HID's: What you should know before you buy!
08-20-2009, 11:04 PM
#101
Senior Member
iTrader: (2)
Join Date: 08-18-09
Location: Calgary
Posts: 786
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
alright, thanks... I don't know what to do now. Been looking at projectors but if they aren't worth it, I don't know, and I do not have the time or know how to retrofit. I definately don't wanna be the one to take apart headlights. If anyone is up to make a set I would definately be interested in dealing!! haha
08-20-2009, 11:11 PM
#102
Senior Member
Join Date: 10-01-06
Location: Maidstone, SK
Posts: 5,134
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
alright, thanks... I don't know what to do now. Been looking at projectors but if they aren't worth it, I don't know, and I do not have the time or know how to retrofit. I definately don't wanna be the one to take apart headlights. If anyone is up to make a set I would definately be interested in dealing!! haha
PM Smartdude.... he had a decent amount of experience, and does very nice work.
09-13-2009, 01:18 PM
#105
No no... you might have misread.
HID's in reflectors is no good. The stock Cobalt headlights are reflectors. They will cause inferior light output, and scattered glare spots.
HID's in projectors are ok. They get the job done via the proper cut off, however, they are made for halogens, so you don't get the full advantage of the HID.
An HID retrofit is best! You get high end lighting, similar to that of BMW, Acura, Mercedes, Porsche, etc. With proper HID projectors, you can full advantage of the HID lighting.
HID's in reflectors is no good. The stock Cobalt headlights are reflectors. They will cause inferior light output, and scattered glare spots.
HID's in projectors are ok. They get the job done via the proper cut off, however, they are made for halogens, so you don't get the full advantage of the HID.
An HID retrofit is best! You get high end lighting, similar to that of BMW, Acura, Mercedes, Porsche, etc. With proper HID projectors, you can full advantage of the HID lighting.
i thought projectors WERE made for hids.... are all projectors not made for hids? is there a way to make work with hids?
09-13-2009, 01:22 PM
#106
Senior Member
Join Date: 01-14-09
Location: PENN
Posts: 1,238
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Ebay projectors are not designed for HID but rather halogen bulbs. They do have a cut off line but they are not as good as projectors specifically designed for HID bulbs.
09-14-2009, 08:18 PM
#109
Senior Member
Join Date: 10-01-06
Location: Maidstone, SK
Posts: 5,134
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
How much difference? Well, you will get far more 'projected' light with the proper projector, so a real retrofit will have a superior light output.
If you aren't concerned with the absolute best light output, but want HID's... a halogen style projector will work, as it has the required cutoff to avoid the glare.
09-14-2009, 10:57 PM
#112
Senior Member
Join Date: 10-01-06
Location: Maidstone, SK
Posts: 5,134
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Measure from the ground to the center of your headlight.
On a wall 25ft away from the projector, you want the cut off to drop 2.1-2.5 inches from whatever you measured.
For example, if you measured 20" to the center of your light... you want between 17.5" and 17.9" to the cut off on a wall 25ft away.
The reason there is no clear cut number, is that the height varies depending on the height of your headlight. Every spring is worn in different, every lowering spring is a slightly different height than the rest,etc, etc.
09-18-2009, 10:15 PM
#114
Junior Member
Join Date: 06-27-07
Location: Follow the dust trail!
Posts: 475
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
ok, i aligned my projectors today and the center of my headlight was 25.5 in. the top of my cutoff is at 25.5 in. and the bottom of my cutoff is 2.1in drop. my width between is 3.5 ft. i drove it and what a difference, i can see so much better! but i still can't see road signs as well as i think i should be able to, i can see them alot better just not as good and i think i should! can i raise the passenger side and inch or 2 or will that **** off some drivers infront of me? I also cant see really far ahead of me, maybe 2 houses infront of me (in a subdivision). does that sound right?
09-19-2009, 01:27 PM
#115
Senior Member
Join Date: 10-01-06
Location: Maidstone, SK
Posts: 5,134
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Lots of people who do a lot of highway driving (myself included) will raise the bottom of the passenger side cutoff, so it is even with the top of the driver side cutoff.
This should improve viability off the side of the road, to aid in seeing the ditches and signs better.
12-19-2009, 04:17 AM
#119
Senior Member
iTrader: (1)
Join Date: 04-19-08
Location: Drayton Valley AB
Posts: 4,357
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
has anybody every tried one of the harness kits offered that apparently make wiring wayyy easier???
http://store.theretrofitsource.com/p...0b8900644617ea
all ive seen so far is wiring it the pain in the ass way such as smashing the 9007 lol which isnt my style
http://store.theretrofitsource.com/p...0b8900644617ea
all ive seen so far is wiring it the pain in the ass way such as smashing the 9007 lol which isnt my style
12-19-2009, 01:33 PM
#120
Senior Member
Join Date: 10-01-06
Location: Maidstone, SK
Posts: 5,134
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
has anybody every tried one of the harness kits offered that apparently make wiring wayyy easier???
http://store.theretrofitsource.com/p...0b8900644617ea
all ive seen so far is wiring it the pain in the ass way such as smashing the 9007 lol which isnt my style
http://store.theretrofitsource.com/p...0b8900644617ea
all ive seen so far is wiring it the pain in the ass way such as smashing the 9007 lol which isnt my style
Good find!
02-06-2010, 01:18 PM
#125
