Hey all,

kind of a stupid question, but how feasible would a conversion from halogens to OEM HID be?

i mean, in a few more months/years OEM HID's should be more readily available.

To my understanding, the only difference between halogens and HID's is the bulb itself?

Or is it not worth the hassle and i would be better off getting the HID's with the package?

thanks in advance.

 

It's more than just the bulbs. HID's run off a high voltage AC circuit provided by a transformer and a ballast load. I have no idea how hard, or even possible, it would be to install the OEM kit at some later time.

 

It is possible, but halogen and HID lights use different reflectors. You can install a HID kit on a car with halogen lights as standard, but it won't be worth the $500 that the kits cost since the benefits will be minor.

Like eccles said it's not just the bulb that's different.

You'll need to replace the entire head-light assembly more than likely, that will be expensive. Probably as much as the entire sport package option or more.

Therefore, it's cheaper to get them straight from the factory by ordering the sport package.


To give you an idea, many WRX owners are converting to HID and the usual cost is over $1,000 to do it right.


Advice: make sure the kit has it's own fuse and power connection.

 

The RX8 have projector head lights right? With those, you can convert to HID w/o any problems. I don't think you beam pattern would be messed up. www.misterjung.com got some nice HID kits for good prices.

 

As already said - it's not just the bulbs, but the high voltage converter and ballast. Also, the OEM HID lights include an auto-levelling mechanism (as do all good quality OEM HID installations). That's not included in those $500 kits...

Regards,
Gordon

 

but you CAN just buy a bulb that resembles HID or xenon lights and replace them with halogens right? cuz then there shouldn't be any power difference...?

 

Yeah, but don't get those 150W or whatever bulbs from PIAA or some other rice company. They suck and are a waste of money. The stock bulbs are fine. You can get Sylvania Silverstar bulbs if you want. They are the best halogen bulbs you can buy. I don't think there is a huge difference between those and the stock bulbs though.
You should save up and get a real HID kit if you really want better lighting.

 

vudoodoodoo is right- you don't want to buy the colored bulbs. You'll lose a lot of the actual light the bulbs give off (a lot of them are actually illegal), and anyone who knows what a real Xenon HID bulb looks like can spot them a mile away. If you want the HIDs, may as well suck it up and spend the money on the real ones. They're worth it. I've never had better visibility in a car before.

 

No, then you just get a resemblance when you look at the car, you don't get anywhere near the same light output on the road. HID lights actually consume less power than incandescent bulbs - putting in a higher power incandescent bulb creates a greater power difference.

There is no easy or cheap shortcut to get proper HID lighting, sorry.

Regards,
Gordon

 

Don't put fake HID's in your halogen headlight assemblies. They will look fake, they won't be as safe because they aren't as bright, and you'll eventually get pulled over for them.

However, I do highly recommend Sylvania Silverstar lamps -- they're VERY bright and white halogens, and while they won't give you that "fake HID" look, they do get rid of the yellowish halogen tint.

 

I'd suck it up and get the HID Option, it'll be a lot less heartache in the long run. You wont' have to deal with the install, you can go ahead and finance the cost (if that's a problem saving for a decent aftermarket HID kit for you) plus, it will be covered under the manufacturer warranty.

 

Also, all HID lights by law must have either an automatic or manual leveling feature so the lights will/can be adjusted when the front end is raised at an angle.

This is to ensure you do not blind on coming traffic.

For the extra $600 of the sport package you also get DSC and fog lights.

 

Not in the US. I know, my S2000 can blind oncoming traffic if I have much weight in the trunk.

 

So whats that 3rd bulb for? I got the xenon headlights. I can see the lowbeam, highbeam, but whats the one at the end near the center of the car? Doesn't look too bright it just glows. Are these the daytime lights? Here in the US non of the lights come on for daytime.

They come on with the lights. I must say these HID lights are great.

 

That would be your parking light.

 

Nope thats not the turning or parking light, doesn't come on with the other turning light. I'm talking about the dome thing on the center end of the lights.

 

You did say the small dim light at the end of the assembly closest to the center of the car, didn't you? On the car that I drove, that was most definitely the parking light. If it's not on yours, then what front light does illumiate when you turn the light switch to the first click?

 

Ah didn't try it with just the parking light. I just notice it came on with the headlight and it doesn't blink like a turning light.

 

thanks for the replies everyone. i'll definitely take it into consideration

 

As noted, they are the park lights.

The Daytime Running Lights use the high beams on low voltage. My least favourite way to implement them . At least the voltage is reduced enough that they don't seem bright enough to cause glare for oncoming drivers in the daytime (of course, the DRLs go out when the headlights are switched on).

Regards,
Gordon

 

I just bought an RX-8. I opted out of buying the Sport package on the premise that I could upgrade later with aftermarket parts. I have been looking at systems from a company called Mecca Tune and Hella. Has anyone done an aftermaket install on the lights themselves, and what are your recomendations for this action? Also, I looked in the engine bay for spaces to mount the ballast and the ingitor, and little room is availible. What are your opinions?

 

Troy, New York- Researchers at the Lighting Research Center (LRC) at Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute are studying HID (high-intensity-discharge) headlights, those bright bluish or greenish headlights now seen on more expensive European imports cars. The headlights are raising concerns nationwide from drivers who complain about blinding glare.

LRC researchers John Van Derlofske, John D. Bullough and Claudia M. Hunter, reported their findings at a recent world congress of the Society of Automotive Engineers. Their study was commissioned by Philips Automotive Lighting, an LRC Partner and a major manufacturer of HID lamps.

Van Derlofske is the head of transportation lighting at the Lighting Research Center. He says HID headlamps enable drivers to see more effectively at night than conventional tungsten-halogen lights. His team conducted field experiments in which drivers responded to objects in their field of vision while using both sorts of lighting. Their study concluded that drivers using HIDs were better at "detecting edge-of-roadway hazards, such as pedestrians and animals."

"They (HID headlamps) produce more light, last longer, and use less energy," Van Derlofske said. "There's no question they result in better visual performance. We have now quantified that."

His colleague, John Bullough, explained the study in a news report on NBC TV's Nightly News with Tom Brokaw on June 12. That story highlighted the controversy over the lights, commonly referred to as "xenon" headlights. Drivers are complaining that the new xenon or HID lights blind them as they approach vehicles equipped with them.

But, there is another side of the story. Because HID lamps produce a wider beam, drivers can see better along the sides of the road, says Bullough. "That wider beam allows drivers to see pedestrians or animals that may not quite be on the road, but might be approaching it," Bullough said. "So there are some potential benefits in terms of safety for the drivers who have these lamps." That benefit would extend to people walking along the roadway as well.

HID headlamps are widely used in European automobiles and are becoming increasingly popular in the United States. With the growing numbers of HID headlamps, however, come growing numbers of complaints-more than one hundred to the U.S. Department of Transportation, which is calling for more studies. The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration weighed in on the issue, ruling that HIDs do not exceed maximum illumination standards. But debate over the pros and cons of the bright headlamps is growing nationwide, capturing the attention of news media. The LRC report was also mentioned in a June 7 article in USA Today that examined the controversy over HID headlamps.

While citing HID benefits, the study at the Lighting Research Center, acknowledges criticisms leveled against the lamps. The report said the same properties that allow HID systems to produce greater visual performance may cause them to produce more glare, and it urges further study to quantify HID glare. "The problem with glare," says John Van Derlofske, "should be weighed against the improved visual benefits."

 

My opinion - that was a bad decision. I don't trust any aftermarket system to deliver a HID system that is as well engineered as the factory installation. If I absolutely had to retrofit a HID system to an RX-8 that didn't come equipped with it - I'd be getting the Mazda factory parts and replicating the OEM installation. That will probably cost a lot more than it would have to just buy a factory HID-equipped car up front...

Regards,
Gordon

 

Guys,

This may have been asked already:

Why is it that when I pass a BMW (or he passes me) the BMW's light output is always brighter. They use the same 35W bulbs, don't they? And as it has been discussed already they also use the 4x00K bulbs.
May it have to do with the lense quality or something else?

Is there a way to improve upon it?

Thanks for any input.
Erik

 

HID is not all the same or universal

some are brighter or differnet colors