Hopefully this won't be the disaster I'm expecting.

Has anyone replaced factory non-projector halogens with one of the aftermarket HID kits? Lights like these, with the diffused lenses:



The Pig's headlights suck goat ***. I need to be able to see. The alternative is newer-style "jeweled" OEM headlights for about $800.

Does the beam scatter everywhere? Or is it useful light?

 

i put a set in my aftermarket black housing headlights in my 96 accord. ive never been able to properly line them up to factory headlight beam. i gave up, and just adjusted them down enough to not get flashed by oncoming traffic. but they still put out pretty good light output. i bought a set of 4300k.

 

It's not bad. I've got a Lexus GS with factory HID, had aftermarket plug n plays in my Yukon, Prelude, R6, and my dad's Chevy van. You're not gonna get a nice cut off like factory housing but if you take your time and adjust them properly, you'll get a lot more light and minimize glare on oncoming traffic. My rule of thumb is when I'm driving through my neighborhood at night and my light doesn't go up into the windshields of parked cars, I'm good to go. I hardly ever get the "F U" highbeams at me. People that are **** and say plug n play's are worthless because they can't adjust their lights properly.

 

people here will complain, but i had a cheap set on my 00 accord and it made a big difference without much glare.. It seems to be that if the beam pattern on the headlight sucks it will suck with HIDs also..

 

Aftermarket headlight housings, especially projector beam stuff, are complete piece of ****.

My '08 Sequoia, completely stock with halogen bulbs, pointed so high that when I carried passengers, the rear would squat. I got pulled over once because of that. I'm still deciding if I should throw a set in this bitch or not.

 

I'd try the white PIAA bulbs first.

 

i used them in my 240 fine and now my xterra fine. got the cheapest $80. set off ebay.. three years later still work great.

 

used them in my integra and they didnt make any difference i think it made my visibility worse. Probably because they were 12k's and they were pinkish purple

 

theyre not projector beams..........but i did the housings and the HID'S at the same time.....and ive just never been able to align them right. ive tried so many times.....but when i bought the car, it had really gay chrome triple projector lights....my main focus was to rid the car of them without spending more than $300.

 

I plan on installing a 7000K HID kit for my LS400

 

Just make sure they're aimed properly, although I'm sure you'll still get flashed a few times.

 

I would just aim them down a bunch

 

The beam will scatter everywhere--the flutes in the glass will make sure of it. If you posted this in the Lighting forums they'd give you hell for not doing a complete retrofit haha. Nonetheless, I put them in my bike to glare everyone the fck out since I'm not trying to get run over haha. At least the lens was clear so more light came out than if they were fluted.

 

Funny you say that, because when bikes pull this **** is when I tend to use my hand to cover whatever eye you're offending. Covered eye = can't see your even-more-likely-to-be-run-the-eff-over ***.

And it's even worse with old people, who will totally be blinded. You're doing yourself a disservice.

As for the OP, don't do it! The fluted lens will send light all over the place, doesn't matter if it's aimed well or not. Try looking on ebay for headlight replacements that have a clear front lens cover and try to swap those with your stocks.

 

Splat you can do a projector retrofit for about 400 with labor.
Hmnnn what kind of bulb does it have? If its an H4 you can use a Casper shield

 

that sums it up

 

You'll most likely blind oncoming traffic but in your view, it'll just look like a scattered light.

Also buy 4000K-6000K otherwise you wont be able to see crap on the road while its snowing or raining if you go 8000K and above.

 

Please don't.

Here's without the fluted lens :

And with the fluted lens:



That's with a projector, yours will be much worse with the halogen reflector housing

 

That's interesting, my 2000 Accord's glare was so bad I switched them out. Ghosting all over the place and hot spots. I wonder what that says.

 

Oh i believe it, mine were crap also, glare wasn't an issue but the beam pattern made two X's where the bulbs were pointed.. HIDs only exacerbated the issue.. visibility was better though, I think the accord just had crappy housings.

 

Buy or make a shield and you'll be fine. I've been running HIDs in my eg H4 housings for 6 years and have never been flashed once. My car is lowered 2+ inches and the headlights are aimed correctly. I can see better with just my HIDs than I could with my high beams on before.

PM me if you need help fabing a shield. You can just make one out of a coke can.

 

Much better light output compared with any halogen setup. Yes if they are not aimed down they will be annoying to oncoming traffic but so are most lifted trucks, semis, people that drive with aftermarket fog lights on all of the time etc. Had the cheapies in my Lexus LX450, in a Civic and they are going in my WRX soon......can't beat them!

 

It can work like stock if you do it correctly with shields or a retrofit.

Throwing them in there is glare city, people flashing at you, tickets.

 

people in 90-93 integras do it all the time with the fluted type headlights.

 

H4 doesn't sound familiar. I'll have to check the manual. If I'm going to have to go through the bother of a retrofit, I might as well get the newer Volvo lights. They look a lot better anyway.

Thanks for the input.