Question about headlight upgrade

[Sequoiasoon]

Must be that time of year when people are driving in the dark again.

I personally stick to 4k-5k bulbs. The "innovited" kits are pretty good for the cost but there's a definite improvement to Morimoto branded rebased bulbs, ballasts, ignitors, etc. Reiterate, please do not put these kits in a fog light (no glare shield), high beam (they don't like to be cycled), or reflector-based low beam.

The older, harder to find Hella Micro DE are projector fogs with a full cutoff internal (no outer glare shield). I think Blazer was also. There was (is) multiple threads on HID Planet and Candlepower forums with the H3C HID conversions to them and testing performed with excellent controlled cutoff. I've had those since around 2008 with the instructions from those forums.

I have replaced sets that were wearing (reflectors) but that happened with the regular halogen bulbs in them also. Harder is protecting the lens with film because of the shape

 

[johnmyster]

The older, harder to find Hella Micro DE are projector fogs with a full cutoff internal (no outer glare shield). I think Blazer was also. There was (is) multiple threads on HID Planet and Candlepower forums with the H3C HID conversions to them and testing performed with excellent controlled cutoff. I've had those since around 2008 with the instructions from those forums.

I have replaced sets that were wearing (reflectors) but that happened with the regular halogen bulbs in them also. Harder is protecting the lens with film because of the shape

Absolutely, there are exceptions, but most of the fog light "upgrades" are unnecessary, dangerous, and defeat the point of fogs. Sticking an HID bulb (or LED conversion) in a reflector fog housing, instead of a black tipped 9045 turns them into a set of low mounted high beams, but they look cool at the mall.

I do have a set of morimoto matchbox projectors around for a H1 HID fog conversion...

 

[Sequoiasoon]

Absolutely, there are exceptions, but most of the fog light "upgrades" are unnecessary, dangerous, and defeat the point of fogs. Sticking an HID bulb (or LED conversion) in a reflector fog housing, instead of a black tipped 9045 turns them into a set of low mounted high beams, but they look cool at the mall.

I do have a set of morimoto matchbox projectors around for a H1 HID fog conversion...

I'm totally with you on that and that proper aiming is definitely needed.

My wife's Pilot I had to aim headlights down and fog lights up. Old school Hella aiming instructions 30 feet from a wall, light with a slight down angle. All my cars get done the same. Funny thing is I get flashed more in my wife's Pilot, all factory LED fog and projector lows and I even aimed hers a bit lower. HID Hella DE fog and HID H11 in Accord projectors, no flash pretty much ever. Same with the better quality LED and HID in others, no issues.

 

[johnmyster]

I'm totally with you on that and that proper aiming is definitely needed.

My wife's Pilot I had to aim headlights down and fog lights up. Old school Hella aiming instructions 30 feet from a wall, light with a slight down angle. All my cars get done the same. Funny thing is I get flashed more in my wife's Pilot, all factory LED fog and projector lows and I even aimed hers a bit lower. HID Hella DE fog and HID H11 in Accord projectors, no flash pretty much ever. Same with the better quality LED and HID in others, no issues.

I'm not sure why "no flash" is the metric for all good. When I get blinded I'm usually trying to find the road and not thinking about flashing back.

Our state dropped headlight aim check during annual inspection (with the big prism checker thingy) a few years ago and I'm hoping it comes back. But it only references the cutoff for aim and not inappropriate glare caused by incorrect bulb type...which is also an inspection violation.

 

[Exhaustgases]

I wish we could go back to good old incandescent sealed beams of the 50's and 60's, just way better for eye health. But yeah who cares about that right?

I remember the cops back in the 70's turning around and chasing a friend because of the aircraft landing lights he had on his car. Now it would be no big deal.

Yeah the super bright head light folks make me think of all the disrespectful smokers back in the day, but now its overly bright head lights. Yeah will be so nice when and if the day comes they crack down on these stupid bright lights. It could be a win win for huge high costing tickets, lots of extra money for roads etc.