h.i.d. lights
Rookie
Joined: Apr 2009
Posts: 92
Likes: 0
From: Highlands Ranch, CO
I have never been flashed by anyone because of my HIDs. I even had a long conversation with a sheriff's deputy about them right after I installed them and he had no problem. He actually said they were really bright but didn't bother him.
I have to agree about the 5000K. They actually put out the most light of any of the HID colors. I actually have 4500K in both my vehicles. I changed my dad's Mercedes from 8000K to 5000K and the difference in light output is huge. Some people like the blue color of the 8000K but I prefer the whiter light of the 4000K - 6000K range.
I would adjust your headlights down a little bit if they are bothering other people. I think that is a better way to go than flashing your high beams and aggravating the situation. That being said I have to admit I have been guilty of flashing not only my high beams but also my driving lights when people fail to dim their lights.
I have to agree about the 5000K. They actually put out the most light of any of the HID colors. I actually have 4500K in both my vehicles. I changed my dad's Mercedes from 8000K to 5000K and the difference in light output is huge. Some people like the blue color of the 8000K but I prefer the whiter light of the 4000K - 6000K range.
I would adjust your headlights down a little bit if they are bothering other people. I think that is a better way to go than flashing your high beams and aggravating the situation. That being said I have to admit I have been guilty of flashing not only my high beams but also my driving lights when people fail to dim their lights.
Moderate User
Joined: Oct 2008
Posts: 17,003
Likes: 21
From: Albany, NY
Dirty, you just dont get it do you? You think people read my thread and shake thier heads, what about yours? You clearly come back with rebuttals and some make sense while others do not. You say you are correct and justified in turning on your 100w Hellas to rightfully blind someone moving at a high speed towards you because they are blinding you with thier HIDs. But yet in your post earlier you plainly said there was a horrible accident from someone blinding someone else with HIDs and costing them a great deal. That was an accident that involved one idiot. What you do takes that and multiplies the contributing factors. But wait, theres more. So HIDs were illegal in his ride, are running Hellas "on-road" and not "off-road" illegal also? Sure they are. So where would you stand legally in that situation if you were blinded and in turn blinded someone else with your brighter beams. Do you not see the dangerous situation you put yourself and possibly your family as well as other parties and property in?
And 2" book are nothing but paper weights and door stops if you cannot read and understand what it is you are reading.
Im not trying to argue with you. Im trying to get you to see the light (no pun intended).
And 2" book are nothing but paper weights and door stops if you cannot read and understand what it is you are reading.
Im not trying to argue with you. Im trying to get you to see the light (no pun intended).
I Flash them with my Hellas. I don't run my Hellas down the road like they do for normal driving. Sure 2 wrongs don't make it right, but haven't you ever flashed your highbeams at an oncoming car that has theirs on? Same difference here!
The whole start of this was HID's are illegal and SHOULDN'T be used in stock housings. That's it.
I may have used the wrong word on Cannot, but legally you cannot. Doesn't mean you cannot put them in and have them working. Lots of people do it and lots of people are ignorant because they don't wanna spend the extra $250 on proper housings.
Me personally....I would feel like a complete *** if I put HID's in stock housings. i would be embarassed at cars that flashed me and would feel bad. Therefore, I wouldn't install HID's without projector housings. That's it. I'm done.
Stick the fork in me.
Rookie
Joined: Apr 2009
Posts: 92
Likes: 0
From: Highlands Ranch, CO
Any aftermarket HIDs are illegal, regardless of the housing. The whole issue comes down to whether or not the operator of the vehicle chooses to accept the risks involved running illegal HID lights. I think the advantages outweigh the drawbacks when the lights are properly adjusted.
My Land Rover which I have HID bulbs in the headlights is lifted and still has never bothered any other drivers. The H4 HID bulb uses a reflector below the bulb to direct the light to the top of the reflector causing the light in front of the truck to be down on the road rather than in the eyes of other drivers. The Dodge headlights use a reflector in front of the bulb to direct the light back to the rear reflector which is designed to direct the light down to the road.
I have flashed my high beams at oncoming cars who fail to dim their high beams but using 100 watt driving lights crosses a line. I will also admit that I have gotten upset enough that I crossed that line and flashed my driving lights. If you choose to do that you need to be willing to accept the consequences same as someone running illegal HIDs.
My Land Rover which I have HID bulbs in the headlights is lifted and still has never bothered any other drivers. The H4 HID bulb uses a reflector below the bulb to direct the light to the top of the reflector causing the light in front of the truck to be down on the road rather than in the eyes of other drivers. The Dodge headlights use a reflector in front of the bulb to direct the light back to the rear reflector which is designed to direct the light down to the road.
I have flashed my high beams at oncoming cars who fail to dim their high beams but using 100 watt driving lights crosses a line. I will also admit that I have gotten upset enough that I crossed that line and flashed my driving lights. If you choose to do that you need to be willing to accept the consequences same as someone running illegal HIDs.
Champion
Joined: May 2008
Posts: 4,210
Likes: 0
From: Shreveport, LA
HID headlights-If it has a transformer (ballast) it is an HID light. A true HID light casts a white light (looks like light blue tint). There are cheap imitations which are a plain bulb with a blue coating and these cast a blue light. When I stop a car with suspect headlights I hold a piece of white paper in front of the light. If the paper turns blue, that is illegal and driver gets "Norked" (gets a ticket). See the following NHTSA Interp letter at http://www.nhtsa.dot.gov/cars/rules/...18.ztv.html-It says, "SAE J578c defines white by blue, yellow, green, red and purple boundaries within a chromaticity diagram. Thus, it is possible to design a headlamp that emits a light that approaches the blue boundary and is perceived as having a blue tint but which nevertheless remains within the boundaries that define "white"".
From a state police forum. Federal Law FMVSS No. 108 is what he is referring to. HID's are not illegal...blue bulbs are
From a state police forum. Federal Law FMVSS No. 108 is what he is referring to. HID's are not illegal...blue bulbs are
Rookie
Joined: Apr 2009
Posts: 92
Likes: 0
From: Highlands Ranch, CO
By my understanding of that definition, HID lights between 4000K - 6000K would be legal since they emit a white light. I think I am going to have to try the white paper test on my lights to see if they meet that definition. By that definition 3000K would also be illegal since it emits yellow light, not white.
Moderate User
Joined: Oct 2008
Posts: 17,003
Likes: 21
From: Albany, NY
Here's an AWESOME write up that compares Halogens/HID's in factory Halogen housings and HID's in projector style housings
http://www.intellexual.net/hid.html
Rookie
Joined: Apr 2009
Posts: 92
Likes: 0
From: Highlands Ranch, CO
What it said is that that particular police officer would not ticket a driver whose lights pass his white paper test. That is unfortunately something that will vary from officer to officer because there is no standard test they can perform.
Here is my question. Are my properly aimed headlights more dangerous than a halogen light out of alignment just because they are HID? As I have stated numerous times, my lights are still adjusted to the same height as from the factory and I have never had any indication that my lights are bothering other drivers, including law enforcement.
Here is my question. Are my properly aimed headlights more dangerous than a halogen light out of alignment just because they are HID? As I have stated numerous times, my lights are still adjusted to the same height as from the factory and I have never had any indication that my lights are bothering other drivers, including law enforcement.
Moderate User
Joined: Oct 2008
Posts: 17,003
Likes: 21
From: Albany, NY
What it said is that that particular police officer would not ticket a driver whose lights pass his white paper test. That is unfortunately something that will vary from officer to officer because there is no standard test they can perform.
Here is my question. Are my properly aimed headlights more dangerous than a halogen light out of alignment just because they are HID? As I have stated numerous times, my lights are still adjusted to the same height as from the factory and I have never had any indication that my lights are bothering other drivers, including law enforcement.
Here is my question. Are my properly aimed headlights more dangerous than a halogen light out of alignment just because they are HID? As I have stated numerous times, my lights are still adjusted to the same height as from the factory and I have never had any indication that my lights are bothering other drivers, including law enforcement.
There are many times cars drive by me and I know they don't have stock lights. My eyes are very sensitive to light. I have a prescription so it's easier for me to tell if the lights are stock or not.
100% correct about the variances from one Jurisdiction to another. Unless you have direct one on one contact with a police officer, chances are you wouldn't get pulled over.
Veteran
Joined: May 2008
Posts: 461
Likes: 0
From: Houston,TX
i have them on my truck, never have i had someone flash me, and i have ask a state trooper and local cop, they have both told me they are illegal if they are really blue,violet,and basically any other color or the temperature being higher then 10,000k (dirty dog) i strongly disagree with you maybe the problem with you is your sensitive eyes and should wear glasses at all times so this HID's dont bother you at all