I have read the note on my new headlights I got in today and it says that I need to check with laws about the legality of these headlights. They are xenon 5000k bulbs and was wondering since I cant find speculation anywhere if they are considered legal in the U.S.

 

kinda a gray area with HID conversions - if the housings aren't DOT approved, you're already technically breaking the law. Color-wise, 5000-6000k should be ok, as they are pretty close to natural sunlight color. Make sure you adjust the aim of your lights to not be blinding the other drivers on the road. However, it is still just one more reason for a cop to pull you over if they're looking for an excuse.

with all that said, I love the HID conversion I did on my G8. Definitely helps to have projector housings to begin with, allows for better light pattern. I look forward to doing the same for my TA, but will make sure to get the higher quality housings so the light output is going in the right direction.

 

Thank you for the info, I will probably end up installing them, because I know they are going to be amazing compared to my stock ones

 

I put 8k Hid's in my '05 Silverado last Christmas and have gotten no problems so far.

 

i got silverstars in my maro, ranger, motorhome, box truck, and have had no issues, got 7500k's in the accord and no issue

but i will say the crapin azz cheap "hid" lights are pure junk, they glare like its no tomorrow and are pure junk

 

I dont have hids I just have some cheap 5000k lights I bought off of ebay , just something to be a lot better than my stock ones....

 

You said it...cheap.Cause thats what they are!Those #s are used to rate HID lamps.The lowest numerical rating for an HID lamps is around 3000k.The k rating refers to color, not intensity.

Bulbs(incandescent) are rated about 2700k.Those cheap xenon lights run hot & burn out quicker.They DO NOT inprove your lighting.Combine them with just as cheap refelctor housings & your lighting is even worse.

What matters more is Lumen, which refers to intensity or brightness.Halogen/Xenon are both incandescent bulbs & are roughly 800 lumens.HIDs are in the 3100 lumen scale.

 

Any idea of the lumens on the DDM kits? I was just looking & found it listed nowhere on their site.

 

About the same as others.OEM systems might be slightly higher lumen (3200), but not by much.

The higher the k number, the lower the lumens.4300k is around 3100 lumen.12000k is around 2200 lumen.

 

By that explanation, you'd get better light with a (for example) 3k HIDs than 6k HIDs.

 

Yes, thats correct.People have the misconception that higher kelvin #s increase light output.When you increase the k rating you add more color.This decreases visibility.4500k is actually the brightest, 3000k is yellow, for fog lights, not headlamps.

 

i ordered hids from ddmtuning. i bought 5k 35watts and they are pretty bright because i did the silverado headlight conversion with projectors so i had that nice beam of light and its was super white if i ever order new ones for the iroc i think im going to order the 55watt just to up the brightness but keep it that same super clean white also the higher the wattage the less color so if u had 35 watt 6ks then the color is going to have a little blue hint but if you got the 55watt 6ks the blue is barely noticeable

 

Your saying that higher wattage = less color, despite the lumens?

ks=?

 

Higher wattage (55 in this case) washes out some of the color on HID lights.So yes that means a whiter, therefore brighter light.

The Lumen #s only apply to 35 watt systems.No idea what the #s are for 55w.

 

So on the 55w systems, we really have no idea how bright it actually is, or if it just draws more power?

My setup is almost done, so I'm looking at ordering the DDM pieces before Christmas.

 

Well they're brighter k for k than the 35w systems & do use more power.They also create more heat & have been known to warp some plastics.

Just stick to 35w, besides projector lamps are designed around a 35w HID lamps.Installing 55w lamps is similar to putting HIDs in a reflector headlight.The extra heat can also fade the chrome on the projector bowl.

 

yes they do get hotter but its not a crazy amount of heat if you buy metal projector housings you won't really have to worry about heat its the plastic housings that can be damaged

 

I was reading in of these HID threads, about shrouds on the Projectors.

Like on the Morimoto Mini the projectors are open & the shrouds are separate pieces. Is the shroud NEEDED? Let's ignore looks for now & lets focus purely on light output. In my case? I have a black housing, so it isn't exactly a chrome reflector for the light to be bouncing off off & out messing up light output.

These projectors in particular.....


These are the shrouds of my choice


And how they would appear on a projector in a car (obviously not in my GTA).....



Yes....Over 3 months later & I am STILL working on fitting a true projector under pop up headlights & having the Hi/Low function intact. I'm REAL close, but now the shroud is causing me a problem.

Do I NEED it or not?

 

No you dont need them, but i would cover the open portions.Not sealed 100%though, so they vent some heat.