HID or Halogen (2014)
#1
Racer
Thread Starter
HID or Halogen (2014)
Hi, can someone tell me what kind of lamps (low beam) I have in my 2014? I'd like to upgrade them to something that throws out a lot more light. Thx.
#2
Senior Moderator
Got a pic?
#3
If you are in Canada then you have HID's, if you have the tech package you have HID's. If you have the base model and are not in Canada, you have halogens.
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#5
Senior Moderator
looks like HID to me!
https://www.theretrofitsource.com/al...equipped)_2014
the best bulb on the market recently dropped in price! so grab it here!:
https://www.theretrofitsource.com/al...ect_restrict=1
https://www.theretrofitsource.com/al...equipped)_2014
the best bulb on the market recently dropped in price! so grab it here!:
https://www.theretrofitsource.com/al...ect_restrict=1
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justnspace (02-02-2017)
#6
mrgold35
I haven't seen (or looked) for +14 RDX threads of folks upgrading the HIDs to different bulb like OSRAM or Morimoto? I did the OSRAM 5000K upgrades to my 08 RDX and 11 MDX and that really improved the light output range/width/illumination.
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#8
Racer
Thread Starter
looks like HID to me!
https://www.theretrofitsource.com/al...equipped)_2014
the best bulb on the market recently dropped in price! so grab it here!:
https://www.theretrofitsource.com/al...ect_restrict=1
https://www.theretrofitsource.com/al...equipped)_2014
the best bulb on the market recently dropped in price! so grab it here!:
https://www.theretrofitsource.com/al...ect_restrict=1
#10
Senior Moderator
The Morimoto XB35 bulbs are a nice bang for your bucks for ~50 bucks USD.
What issues are you having? Can you take a picture of your headlights output facing a wall ~25 feet (~7.62 meters) away so we can determine if there really is an issue. Your lenses look to be in good condition and for just shy under 3 years, I'd be shocked if the bulbs were dying already.
What issues are you having? Can you take a picture of your headlights output facing a wall ~25 feet (~7.62 meters) away so we can determine if there really is an issue. Your lenses look to be in good condition and for just shy under 3 years, I'd be shocked if the bulbs were dying already.
#11
Racer
Thread Starter
I wouldn't say (or know) if they are deteriorated, even though the RDX has approx 55,00 miles on it..... I just thought that the light output wasn't quite what I had hoped for and doesn't seem any better than any previous vehicles I've owned.....how far the light reaches down the road is my biggest beef. I do drive out in the sticks occasionally and there are wild animals like deer and raccoons who happily run around naked in the woods and while you're doing 75 mph, they can jump out in front of you as if they just want to end it all.
And you can't always use your hi beams.
And you can't always use your hi beams.
Last edited by Skidoor; 02-02-2017 at 08:38 AM.
#12
mrgold35
The biggest one is UV damaged hazy headlight can also dim/diffuse light output. It doesn't take much UV haze to start to diffuse the headlights to make it look like dim HIDs. Even a 10% haze can start to do this. I would make sure the headlight cover is clear and maybe put some UV clear bra material on them if that is an issue.
#13
Senior Moderator
I wouldn't say (or know) if they are deteriorated, even though the RDX has approx 55,00 miles on it..... I just thought that the light output wasn't quite what I had hoped for and doesn't seem any better than any previous vehicles I've owned.....how far the light reaches down the road is my biggest beef. I do drive out in the sticks occasionally and there are wild animals like deer and raccoons who happily run around naked in the woods and while you're doing 75 mph, they can jump out in front of you as if they just want to end it all.
And you can't always use your hi beams.
And you can't always use your hi beams.
May just be an issue with height adjustment. Do the wall test and report back
#14
Racer
Thread Starter
I stayed in the 4300k-5000k range for my upgrades. Anything above 5500k is just for the blue-ish to purple-ish looks and won't help with road and sign illumination. Another issue I seen was from just A-OK OEM projector lens design. The biggest one is UV damaged hazy headlight can also dim/diffuse light output. It doesn't take much UV haze to start to diffuse the headlights to make it look like dim HIDs. Even a 10% haze can start to do this. I would make sure the headlight cover is clear and maybe put some UV clear bra material on them if that is an issue.
#15
Senior Moderator
but pitting has nothing to due with age and everything to do with driving conditions..
you've had 55,000 miles of potential rock chips..
you've had 55,000 miles of potential rock chips..
#16
Racer
Thread Starter
ya I think the previous owner was content to bumble along behind dump trucks and transports on the highway. There are a lot of stone chips on the hood and bumper too.
#17
Pro
And this is why I had our headlights, bumper and hood protected with a clear bra within days of purchase...
#18
This 1000%.
#19
And yes, you've contracted the mod bug. Congratulations. .
#20
Advanced
The same
I went with The Retrofitsource in the OEM 4300k and they are just like the OEM RDX Tech package lights. They work great.
#21
The headlight housings are the same down to the part numbers at least for the 2013 base RDX AWD I have. I don't understand why Acura did this. The halogen bulbs put out such a poor throw of light.
I went with The Retrofitsource in the OEM 4300k and they are just like the OEM RDX Tech package lights. They work great.
I went with The Retrofitsource in the OEM 4300k and they are just like the OEM RDX Tech package lights. They work great.
#22
Great job. So did you put the HID bulbs in the OEM halogen projectors or you did a full HID projector retrofit or swapped the entire headlight to HID version? I've heard that HID bulbs even in a halogen projectors do not work as well. I'd be glad if you could post a wall shot of your low beams at approx 25ft for reference. Thanks.
#23
What....??? So you mean the projectors are the same for HID and halogens? I can't believe Acura did this atrocity to save a few bucks. Anyone buying an Acura would have easily offered a few hundred more to upgrade to HID if that was available as a stand alone option. Glad that they realized their folly and the newer version sports LEDs as standard.
In this case of halogen lights, simply going with an "HID only kit" makes the most sense.
In this case of halogen lights, simply going with an "HID only kit" makes the most sense.
#24
What....??? So you mean the projectors are the same for HID and halogens? I can't believe Acura did this atrocity to save a few bucks. Anyone buying an Acura would have easily offered a few hundred more to upgrade to HID if that was available as a stand alone option. Glad that they realized their folly and the newer version sports LEDs as standard.
In this case of halogen lights, simply going with an "HID only kit" makes the most sense.
In this case of halogen lights, simply going with an "HID only kit" makes the most sense.
Acura was on a cost cutting extravaganza with the 2G RDX (mainly the removal of SH-AWD). So it would not surprise me if the removal of HID's was just a cost cutting measure as well, because they were standard on the 1G. In fairness in Canada the HID's were standard still on the 2G as well.
Last edited by RDX10; 02-12-2017 at 10:28 AM.
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thefork (07-24-2020)
#26
#27
The headlight housings are the same down to the part numbers at least for the 2013 base RDX AWD I have. I don't understand why Acura did this. The halogen bulbs put out such a poor throw of light.
I went with The Retrofitsource in the OEM 4300k and they are just like the OEM RDX Tech package lights. They work great.
I went with The Retrofitsource in the OEM 4300k and they are just like the OEM RDX Tech package lights. They work great.
2013 RDX HID housing part number (same for FWD and AWD): 33101-TX4-A01
2013 RDX Halogen housing part number (same for FWD and AWD): 33100-TX4-A11
#28
Same Boat...I think!
Trying to upgrade my low beams on 2014 RDX. Go to unscrew the caps under the hood...like in the videos!...but caps have black wires "plugged" into them making unscrewing problematic and risky. What are they? HID Kit? How can I unscrew? Still H11 bulbs?
Thx.
Thx.
#29
10th Gear
Hello fellow RDX members,
Tried a lot of lights
I have a 2013 base AWD RDX, I tried numerous lights. Right now I have these in my car, cost is next to them:
HID--low beams--400--local perf shop
LED--High beams--50--Amazon
HID--fog lights--250--local perf shop
Tried to use LED in the low beams, bought the best I could find(8400 lumens), the HID was noticbly better.
I live in North Jersey, minimal street lights, and this is the best I could find. They are much better than the stock, and Acura wanted a lot more(do not buy from Acura, go to Bernardi Bros, genuine Acura parts, much less)
Yes it was costly, but the best I could get for the stock were PIAA super white.
Hope this helps
Bob
Tried a lot of lights
I have a 2013 base AWD RDX, I tried numerous lights. Right now I have these in my car, cost is next to them:
HID--low beams--400--local perf shop
LED--High beams--50--Amazon
HID--fog lights--250--local perf shop
Tried to use LED in the low beams, bought the best I could find(8400 lumens), the HID was noticbly better.
I live in North Jersey, minimal street lights, and this is the best I could find. They are much better than the stock, and Acura wanted a lot more(do not buy from Acura, go to Bernardi Bros, genuine Acura parts, much less)
Yes it was costly, but the best I could get for the stock were PIAA super white.
Hope this helps
Bob
#30
How does the LED high beam perform with the reflectors meant for Halogen? Can you post a wall shot please. thanks.
#31
Hi. I'm new to this forum. Finding a solution to my 2014 RDX base model headlights problem has been a HUGE headache. I've had to change the halogen bulbs every other year (1st pair was factory and 2nd pair was Sylvania Silverstar Ultra). After one of the headlights on the 2nd pair blew a month ago, I was looking to find a more lasting solution so I decided to try LEDs. I ordered from Amazon a pair of CougarMotor 7,200 lumen 6K, but they just weren't bright enough. I returned them then ordered another pair from Amazon, Hikari 9,600 lumen 6K, but still not bright enough. I read that it's hard to change to HIDs that's why I've only ordered LEDs. These LEDs don't throw the light far enough and they're just not bright enough. I see other cars have super bright areas on either side of the car, but mine is just a soft glow. I'm convince the projector housing is causing the light to be dim. Any suggestions would be appreciated.