Headlight bulb upgrades.... Go with PIAA - Page 2

mohrds · #16 04-23-2002, 11:42 AM

I'll take this one Lwin,

Shows fairly accurate color spectrum:
http://www.coolbulbs.com/HIDKits_body.asp

Shows installation steps:
http://www.nsxprime.com/FAQ/DIY/hid_install.htm

Kit Parts:
http://www.autolamps-online.com/prod...0066000kit.htm

I'm waiting to see if Lwin's supplier has all Phillips components or not, Otherwise I'd go with the autolamps-online 9006 6000K Xenon HID Headlamp conversion kit.

Doug

#17 04-23-2002, 02:34 PM

Maybe I'm the only one that thinks this way? But Having people flash you all the time might be hinting that your lights are too bright. I mean seriously all you are doing is causing a road hazard. If Someone is blinded by your lights its going to cause an accident, and theres a good chance it will involve your car as well. White lights are cool, but your not driving rally so why would you need something as powerful as PIAA?

BoominSVX · #18 04-23-2002, 02:48 PM

The SVX lights are not necessarily bright, they are just deceiving. There are quite a few cars on the road that shouldn't be there due to the light in your eyes. I live with one of them (green95hoe), but the only real reason someone flashs you is because they see 2 lights on each side. This is a natural look on any car with high beams on, and they are just letting us know it. I didn't buy my lights to be brighter (which the PIAA's would do). I just bought them for a better look. That's why I have no complaints yet. All this talk about my cheap lights has made me subconcious about them. Now I know they are going to blow on me soon.

Shadow248 · #19 04-23-2002, 03:29 PM

Just a heads-up for those of you who want to do the "HID conversion" - don't waste your money. After this subject came up a few days ago, i managed to get in contact with an old friend of mine who i thought had these. As it turns out, he now has a full HID system, but he did have the "conversion" done previously, and he confirmed what all the experts had said. The conversion does exactly the opposite of what it is intended to do. The end result is a VERY YELLOW light. Because true HID systems are designed from the element to the casing, individual HID elements will not work in casings designed for Halogen lights. In cars with diffuser lenses (SVX high beam) the conversion looks like a really cheap imitation bulb. On cars with clear or projector lenses (SVX low beam) you get a very yellow, very diluted light. The problem is that for the conversion to work, you would have to get the HID light source in the exact same place as the halogen filament was. Those of you who have seen HID systems know that this is impossible, because an HID capsule does not have a fine point at which the light is made, instead, the entire capsule is the light source. So not only will you not get the look or increased light intensity that you want, but you will also have a heck of a time trying to aim them properly.

Hope this helps.

BoominSVX · #20 04-23-2002, 03:43 PM

Ummmm... Yeah, I'm with him.!

Beav · #21 04-23-2002, 10:53 PM

I've got PIAAs in my car and I never get 'flashed', although I would have no problem with a slim-goodie flashing me once in a while.

Then again, I'm not prone to driving around in traffic with my fog lights on... *really biting tongue hard, this is a huge pet peeve of mine*

mohrds · #22 04-24-2002, 07:41 AM

<<Just a heads-up for those of you who want to do the "HID conversion" - don't waste your money.>>

I had a beautiful response all typed in and when I tried to post it it got sucked into the netherworld, so I'll try again.

Phillips makes a variety of arc discharge tubes. Some have a long gas chamber, some have a short gas chamber. There is a difference in how they are used.

The long tubes have been around longer and are less expensive and are available for automotive use as the D2S and the D2R. Most HID conversion kits take an existing D2S cartridge, grind down the mounting base and glue on a base for a 9006/9007/H4/H4 and sell you the kit.

They do give a bizarre light beam when used with a fillament designed system.

The newer more expensive chambers have a light output area of between 5mm and 8mm (depending on the model) which are the same length as filiment bulbs. These bulbs are designed to give automotive manufactures a choice in headlamp options.

Currently when you order a new car, if you order the HID option, you are getting a completely different headlamp housing than if you get the standard headlamp package. On the 2003 vehicles, there will be one headlamp system with the option being a HID upgrade available as a factory or dealer installed option. The new HID chambers with short output allow the manufacturers to use a single headlamp system since the capsule and a filiment now have the same beam properties.

Now for the SVX retrofit. The new "filiment sized" chambers are available for retrofit projects and can accuratly produce the same beam as a filiment bulb.

The legal problem is that in order to be US legal, HID systems must have both a headlight washer and an autoleveling system.

There are some companies that are submitting complete retrofit kits to the govt for approval. One I know of is for full size GM trucks (like they need it!). It contains a replacement headlamp housing that includes an autoleveling system and front mounted washers.

I am trying to put a system like this together for the SVX but it will NOT be cost effective. It will mainly be for my own use and for the enjoyment of others to DIYs but I cannot afford to send 20 or so prototypes to various govt agencies for approval.

HID is available for filiment replacement, its just not in the cheap conversion kits yet.

Doug

Paisan · #23 07-15-2002, 01:49 PM

Hmm well from my experience in the Off-road world.

Stay away from PIAA lights. Stick with Hella and Cibie and IPF. Phillips isn't bad either. I have tried the PIAA replacements and all they do it wind the fillament tighter and more focused so they appear to be brighter but aren't. Higher wattage bulbs are the way to go if you want more light.

As for a HID conversion kit. I'm going to be looking into this for my SVX once I get it as well.

-mike

Seraph · #24 07-15-2002, 02:32 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by Paisan
Hmm well from my experience in the Off-road world.

Stay away from PIAA lights. Stick with Hella and Cibie and IPF. Phillips isn't bad either. I have tried the PIAA replacements and all they do it wind the fillament tighter and more focused so they appear to be brighter but aren't. Higher wattage bulbs are the way to go if you want more light.

As for a HID conversion kit. I'm going to be looking into this for my SVX once I get it as well.

-mike

I like hella as well.

svxcess · #25 07-15-2002, 02:41 PM

Have you done the alternator wiring upgrade? Good for about a 2 volt increase, which makes a huge difference in bulb intensity.

I have been running the PIAA Platinum series for almost 2 years now without a burnout or other problems. These bulbs, along with the wiring upgrade, gave me a lot more light than I had with the stock setup.

It may be my imagination but when I replaced my headlight assemblies with new ones, everything seemed brighter still. I imagine that dirty or cloudy lenses keep a lot of light from getting to the road.

dromano · #26 08-17-2002, 04:55 PM

what did you pay for the new head lights? I priced them at the dealer where I bought my first SVX in 1998, quote: $365 per side!!!!!!!!

David

#27 08-17-2002, 06:13 PM

Any bulb with colored glass is crap. I spent 40 bucks on a set of HID wannabe bulbs, blech. I couldn't see a damn thing when it was rainy. You know what the smarter thing is? just buy the name brand (walker, philips) "Brighter than stock" series. I have a set of 20% brighter than stock bulbs in my neon, they work great.

- Ca$h

Seraph · #28 08-17-2002, 06:27 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by Seraph
PIAA Crystal Ions are great! I have them in my foglight. They are bright yellow.
The rest of PIAAs (HID Look alikes) are crap IMHO. It's all in science. The HIDs runs at 4300k. Regular lights around 3200 ish (or is it 3600)? If you put a blue filter for 4300 range on a 3200k light bulb, your output will be a hell of a lot dimmer. I think the actual output is around 30-35% of wattage. So, if you have a 85W HID look alike light, you are only getting about 30W ish. Beware of what you are getting.

Lwin (learnt from experience)
If I were you, I'd pay a little extra and get a philips HID kit. They are only running around 500 bucks now.

Cash...

I think we covered this already. If not in this thread in some other thread.

Lwin

#29 08-17-2002, 06:52 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by Seraph

That's why I don't buy stuff from EBAY. I got mine from a local ricer store and they give out 1 year warranty. Anything happens within a year, they replace the bulb. No questions ask.

Lwin

Try buying your SVX from eBay

Naw, it ain't really funny, actually.

#30 08-17-2002, 07:16 PM

I've thought about it. but...eh.. NAH.

- Ca$h