HIDs vs. Halogens

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Old Feb 10, 2009 | 12:12 PM
  #41  
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Originally Posted by JS + TL
weird.........

which part exactly?
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Old Feb 10, 2009 | 12:15 PM
  #42  
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Originally Posted by JediMindTricks


and i won't own another car without HIDs as well.
I don't think I've owned a car for the past four or five years that didn't come with HID's as an option. Exception being the Odyssey, the halos were replaced a couple of months later. Not too bright but much better than the standard halogens.

It looks pretty good as well.
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Old Feb 10, 2009 | 12:54 PM
  #43  
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I love my HIDs. The only thing I am not looking forward to is paying to replace them when they burn out.

However the majority of the roads I drive have a lot of lights.
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Old Feb 10, 2009 | 01:31 PM
  #44  
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Originally Posted by F23A4
which part exactly?
I mean, I totally understand that some people tend to dislike the HIDs due to its ability to blind the oncoming traffic....

But, the difference between the HIDs and halogens is HUGE in terms of ability in illuminating the road.... I dont get how you can like halogens better than the HIDs.... it's a no-brainer, i thought..
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Old Feb 10, 2009 | 01:46 PM
  #45  
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HID's FTW!
The only reason people complain about them is either they look straight into them, or the person driving the car with the HID's had them put in the car aftermarket, and they don't have a proper cut-off causing light to shine right in oncoming drivers eyes.
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Old Feb 10, 2009 | 01:46 PM
  #46  
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I could never buy a new car that didn't have HID's. I feel like I can't see anything when I drive a car with halogens.
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Old Feb 10, 2009 | 01:54 PM
  #47  
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Originally Posted by JS + TL
I mean, I totally understand that some people tend to dislike the HIDs due to its ability to blind the oncoming traffic....

But, the difference between the HIDs and halogens is HUGE in terms of ability in illuminating the road.... I dont get how you can like halogens better than the HIDs.... it's a no-brainer, i thought..
I stated that I have no need for HIDS in particular especially given that 99% of the roads I travel are adequately illuminated. (Such is motoring life in the New York City area where we have a street light or two on our roads.)

That said, it's an option that I don't seek out in considering a vehicle purchase (along with Navi and leather). If it happens to come with a pkg that I want (i.e.: the Touring pkg in my Murano) or its a freebee (i.e.: standard equip in my Maxima) then no problemo. But by itself for add'l$ , meh! pass.
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Old Feb 10, 2009 | 01:55 PM
  #48  
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I loved the hids on my 01 CLS, they were relatively new back then so it was great when oncoming traffic would flash their high beams at me, then I'd flash mine on at them and you could pretty much see right up their nose.

I was bummed that my Legacy GT did not come with them, but as mentioned the projector beams are just good enough to not make me replace them.
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Old Feb 10, 2009 | 02:33 PM
  #49  
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My last 4 cars have had them so I'm definitely a fan, partly because they're more efficient than halogen (more light, less power consumption), and partly for asthetic reasons (they "look nice")

That said, the latest and best halogen technology is starting to approach the performance of D2S HID systems, which was certainly not the case back in the early 90's when HID started appearing. Yet halogen remains practically as simple and inexpensive as it's always been, so it's not going anywhere soon IMO.

They're starting to play with LED technology in headlamp applications also, which has it's own set of design and engineering challenges to contend with. I'm not convinced it's a truly viable headlamp technology. (Ideal for just about any other lighting system on a car though.)
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Old Feb 10, 2009 | 02:38 PM
  #50  
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Originally Posted by fsttyms1
I wont own another car without them.
same here
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Old Feb 10, 2009 | 02:38 PM
  #51  
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Originally Posted by Brandon24pdx
My last 4 cars have had them so I'm definitely a fan, partly because they're more efficient than halogen (more light, less power consumption), and partly for asthetic reasons (they "look nice")

That said, the latest and best halogen technology is starting to approach the performance of D2S HID systems, which was certainly not the case back in the early 90's when HID started appearing. Yet halogen remains practically as simple and inexpensive as it's always been, so it's not going anywhere soon IMO.

They're starting to play with LED technology in headlamp applications also, which has it's own set of design and engineering challenges to contend with. I'm not convinced it's a truly viable headlamp technology. (Ideal for just about any other lighting system on a car though.)
I AM interested in seeing the direction of this though.
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Old Feb 10, 2009 | 03:07 PM
  #52  
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This may have been addressed, but all the HID's I've ever had or seen, have a distinct cut-off just below windshield level, thus, providing superior illumination projected to the area I need it, without blinding oncoming traffic. ...And while you have some control over the direction of the Halogen light, I don't believe it's generally as project-able as that of the HID's out there. (of course, there are some halogen projector headlights out there too) - but one could make the case that HID's are actually less blinding than halogen's based on that fact alone.
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Old Feb 10, 2009 | 03:26 PM
  #53  
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Originally Posted by bgsm1th
This may have been addressed, but all the HID's I've ever had or seen, have a distinct cut-off just below windshield level, thus, providing superior illumination projected to the area I need it, without blinding oncoming traffic. ...And while you have some control over the direction of the Halogen light, I don't believe it's generally as project-able as that of the HID's out there. (of course, there are some halogen projector headlights out there too) - but one could make the case that HID's are actually less blinding than halogen's based on that fact alone.
The cutoff sharpness varies from one HID projector to another, depending on the specific projector it is. Some are better performing than others. This is just the optics of the projector...the bulb is just the light source.
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Old Feb 10, 2009 | 03:27 PM
  #54  
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A good way to see the difference is on a rainy evening. For me, it seems the halogen light just washes out, while the HID provides better road illumination. Maybe its just me that notices this... ?
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Old Feb 10, 2009 | 03:35 PM
  #55  
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Originally Posted by Rock2534
I loved the hids on my 01 CLS, they were relatively new back then so it was great when oncoming traffic would flash their high beams at me, then I'd flash mine on at them and you could pretty much see right up their nose.
You realize your high beams were halogens correct?
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Old Feb 10, 2009 | 03:37 PM
  #56  
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Originally Posted by Brandon24pdx
The cutoff sharpness varies from one HID projector to another, depending on the specific projector it is. Some are better performing than others. This is just the optics of the projector...the bulb is just the light source.
I agree the 09 TSX I have right now as a loaner has a VERY sharp cutoff and actually makes it hard for me to see. The HID in my CL have a cutoff but its not as drastic

Originally Posted by mrmako
A good way to see the difference is on a rainy evening. For me, it seems the halogen light just washes out, while the HID provides better road illumination. Maybe its just me that notices this... ?
Yes I have noticed this as well
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Old Feb 11, 2009 | 07:02 AM
  #57  
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Originally Posted by spdy0001
You realize your high beams were halogens correct?
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Old Feb 11, 2009 | 10:02 AM
  #58  
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I have PnP 5000k HIDs in my Accord with reflector housings and I haven't had one person flash me yet, but I also took the time to read the Honda manual and aim them properly so they're not blinding people, which most people that put in PnP kits don't take the time to do or even know you're supposed to aim headlights in general.

The main reason I even considered a PnP HID kit for my Accord was because the headlight housing looked nearly identical to my 03 CL-S headlight housings, which were HIDs in reflector housings. In fact I had people flash me all the time in the CL-S, but again, not once yet in the Accord.

Although it's true there is more glare with them than a projector housing, overall it's not that bad and the increased light output compared to the yellowish OEM halogen bulbs is huge. I feel way more safe driving at night with the HIDs than with the stock halogens, and I can only imagine how much more important it would be if I lived in an area with a large deer population like in the N. East.
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Old Feb 11, 2009 | 11:33 AM
  #59  
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Originally Posted by spdy0001
You realize your high beams were halogens correct?
Of course, but they were bright as shit....so it was funny when people thought I had them on when I didn't.
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Old Feb 11, 2009 | 06:20 PM
  #60  
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My car doesn't have HIDs that's why I hate riding in other people's car
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Old Feb 11, 2009 | 10:09 PM
  #61  
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don';t burn through the headlights adn cause condensation inside your head light?
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Old Feb 12, 2009 | 04:58 PM
  #62  
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6000k FTW
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