[s-cars] Interesting read on HID conversions

[Bruce Mendel]

Daniel Stern is the guru, and I always buy stuff from him at higher prices
than elsewhere because I appreciate his dedication to the craft, and his
advice.

But I agree on this one...HID conversions are illegal, the lights are no
designed for it, etc. etc, but man there is a HUGE difference in the
low-beam performance from DOT to HID, including a big difference from higher
wattage bulbs and HIRs. There's just no comparison whatsoever, unless you do
not like the color temperature compared to halogen.
I find the 4300-5000 range lights up signs, reflectors, and lane indicator
road-embedded reflectors better, which helps me further in night/rain
driving.

Bruce
----- Original Message ----- 
From: "LL - NY" <larrycleung at gmail.com>
To: "jpb3" <jpburns3 at gmail.com>
Cc: <s-car-list at audifans.com>
Sent: Monday, December 18, 2006 9:12 AM
Subject: Re: [s-cars] Interesting read on HID conversions


> Anyone do a one to one comparo between HID and HIR 9012's on
> DOT lamps? I'll eventually be able to do so, when I find the time to
> swap out my 9012's for my GB HID's, but just wondering.
>
> LL - NY - Also in Deer Country, and not liking the DOT cutoff
>
> On 12/18/06, jpb3 <jpburns3 at gmail.com> wrote:
> >
> > Daniel Stern can claim whatever he wants but my "real world" analysis
> > tells
> > me my HK HID kit is about 400% better than the oem DOT low beam set up.
> > Best mod I have done to my car.  Living in deer country I really
> > appreciate
> > how the HID kit lights up the road immediately in front of the car and
to
> > the sides as well as having a much longer beam than the oem set up.
> >
> > john
> >
> > On 12/17/06, Eric Phillips <gcmschemist at gmail.com> wrote:
> > >
> > > > Date: Sun, 17 Dec 2006 16:29:26 -0500
> > > > From: Igor Kessel <KBATPO at comcast.net>
> > > > Subject: Re: [s-cars] Interesting read on HID conversions
> > > > To: djdawson2 at aol.com
> > > > Cc: s-car-list at audifans.com
> > > >
> > > > djdawson2 at aol.com wrote:
> > > > > Good info if you read the whole thing... not to mention these kits
> > are
> > > illegal.  Question is, why are sales of such illegal kits allowed to
> > > continue?
> > > > >
> > > > >
> > >
> >
http://www.danielsternlighting.com/tech/bulbs/Hid/conversions/conversions.html
> > > > >
> > > > > Dave
> > > >
> > > > I wonder myself Dave and the only explanation I see is the lack of
> > true
> > > > concern with safety from the US authorities. Otherwise how can
anyone
> > > > explain the criminally indistinguishable all-red rear turn signals,
> > > > orange parking lights, the bright-to-dim turn signals all around and
> > the
> > > > absence of the European Asymmetrical beam?
> > >
> > > With all sorts of varying sorts of heights and light outputs of OEM
> > > headlamp assemblies and foglight installations to boot...
> > >
> > > > To date I have yet to see a hack kit which would be at least
adequate
> > to
> > > > true European halogen lights, let alone rival the true HID of either
> > > > European or even the US DOT specification.
> > >
> > > US DOT, like the OEM stuff that Came on *my* UrS-car?  The low beams
> > > were pathetic.  The high beams are like the sun, in terms of what they
> > > light up at night.  But the low beams aren't good for seeing anything.
> > >
> > > The HID "hack" kit that I have does actually illuminate stuff that's
> > > further away.  I tested them.
> > >
> > > > In fact the "kits" that I did see would light up the road rather
> > poorly
> > > > as if the light source were out of focus in its reflector. I suspect
> > > > that clowns who put them together never studied the so-called
> > "Science"
> > > > in high school, much less "Linear Optics" in college.
> > >
> > > Well, I studied chemistry in college, so what do I know?  Well, I do
> > > know how to carry out a controlled before/after experiment.  I also
> > > read D.S.'s website.  I realized that with all things automotive,
> > > compromises must be reached.  While one cannot alter the laws of
> > > physics, one can alter the lumens produced by a light source, and
> > > increase them.  By a lot.
> > >
> > > I did notice that the HID kit produced some additional near-car
> > > illumination.  I see it mostly to the sides, which is actually nice on
> > > the dark streets in our neighborhood - kids and pets rarely seem to
> > > wish to be seen until the last minute 'round here.
> > >
> > > But the real test was the fact that the headlamps now illuminated
> > > about twice as far down the road as my stock lamps did - this by
> > > counting the center stripes visible before and after, on the same
> > > night the lights were installed.
> > >
> > > We live in deer country - and every foot of additional warning is
> > > helpful, especially in the low-beam situation.  The high beams on
> > > these cars is so good that I don't worry about that at all when there
> > > are no other cars on the road.
> > >
> > > I have not noticed adverse backscatter in rain or snow conditions.  I
> > > have not compared side-by-side, however.
> > >
> > > Eric
> > > _______________________________________________
> > > S-CAR-List mailing list
> > > S-CAR-List at audifans.com
> > > http://www.audifans.com/mailman/listinfo/s-car-list
> > >
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