HID question

[Hugh]

Has anyone converted both their high and low beams to HID or have most of you just done the lows? I think having all four lamps HID would make sense, the only drawback being that slight lag time if you need to flash your brights. I suppose if you keep the high beams conventional halogens you can at least get a bulb with the same color temp as the HIDs so at least they look the same when all four are lit.

I'm trying to make up my mind between the kits at http://hid-online.com/ (same as Autolamps) or the SoS kits.

I prefer a bulb rated at about 4100K because of the greater light output and you don't get that "Disco Danny Pep Boys Econobox Screamer" blue light look.

 

[NA1 #2853]

I would not recommend doing the high beams if you are prone to flashing your high beams, but if you are driving in areas, where you would have the high beams on for extended periods of time, then by all means.... install them in both.

I have had the 4000-ish HIDs in ym NSX, and they provided great lighting.... But it was one of the first generation ones, what had an exteremely SHORT high tension lead to the HID capsule, so i had to mount the ballast inside the flip up headlamp assembly...... after 4 years, it fianlly got a little water inside the ballast and shorted it out.

When i replaced them i only had 2 different kits in stock, the 7000-ish, 10,000-ish kits. I wasnt too keen on the purple light of the 10K kit so i put in the 7k kit. The blue looks like the blue of the 4k kit when it first ignites, but unlike the 4k kit, it doesnt fade out to a plain white....it says that blueish color. I can still see just as good as the 4k kit, and i'm quite happy with it.

Nice thing is the newer kits these days have a longer high tension lead to the HID capsule, so i mounted the ballasts inside the under hood compartment, and routed the wiring with the factory harnesses into the headlight bucket areas, and into the headlamps themselves.... alot easier, and cleaner install!

-Ray

 

[whiteNSXs]

Don't do the high beams with HID. You are spending a lot of money on something you almost will never turn on and you will not be able to flash. Use Sylvania Silverstar 9005 bulbs which have something like 3500k temperature and will approximate the 4100k you prefer.
Steve

 

[Hugh]

According to Sylvania's Silverstar page they have a 4000K temp making them ideal for the high beams.

PIAA's new Xtreme White series have a rated color temp of 4000K as well.


Thanks,
Hugh

 

[D'Ecosse]

I just installed a set of Silverstars on my DD today - I showed my missus when I had one installed & w/o any prompting she commented how white the (new) one looked compared to the yellow one. They look much brighter as well as whiter - we'll see how they perform on the way home from work tomorrow night. (My commute is on a winding hilly route & my DD has a hard time lighting up the road - wanted to try something cheaper on my 10 yr old DD before I see if I need the real HIDs)
$47/pr from Walmart.

 

[Hugh]

What is a DD?

Pep Boys quoted me $14.95 per bulb (9005) over the phone for the Sylvanias. It was too late to go there tonight so tomorrow is bulb shopping day. I'm going to price the PIAA Xtreme Whites as well. I'll probably upgrade all 4 bulbs until I order the 4100K HID kit from Autolamps next month.

If I'm not mistaken the NSX uses 9006 for the low beams and 9005 for the highs, right?

 

[dave22]

DD=Daily Driver

 

[D'Ecosse]

What is a DD?

Pep Boys quoted me $14.95 per bulb (9005) over the phone for the Sylvanias.

Yes, Daily Driver
Be careful that they were quoting you Silverstars - Sylvania has a whole slew of different grades of bulbs - I'd be surprised if they were $15.

 

[Hugh]

You were right, they quoted me the price for the XtraVision bulbs.
The Siverstars were $19.99 each. I replaced all four bulbs.
I did one pod first to compare against what was in the car before and the difference has huge. The old (I assume OEM Stanleys) appeared yellow vs a pure white from the Sylvanias. We'll see how they perform at night in a few hours.
I also threw in PIAA Super White 1196 bulbs for the back up lights for better visibility out the rear.

Next upgrade will be the 4100K HID kit from Autolamps for the low beams only.

 

[Hugh]

Damn, Autolamps is quick. I guess they no longer require you to fax them back the agreement like the old days.

I ordered a 4100K low beam kit from them last night and this morning I got a UPS notification that the kit will arrive Friday.
Not bad considering it's coming from Great Britain. Now I have something to do this weekend besides watching the Redskins lose another game.