the matching set on the fogs 10k i see way better with the hids
Originally Posted by NightWindDriftr
No offense, but you have terrible logic. Being flashed, especially on level road, means that your HIDs AREN'T aimed optimally. I've NEVER been blinded by an oncoming car that came with factory HIDs. Being "that much brighter" has NOTHING to do with being flashed; poorly focused HIDs, however, does.
Originally Posted by MannyZ28
And that's what seems to be the problem if you use the stock, or in my case, the Halo housing....it won't be focused properly and will cause, potentially, my car to blind other drivers, correct?
Originally Posted by The Dragon
One of my best friends owns a law firm in Aventura-Miami Beach and, until very recent, MANY of his colleagues and friends were getting pulled and ticketed for "too bright lights" . . . FACTORY MERCS AND BIMMERS
Last edited by VIP1; May 23, 2007 at 06:37 PM.