Help me see.
#1
Help me see.
I struggled for a while with my 2012 stock headlights. I can barely see at night. I changed to an HID kit but it's illegal and people kept flashing me. I upgraded to the Silverstar zxe bulbs. No help. I don't really have $1000 to drop on OEM hid lights. Any other ideas?
Thanks.
Thanks.
#2
I've got the PIAA Extreme White bulbs in both the headlights and fog lights. I'm pretty happy with it. HID would be better, but these are pretty good compared to the stock lights.
#3
#5
Senior Member
I am not trying to be nasty but if you had the money for the 13 hids what would be the difference than the HID you have on now? Can't you just adjust the HID down a bit to solve both problems,,,,, down enough so people don't blast you but up high enough for you to be able to see better. I think you will find that better bulbs might not help much for two reasons,,, first you had HID's ,,, so that would be like going from a big screen tv to a 19inch and second I think it has to do with the lens and not the bulb. The lens is what directs and gathers the light more so than the bulb! Not saying that a brighter bulb won't help but probably not as much as you would like and have experienced with the zxe's you tried.
#6
Senior Member
I am getting worse myself with seeing at night,,, the older you get the more it seems to bother you,,,, so I may be looking for a solution too.. Right now I use my high beams when ever I can... and if you say the lights *Hid's* were illegal than so would be the 13's? Or why wouldn't they be?? In most states if you alter, or change a non OEM part it can be classified as illegal so putting a 13 HID set on a vehicle that didn't come with them would be illegal also! Right? I would love to have a real system that detects the lights ahead of you and then switch the lights to low beam as I had in a Lincoln years ago however that damn thing was more of a pain than it worked. If they had one that worked,,, didn't dim when passing highway signs and did dim at the correct distance for on coming traffic I would go that route. My truck lights aren't to bad but I would love to something about the Mustangs,,, so I hope you find a solution that may help me also!
#7
Member
iTrader: (1)
^HID's are not illegal in the '13's because they're used in a projector designed to direct the light properly from a HID bulb. When used in reflector housings, HID's will produce massize amounts of glare 99% of the time (Unless the reflectors are designed for it, found in some Lexus & Mercedes), and the reflector isn't designed to properly direct that light. You could handy have them aimed at a 45 degree angle to the ground and you'd still have glare.
In the case of headlight, the reflector or projector aims the light, not the lens.
In the case of headlight, the reflector or projector aims the light, not the lens.
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#8
Senior Member
^HID's are not illegal in the '13's because they're used in a projector designed to direct the light properly from a HID bulb. When used in reflector housings, HID's will produce massize amounts of glare 99% of the time (Unless the reflectors are designed for it, found in some Lexus & Mercedes), and the reflector isn't designed to properly direct that light. You could handy have them aimed at a 45 degree angle to the ground and you'd still have glare.
In the case of headlight, the reflector or projector aims the light, not the lens.
In the case of headlight, the reflector or projector aims the light, not the lens.
#9
Boost :)
Cool! Didn't know anything about the HID's so thanks! So then the retro's really don't work as good as the oem's HID's? if not, That is also good to know! I was thinking about doing the mod but even thought the 3 to 4 hundred bucks was to much so I guess I will have to wait and see if the OP has any luck with a replacement bulb,, I even think they are expensive and don't last as long as the stock bulbs. For now I will just keep using the highs and hope someone has a answer to the best light we can get out of a stock lens!
#10
Member
I went from halogen to oem HID and the difference is amazing. My fog/driving lights don't make any difference now so I leave them off where I used to always run with them on for better visibility. Cost me $1,300 and worth every penny!!!
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Last edited by RLXXI; 09-24-2013 at 08:04 PM.