A lot of people including the dealer told me that the 99-01 TL HIDs are brighter than the 02 TL.
So I lined them up together and it is true. Unless I'm blind but the 99-01 looks brighter.

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Binh

 

How about from an "in-car" prospective? Which illuminates the road better?

Just curious

CK

 

Some how, I feel that the HID light pattern from '02 speards wider, less concentrated compare to '98-'01. '02 light is not as white/bluish as old ones.

Also, any '98-'01 owners checked the HID bulb you have?? Since your TLs have diffuser in front of the headlight bulbs, do you have D2S or D2R bulbs??

'02 TL/TL-S have D2R bulbs, which has painted section on the bulb to control glare. What if we swap out D2Rs for D2S(s)??

P.S. I asked my MB dealer, and confirmed that even newer MB HIDs are not as bluish as '96-'97 because of different brand bulbs. Will ask them as and see what brand they used on older MBs with HID..

Andy Kuo

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'92 Mercedes-Benz 400SE
Pearl Grey/Black

'02 Acura TL-S
Satin Silver/Ebony, w/out NAV

 

What's the point of 'high intensity' if they are wimping them up? There are probably cars with non-HID that illuminate better and cost less to replace. Just seems like a step backwards to me.

Anyone else had the opportunity to compare the two while sitting behind the wheel?

 

I did. The 02 lights are not as white/bluish as the 99-01.

I agree.
BTW, only 99+ TLs have HIDs.

 

Comparing the two, I agree the 2002+ Tl's headlights look less blue than the 99-01's, and dont look as bright from the outside. Could be due to the new headlamps being bigger. I have seen the same with the old imitation blue bulbs and how the same bulb looks so much bluer and different in the smaller headlamp design compared to the bigger headlamp even though its the same bulb and same output.

From the inside the 2002 seems to light up the road really well because of the new headlamps better reflector design which is more clear and not as cloudy as before. Throw in the factory driving lights and thats even more illumination.

As far as lighting up the sides of the roads, the 2002 does a better job of that, but that also could be due to the driving lights.

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Just call me..................Mr Hyde

TL Type-S Forum Moderator
02 Aegean Blue TL Type-S with Navi
Accord Forum Moderator/Honda-Acura.net

 

I know some of you TL-S owners are former 99-01 TL owners. Are the TL-S different reflector design headlights brighter than the 99-01's? Just curious.

 

i want to tick a s2000 projector in front of the bulb

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Some Said, "TL Type S," Soon They Will Say, "Wannabe TL-S." Laguna METALLIC, Navi, Side Cuts, Tint All Around, Interior Footwell Lighting, Eibach ProKit, PIAA 1700x Fogs custom cut into side holes, Akimoto Intake, Inspire Tails, 17" Type-S Rims with 215/45/17 Bridgestone Potenza RE730's, Visor, Wood Shifter, Comptech Sways making me ride on rails...

http://albums.photopoint.com/j/Album...026&Auth=false

 

Yes, I also compared with a friend of mine who has the 02 Tl-S and the 99-01 TL's have a tad brighter Xeon headlamps than the new 02.

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I think the '02 HID light pattern is weirder than my '00, and it also throws a strange vertical strip of light up on overhanging trees and stuff. I guess I will get used to it.

I think the new shape of the headlight and the reflector/diffuser design explains the slight variations you gys have noticed.

I doubt the knee-jerk TV news stories about the "dangers of HID" baloney could have possibly influenced a car so far along in its design and production plan. So if anyone was going to mention that Honda miught have succumbed to popular pressure, I doubt it.