I live in NJ, there are a ton of TL drivers... and I can say almost 80% of the TL owners I come across on the road have their HEAD LIGHTS during day time.. (even around noon!).. I understand the HID lights are facinating and beautiful to look at, and most of you want to impress others by turning them on. Unfortunately, keep in mind that the more you use your HID lights, then sooner you'll have to replace them. Unless you are using for safety reasons (for others to see you..even during day time...) I suggest use it when you really need to. Personally, I hardly use my HID, I only use it when I really need to (with that said, only when it's dark)

respectfully submitted
Jeremy

 

I'd run em during the day. Its added safety, plus they look fricken cool. Some cars even have constant on lights as an option.

 

I've noticed some TL's lights have a bluer look than others. Any ideas why? I know different angles will create more and less but it seems mroe than that.

BTW I turn my lights on every chance I get. If it isn't sunny there on.

 

Just today I posted a thread asking how long the bulb life was (no one knows for sure but one dealer told someone it should last 3000+ hours). The reason I posted the thread was cuz I wanted to know if it would be okay to leave them on all the time.

The reason to leave them on is probably cuz of the safety more than because they look cool (although thats an added benefit). Alot of people are stupid & don't pay attention when they drive...when they're turning into oncoming traffic, or when their switching lanes. Having lights on (even during day) gives them a little help.

BTW, I lived in NJ for a while and i noticed there were alot of bmws on the road. Now you're saying alot of TLs. Seems like NJ ppl are well off.

 

Not only that, but you see more MB's, Lexus's...i'm telling you, it's going crazy...high school kids have slk's and shit...and many are starting to get bmw's and acura's as their "first" car...WTF??? not a good way to teach your kids how to value money lol...

 

Why are you driving any car at the age of 15 anyway!!!

 

it's actually noted in the drivers manual (the one they teach at the driving school) that you'll have less a chance in an accident if you leave you lights on during the day... they say it's a proven fact... so i leave my lights on

 

Well, he did say "I'd run them ... ." "I would," as in, if I drove -- not "I do run them."

 

Like I said before, if you turn them on for SAFETY reasons then

 

In NJ you could have a police escort and someone would manage to not see you on the road while they are trying to change 3 lanes at once.

So I'd say to leave 'em on.

 

In my '03 TL-s... I don't think i ever turned mine off
still working when i sold it.... 2 1/2 years after i purchased it

 

Since I know few things about HID lights I will add something here.

HID light last about 2000-3000 hours. So, they use the word out lasting the "life of your car." When you only use them 30min-1hr a day per night driving you can ues them for long time.

HID lights tends to look more yellow/green in early stage and changes to yellowish white, white, blue white, and blue, and purple blue. But down side is that when you hit the blue tone, you will see less light on the ground.

Stock bulb in our TL is little less then 4300k. It might hit that mark when fully broken in, but after side by side... TL looks yellow. (Also I only have 425 miles on my car)

 

How expensive is to replace them?

 

not very... 150ish for both

kinda the price of a set of PIAA halogens.. hahaha

 

I leave my headlamps on all the time because I have a tendency to forget to turn them on at night, because the instrument cluster is illuminated all the time.

BTW, it was my experience that we replaced more ballasts than headlamp bulbs on the earlier Acura HID systems.

 

Agreed, there's really no need to worry about replacing HID's as they will last forever.

What happens when it's raining and it's not too dark out do you have your lights on? You should because isn't it state law to have your lights on if you're using your winshield wipers?

As for the 3 lane change, it's actually a state law that you're allowed to do that especially when someone is "breaking the law" and riding the left lane. Left lane is for passing people move out of the way!!!!

 

In the four years and one month I drove my y2k TL I NEVER turned the lights off. They looked good-as-new the day I traded it in. Used in this fashion they should last at least ten years. Remember, there is no filament to burn out. Turning them on and off is actually harder on them and the ballast. Also Honda is about the only major carmaker that hasn't "seen the light" regarding DRLs, they really do prevent accidents.

 

I only turn mine on at night or when its too cloudy outside or when its raining. Me no turn them on during the day when there is sunshine!

 

fake ones cost $10-80 bux.

The real xenon bulbs go from $145-$180 "per" bulbs.

let say one of your bulb went out and got a new bulb, they will look different from eachother. Different burn in time.

 

My dad runs his headlights all the time, my mom doesnt. My mom has totalled and done more damage to cars. 3k hours 125 days 24 hours a day. My two stroke scooter has an engine life expectancy. When im on that I always have the headlight on. Working on Reps now. As for kids having MBs and BMWs, im all for it. If the mil will pay for my colledge im looking at a Z4 or 330xi Beamers are my fav car. Any who you prolly drive an avg of 1.5 hours a day thats over 4 years of life. ENJOY.

 

I turn them on while driving on highway, at night, rainy day, etc. Even at night or dark environment, I'll turn them on earlier than most of ppl.


IMO, I don't think turning it on is fancy, and always do that since my 17 yr old. I hope this could make them like DRL.

 

I don't drive with my lights on during the day unless it is raining or snowing, EXCEPT when I am on a two-lane road. (By that I mean one lane on a side with passing on the other side of the road, against oncoming traffic--never thought I'd have to explain this, but I know some people who use "two-lane road" to mean "two lanes in each direction.") On a two-lane road, I've found that the headlights make it a LOT easier to see whether there is a car coming the other way, and thus make it easier to decide whether to pull out to pass or to wait. I first saw this on the Trans-Canada Highway back in the early 1980s, prior to the advent of DRLs.

I do understand why some people who never drive on two-lane roads don't understand the point of DRLs, as I also think they are less important on multi-lane expressways like the Beltway or in city driving.

When it's getting on towards dusk, my rule of thumb is that I check my mirrors and if I think any of the cars I see are at all indistinct, I turn on my lights.

 

well if you search online you can find some bulbs for 150-160 per pair.
if you wanna go through xenon depot or dealer.. yea.. it'll cost you 150 per bulb
i've known peeople who use the ones i found for them ont he net for 150 per pair and it's been 2 years... nothing is wrong.

 

Coolio, nice to know. I'm thinking about going MDX xenon conv.

Can't believe it doesn't come with one. =(

Which site did you get that bulb?

 

It isn't just the cost of the HID bulb if one goes out, there's also the small matter of actually replacing it. In the case of the TL that requires removing the front bumper cover and the headlight assembly to swap out the HID bulb.

But that's between the owner and his/her wallet.

And no, HID bulbs don't last "forever". They do have a limited life span.

 

you right they do have a limited life span, but because they run cooler, they will on average run 4-5 times longer then regular bulbs.... approx 2000-3000 hrs. with the way most people use there cars this will be for the lifetime of the car.... me, i will probably have to replace them in 4-5 years as i do alot of night driving

but if you drive during the day and leave them on, then yes you may have to fork out for new light down the road....

on a side note, the headlights in my contour lasted for over 4 years, and i drove a night alot, as i worked a night shift.... the same bulbs they day i wrecked it were in it the day i bought it..... i did however go thru 4 sets of fog lights.... car looked mean at night with the fogs on. and whenever one went i changed them both as the other couldnt be far behind

 

I hope some one will pay for your college.

 

 

True enough, I'm sure, but how much does the typical halogen bulb cost and how hard were they to replace? Most cars are designed to make bulb replacement a DIY proposition, very cheap and very easy to do.

Now consider that one HID bulb is normally priced around $150 (yes, you can find D2S bulbs cheaper but the question is will the base be right, whats the real quality of them, etc, etc) coupled with the task of replacement.

Removing & replacing the bumper cover and the headlight assembly is going to run a easy 1.5 hours at the dealer. If a person can DIY it great, all it costs is time and materials which probably be more than 1.5 hours. But if the car has to go to the dealer that 1.5 hours could easily amount to another $170 in labor so now the bill is up to $320. And using your pretty rational notion that as long as it's apart might as well do both, the cost jumps another $150 plus another 15 - 30 minutes to do the second headlight (we're talking flat rate here, mind you) and your up to around $490 bucks.

I'm not arguing whether to run the lights all the time or not, that's the owner's choice to make. I'm just pointing out that with the HID's the cost of replacement is one heck of a lot more expensive regardless of the life expectancy and the more often they're on, the faster the day to replace them arrives.

With the HID's in the TL a person isn't going to run to AutoZone, buy a bulb, and do the replacement in the parking lot in 5 minutes.

 

thanks for all your comments

 

Hey,
Paying $150 for a pair of xenon bulbs is still too high.
I sell the 100% exactly the same pair of Philips d2r bulbs (pn:85126 with 4300k) for $68 shipped. Also, I have 5000k philips bulbs for $75 shipped within the US.
Of course brand new. This offer is only good for forum members.
Need bulbs? Contact me.

 

I put them on all the time for Safety reasons. People just dont see u with out daytime running lights

 

the post about me changing them both was on my contour fog lights, they were halogen and they normally cost about 6-8 dollars. me crawling around underneth for 20 min with a screw driver got the job done.... so no it wasnt difficult of expensive.

i know the hid bulbs are expesive no one is denying that, and i know they are a pain to replace... i wasnt comparing that, i was just stating that the contour, even though they were halagon bulbs far exceded what i expected of them... and that with any luck most owners will never have to worry about replacing any part of the hid system.... some will last far longer then there avg service life

 

I leave mine on because if a funeral is going in the direction I want to go, I can just blend in to it.

 

I said if the MIL will pay for my college then I steal my college account away for a nice car.

 

I leave mine on all the time. It is like having automatic headlights. I never have to worry about turning them on or off. Having them on during the day is DEFINITELY an added safety feature. It will get the attention of other drivers on the road. Plus they look good even in the day. U win both ways. As far as replacement costs, it doesn't bother me. The added safety and cool looks is worth it to me. I am also handy enough to replace them myself, so replacement cost is really not that much (If it saves me from one accident, it more than paid for itself). Just my view.

 

For those who are wondering, HIDS last at least 3 times as long as regular lights, the reason is that they don't contain a luminescent filament. In normal bulbs the filament slowly but surely oxidizes and finally breaks. HIDS on the other hand are arc lights, they are simply a current that passes through space between 2 electrodes (think of arc welding) they are very bright because they are very hot (essentially miniature lightning!!). Since there is no filament, the bulb will last as long as the electrodes last or till the bulb leaks the noble gas inside. Cool isn't it????

 

Like several others who have previously posted, I leave my headlights on all the time because of the proven safety record compared to not having it on. I use my foglights when it is foggy, raining, snowing, or just really really dark outside. As long as you aren't blinding someone, then its cool.

 

Yah those things do a number on you when you are facing a car that has em. How do the High beams on the TL work. Just add more power?

 

If this is a question can one truly afford a TL?