These are HID beam pics. You can see a shadow area just below the main part of the beam pattern on the left (it's also on the right) , I think that's created by the high voltage return wire from the top of the bulb that runs along side the bulb. Luckily it's not in the main beam, but I think they could not adjust the way the bulb is placed in the housing. On the road the fog lights basically cover that up, it's not noticable with the fogs on. As you can see there's not much light scattered above the cutoff, but what you can't see is that at the center of the beam the cutoff is blue/purple (similar to an Acura's cutoff) and moves to yellowish as you move outwards.
1) Presumably you cannot have the large black plastic cap (on the inside back of the headlight assembly) back on after this mod.
2) I gather from your text that the "bulb" is not a bulb as we know it (Jim for you Trekkie fans) but sounds a bit like a Festoon bulb with wires coming out either end ,hence the "high voltage wire running along side the bulb" if this is the case do you think it could suffer from burning (presumably it is special wire), because I imagine the bulb must get very hot.
3) How is the light output on unlit roads would you say there is a 'great improvement' over the standard
And lastly would you recommend the mod and say it was good value for money ?
It would be interesting also to know how M/B view a mod like this and any warranty issues.
What are the benefit of having such light installed other than their brightness?
The color. The HID lights are designed to emit (sp?) light that very closely resembles daylight. Whereas normal bulbs do not. So HID lights create a more natural image, and the driver is able to see farther (because of the brightness) and see more details.
1) Yes the black cap does fit back onto the housing, I was just showing how it's connected.
2) I'm not sure how hot the return wire gets, but from what I learned the HID bulb actually runs cooler than a halogen bulb. It was sort of apparent this morning, as it took longer for the headlights to "burn" off some overnight frost than it did the fogs.
3) There is a noticeable improvement of light output on the road. Would I say it's a great improvement? Probably not. I mean the stock headlights were pretty good to begin with, how much better could it really get before you end up with search lights in front of your car. The HIDs does seem to light up more of the shoulder and a little farther down the road. My wife thinks it's a huge improvement, but she compares it to her Jetta who's lights suck, I'm a bit more skeptical.
4) I am happy I did the mod, I wanted a kit that would make it look stock and I feel it does. So far comparing it to any other car with factory HIDs the colour of the light and output on the road seem to be similar. (I don't get the shadow any more when a car with HIDs passes me. ) Would I say it's a good value? It depends on whether someone wants to spend $600 just to get xenons in their car, the factory option is $1600. I wanted xenon in my car but I bought it used, so I was willing to pay up to the factory price for xenon. For me, this was a good deal.
5) As for on coming glare, looking at the lights they don't seem insanely bright and after a couple of days I haven't gotten flashed. I did get my wife and a friend to drive a head of me to see what the thought and they said they thought they were just whiter, but I might be bothering other drivers. What I see in the pics looks to be similar glare. (extra light above the cutoff)
6) The light on the road is way whiter, cars halogen lights look like they are just emitting "yellow" light. I do really light the extra ditch illumination.
I hope this helps. If anyone in Edmonton is interested in looking at them, feel free to PM me and I don't mind meeting up to "show" them off. Maybe I could get a forum member 's opinion on the on coming glare.
Anthony
Aero Auto Parts (Shop that did the install)
GT HID H7 4300K (kit used)
Derek
Linear Mode
