I have a 2012 MDX and 2007 TL, it seems to me i have brighter lighting at night with the TL than the MDX, i was wondering anybody have the same problem or just me not use to driving an suv and of course i been driving cars all my life until now i got the MDX.

 

i can't say i really notice a difference.

 

The TL's projectors are some of the BEST on the market today, especially the 3G TL's projectors. A lot of HID's look horrid compared to them! The MDX's projectors are on the upper end of the HID market but by no means are as good as the TL's.

The only suggestions I have to make the lights on your MDX a bit brighter are to swap out the bulbs with some OSRAM CBI bulbs (brightest 5000Kelvin color bulbs on the market). But since your MDX is new, the bulbs may need time to burn in and color shift a bit. The lights are plenty bright now, but the color they cast off can make it appear that they aren't that bight. With some use the lights will become SLIGHTLY bluer and give a bit more contrast making them seem brighter when they are the same brightness.

 

makes them so good compared to others?

 

If you want even brighter, try the Osram SVS bulbs. They are 4300k so they won't be as white as the CBI, however they are brighter. SVS bulbs aren't yellow though, they are on the warmer side of the white compared to CBI which are a bit on the cooler side.

 

If i want to swap the bulbs do i need a resistor or ballast?

 

Funny, I was just talking to my wife about the brightness of the lights on the MDX tonight. The 05 TSX that we traded, were much brighter. And my TL is waaaaaay superior to the brightness on the road compared to our MDX. However, I did swap out the TL lights to Phillips bulbs with ZKW-R lens.

I do think the MDX being taller affects the amount of light that hits the road. I'm contemplating changing the bulbs in the MDX to either Phillips or brighter Osrams. I'll wait till I'm at 15,000 miles before deciding to go ahead with the change. I want to see how the current HIDs settle in before I make any changes. I'm at 8,000 miles right now.

 

You have stock HIDs so, no you will not need a resistor or ballast. It will simply be a bulb swap.

 

one more question....is HID brighter than Xenon? and what really the difference?

 

Granted now Osram has updated the specs on the CBI's. It's nowrated at 5500K which im assuming that rating is for once the bulbs have colorshifted. I'm guessing they start out at 5000K and work they're way over to 5500K after awhile. http://www.osram.com/osram_com/produ...Id=ZMP_1021022

The SVS are 4200K and CBI's 5000K/5500K. People say the SVS's are brighter, but they're rated the same as the CBI's. I think it's because the warmer (closer to OEM) light makes it easier to see after longer periods of night driving. CBI's give off that pure white with almost a blue hue to it. I guess it's all perception, I have no clue. It wouldn't surprise me if they're brighter than the CBI's.

The retrofit source (theretrofitsourse.com) has them rated at 3500lumens for the CBI/SVS's, while the Philips are at 3200lumens. Pakya IDK how much you know about lighting, but brightness is measured in lumens. Higher the number, brighter the bulb. Color temp is the opposite. Higher the color temp, the lower the lumens (which is measured in kelvins). Which is why OEM bulbs are usually in the ~4300K temp. Osram's CBI's figured out a way to increase light output while upping the kelvins (5000K). The higher you go up the color chart the color of light start to change which eventually ends up in the blacklight range, if I recall correctly.

HID stand for High intensity discharge (type of hulbs your system uses), which typically uses Xenon (gas) inside the bulbs. Acuras use D2S bulbs. (S stand for projector-based housings, R stands for reflector-based housings) There are different bulb bases (D1S/D1R etc) just like you'd look at what bulbs a car with halogens would use, i.e. 9005/9006 type. Halogens to me are considered regular bulbs, they have a filament wire in them, just like a regular household bulb. HIDs use gas (no filament) which when the gas is ignited by a good deal of electricity it causes it to arc inside the capsule which gives off light. I believe I explained that right. That's why when you see HIDs turn on they give off the quick flash and the light intensity increases (matter of seconds).

Another example are the 02-06 Alitmas, they could be equipped with HIDs but they were reflector-based housings. No projectors. The 2G TL (99-03) had the same setup.

Hope I helped you out at least a little. All I did was just add on to the many great replies. BTW Osrams make the brightest HID bulbs on the market right now, a little pricey at $185/pair. But many members on here and on HIDplanet.com has sworn by them, plus you can actually see vids on youtube AND comparison pics of them.

 

You're right. They put out the same amount of lumens. OSRAM's website says 3200 not 3500 as TRS states on their website although I wouldn't be surprised if they are underrated. Also SVS are 4150K and CBI are 5500K if anybody wants to know the official specs. So basically its the warmer light that makes SVS appear brighter than the CBI.

The good thing about CBI is that even at 5500k, they put out just as many lumens as a 4200k/4300k bulb does when most aftermarket bulbs lose lumens as they move away from 4300k. Morimoto bulbs put out 3000 lumens at 5000k compared to their 4300k which is rated at 3200 lumens.

@OP, here's a video of the SVS installed on TL projectors.
its not MDX projectors but still gives you an idea of what to expect.

 

Thanks Arpz for the corrections. I'm starting to believe these bulbs are underrated. I believe TRS has the Philips 85122+ rated at 3200lm. Either way, you can't go wrong with Osrams. I'm just wondering if the CBI's 5500K color temp pre-colorshift or post-colorshift. I'm assuming that it starts out at 5000K and then colorshifts to 5500K gradually.

 

Yup, def underrated. They cannot be putting out 3200 lumens and still be brighter than Philips. I think you're right, CBI's start off at 5000K and colorshift to 5500K. If they started off at 5500k, they would probably colorshift to 6000K which is not what OSRAM claims.

 

I also noticed my 2012 MDX is not as bright as my 2006 TSX. I blame that on the height of the vehicle...