HID in stock headlight housing

[Tr1cycle]

I glanced over the front two pages and didnt really seen any info. Has anyone done this yet and what were your results, was there alot of scattering and such?
I am buying yellow fog light bulbs and i want a whiter headlight to help create more contrast (ricer at heart) and I have heard some bad things about the silverstar zxe so i feel like my only option is hids.
Any input is helpful at this point.

 

[Etyrnus]

These are LEDs, not HIDs, but the the beam pattern is consistent with halogens, and the brightness is much greater. Color comparison at top of page 9, and I posted some shots to show how it looked from in the car. http://www.fiestastforum.com/forum/threads/3665-The-Great-Quest-for-Headlights/page9

Also have the yellow fogs.

 

[Natedogg]

Philips CrystalVision Ultra low beams and fogs:

 

[Tr1cycle]

Not to sure about running led headlights
those phillips look pretty white

 

[Etyrnus]

These are not LEDs only rated for use in DRLs, they are just below HIDs in brightness. If you look at the pics I posted in the link, you can see both beam pattern, brightness, and a color comparison between them and Sylvania XtraVision headlights. Just trying to help with options.

 

[Tr1cycle]

Definetly looks good but 120 is pretty steep

 

[CanadianGuy]

Definetly looks good but 120 is pretty steep

But they should outlast your vehicle. Think of super bright halogen only last, what a year, and hid retrofit are close to 1k i think LEDs are just right.

 

[jfdana]

I also am running the H11 LED's from XenonDepot and they work and look great. A sharp cutoff, 6000k color, and very bright without blinding oncoming cars. And, as CG says, they probably will outlast your car.

For me, HID's outside real projectors just remind me of all the civics with fartcans and limo-tints, which probably is not the look you're shooting for.

$120 for a set of functional, cool (6k), long-lasting headlights seems like a good deal, really.

 

[Natedogg]

Just want to point out that the LEDs aren't DOT approved (yet). Not that it matters much but if you live in one of those areas where the cops will give you crap about just about anything, it's a good thing to keep in mind.

Not bashing you guys for using them, because I would if I had the $120 to spend on them at the time. I just wanted brighter, whiter light and the CrystalVision Ultras did exactly that. The LEDs are far better for reflector housings IMO than any HID kit.

 

[Etyrnus]

Just want to point out that the LEDs aren't DOT approved (yet). Not that it matters much but if you live in one of those areas where the cops will give you crap about just about anything, it's a good thing to keep in mind.

Not bashing you guys for using them, because I would if I had the $120 to spend on them at the time. I just wanted brighter, whiter light and the ClearVision Ultras did exactly that. The LEDs are far better for reflector housings IMO than any HID kit.

True, though I just passed NC state inspection with mine in. The aftermarket HID kits are not necessarily legal either, especially if tinted blue/any other color.

I had the Xtravisions, and I have a set of Phillips Xtremevisions, I just wanted to optimize my light output.

 

[Natedogg]

No HID kit in a halogen reflector housing is DOT legal, no matter the color. The cops are super lax about it around here and it drives me nuts. They just don't want to take the time to prove that you have non-DOT legal HIDs in a DOT approved halogen housing.

 

[Etyrnus]

Oddly, I do know of one model of car that came with HIDs in a reflector housing...but the housing was speccifically designed, and the bulbs had coatings in certain areas to control the light output. Toyota Avalons.

The scatter from the aftermarket kits is horrible. The thing I'm pleased about with the LEDs is the pattern is controlled, and not blinding to oncoming traffic.

 

[Violins77]

I installed HID in the stock reflector housing this week-end (3 kits, low, high and fogs). I read A TON about it, and I don't take these things lightly mind you. I took my decision after reading from multiple sources that the Fiesta PASSED lamp inspection with HID in stock reflector. It might not be dot legal, but it is clearly in regulation with how a light beam should behave. The fiesta reflector does not have any light coming directly from the bulb, it is ALL reflected, and while an HID bulb might have different bright points that can cause some differences in the pattern, so does any halogen bulbs to a lesser extent (since they are not as bright). The only consistent light source is an LED, but again, the reflector is not designed for it either, so that point doesn't really stand in my opinion.

After installing, I will have to say that 35W HID in the stock reflector housing do NOT cause any glare, nor does the beam go higher than the cutoff. We did extensive testing while installing them, I really didn't want to be that guy with a ridiculous setup that blinds other people. I can tell you that the beam pattern compared to stock lighting is honestly indiscernible to the eye. When putting my high beams, (also HID), then it does become blinding, as it should.

My opinion on HID in stock reflectors is exactly the same one I have about overclocking your GPU or CPU (I'm an IT guy) : DON'T DO ANYTHING IF YOU DON'T KNOW WHAT YOU ARE DOING. But I will also say that there is a form of elitism going on with people saying "putting HID in stock reflector will cause cancer and end the world". These people are right to a certain point, because A LOT of people that are using HID kits did not do any testing and really are being dangerous with it. However, it is not true that it is automatically a bad thing and that you absolutely need projectors. Just because something wasn't designed with something in mind doesn't mean it couldn't or shouldn't be done. Don't put 55W HID in a 98 Civic with direct bulb vision. It blinds other people and has a glare that's out of this world. However, I will say it with the conviction of a guy that did his homework : 35W HID in stock Fiesta ST reflector housing works, and behave exactly as it should.

Hope this post get some views as it is something I really wanted to say.

 

[Izzy]

I installed HID in the stock reflector housing this week-end (3 kits, low, high and fogs). I read A TON about it, and I don't take these things lightly mind you. I took my decision after reading from multiple sources that the Fiesta PASSED lamp inspection with HID in stock reflector. It might not be dot legal, but it is clearly in regulation with how a light beam should behave. The fiesta reflector does not have any light coming directly from the bulb, it is ALL reflected, and while an HID bulb might have different bright points that can cause some differences in the pattern, so does any halogen bulbs to a lesser extent (since they are not as bright). The only consistent light source is an LED, but again, the reflector is not designed for it either, so that point doesn't really stand in my opinion.

After installing, I will have to say that 35W HID in the stock reflector housing do NOT cause any glare, nor does the beam go higher than the cutoff. We did extensive testing while installing them, I really didn't want to be that guy with a ridiculous setup that blinds other people. I can tell you that the beam pattern compared to stock lighting is honestly indiscernible to the eye. When putting my high beams, (also HID), then it does become blinding, as it should.

My opinion on HID in stock reflectors is exactly the same one I have about overclocking your GPU or CPU (I'm an IT guy) : DON'T DO ANYTHING IF YOU DON'T KNOW WHAT YOU ARE DOING. But I will also say that there is a form of elitism going on with people saying "putting HID in stock reflector will cause cancer and end the world". These people are right to a certain point, because A LOT of people that are using HID kits did not do any testing and really are being dangerous with it. However, it is not true that it is automatically a bad thing and that you absolutely need projectors. Just because something wasn't designed with something in mind doesn't mean it couldn't or shouldn't be done. Don't put 55W HID in a 98 Civic with direct bulb vision. It blinds other people and has a glare that's out of this world. However, I will say it with the conviction of a guy that did his homework : 35W HID in stock Fiesta ST reflector housing works, and behave exactly as it should.

Hope this post get some views as it is something I really wanted to say.

Thanks for your input. I will be going this route soon as I've been reading from others that this indeed works properly. This just shows that a well made reflector can reflect any light correctly and that 2014-15 technology has evolved from my 1995 EG6 Civic.

 

[Tr1cycle]

I installed HID in the stock reflector housing this week-end (3 kits, low, high and fogs). I read A TON about it, and I don't take these things lightly mind you. I took my decision after reading from multiple sources that the Fiesta PASSED lamp inspection with HID in stock reflector. It might not be dot legal, but it is clearly in regulation with how a light beam should behave. The fiesta reflector does not have any light coming directly from the bulb, it is ALL reflected, and while an HID bulb might have different bright points that can cause some differences in the pattern, so does any halogen bulbs to a lesser extent (since they are not as bright). The only consistent light source is an LED, but again, the reflector is not designed for it either, so that point doesn't really stand in my opinion.

After installing, I will have to say that 35W HID in the stock reflector housing do NOT cause any glare, nor does the beam go higher than the cutoff. We did extensive testing while installing them, I really didn't want to be that guy with a ridiculous setup that blinds other people. I can tell you that the beam pattern compared to stock lighting is honestly indiscernible to the eye. When putting my high beams, (also HID), then it does become blinding, as it should.

My opinion on HID in stock reflectors is exactly the same one I have about overclocking your GPU or CPU (I'm an IT guy) : DON'T DO ANYTHING IF YOU DON'T KNOW WHAT YOU ARE DOING. But I will also say that there is a form of elitism going on with people saying "putting HID in stock reflector will cause cancer and end the world". These people are right to a certain point, because A LOT of people that are using HID kits did not do any testing and really are being dangerous with it. However, it is not true that it is automatically a bad thing and that you absolutely need projectors. Just because something wasn't designed with something in mind doesn't mean it couldn't or shouldn't be done. Don't put 55W HID in a 98 Civic with direct bulb vision. It blinds other people and has a glare that's out of this world. However, I will say it with the conviction of a guy that did his homework : 35W HID in stock Fiesta ST reflector housing works, and behave exactly as it should.

Hope this post get some views as it is something I really wanted to say.

Thanks for the input aswell could i bother you to post a picture of your low beams hitting a wall or garage door by any chance. Also +1 for the overclocking reference

 

[Violins77]

Sure, I actually intended to take some quality pictures with my Canon DSLR (I do photography so I can white balance the picture to look exactly like real life) but it was raining the last few days. I will try tonight.

 

[Violins77]

Thanks for your input. I will be going this route soon as I've been reading from others that this indeed works properly. This just shows that a well made reflector can reflect any light correctly and that 2014-15 technology has evolved from my 1995 EG6 Civic.

Well, if the light is really too intense, glare will be produced, so there is a limit to the amount of lumens that these reflectors will properly work with. That is why I insist on 35W. Also worth nothing, I did the testing with 8000K only. Lighter temperatures might give a different result and would require testing as well.

 

[Izzy]

Thanks for the input aswell could i bother you to post a picture of your low beams hitting a wall or garage door by any chance. Also +1 for the overclocking reference

I second that...I do IT work as well...good to see a few of us here

 

[Tr1cycle]

Sure, I actually intended to take come quality pictures with my Canon DSLR (I do photography so I can white balance the picture to look exactly like real life) but it was raining the last few days. I will try tonight.

Awesome definetly look forward to it do you mind me asking what company you went with on the hids. I have always used ddm tuning to much success

 

[blurred]

Well, if the light is really too intense, glare will be produced, so there is a limit to the amount of lumens that these reflectors will properly work with. That is why I insist on 35W. Also worth nothing, I did the testing with 8000K only. Lighter temperatures might give a different result and would require testing as well.

You don't really understand why it doesn't "seem" too bad do you? You put in a painted 8k bulb which puts out no light at all (compared to a proper HID bulb), so you have ~2400lumens to play with, which yes is an improvement over the ~1500lumen h11 halogen. Funnily enough, you could have spent $10 on some h9 bulbs and have the same 2400lumen output, so I don't think you really did much research beyond trying to find anything to support your wanting some blue lights.

If you put in a proper HID bulb with over 3000lumens you would have increased the intensity of all of the scatter/glare that you get from the OEM reflector and that is what is blinding and annoying.

The LEDs increase the glare as well, but again, they are pretty dim at only ~2500lumens as well, so it isn't as big a factor as a proper HID bulb. The colour temp of the h9 conversion makes it less annoying to other drivers so should be the only mod until you do a proper retrofit and are able to push more light.

Awaiting pics of blue light all up above the cutoff...