Headlights and fog lights

[MyOtherRidesAVette]

Yes, I know why you were wanting to do this. And this brings up a good question. How was this addressed on the NBs (I think only the NBCs) that were built with factory HIDs. Did all the factory HIDs have "city loights"? Or did they do it like my newer GM fleet vehicles, by using the parking as DRLs instead of the headlights (even though those vehicles don't have HIDs). And what did they do in Canada where DRLs are required by law? Not offer the HIDs, or just use them, un-dimmed?

Btw, however, real pi$$ed off is the aftermarket HIDs, either from behind, or oncoming, with the 5k to 9k bulbs, bouncing around, un-aimed, no cut-off, etc. Factory HIDs come with either auto levelers or manually power controlled cut-off adjustment.

M.

[IndyTom]

Originally Posted by MyOtherRidesAVette

Yes, I know why you were wanting to do this. And this brings up a good question. How was this addressed on the NBs (I think only the NBCs) that were built with factory HIDs. Did all the factory HIDs have "city loights"? Or did they do it like my newer GM fleet vehicles, by using the parking as DRLs instead of the headlights (even though those vehicles don't have HIDs). And what did they do in Canada where DRLs are required by law? Not offer the HIDs, or just use them, un-dimmed?

Btw, however, real pi$$ed off is the aftermarket HIDs, either from behind, or oncoming, with the 5k to 9k bulbs, bouncing around, un-aimed, no cut-off, etc. Factory HIDs come with either auto levelers or manually power controlled cut-off adjustment.

M.

I know what you are saying. I get mad at those blue and purple lights coming at me as well. That said, Opelmania has 5000k lights in his 98 Beetle and they do look pretty nice. The cut offs aren't bad at all and he says that he hasn't been flashed yet. Our Beetle's do have projectors which are a little better than Reflectors. Sure they hare not HID projectors but they seem to do a fairly decent job in cutting some of the glare produced by aftermarket HID kits. Some of the Kit makers do have a partial shield around the HID bulb to compansate for the glare but others don't. You could actually run the DRLs with most kits if you install a different type of relay and some capacitors but it still will put additional strain on the bulb which makes it burn out faster. I believe that a lot of cars that have OEM HIDs use the High Beam as the DRLs instead of the Low Beam/HID bulb.
In any case I just want to see if there is a substantial difference with a HID kit. And I will only go with a 4300k or 5000k kit (some don't offer 4300 as an option). Never ever will I go 6000k or higher since all those are just for show and reduce light output of visible light. In a study they also found that blue light at night causes fatique so if you drive long distances at night the blue light will make you more sleepy than a yellow or white light. Even at 6000k which some say isn't that blue the fatigue levels go up. 8000k -12000k is just crazy and for looks.
If I don't like the lights and if there is too much glare to the other drivers I will switch back to Halogens ASAP.

[MyOtherRidesAVette]

I was VERY impressed with Opelmania's set up, and his desire to keep the color no higher than 5k, and the attentiveness to proper aiming and cut-off. Kudos to him! Just wonder if there is any significant difference between those (and the effort) and the Euro halogens.

[IndyTom]

Originally Posted by MyOtherRidesAVette

I was VERY impressed with Opelmania's set up, and his desire to keep the color no higher than 5k, and the attentiveness to proper aiming and cut-off. Kudos to him! Just wonder if there is any significant difference between those (and the effort) and the Euro halogens.

I read somewhere that the OEM Halogen bulbs put out around 900 to 1000 Lumens MAX. The Osram Nightbreakers significantly more at around 1750 Lumens and the HID 3000-3200 Lumens. Some claim up to 3600 Lumens but I question that. Once you go to 6000k you drop to 2800 Lumens, 8000K around 2600 etc...
So it stands to reason that the HIDs would be definitely brighter but as far as putting down usable light onto the road I have no idea. If properly aimed and in a proper HID housing I am sure that HIDs are a lot more efficient than any Halogen Bulb, Euro or otherwise. In standard projectors and especially reflectors you will get a lot of glare and usable light will be lost. I guess it is up to the individual point of view on what they like. I do know that all HID conversion kits are Illegal in all 50 states. Some claim they are DOT approved but only for OFF ROAD USE. But we live in a society where cops very seldomly will pull you over because of your lights or bent fender or rusty side panels etc. In Europe they are very strict and you will never ever see a vehicle on the road that doesn't belong there. At least not in Germany. The TÜV is very strict.

[MyOtherRidesAVette]

As I remember, I had found the lumens for standard halogens higher, some as high as 1750lm for the H1s, not so high for the H7s or H11s. Never really looked for the lumens on the Euro halogens. Or the Euro halogens with Xenon. Could never find lumens for HIDs (probably lack of perseverance). I had no idea they are that high (lumens). Almost as if these manufacturers didn't want us to know. Wish I had, because it could have been good ammunition in some pissing matches, well at least the ones with those understanding lumens, watts, kelvins, etc, or wanting to learn about them.

Glad to have gained some knowledge from your post (I'd like to have your source as back up though for the non-believers). Life would be so boring if it weren't for the learning aspect!

M.

[janitz]

Speaking of Lumens, when I replaced my headlights I had to purchase four new H1 bulbs.

I was at the store looking at the basic H1, and then those "brighter" bulbs (nighthawk etc) that cost 1/2 more.

Well after examining the fine print, it's interesting to note that these bulbs claiming to be 30% brighter are making the comparison between their new bulb and an end of life regular H1 with diminished output. So they're 30% more than an H1 at only 80%. So that awesome bulb is actually only 4% brighter than a new regular H1 but costs 50% more.

GE's web site doesn't even list a different lumen output for the H1 and the H1 Nighthawk, they both list their initial lumen value of 1510.

[mullardel34]

Get yourself a set of the European Osram Silverstar H1 bulbs; these are SO NOT the same as the US-market Sylvania Silverstar H1 bulbs! Morav posted this URL link for a twin-pack at $14.95USD:

OSRAM Silverstar H1 (Twin Pack) | PowerBulbs

Interestingly, these are zenon-filled, not halogen-filled, bulbs. Osram claims that the xenon gas is responsible for whiter (higher color temperature) light output, converting more of the 55-watts consumed by the bulb into visible light (as opposed to infra-red heat, etc.). All I can say is, "these bulbs rock"! After purchasing our pre-owned New Beetle, my wife and I were seriously considering an HID headlight retro-fit (the factory H1 bulbs were THAT underwhelming), but with these Osram Silverstar bulbs installed, night-driving in "Klaus" is now just fine.

[Opelmania]

Originally Posted by IndyTom

I know what you are saying. I get mad at those blue and purple lights coming at me as well. That said, Opelmania has 5000k lights in his 98 Beetle and they do look pretty nice. The cut offs aren't bad at all and he says that he hasn't been flashed yet. Our Beetle's do have projectors which are a little better than Reflectors. Sure they hare not HID projectors but they seem to do a fairly decent job in cutting some of the glare produced by aftermarket HID kits. Some of the Kit makers do have a partial shield around the HID bulb to compansate for the glare but others don't. You could actually run the DRLs with most kits if you install a different type of relay and some capacitors but it still will put additional strain on the bulb which makes it burn out faster. I believe that a lot of cars that have OEM HIDs use the High Beam as the DRLs instead of the Low Beam/HID bulb.
In any case I just want to see if there is a substantial difference with a HID kit. And I will only go with a 4300k or 5000k kit (some don't offer 4300 as an option). Never ever will I go 6000k or higher since all those are just for show and reduce light output of visible light. In a study they also found that blue light at night causes fatique so if you drive long distances at night the blue light will make you more sleepy than a yellow or white light. Even at 6000k which some say isn't that blue the fatigue levels go up. 8000k -12000k is just crazy and for looks.
If I don't like the lights and if there is too much glare to the other drivers I will switch back to Halogens ASAP.

Originally Posted by MyOtherRidesAVette

I was VERY impressed with Opelmania's set up, and his desire to keep the color no higher than 5k, and the attentiveness to proper aiming and cut-off. Kudos to him! Just wonder if there is any significant difference between those (and the effort) and the Euro halogens.

Thank you both.