I know the low beams in the TL are HID but what about the high beams? A friend of mine was telling me manufacturers dont normally use HID high beams due to the half a second or so charge up time the HIDs take to come to full intensity. It makes sense, but they sure do look like HID to me. I figured someone on here could prove or disprove this theory

 

they are bi-xenon.

 

Some cars (tho not acura) have bixenons, but use a halogen lamp for the flash-to-pass feature only, for the reasons you said.

 

The 3G TL does not have either low or high beam HID lamps. What it does have is HID lamps - period. The "low" beam setting activates a flap which affects the throw of the light produced by the lamp. When the "high" beam setting is selected, this flat is raised to allow the full amount of the light emitted from the lamp to be projected out from the front of the vehicle.

 

BTW, you should never flash to pass or for a warning (except to avoid an accident) with HID lamps. You will shorten both the life of the lamps and their ballasts.

 

Hence the reason your headlights make a noise when switching to and from high beams.

 

just for fun, i will add that the 4g tl doesnt have bi xeon for some reason....i dont know why...

 

flash to pass etc should be ok since it's just a FLAP being moved up and down, right?

 

Yes, if your headlamps are on. But if they're off, then try to avoid this as much as you can.

 

Yes sir.

 

That all makes sense, thanks for clearing that up!

 

It is somewhat unique feature, but since HID lamps do not operate by heating a tungsten filement but instead a gas (metal salts excited by electrical current), they have just one mode of operation.

 

True...I always have them on anyways.

 

Is that a requirement where you live?

 

You're probably gonna say its best NOT to use them during the day in the "always on" setting arent you? I leave mine in the always on position and have wondered about the life span. Its not a requirement where I live, I just think they look cool

 

No, I wouldn't do that. While you will shorten the life of the lamps and ballasts, that's certainly your prerogative as the vehicle's owner. I was more curious if it was a requirement where you live.

 

I have the auto headlight feature and everytime I pull into the garage, the headlights turn on, and every time I pull out of the garage, the lights will turn on then off. Is this such a big deal that I should just leave the lights off and only set them to auto after I'm on the road?

 

Lol no sir. The thing is, NJ drivers are idiots and sometimes extra visual warning of "THERE IS A CAR HERE, YOU BUFFOON" helps. To be more honest, this is my first nice car, and the HIDs are just awesome. I know I may be causing premature wearing out, but I bought the car to drive and enjoy...I can always replace what wears out. I know it is a trivial thing, but I've always wanted HIDs and even when I didn't have them, I usually left my lights on (one of my old cars had DRLs) just for "safety".

 

This is one of the two main reasons I dislike auto-on headlamps (my last car, a 2002 Altima SE had them). When going into and out of darker areas, your headlamps can be turned on and off. I want to be the one who both decides and controls when to use them or not - not the car.