Re: Auto Lighting thread : Post all queries about automobile lighting here Quote:
Originally Posted by condor Summary of my search for HID':
1. HID's are BEST used with projectors.
2. Start-up time. Especially when you want to flash (to the on-coming driver or during overtaking).
3. Motorized Bi-Xenon: motor can be the weak link.
4. Expensive to replace when you lose even one beam (high or low). Since you have to replace the full bulb.
5. Most convinient, if you still want to go for HID/Xenon: one pair of Xenon's, and one pair of Halogen's (I prefer High-beam).
6. Warranty is suspect. If it does conk out, it will take some effort to get the warranty replacement.
After doing my reading, I have decided not to go for HID's or Xenon's. I'll be going for aux lighting, since I feel the need more on the highway than in city.
But if any one wants to go for HID's, then I suggest you go for full kit's. Where you can swap the entire head-lamp unit. |
Here's what I learned:
Very true, HID on conventional reflector HLs are purely illegal due to its inability to control the glares. All HID conversion kits available as retrofit without HID specific projectors or reflectors are illegal and waste of money as it wont give you anything near the stock bulb beam spread. And more than that you literally blinding the on coming traffic which can cause accidents too.
But the fact is everyone is so fascinated with its immense intensity which is scattering everywhere though.
HID will take a min of 5-15 secs warm up time in all brands and it cant be eliminated due to its working principle. But the current models have reduced the cold start warm up time significantly. This is the reason behind every manufacturers are opting HID for low beam only and halogen will take place in high beam for flashing.
Bi-Xenon HID capsule is having only one HID tube which acts as low and high with the help of a solenoid. If the HID tube conks off you will loose both the beams.
These are not motor driven, its actuated by an electro magnet which pulls back when the high beam is activated. There by changing the bulb position and coming out of the shield which covers the lower portion of the capsule. Initial days manufacturers used to address the solenoid action as motorised.
There are chances for shaking of HID tube once the solenoid is activated in cheap quality brands due to poor quality materials used.
Being its a good performer, you need to pay a premium for it and I would say its a universal rule of thumb.
HID capsules are available with almost all bulb bases, so it can be plonked to any of the available aux lamps too.
Warranty, hmm... Its like a lottery ![Smile](https://www.team-bhp.com/forum/images/smilies/smile.png) , nothing more to say even its belong to branded or not as the dealer support is too thin as per my observation. |