Aftermarket HID headlights - 35W or 55W
Discussion
The dim candles that adorn the front of the car need replacing with something better purely on safety ground so I've been looking at HIDs.
There are mixed messages about wattage, with some saying higher wattage=more light therefore better, and some saying lower wattage=lower load (but no less light). So I was wondering whether I should be going for 35W or 55W?
There are mixed messages about wattage, with some saying higher wattage=more light therefore better, and some saying lower wattage=lower load (but no less light). So I was wondering whether I should be going for 35W or 55W?
You want to buy the brightest you can find and get the ones with the purple colour high kelvin rate are best.
These must be fitted to non projector style headlights and you will never know how popular you are.
You will have lots of people waving to you and asking if you have any coffee beans.
These must be fitted to non projector style headlights and you will never know how popular you are.
You will have lots of people waving to you and asking if you have any coffee beans.
Definitely buy the brightest, then charge the oncoming cars for the laser eye surgery you give them! The flashing will be in 'thanks'.
In seriousness, don't do it. Stick to what the manufacturers recommend and don't go around dazzling the world so you can see a few more metres in front of you.
In seriousness, don't do it. Stick to what the manufacturers recommend and don't go around dazzling the world so you can see a few more metres in front of you.
Edited by Andehh on Thursday 30th January 12:35
Against popular PH wisdom, I put a set of 35w aftermarket HID's in a fiat coupe, replacing the 1 candlepower standard headlight bulbs.
They were projector lenses though, the spread wasn't too wide and they were aimed down slightly
Was worth it IMO, although my advice would be to weatherproof the ballasts as they tend to be a cheap steel which will start to rust in no time. Various methods of doing this.
4300K = Best for illumination
6-8000K = Best for McDonalds car park.
Dont bother if you dont have projector lenses though, you'll just piss people off .
They were projector lenses though, the spread wasn't too wide and they were aimed down slightly
Was worth it IMO, although my advice would be to weatherproof the ballasts as they tend to be a cheap steel which will start to rust in no time. Various methods of doing this.
4300K = Best for illumination
6-8000K = Best for McDonalds car park.
Dont bother if you dont have projector lenses though, you'll just piss people off .
If you have halogen projectors then you have my sympathy. They are almost without exception crap, because a projector design blocks so much light. However this also means that you can fit HIDs without pissing off everyone else on the road. 35W units will give a notable improvement, obviously 55W are even brighter. Go for the lowest colour temperature which will not only give you more light output, but will also improve colour rendition.
Make sure the front lenses (usually plastic these days) of the headlamps are in good condition however. If they are badly pitted/scratched or have started to go milky then not only do they block a lot of light they also scatter it.
Make sure the front lenses (usually plastic these days) of the headlamps are in good condition however. If they are badly pitted/scratched or have started to go milky then not only do they block a lot of light they also scatter it.
This thread WILL NOT end well.
I've had both 35w and 55w kits and they really don't make a difference IMO. I currently have a 35w kit in my car and it's been fine.
Get 5000k bulbs as I feel they are closest to white as you can get, 4300k used to be the oem colour but they still look a bit yellow. 6000k is also good but more blue so less light.
If your fitting it to a car that's not got projectors, make sure you get bulbs that are R ones. For instance h7R, this reduces glare thst so many bang on about.
Don't listen to the people on here that say they burn your retinas, they say the same about DRLS and led breaklights they just like a good grump.
People will also say you have to have headlight washers and self leveling, while mot regs do say this, they say if fitted must be working, if it's not there it can't be tested and can't fail. This is also the case on new cars with a certain light output, like the LEDs on the new e class, doesn't have washers.
In 3 years of hids I have never ever been flashed while driving, it's about beam pattern. Not bulb.
So 5000k in either kit, no reason to not get a 55w one,
I've had both 35w and 55w kits and they really don't make a difference IMO. I currently have a 35w kit in my car and it's been fine.
Get 5000k bulbs as I feel they are closest to white as you can get, 4300k used to be the oem colour but they still look a bit yellow. 6000k is also good but more blue so less light.
If your fitting it to a car that's not got projectors, make sure you get bulbs that are R ones. For instance h7R, this reduces glare thst so many bang on about.
Don't listen to the people on here that say they burn your retinas, they say the same about DRLS and led breaklights they just like a good grump.
People will also say you have to have headlight washers and self leveling, while mot regs do say this, they say if fitted must be working, if it's not there it can't be tested and can't fail. This is also the case on new cars with a certain light output, like the LEDs on the new e class, doesn't have washers.
In 3 years of hids I have never ever been flashed while driving, it's about beam pattern. Not bulb.
So 5000k in either kit, no reason to not get a 55w one,
okie592 said:
Don't listen to the people on here that say they burn your retinas, they say the same about DRLS and led breaklights they just like a good grump.
Badly/incorrectly fitted HIDs (most always in reflector headlamps) are massively dazzling. I don't see how there can be any debate on that.JimbobVFR said:
Mr2Mike said:
Badly/incorrectly fitted HIDs (most always in reflector headlamps) are massively dazzling. I don't see how there can be any debate on that.
Yes I agree but an alternative question would be would you notice correctly fitted and adjusted aftermarket HIDs?I must confess to fitting a set of HID's in my Puma. I went for 35w 4300K units - because of the projector headlights the beam pattern is absolutely identical to the halogen bulbs, and the light output is significantly better. They're not a miracle, but it's much easier to see any reflective surface in the road, which makes motorway driving much easier indeed.
okie592 said:
This thread WILL NOT end well.
I've had both 35w and 55w kits and they really don't make a difference IMO. I currently have a 35w kit in my car and it's been fine.
Get 5000k bulbs as I feel they are closest to white as you can get, 4300k used to be the oem colour but they still look a bit yellow. 6000k is also good but more blue so less light.
If your fitting it to a car that's not got projectors, make sure you get bulbs that are R ones. For instance h7R, this reduces glare thst so many bang on about.
Don't listen to the people on here that say they burn your retinas, they say the same about DRLS and led breaklights they just like a good grump.
People will also say you have to have headlight washers and self leveling, while mot regs do say this, they say if fitted must be working, if it's not there it can't be tested and can't fail. This is also the case on new cars with a certain light output, like the LEDs on the new e class, doesn't have washers.
In 3 years of hids I have never ever been flashed while driving, it's about beam pattern. Not bulb.
So 5000k in either kit, no reason to not get a 55w one,
Totally agree, although I've just recently put a 35W kit in my civic after having a couple of 55's in my previous cars and can't see any difference so either or would be fine in my opinion. I've had both 35w and 55w kits and they really don't make a difference IMO. I currently have a 35w kit in my car and it's been fine.
Get 5000k bulbs as I feel they are closest to white as you can get, 4300k used to be the oem colour but they still look a bit yellow. 6000k is also good but more blue so less light.
If your fitting it to a car that's not got projectors, make sure you get bulbs that are R ones. For instance h7R, this reduces glare thst so many bang on about.
Don't listen to the people on here that say they burn your retinas, they say the same about DRLS and led breaklights they just like a good grump.
People will also say you have to have headlight washers and self leveling, while mot regs do say this, they say if fitted must be working, if it's not there it can't be tested and can't fail. This is also the case on new cars with a certain light output, like the LEDs on the new e class, doesn't have washers.
In 3 years of hids I have never ever been flashed while driving, it's about beam pattern. Not bulb.
So 5000k in either kit, no reason to not get a 55w one,
The car just passed its MOT on Monday with them too.
okie592 said:
As I said, hids won't dazzle if fitted correctly. The same can be said for halogen bulbs if they are pointing the wrong way directly at you they can gey uncomfortable in the same was halogen high beams can.
I have never seen a really good beam pattern from aftermarket HIDs fitted to a reflector headlamps, but projectors are absolutely fine as I have already said. With reflectors designed for halogen lamps, it's actually not possible to retain the original beam pattern as the shape of the light source is significantly different between halogen and HID lamps (even with the 'correct' HID lamps).
Check out this thread..most informative I have read on HID's
http://priuschat.com/threads/not-all-hid-bulbs-are...
Made me think twice about buying on eBay.
http://priuschat.com/threads/not-all-hid-bulbs-are...
Made me think twice about buying on eBay.
eldar said:
Worst is fecking motorbikes with HIDs. Lunatics.
It's even worse for bikers - we only have one headlight. Normal Hallogen bulbs are so poor they're actually quite dangerous. It's not nice being on a bike on a B road where you literally can't see where you're going if a car is coming the other way.Anyway, time wasting over, back into adult conversation mode...
I find the blue tint of 6000k bulbs a bit difficult to see with, dunno if it's just me? I prefer the slightly yellow tint of 4300k.
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