View Full Version : is it safe to buy aftermarket HID lights?
evilempire
07-20-2009, 03:21 PM
the dealer was asking for 60$ cash flat
self pick up
it seems a little sketchy but I'm saving a bit
anyone have an y experience with cheaper HID lights?
maybe they burn out realllly fast?
seelsy
07-20-2009, 03:34 PM
you sure thats not just for bulbs? most kits run in the 300 range, even ebay kits are up near 100, i bought a kit from illumination technique, (a sponsor on our site very recommended) and that kit was on special for 120, so be very careful about that, 60 seems very cheap.
dentinger
07-20-2009, 04:15 PM
i paid $40 us for my Apexcones. however, after the exchange rate, and shipping, it came to around $100.
i've had them in since january, and i havent had a single problems.
i had more problems with my Prolumens which i paid $290 for.
Nextmod
07-21-2009, 03:11 PM
I have lots of HID kits instock at a very special price right now for TM3 members
evilempire
07-21-2009, 05:10 PM
i'm pretty sure it's the kit
(it says KIT on the box) n it comes with more than the bulbs
it's because its cash only and pick up
which makes them 60$
(or maybe I should just ask Heidi to bring me to NextMod to buy some!)
TheMAN
07-21-2009, 05:35 PM
no it is NOT safe to use aftermarket HIDs... it causes excessive glare as the halogen headlights were not designed for it... it is also illegal to retrofit!
Olestra
07-21-2009, 05:41 PM
Hehe, TheMan is a big advocator for OEM HID.
Where's that link to your thread?
mazdabetty
07-21-2009, 05:52 PM
no it is NOT safe to use aftermarket HIDs... it causes excessive glare as the halogen headlights were not designed for it... it is also illegal to retrofit!
Wellll many would argue that... as far as glare goes, mazda3's have projectors, which make HIDs a little more suitable for us than a lot of other earlier model cars.
And yes I know, I know, they come stock with "halogen" projectors, but a lot of members have HIDs installed and they have a decent cut off, aside from two small bubbles that appear above the cutoff line (will search for thread later, there is an image somewhere that illustrates this).
If this is bothersome, you can always pick up retrofitted lenses (another thread on this somewhere, will search later) I think they go for around $100, which is a small price to pay to have perfect HIDs/
So to answer your question, no, they aren't completely unsafe, considering you use the appropriate wattage and don't burn everything inside the housing hahah... Going OEM might be the safest bet, but for close to a grand, is it really worth it?
I think all HID should be banned and they are not safe..i drive on country roads every day cause i live it out in the country and i get blinded by these stupid HID's....please don't put them on your car:complain
craigrodrigues88
07-21-2009, 06:34 PM
Isn't the point of H.I.D lights to make your driving experience a safer one? It shows a lot more of the road than regular halogens. If you are being blinded by these lights its more likely because they are aimed too high as opposed to it just being too bright. I have been blinded on numerous occasions by people who have regular halogens aimed higher.
TheMAN
07-21-2009, 06:40 PM
its only safer if they're implemented right... retrofits and misaims aren't ;)
cwp_sedan
07-21-2009, 07:38 PM
I don't know why everyone is saying not to get them.
Is it safe to buy and install aftermarket HIDs? Yes, if installed properly. Just make sure you buy from a vendor who will be 100% behind their product and warranty.
Of course installing HIDs into any OEM halogen projector will never provide the best output but it could be worse. At least the Mazda 3 has projectors compared to a vehicle without. This at least will help to keep the excess glare down.
Even vehicles with stock HIDs (BMW, Audi, even Mazda) can still blind an oncoming driver. They are less likely since the setup is designed that way but there is no way you can prevent it.
TheMAN...I understand completely with what you are saying but 99% of people are not going to retrofit a proper projector setup into the current housing. Aiming is another huge problem but then again most either don't aim them properly.
By telling this person to not install HIDs because they won't be OEM is simply ridiculous. I think that upgrading to HIDs was one of the best mods to my car. I will say that yes they are quite bright but compared to my stock lighting they make my driving much safer at night.
I would say get them, but only from a local, highly recommended sponsor.
TheMAN
07-21-2009, 07:52 PM
it's not aiming that's the big issue here! its how the light gets directed out that's the issue.... the focal points of a halogen light and a HID are way different to put it simply... so retrofitting isn't going to get the light where its supposed to be at the correct levels... in otherwords, the beam pattern won't be correct! it may LOOK fine to you with your naked eyes, but when using special equipment to measure/test headlights it tells a totally different story
there's a lot of science to this and saying retrofitting is fine and going OEM is ridiculous is just ignorant
please read this instead of telling people it's OK
http://www.danielsternlighting.com/tech/bulbs/Hid/conversions/conversions.html
mazdabetty
07-21-2009, 08:03 PM
it's not aiming that's the big issue here! its how the light gets directed out that's the issue.... the focal points of a halogen light and a HID are way different to put it simply... so retrofitting isn't going to get the light where its supposed to be at the correct levels... in otherwords, the beam pattern won't be correct! it may LOOK fine to you with your naked eyes, but when using special equipment to measure/test headlights it tells a totally different story
there's a lot of science to this and saying retrofitting is fine and going OEM is ridiculous is just ignorant
please read this instead of telling people it's OK
http://www.danielsternlighting.com/tech/bulbs/Hid/conversions/conversions.html
You've kind of disregarded most of the comments posted earlier... your link refers to "halogen lamps". Mazda 3's do not have the typical halogen lamps found on the majority of cars. Absolutely I think 1994 civic owners should stay FAR FAR away from HIDs lol... it's just a mess of light that fills the housing and looks dreadful. On our cars, however, it looks more appropriate, due to the projector lenses. And in regards to your comment, aiming IS the big issue when it comes to the Mazda 3, as that is the determining factor for other cars being blinded by a set of oncoming HIDs.
Dave_The_BMXER
07-21-2009, 08:05 PM
<3 my retro fitted hids :)
But if you want as 'safe' and legal as oem then just leave the halogens.
cwp_sedan
07-21-2009, 08:19 PM
it's not aiming that's the big issue here! its how the light gets directed out that's the issue.... the focal points of a halogen light and a HID are way different to put it simply... so retrofitting isn't going to get the light where its supposed to be at the correct levels... in otherwords, the beam pattern won't be correct! it may LOOK fine to you with your naked eyes, but when using special equipment to measure/test headlights it tells a totally different story
there's a lot of science to this and saying retrofitting is fine and going OEM is ridiculous is just ignorant
please read this instead of telling people it's OK
http://www.danielsternlighting.com/tech/bulbs/Hid/conversions/conversions.html
I again understand that the beam pattern will be different between OEM HID and OEM Halogen projectors as they are designed differently. Also the lenses themselves are different, but that's not really what the OP is concerned about. Is it something to think about? Yes. Is it something that should be considered when upgrading to an HID setup? Of course. It's good that it has been mentioned but maybe the discussion should be directed more towards whether it would be safe to install an HID kit into his vehicle. Which it is if done correctly.
If he requires any additional knowledge about beam patterns, frosted vs non-frosted projector lenses or anything else, I'm sure you can help him out quite a bit. :)
TheMAN
07-21-2009, 09:26 PM
You've kind of disregarded most of the comments posted earlier... your link refers to "halogen lamps". Mazda 3's do not have the typical halogen lamps found on the majority of cars. Absolutely I think 1994 civic owners should stay FAR FAR away from HIDs lol... it's just a mess of light that fills the housing and looks dreadful. On our cars, however, it looks more appropriate, due to the projector lenses. And in regards to your comment, aiming IS the big issue when it comes to the Mazda 3, as that is the determining factor for other cars being blinded by a set of oncoming HIDs.
did you scroll down to the very bottom of that page and read what it said about projectors (I'll give you a hit.. it's after the youtube video)?
actually, let me rephrase that question... did you read the whole page?
mazdabetty
07-21-2009, 09:33 PM
Nnnnnope. I sure didn't. :chuckle I got bored after the first 6 paragraphs about regular halogen lamps. :)
I do see and understand what you're saying. But I'll take the word of the hundreds of members on the board who do have them installed and have no problems with retrofitting. Sure it's not the "right" way, but it works.
And personally, I don't usually whine and complain when someone drives up behind me with after market HIDs.... (I only do that when people drive up behind me with their high beams on, which is 100x more common and 300x more annoying!!!) hahah
TheMAN
07-21-2009, 09:41 PM
with that logic its the same as:
-crowd of people tells you it's OK to jump off a bridge
-medical doctor and physicist tells you that you'll break your legs or you die if you jump off the bridge based on calculated bridge height, law of gravity, your mass calculated together to get rate of free fall, and force applied when you hit the bottom, and known force that will break a human :D
so who do you believe? the lemmings or the guy who has a degree on automobile lighting (the guy who wrote that page) and knows exactly what he is talking about?
happy motoring!
mazdabetty
07-21-2009, 09:56 PM
No not necessarily. I've just researched a lot outside these forums as well, and some evidence is quite obvious in photographs. (as far as cut off lines go etc)
I'm not saying I'm gonna go out and buy them, I'm perfectly fine with my halogens. And trust me, I'm the last person to follow the lemmings. I'm also all about the OEM mods, but by telling this person 'NO absolutely no', showing them one article and denying the fact that most people here do have HIDs installed and are perfectly happy with them, you might be coming on a little strong for someone who just wants a simple mod... no? This logic you're using could also be used against CAI and exhausts... :\
Again, no one is denying your article, but I really don't see anything wrong with buying a kit and setting them up to be pretty damn near perfect. Just my opinion.
:)
And with that being said, I'd keep distance from a $60 kit hahaha
TheMAN
07-21-2009, 10:18 PM
as I said before, photographs and your own eyes don't mean much.... put a photometric meter on it and on a testing rig and the difference IS obvious then
seelsy
07-22-2009, 09:17 AM
don't listen to all these people who tell you not to get them, if you want them get them, they will brighten the road more and make driving for you safer, ive spoken to people driving against me and theyve told me theres no difference in the light output coming towards me between these and my halogens due to the projection lens, our lenses arent spec for most hid kits, but the beam above isnt bright enough to blind anyone, and ive had many people tell me after driving at me, so if you want them, i say go for it.
I've seen many aftermarket "retro fitted" as your calling it HID kits that functioned perfectly. I've also seen some very bad dangerous setups. So get it done right, and it will be fine. I'm planning on getting them too.
Jeremy
insaini
07-22-2009, 10:23 AM
i have hids in my headlights and my fogs :chuckle
:gone
I think all HID should be banned and they are not safe..i drive on country roads every day cause i live it out in the country and i get blinded by these stupid HID's....please don't put them on your car:complain
Have you ever driven a car with HID headlights at night in those said country roads? It's a heck of a lot safer since you see the road clearer and also further ahead. Even factory HIDs are still going to blind you when that car is angled up or goes over a speed-bump and you're looking straight at it. I'm sure we've all been flashed at by a BMW or Lexus with factory HIDs going over a bump or up an incline opposite of us.
... in otherwords, the beam pattern won't be correct! it may LOOK fine to you with your naked eyes, but when using special equipment to measure/test headlights it tells a totally different story
as I said before, photographs and your own eyes don't mean much.... put a photometric meter on it and on a testing rig and the difference IS obvious then
I don't know about you but I have eyes that I see with and not some scientific meter that will go berzerk if I get "blinded" by someone's projector-housed aftermarket-kit.
Chill out man.
If you're that peeved about aftermarket retro-fitted HIDs in projector housing, I'd hate to see you drive opposite those mofos with aftermarket HID kits in their reflector housing at night.
Have you ever driven a car with HID headlights at night in those said country roads? It's a heck of a lot safer since you see the road clearer and also further ahead. Even factory HIDs are still going to blind you when that car is angled up or goes over a speed-bump and you're looking straight at it. I'm sure we've all been flashed at by a BMW or Lexus with factory HIDs going over a bump or up an incline opposite us
Nope i have not driven in a car with HID..i can see just fine with my stock head lights...Cars that come from factroy with HID don't blind me..the ones that people install after market blind me...it might be that they have them pointing to high..who knows.....but if i bought a car that came with it from factory then i wouldn't change it but others wise i would not go buy them!
cwp_sedan
07-22-2009, 10:05 PM
Nope i have not driven in a car with HID..i can see just fine with my stock head lights...Cars that come from factroy with HID don't blind me..the ones that people install after market blind me...it might be that they have them pointing to high..who knows.....but if i bought a car that came with it from factory then i wouldn't change it but others wise i would not go buy them!
I think you're kidding yourself if you think that OEM HIDs can't blind you. If your car came with HIDs then of course you don't need to change them. Maybe you should drive a car with HIDs. I bet you would find a difference in light output.
jonjon72
07-22-2009, 10:35 PM
To the OP. The choice is really up to you on what you want to add to your car. There is always go to be someone who for or against your decision. Whether it be HID's (too bright), lowering springs (too low), cat back system (too loud), tires (cheap brand), etc.
I currently have HID's and think it's one of the best mods I've done. But again, thats just my opinion. Have not had any problems with the popo or drivers weaving uncontrolably because I've blinded them! :chuckle
Dave_The_BMXER
07-22-2009, 11:29 PM
Like jonjon I have never had any issues or even had anyone flash their lights at me that mine were to bright.
I think you're kidding yourself if you think that OEM HIDs can't blind you. If your car came with HIDs then of course you don't need to change them. Maybe you should drive a car with HIDs. I bet you would find a difference in light output.
I still wouldn't buy them and install it on my car!
cwp_sedan
07-23-2009, 01:26 AM
I still wouldn't buy them and install it on my car!
No worries. You like your halogens which are still ok. :)
Thrizzl3
07-23-2009, 01:27 AM
I still wouldn't buy them and install it on my car!
your missing out on how bright the street is with HID's compared to halogens
No worries. You like your halogens which are still ok. :)
lol
your missing out on how bright the street is with HID's compared to halogens
lol....i'll keep my halogens:)
Thrizzl3
07-23-2009, 01:39 AM
lol....i keep my halogens:)
http://i210.photobucket.com/albums/bb106/cwp_sedan/smilies/smiley-vault-signs-060.gif
http://i210.photobucket.com/albums/bb106/cwp_sedan/smilies/smiley-vault-signs-060.gif
Thanks Phil:)
Hey at least he didn't type homogens. :chuckle
:gone
JashiK
07-23-2009, 10:51 AM
What Aristeidis is trying to say is that OEM HID's have a very clean cut off, so on coming traffic doesn't constantly blind him.
With OEM projector or OEM reflector there is almost no glare because all of the light is angled under the cut-off line. When you retrofit HID's in a halogen housing it produces a tremendous amount of glare (even more so in a halogen reflector housing) and it becomes a constant blindness to the driver ahead or for oncoming traffic. Yes the road lights up better, but what people don't realize is the amount of glare it produces and then becomes unsafe. Not unsafe for the driver, it's actually great because signs that never lit up before are nice and bright, but it does constantly blind oncoming traffic and cars ahead of you.
Yes the 3 has projectors, but projectors made for halogen lighting (unless you have a 3 that has OEM HIDs). It's not designed for HID bulbs due to the way light reflects and projects out, hence you get a few glare spots, but it's not horrible compared to putting them in a reflector housing.
What Aristeidis is trying to say is that OEM HID's have a very clean cut off, so on coming traffic doesn't constantly blind him.
With OEM projector or OEM reflector there is almost no glare because all of the light is angled under the cut-off line. When you retrofit HID's in a halogen housing it produces a tremendous amount of glare (even more so in a halogen reflector housing) and it becomes a constant blindness to the driver ahead or for oncoming traffic. Yes the road lights up better, but what people don't realize is the amount of glare it produces and then becomes unsafe. Not unsafe for the driver, it's actually great because signs that never lit up before are nice and bright, but it does constantly blind oncoming traffic and cars ahead of you.
Yes the 3 has projectors, but projectors made for halogen lighting (unless you have a 3 that has OEM HIDs). It's not designed for HID bulbs due to the way light reflects and projects out, hence you get a few glare spots, but it's not horrible compared to putting them in a reflector housing.
Thanks for posting it...I was having a hard time trying to expain it:chuckle
cwp_sedan
07-23-2009, 11:44 AM
Why are we continuing with this? TheMAN already covered this. We don't need more explanations on WHY OEM HIDs are better. The OP is asking whether it's safe for him/her to install them.
I'm getting bored of this topic. It's just like the 2010 smile.
FLIPDADY
07-23-2009, 11:49 AM
Why are we continuing with this? TheMAN already covered this. We don't need more explanations on WHY OEM HIDs are better. The OP is asking whether it's safe for him/her to install them.
I'm getting bored of this topic. It's just like the 2010 smile.
Agreed!
BTW, I'm adding some HID reverse lights.:chuckle
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