After market HID illegal?
#1
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After market HID illegal?
I just purchased after market low beam HID's for non HID vehicle. Now I am questioning:
1) Are these illegal?
2) If illegal, will they be too bright (4300K bulb) and will a blind people / attract attention, **** people off?
3) Am I going to pass inspection?
I decided to purchase HID's because I was sick of taking off the bumper every time I needed to change a halogen bulb. The Sylvania high end bright bulbs that I was putting in seem to burn a little hotter and don't last as long. So I thought an HID kit would be more longer lasting. Now I think I am regretting it. Opinions?
1) Are these illegal?
2) If illegal, will they be too bright (4300K bulb) and will a blind people / attract attention, **** people off?
3) Am I going to pass inspection?
I decided to purchase HID's because I was sick of taking off the bumper every time I needed to change a halogen bulb. The Sylvania high end bright bulbs that I was putting in seem to burn a little hotter and don't last as long. So I thought an HID kit would be more longer lasting. Now I think I am regretting it. Opinions?
#2
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Our cars have projectors so the beam of light will be distributed nicely on the road. When you put HID bulbs into reflector housings, then the beam isn't distributed as evenly, so you blind oncoming traffic. You will be just fine.
I recommend 4300K because it is the brightest. Anything higher than 5000k will just give you more color, but less actual light output.
I recommend 4300K because it is the brightest. Anything higher than 5000k will just give you more color, but less actual light output.
#3
Wheels, not rims!!
iTrader: (8)
1) I am uncertain if there is a law in PA concerning aftermarket HID headlights.
2) 4300 kelvin is color temperature rating, not brightness. Anything above 4300k is blue and starts to get purple around 10000 kelvin, below 4300k is yellow. It is not the brightness that blinds the hell out of people, it is the inadequate cut off of the line which shouldn't be higher than the window line of cars in front.
3) Probably will.
2) 4300 kelvin is color temperature rating, not brightness. Anything above 4300k is blue and starts to get purple around 10000 kelvin, below 4300k is yellow. It is not the brightness that blinds the hell out of people, it is the inadequate cut off of the line which shouldn't be higher than the window line of cars in front.
3) Probably will.
#4
Wheels, not rims!!
iTrader: (8)
Our cars have projectors so the beam of light will be distributed nicely on the road. When you put HID bulbs into reflector housings, then the beam isn't distributed as evenly, so you blind oncoming traffic. You will be just fine.
I recommend 4300K because it is the brightest. Anything higher than 5000k will just give you more color, but less actual light output.
I recommend 4300K because it is the brightest. Anything higher than 5000k will just give you more color, but less actual light output.
#7
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You're right about some OEM set-ups with HID bulbs in reflector housings, but they have special shields to keep the light from reflecting off of the bottom part of the housing.
Last edited by Rx8vsMalibu; 05-30-2011 at 01:18 AM.
#8
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I think theoretically HID headlights are supposed to have a self-leveling mechanism which retrofitted lights won't have. So from that perspective it may be illegal - but the question is if this will be spotted during an inspection. I'd say, not likely... depends on how strict they are in PA and what do they check.
#9
Wheels, not rims!!
iTrader: (8)
I think the cut-off and everything is the same because there are quite a few members of the forum who have upgraded their halogen lights to HID.
You're right about some OEM set-ups with HID bulbs in reflector housings, but they have special shields to keep the light from reflecting off of the bottom part of the housing.
You're right about some OEM set-ups with HID bulbs in reflector housings, but they have special shields to keep the light from reflecting off of the bottom part of the housing.
Reflector housings do not have shields, it is simply designing the reflector itself to reflect the light to certain angles only.
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OP, just do a search about HID conversion and you will find a few threads on the forum of people who did it successfully.
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