HIDs not that bright??
HIDs not that bright?? I recently purchased a set of HIDs from a dealer near my house in chicago, the light is bright when outside of car, but from the drivers seat, other halogen street car light seem to look better? wtf? I tried angling them on my 96' ws6, but they kinda shoot higher than the back bumper of a car, what should I do?
Mine are pretty bright as well.... What temp are they? A projector would put out more light and it would be directed better, I believe, but it would take some fab work..
the temp is 8000k and the brand is called MAXX. Like i said, they are really bright if you're looking at them from outside, but from the driver seat, they tend to shoot at stop signs, and other signs much better? The the housing I have for them is a aftermarket H4, not mirrored, but like a projector style, is that what you think may holding all the light back? Should i get a mirrored housing?
So you are running HID's in a halogen housing? Seems that way since you're saying they are really bright from the outside. That's error #1. They should NOT be really bright from the outside unless you are below the sharp cut-off pattern which you don't have unless you have projectors, or at the VERY least E-code housings.
You are also running an 8000k kit. That's error #2. 4300k is about perfect. The higher you go from there the less lumens output you're going to get and the more blue, then purple, then pink, etc it will go.
Find some projectors, either 50mm H7 Hella's, 90mm H9 or the 90mm D2S Hella's. Retro those into the car. That will fix 90% of your problems right there.
You are also running an 8000k kit. That's error #2. 4300k is about perfect. The higher you go from there the less lumens output you're going to get and the more blue, then purple, then pink, etc it will go.
Find some projectors, either 50mm H7 Hella's, 90mm H9 or the 90mm D2S Hella's. Retro those into the car. That will fix 90% of your problems right there.
for the time being, until projectors can be worked on, does anyone know where I can get a direct fitted housing for an 96' trans am? Like the mirrored kind, because I think my problem now is the the current housing is aftermarket, but looks like a projector type of lighting, which doesn't allow a lot of the lighting to be shot out, and if i go to a wall, it looks like 2 big blue circles that are shooting high up when they should be at the person in front of mes' back bumper of lowering on the street, plz any info will be appreciated.
On The Tree
Joined: Apr 2008
Posts: 167
Likes: 0
for the time being, until projectors can be worked on, does anyone know where I can get a direct fitted housing for an 96' trans am? Like the mirrored kind, because I think my problem now is the the current housing is aftermarket, but looks like a projector type of lighting, which doesn't allow a lot of the lighting to be shot out, and if i go to a wall, it looks like 2 big blue circles that are shooting high up when they should be at the person in front of mes' back bumper of lowering on the street, plz any info will be appreciated.
If you want the best alternative, order the larger 8x5 projector next gen H4 housings from Pegasus, they have a real actual projector inside the housing, take it off, cut a hole in the aftermarket 4 x6, and bolt it on.
other then that, going to projectors retrofitted, is the only really good option.. both range from 200-350.
Trending Topics
Aside from what Runamuck said, there is no other option. What you have now is deadly illegal and has killed people, caused many accidents, and as you are witnessing, isn't doing **** for you. Police officers absolutely hate people who place HID systems into halogen assemblies.
Basically remember this: HID rebased capsules put into a Halogen lamps are extremely illegal.
Not just slightly illegal, it is a $6000.00 fine per bulb and per ballast. You also will not be able to get your car inspected (at most places) and the police can and will pull you over.
Basically remember this: HID rebased capsules put into a Halogen lamps are extremely illegal.
Not just slightly illegal, it is a $6000.00 fine per bulb and per ballast. You also will not be able to get your car inspected (at most places) and the police can and will pull you over.
LS1 Tech Stories
The Best V8 Stories One Small Block at Time
Gas Monkey Built a 6-Wheel Ferrari Testarossa With a Corvette LT4 Engine
Verdad Gallardo
7 Most Reliable High-Performance Engines GM Has Ever Built
Verdad Gallardo
Amazing '71 Camaro Restomod Is Modern Muscle Car Under the Skin
Verdad Gallardo
6 Common C5 Corvette Failures and What's Involved In Repairing Them
Pouria Savadkouei
Retro Modern Bandit Pontiac Trans AM Comes With Burt Reynolds' Autograph
Verdad Gallardo
Top 10 Greatest Cadillac V Series Performance Models Ever, Ranked
Pouria Savadkouei
Top 10 Most Powerful Chevy Trucks Ever Made!
Hennessey's New Supercharged Silverado ZR2 Has 700 HP
Verdad Gallardo
Coachbuilt N2A Anteros Is an LS2-Powered C6 Corvette In Italian Clothes
Verdad Gallardo wow, i didnt know that, it seems like in the htreads from here that a lot of people do do what i have done and i thought it was fine? i guess not, but does anyone have a write-up, so that I may put them together, cuz im not that electronically educated, or possibly someone put the set up together and i pay them?
I'm designing a Camaro version that will be complete with all you need. For 'birds, VIP1 (I think that's his name here) did a writeup on his installation of projector low beams. Do a search and I am sure it's in there somewhere. Or, if you can find that thread from a little while ago... red 97? "SS" with the ugly WS6 style hood and the little round lights as headlights, I think he posted in there. I think the search feature is still down? 
Copy & Paste Moderator
Joined: Apr 2002
Posts: 9,764
Likes: 208
From: Eastern MA
aovall1, it sounds like you got the fake projector housings from ebay. They almost look like a projector in a reflector housing, but they are just a regular reflector housing with a hunk of curved glass in front of the bulb. There is no projector bowl and no cut-off shield. And it sounds like you have them aimed too high if the center point is up at sign level.
I have a 2001 though, aovall1 has a 1996. The headlights are different. He needs a bi-xenon setup.
Check out the Lighting FAQ.
There is plenty of info there.
https://ls1tech.com/forums/appearance-detailing/710357-lighting-faq.html
Blackbirdws6 used FX bi-xenon projectors in his 1997 Trans AM.
https://ls1tech.com/forums/appearance-detailing/849199-93-97-firebird-bi-xenon-fx-projector-retro-fit-updated-w-write-up.html
Also check out www<dot>hidplanet<dot>com/forums/
I'm on there too with the same screen name.
My guess is that he got them from the same place I did... Rally Lights
Originally Posted by HibachiZ28
For 'birds, VIP1 (I think that's his name here) did a writeup on his installation of projector low beams.
Check out the Lighting FAQ.
There is plenty of info there.
https://ls1tech.com/forums/appearance-detailing/710357-lighting-faq.html
Blackbirdws6 used FX bi-xenon projectors in his 1997 Trans AM.
https://ls1tech.com/forums/appearance-detailing/849199-93-97-firebird-bi-xenon-fx-projector-retro-fit-updated-w-write-up.html
Also check out www<dot>hidplanet<dot>com/forums/
I'm on there too with the same screen name.
My guess is that he got them from the same place I did... Rally Lights
Aside from what Runamuck said, there is no other option. What you have now is deadly illegal and has killed people, caused many accidents, and as you are witnessing, isn't doing **** for you. Police officers absolutely hate people who place HID systems into halogen assemblies.
Basically remember this: HID rebased capsules put into a Halogen lamps are extremely illegal.
Not just slightly illegal, it is a $6000.00 fine per bulb and per ballast. You also will not be able to get your car inspected (at most places) and the police can and will pull you over.
Basically remember this: HID rebased capsules put into a Halogen lamps are extremely illegal.
Not just slightly illegal, it is a $6000.00 fine per bulb and per ballast. You also will not be able to get your car inspected (at most places) and the police can and will pull you over.
On The Tree
Joined: Apr 2008
Posts: 167
Likes: 0
I had block off plates, and covers on my MR2's H4 halogen housings, and they worked beautifully!
the only problem is the quality of the aftermarket breand of 4 x 6 that are available.
With in the first week i put my open H4 4x6's in, the front cover fell off in the housing..
I need to buy a new set, as i have a brand new 9004 HID set.
I dont feel like converting the headlights, but i need to play around with the ones i have.. i may screw around with the housings i have now, and the FX7 infiniti projector i have laying around from my bike project.
the only problem is the quality of the aftermarket breand of 4 x 6 that are available.
With in the first week i put my open H4 4x6's in, the front cover fell off in the housing..
I need to buy a new set, as i have a brand new 9004 HID set.
I dont feel like converting the headlights, but i need to play around with the ones i have.. i may screw around with the housings i have now, and the FX7 infiniti projector i have laying around from my bike project.
haha, where are you getting your information from? I've put plug and play lights in my last four cars, have not only never gotten pulled over, but even passed inspections (at the dealership and at different gas stations.) Retrofits are better, no argument there, but plug and play is not as horrible as you are making it sound. I'm still undecided on whether I'm doing a retro or plug and play, don't know how bad the housing in the camaro is when it comes to scattering light everywhere.
Illegal rebased HID bulbs and installation of HID kits into halogen light assemblies have killed people and caused many accidents. This is the main reason why police are stepping up enforcement of lighting laws.
In regards to officers citing you, it really depends on a lot of factors including their training. Most officers will only cite you if you are blinding them or if the color of your light is NOT white. The officer I know who tests this will pull out a white sheet of paper, put it in front of the headlight and if it turns any other color, you receive a citation. It obviously doesn't have to be HID, it can be those "cool blue" or "Xenon" halogen bulbs, or the higher Kelvin HID kits. Other officers I know won't do anything unless, like I said, you're blinding them.
And remember... Just because you haven't been cited yet, doesn't mean you aren't going to run into that one officer who is up to date on all his lighting codes and feels like writing you a $24,000+ ticket. In my last truck I rode around with tint on my front windows for 2 years, and the week I sold it, I was pulled over and told to remove it or pay a few hundred $'s in fines.
I'm just trying to help you all out. If you do the lighting setup properly, you'll be happier not only 'cause you're legal :-P but because the beam pattern and brightness will be so much better!
I also have a few police friends and I've shown them my car and they say it looks nice, but they haven't mentioned my lights being too bright, i think why they aren't blinding is because I have a retarted housing restricting the light pattern, but eh. But thanks for the info hibachi, i will be getting projectors soon, and if you know someone who is selling kits, let me know, thanks!
But a retro wouldn't be any more legal/illegal than a plug and play kit, true it is the better and safer way to go, but if you bump into a police officer who wants to be a douche it would be illegal either way. I do agree with you about being happier with retros, and the more I think about it, the more I'm leaning towards that path.
