Headlights

[Euchre]

The +anything bulbs are overdriven, and will not live as long. The HIRs do not sacrifice lifespan and give more light. Also, if you make your low beams as bright as stock high beams, I hate you. Don't think its smart to blind people coming at you. Upgraded high beams are great, since you shouldn't be using those when someone is coming toward you.

[SE95]

I've got Phillips CrystalVision bulbs for my low beams, and I have 3000K HIDs in my fog lights. Work great, I hardly ever need to use my high beams any more, and I've never been "flashed" by other drivers coming towards me. I plan on repeating this in my Grand Prix (factory headlights on that car are terrible) and my dad's car as well.

[Stoic Guardian]

these are the led bulbs i was talking about

High Power LED Headlights Upgrade | Replace H4 H7 H11 9006 Halogen

since they only have led's on one side i think that i will be able to focus the light just on the part of the reflector that goes where i want it to so i wont have to worry about blinding people so much. how hard is the mod to run the HIR's? that's the one that re directs heat back toward the filament right?

Euchre* i totally agree, i want a bit more light just because i drive a lot at night.

[Euchre]

Yes, HIRs relfect IR back at the element to increase the output. The mod to the tabs is dead easy.

The stock fog assemblies and design are really good at creating fill lighting close and wide. The bulbs can be upgraded, and would help without putting too much light high up. There are HIRs that will fit them. Something I've noticed since I replaced my driver's side fog housing which included having a stock grille on it again, is that I don't get flashed when I do have my fogs on. I got that occasionally before, so apparently aside from some additional protection, those grilles reduce the upward glare.

[1 Lucky Texan]

for other drivers, the cutoff/angle is more important than raw brightness. That's why folks just throwing HIDs in without the proper projecter/housing cause problems - no or improper cutoff.

Daniel Stern Lighting Consultancy and Supply has some info on bulbs.

[SE95]

I'm not sure about LED headlights. I am thinking they may be too focused to produce the wide beam you want as a low beam light. This is the same reason why those LED replacement bulbs for your tail lights are a very bad idea.

[1 Lucky Texan]

Originally Posted by Euchre

Yes, HIRs relfect IR back at the element to increase the output. The mod to the tabs is dead easy.

The stock fog assemblies and design are really good at creating fill lighting close and wide. The bulbs can be upgraded, and would help without putting too much light high up. There are HIRs that will fit them. Something I've noticed since I replaced my driver's side fog housing which included having a stock grille on it again, is that I don't get flashed when I do have my fogs on. I got that occasionally before, so apparently aside from some additional protection, those grilles reduce the upward glare.

I think I learned about the HIRs from one of your posts. Next time the car needs bulbs, I'm definitely getting them.

is there only one manufacturer though? I might stock up before they drop them from the catalog!

[Euchre]

There's not just one manufacturer to my knowledge, but they aren't the most common bulbs. The 9011s seem less common than the 9012s, the latter being used in John Deere tractors, thus a whole extra market for them.

Those LED units do look a bit odd and very directional. That could be a good thing for the addition of brightness in your fogs though, as you might be able to orient them to keep the light lower and wider.

[Stoic Guardian]

Originally Posted by SE95

I'm not sure about LED headlights. I am thinking they may be too focused to produce the wide beam you want as a low beam light. This is the same reason why those LED replacement bulbs for your tail lights are a very bad idea.

that's a good idea, i hadn't thought of that. i have seen some manufacturers that make bulbs that seem to put fairly even light all the way around that might work well. i would definately need to see those led's in our housings to want to blow 100+ on them after what has been said. where did you buy those HIR's.

good idea on the fog lights but i have been thinking of switching them out for hella black magic's anyway.

[cardoc]

If you want good lighting at a reasonable cost, I installed projectors with HID. It took 2 hours to retro fit the projectors into the light housing. I got the projectors from Retro Fit Source. The HIDs I already had with ballast.