Are HID conversion kits worth anything?

[bikeracer]

Where'd you hear that? I haven't run into that theory anywhere. If they say they're creating an arc between electrodes in a pressurized inert gas, are they just lying or is there some other way to do that and not have it be 'true HID'?

[Christ]

Pardon that last post, it was mixed up - I was thinking of colored lights which imitate HIDs, such as the retarded blue lights that you can buy from PIAA, which are illegal for street use, and are basically a painted bulb that actually emits less light, since the blue acts as a filter to all other wavelengths.

HID lighting, on the other hand, has several "intensities", which are measured in color temperature. The Yellow, low temp lights are closer to the color you see/get with OEM Halogen lights, the deep blue hues and anything hotter are the types that people think cause more "glare" to oncoming drivers.

All HID lighting provides a sharper "edge" to the light, which takes getting used to for someone who's new to it, but it does not actually create any more glare when used/implemented properly. The glare (as I posted above) that people see comes from the fact that the human eye does not adjust to intake of blue light (which has also been proven to affect mood, and level of comfort, partially for the same reason), so it seems like the bluish lights are actually more bright to oncoming drivers. The light itself has a straighter wavelength, though, so there is lower stray light emission, meaning less glare and more light with less atmospheric distortion.

HID lights as aftermarket, as I understand it, are illegal unless the kits are approved by NHTSA or some other (DOT) governing agency, because they're not installed/implemented correctly, and could damage the vehicle, as well as blinding oncoming traffic. True HID lighting (again, AFAIK) has a parabolic lens that filters and "straightens" the beam of light to a focused beam with very little stray emission, and the normal reflective housings utilized with halogen and other lighting systems isn't capable of concentrating the light particles properly.

[Doofus McFancypants]

we are blind - so we need brighter lights
we are deaf - so we cannot have silent EV's
we are frail - so we need 1000 lbs of extra safety gear ( some of this is good - just overkill)
we are dumb - we we need the car to do eveything for us (can people read ( or even FOLD) a map anymore?)

[Christ]

Originally Posted by Doofus McFancypants

we are blind - so we need brighter lights
we are deaf - so we cannot have silent EV's
we are frail - so we need 1000 lbs of extra safety gear ( some of this is good - just overkill)
we are dumb - we we need the car to do eveything for us (can people read ( or even FOLD) a map anymore?)

Speek fer yerself, buddie!

I like the idea of brighter lights, mostly because I live/drive in rural areas. It's nice to see the deer with enough time to stop.

[99LeCouch]

There are HID reflectors that are OEM on vehicles, such as the last-gen Prius.

I like brighter lights to see the deer, and to see the street signs up ahead out in the middle of the woods.

[TOOSTUBBORN2FAIL]

it 100% depends where you drive, i often drive in backroads areas, and its much better to have more then enough out there, then not enough

and where i live, it should be mandatory to have fog lights. Theres time when the fog is so thick you cant see 10 feet in front of you

[Doofus McFancypants]

I was not commenting on the FACTS about consumers - Only the mental position of marketing teams selling the stuff.

I grew up on western PA - and yes you cannot have enough light on a backroad to try to see the deer. And we all know - it is not the DEER you see that are of concern - it is his buddies waiting to jump infront of you from outta nowhere.

But the idea of "put these bulbs in your car to see better" is sucker marketing. as stated above the whole unit should be replaced to have the most impact.

[tjts1]

Originally Posted by Doofus McFancypants

I was not commenting on the FACTS about consumers - Only the mental position of marketing teams selling the stuff.

I grew up on western PA - and yes you cannot have enough light on a backroad to try to see the deer. And we all know - it is not the DEER you see that are of concern - it is his buddies waiting to jump infront of you from outta nowhere.

But the idea of "put these bulbs in your car to see better" is sucker marketing. as stated above the whole unit should be replaced to have the most impact.

Nothing you say makes any sense at all. But I'm sure that won't stop. Keep it up.

[99LeCouch]

Originally Posted by Doofus McFancypants

I was not commenting on the FACTS about consumers - Only the mental position of marketing teams selling the stuff.

I grew up on western PA - and yes you cannot have enough light on a backroad to try to see the deer. And we all know - it is not the DEER you see that are of concern - it is his buddies waiting to jump infront of you from outta nowhere.

But the idea of "put these bulbs in your car to see better" is sucker marketing. as stated above the whole unit should be replaced to have the most impact.

There are indeed bulbs you can put in your car to see better. I have 9005's for 9006's in my car, and my fiancee's car has a pair of European H4 bulbs that make the OEM American-spec H4 bulbs look like candles in comparison. In both cases there's much more light just from changing a bulb.

Both are clear glass, and better-engineered than the OEM-spec equipment.

Now Sylvania SilverStar bulbs are pure trash. Blue tinting never helped anybody see better.

[Christ]

Originally Posted by TOOSTUBBORN2FAIL

it 100% depends where you drive, i often drive in backroads areas, and its much better to have more then enough out there, then not enough

and where i live, it should be mandatory to have fog lights. Theres time when the fog is so thick you cant see 10 feet in front of you

You shouldn't be driving in fog that thick. Any time your visibility is less than 300 feet, you really should try to avoid being in a car.