byte

Yes we all notice those glaring lights coming at us... but unless we stopped the vehicle and looked it over to find the true cause of the glare... maybe its a "leveled" truck with stock HID??? Maybe the lights are aimed way too high??? Lots of times its a truck pulling a heavy trailer that has the worst lights I find tipping the front end upwards. From what I have read HID in regular buckets works awesome in some models and not others... and also depends on the application which may never see the highway. I have stock HID and it seems to annoy oncoming drivers as well. The cut off line is on dual beam HID lights as this is the actuator that moves to change the beam pattern from HI to LOW


Any retrofit of the headlights is not legal unless you use DOT approved lights... Retrofitting DOT projectors into a DOT housing is also not legal btw


Installing HID optics (such as projectors designed to accept an HID bulb) in halogen headlamp housings can be done, but it is a great deal more complicated and difficult to do correctly than is commonly understood. Typically the process involves baking the headlight assembly to loosen the adhesive, removing the lens, cutting the reflector, mounting the HID projector, and using silicone to reseal the lens. Sounds simple? Sure, but there are significant and substantial issues and challenges. The projector has to be mounted very precisely with respect to its centre of gravity; if not, it will shake out of alignment (and eventually off its mounts). Many sealants, adhesives, and paints produce gases that attack and fog lamp optics. The low beam projector has to be aimed correctly relative to the high beam or else the finished headlamp will be aimable so the lows or the highs are pointed in the correct direction, but not both. Once the headlamp has been opened, it is very challenging to get a good and durable seal against moisture and dirt ingress. None of these challenges is insurmountable, and there are outfits specialising in this kind of optical transplant. Shop very carefully if you are in the market, pay careful attention to the guarantee offered on the work, and be aware that even if the transplanted optics come from a legal headlamp, the end result—the modified headlamp—is no longer compliant with the applicable regulations. (http://www.danielsternlighting.com/t...nversions.html)

yanki01

your eyes are the proven fact. we've all seen them with oncoming traffic. whether it's little rice beaters with a tin can bolted on or a big rig from the country wanting to run over everything. HID's in a halogen housing produces glare. no need for a research team to prove this. we all want the HID look that other cars have, but do it right and don't be "that" guy driving down the road.

LA4x492

-Louisiana DMV Safty Laws
http://www.dmv.org/la-louisiana/safety-laws.php

http://www.legis.state.la.us/lss/lss.asp?doc=88264
R.S. 32:321, shall be dimmed to avoid glare at all times, regardless of road contour and loading.
^ ^ ^ ^ ^ ^ ^
This here talks about glare, which in daylight is not bad at all. Also if you read it right I said I don't drive much during the night, other than off-road or back roads, and I'm sure they aren't gonna tell me anything there.

-Louisiana State DOTD
http://www8.dotd.louisiana.gov/dotda...spx?termID=243

-Louisiana Motor Vehicles and Traffic Regulation
-Lousiana Vehicle Equipment Laws (Light Section)
http://www.legis.state.la.us/lss/lss.asp?doc=88240
RS 32:301
http://www.legis.state.la.us/lss/lss.asp?doc=88241
RS 32:302
http://www.legis.state.la.us/lss/lss.asp?doc=88242
RS 32:303
D.(1) Every headlamp described in this Section shall emit a white light only, including light emitted by white high intensity discharge forward lighting.
(2) No motor vehicle shall be equipped with headlamps that are off-road colored lights. The provisions of this Subparagraph shall not apply to white emitting lights.

My lights are pure white...

I've been to the LA DMV and police station. Also looked it up and here are the sites on Louisiana headlight laws. No where above does it say anything about being to bright, other than the glare part, but that is when its dark. And in RS 32:303 code, the light emitted shall only be white. My bulbs are white, pure white, so no one can tell me they are the "wrong color".

There's my info and research I've done upon getting them. IDK where you are from, but from state to state it may/will be different. Not every place is the same laws. Generically yea, but being defined to certain extents to different little things here and there will be called on differently. And here in LA, these are the laws here.

And yes, I've read some forums and seen the BAN on HIDs in LA, but it isn't in the code law book that I've seen in person at the police station.

And I may be wrong on something, if anyone else has correct info on LA laws with the lights to add, please let me know. But as far as I can find, being asking at the DMV and Police stations, there isn't really anything else on it. And I asked 2x before leaving, "Is that the only codes on lights?", and the reply was "Yes".

Sherwood

I don't think too many of us here are trying to preach about law, we are saying unprojected HID's are annoyingly bright for other motorists at best, and dangerously bright at worst. Its not against the law to listen to a 180 db soundsystem in your car either, but its pretty stupid.

LA4x492

I said something about them not being illegal, and he asked for a source and there they are. That's why I posted it. Now if any others from LA just so happen to look up anything about it, they may read it and learn more than what they already knew about having them or for any other light purposes.

LA4x492

Also, I posted this because I was glad on finally getting my new lights in and installed, not to have arguments or fighting whether they are too bright or not and having them properly housed. Not to sound like an a*s, but if you have anything negative or against them to say, please don't post it here. I know they are bright, but please, READ before stating something everyone knows. I drive back-roads and country, where not many people drive around at night. Barely ever drive at night. And in the woods/off-roading or at the camp.

lewis26

iTrader: (1)

Since the law doesnt state day vs night, I'd venture to say they're still illegal.

But to each their own.

Still don't understand why you would want to blind oncoming traffic.

Sherwood

That's cool man, enjoy the new lights. I also drive where there are very few cars.

I make a 700 km trip to northern Alberta every wednesday, either to work or from work. A good half of the trip is on single lane, two way high way in the middle of nowhere, just vacant native land. Its always brutally icy and snowing at least half the time. No houses, no street lights, the only other vehicles I cross paths with are logging trucks, and oil field guys with their jacked/ modified pickups. I have dodged several deer, and passed an enormous moose standing on the shoulder of the highway a couple shifts ago. Its a tiring white knuckle ride most times, especially in driving snow. The cherry on top is all the oilfield guys with poorly done HID's in their trucks.

I speak from experience when I say they are dangerous, whether its only a car every hour or so, or heavy traffic, it sucks for them. That being said, I know they can be done right too.

On a side note I kind of wish I shelled out the extra cash for the oem HID's on my fx4. Since I didn't im taking the auxiliary lighting route, that way I still have the option not to blind oncoming traffic. Projector retrofit might be in the cards someday too.

Sherwood

For anybody interested I found an interesting way to mount lights on F150's or Raptors. I have the brackets and some KC Apollo Pro's on order. Along with a 12" led bar mounted in the opening below the grill, it should work nicely.

http://www.outlawoffroad.com/orp-hoo...l#.UsWhC_Q2y18

LA4x492

First night out with them last night after having them a week

http://i1368.photobucket.com/albums/...psd6bc2a15.jpg

Look close, you can see it was 29 degrees out last night. Pretty cold for here