headlight bulbs

[rohan]

Just a few degrees of angle reduction can easily result in tens of feet of reduced usable light. Do the math (in the example above, 3 degrees of reduced angle means 50 feet shorter usable light!).

State law he said.  They can't manufacture cars outside federal law and sell them here but they can sell cars that don't meet "letter of the law" for state law.  Don't have the time right now but when I do I'll quote the MVC on headlights for you.

[Laconian]

Ya.  The auto-dimming mirror was part of the $400M technology package.

Die Definition von Luxus Deutsch

[Rupert]

State law he said.  They can't manufacture cars outside federal law and sell them here but they can sell cars that don't meet "letter of the law" for state law.  Don't have the time right now but when I do I'll quote the MVC on headlights for you.

I'd like to see it. They make special cars for CA, after all.

[rohan]

Home now but when I get back and have a minute I'll find it for you.

[SVT_Power]

A ridiculous amount of crappy light.

Crappy light? Not sure why it's crappy. He already had factory HID's, so I saw some before and after pics. It's just like before, but just a shitload brighter 

[Rupert]

Pics don't count. You can't tell anything about anything with pics.

[giant_mtb]

Pics don't count. You can't tell anything about anything with pics.

If that isn't about the worst generalization I've ever heard...

[Rupert]

If that isn't about the worst generalization I've ever heard...

Not with lighting it isn't. If and only if you use the same camera on the same settings at the same angle at the same time of day with the same weather and other ambient light, then you can tell a little about color (mostly that the lights are a different color or not, and not what color they are), and you can tell which one is brighter (though not how much brighter), and you can tell that there is a difference in beam pattern (though not what the beam pattern is). These things require surprisingly sophisticated measuring equipment.

[hounddog]

Lights in, aimed lower to take the light to the upper portion of passenger car trunklids (they no longer aimed "up" but a little more down)  and the distance seems to be almost exactly the same, as in: I can see no noticable difference between old and new for distance loss.   I found that the driver side was aimed much too high from the factory, higher than the passenger side which I think was much of the "over height" I was noticing.

I get vastly superior side lighting, and the detail/clarity/color of the light is amazing compared to OEM.  Best $30+ I have spent in some time.

Next up; fog light upgrade to Xtravision bulbs.

[The Pirate]

Lights in, aimed lower to take the light to the upper portion of passenger car trunklids (they no longer aimed "up" but a little more down)  and the distance seems to be almost exactly the same, as in: I can see no noticable difference between old and new for distance loss.   I found that the driver side was aimed much too high from the factory, higher than the passenger side which I think was much of the "over height" I was noticing.

I get vastly superior side lighting, and the detail/clarity/color of the light is amazing compared to OEM.  Best $30+ I have spent in some time.

Next up; fog light upgrade to Xtravision bulbs.

Cool.  I put Xtravisions in my car two months ago, and have been very happy as well.  Thought about upgrading the driving lights too, but the bulbs are PITA to get to, so I'm not going to do anything til I have to (when they burn out).  The driving lights don't see much use either, as I leave them off when I'm not on deserted roads.

[hotrodalex]

The driver's side was aimed higher than the passenger side? Yeah, that's not normal. It's usually the opposite.

[Rupert]

Lights in, aimed lower to take the light to the upper portion of passenger car trunklids (they no longer aimed "up" but a little more down)  and the distance seems to be almost exactly the same, as in: I can see no noticable difference between old and new for distance loss.   I found that the driver side was aimed much too high from the factory, higher than the passenger side which I think was much of the "over height" I was noticing.

I get vastly superior side lighting, and the detail/clarity/color of the light is amazing compared to OEM.  Best $30+ I have spent in some time.

Next up; fog light upgrade to Xtravision bulbs.

Are you sure that your lights were aimed properly? It sounds like they were (and may still be) fucked up. I would follow the aiming instructions in the link I posted and see what that's like.

[Rupert]

With factory fogs it's usually better to just upgrade the whole light. The issue with those tends to be beam cutoff, not brightness (unless you're one of those fogs on all the time people).

[SVT_Power]

Pics don't count. You can't tell anything about anything with pics.

Well I haven't seen the stock HID light output but currently it just looks like the road ahead is illuminated by HID's, but like 4 HIDs instead of 2. 

[SVT_Power]

With factory fogs it's usually better to just upgrade the whole light. The issue with those tends to be beam cutoff, not brightness (unless you're one of those fogs on all the time people).

Are fogs really necessary?

Maybe I'm in the minority here but quite frankly, I think cars don't even need foglights.

[Rupert]

Eh, I think it depends. I have driven in cars with headlights that were good in the fog/bad weather stock (sharp cutoff), and I've driven in (a lot of) cars that totally suck. There is a definite difference between good headlights and bad headlights. I put good fogs on the Explorer (actually just got that project finished tonight), because the stock headlights are really scattered and totally suck at everything. This is also why I put dedicated driving lights on.

[hounddog]

 I found that the driver side was aimed much too high from the factory, higher than the passenger side which I think was much of the "over height" I was noticing.

Are you sure that your lights were aimed properly? It sounds like they were (and may still be) fucked up.

I would follow the aiming instructions in the link I posted and see what that's like.

I followed the spec sheet I got from the dealership- then I lowered them 2.25 degrees.  ( yes, that is my guess )

[Rupert]

Did the spec sheet involve aiming them on a wall 25 ft away?

[hounddog]

No, it involved taking one of those screwie-driverie-thingeries and twisting one of those screw looking devices until the drivers on the freeway stopped brighting me.  Still kept honking alot, however. 

Very annoying.

[S204STi]

I seriously doubt you could put cereal and milk together and come up with anything edible, based on your skills at reading/following instructions as demonstrated here.

[giant_mtb]

R-inge, do you think those HIR bulbs are legit?

[S204STi]

Based on the specs, very much so.  For the same wattage you are looking at like a 50% increase in lumens IIRC.  It's sad that they didn't catch on, or rather that they aren't more mainstream.  It's a great technology which would improve lighting at a fraction of the cost of HIDs for every car on the road...

I think the 9011 fits in my high beam sockets if I modify the base slightly.  Should be perfect for those long drives through South Park to see the family.  Once I get the 75w fogs and harness in I'll look into that final piece of the lighting puzzle for my car.

[giant_mtb]

Yeah, I thought they seemed pretty legitimate.  I'm thinking I'll get some for my high-beams when I have some extra cash laying around.

[Rupert]

I seriously doubt you could put cereal and milk together and come up with anything edible, based on your skills at reading/following instructions as demonstrated here.

I gave up on him after that one...

[hounddog]

I seriously doubt you could put cereal and milk together and come up with anything edible, based on your skills at reading/following instructions as demonstrated here.

I gave up on him after that one...

You guys.   

Do you really believe that anyone could be so dim? 

Honestly? 


All I have to say about that is; 

[giant_mtb]

Do you really believe that anyone could be so dim? 

Teehee.  It's a thread about light bulbs.  And he said dim.

[Rupert]

Oooohhhhhhh, snap.

[Rupert]

You guys.   

Do you really believe that anyone could be so dim? 

Honestly? 


All I have to say about that is; 

Honestly? Yes.

[hounddog]

[Rupert]

BTW, I finally found and bought a bottle of your revered Wee Heavy. I'll let you know how I like it.