When it comes to headlights, I'm a n00b!
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Joined: May 2005
Posts: 197
From: Marshfield, MA
When it comes to headlights, I'm a n00b!
Let me give you some background here. My old car had pop up headlights. Needless to say, modifying them wasn't exactly a high priority. Now that I have a car I can actually do stuff to, I could use a little guidance. I realize that there's a difference between regular halogen headlights and HIDs, but after that, it gets a little foggy. So bascially, what's the difference between projectors and HIDs? Or are they the same? What's the difference between a brand new HID kit and a retrofit? Baking headlights (whatever happened to baking cookies?)? The info you guys can provide would be useful not only to myself, but also to anyone else who might want to know but doesn't want to ask. Thanks!
Projectors are just different types of housings for any lights.
Housings: Reflector based or Projector.
Bulbs: Halogen, HIR, HID
The reason you might associate the projectors with HIDs is because that's how many of them come. They project a better beam pattern and have a very sharp cut off as to not blind oncoming drivers with glare - but not all HIDs have to be in projectors. Some vehicles (Prius, Altima, etc) have HIDs or Xenons without projectors and are OK. But they are designed for them from the factory.
A retrofit is taking a set of reflector based headlight housings and converting them to projector based using parts from another vehicle. Baking is just part of the process to open the actual headlight housing to do stuff inside.
A HID "kit" is usually just the bulbs and equipment necessary to have HID "lights." But often if the housings were not designed for that type of bulb there can be a lot of glare for oncoming drivers and this method is not often recommeded. If you truly want HIDs, the best method may be for a Retrofit - though they can be expensive. Hopefully someone will actually have a set of Projector housings available that will be a simple swap.
See also:
- www.hidretro.com - they will retro a set for around $1200.
- www.hidplanet.com - excellent HID/retro/info site
Housings: Reflector based or Projector.
Bulbs: Halogen, HIR, HID
The reason you might associate the projectors with HIDs is because that's how many of them come. They project a better beam pattern and have a very sharp cut off as to not blind oncoming drivers with glare - but not all HIDs have to be in projectors. Some vehicles (Prius, Altima, etc) have HIDs or Xenons without projectors and are OK. But they are designed for them from the factory.
A retrofit is taking a set of reflector based headlight housings and converting them to projector based using parts from another vehicle. Baking is just part of the process to open the actual headlight housing to do stuff inside.
A HID "kit" is usually just the bulbs and equipment necessary to have HID "lights." But often if the housings were not designed for that type of bulb there can be a lot of glare for oncoming drivers and this method is not often recommeded. If you truly want HIDs, the best method may be for a Retrofit - though they can be expensive. Hopefully someone will actually have a set of Projector housings available that will be a simple swap.
See also:
- www.hidretro.com - they will retro a set for around $1200.
- www.hidplanet.com - excellent HID/retro/info site
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