[V8] HID conversion

[Fred Munro]

The problem with most of the HID retrofits is that the reflector you are
installing them into is optimized for a halogen filament bulb and not the
HID arc capsule. The HID capsule generates light from an arc that is
oriented along the longitudinal axis of the car. Some halogen bulbs use the
same orientation for the filament, so a HID retrofit into one of these
reflectors gives a better result. The best retrofit result is from
projector-style lights that use a mask to give a sharp cut-off. If the
halogen bulb filament runs "side-to-side", you'll get a lot of scatter from
a HID retrofit.
Even if the bulb filament on the halogen light has the same orientation as
the HID arc, halogen lamp reflectors are usually hemispherical. HID
reflectors are more elliptical in shape. They project the light as a wide
flat beam that gives very good side illumination and minimizes glare for
oncoming cars. The glare from a bad retrofit can be blinding.
If your fogs are projector lights with a good mask, the HID retrofit will
put out a lot more light than the halogen bulbs. If they are standard design
fogs, you may get a lot of vertical scatter that will make it hard to see in
fog and snow.

HTH

Fred Munro
'97 S6

-----Original Message-----
From: quattro-bounces at audifans.com [mailto:quattro-bounces at audifans.com] On
Behalf Of J123fs at aol.com
Sent: September 16, 2010 10:20 AM
To: thejimrose at gmail.com; quattro at audifans.com; v8 at audifans.com
Subject: Re: HID conversion

I have good bulbs in the driving/fog lenses now, along with relayed Euros  
with good bulbs.
What I want is better side illumination (which the fog/driving light lenses 
 are made to do), but 50 watt halogen bulbs almost melted the housing on my 
last  V8. 
My thinking is the HID bulbs are long and skinny and would have a bit more  
room in there vs the standard H3 bulb, along with many more lumens.
I have been doing some research and have found even the cheapo HID setups  
are much brighter and better light than stock H3s (good), but have poor  
longevity and quality (bad).
Aftermarket driving lights won't do, I have pretty rare and pristine  91 
5spd V8 and don't want any funky things hanging off it spoiling the stock  
lines.
-Jack
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