Nhtsa Illegal Hid Crackdown

[Nology]

But they are still blinding to oncoming traffic. There is no way to control that unless you have the proper housings. I have HIDs on my cherokee but I also have the housings so they are aimed propely. An actual HID housing covers almost 70% of the bulb because of how bright they actually are.

[Ldub]

Any HID in a non-HID housing is illegal. It will never be legal. If you have a car that comes with or has an aftermarket for an HID housing then you can get the bulbs for it. I've seen tons of cars with the kits on stock housings and all it does is glare out of control.

Oh good, another "expert", hope you also have strong opinions on all other aspects of what others should be doing with their rides that they bought with their $$$.....and are willing to share with us.
Hmmmmm, kinda reminds me of that other "expert" around here(scratches head)...what was his name again?

Oh, btw, welcome to the group, Ldub

[VX crazy]

Yup, another 'expert' WITHOUT a VX! :rollp:

[Tone]

There has been sketchy enforcement of this 'law' and it applies to the seller of the product, not the user. There is no way when approaching a vehicle to determine whether it came with HIDs from the factory or not. I will put the kits I offer up to comparison to most all stock HIDs for glare - I have experienced as much or more glare from stock vehicles than the VX.

Realize that the bulbs are designed with the identical focal point as the stock H4s and have glare shields designed in. Glare cannot be significantly more with HID as it is only a brighter light - it has no beam control of it's own. A projector style HID system will be superior since it uses a lense to control and direct a smaller cone of light. There are cheap kits out there that do not place the light source in the proper location and/or do not incorporate glare shields.

I have not heard of anyone getting ticketed for this mod and I have several police officers using them on their personal vehicles.

[nyc #1 ironman]

Hey Tone,
Will these lights fit just on the VX or if I get in on a group buy will they fit my Benz? Thanks...

[Moncha]

I've put the Kaixen BiXenon HID kit with low and high beam output on my VX and my wifes Honda Pilot and when installing both kits, I stopped half way and took the vehicles out on a flat road. I parked the vehicle and compared the "glare factor" at varying distances (Unfortunately I did not take pictures). In my opinion, I saw more "Glare" from the regular stock halogen lamps than the HID counterparts. I'm sure it's due to the different temperatures of the light output but, the HID light was more comforting to my eye even though it was noticibly brighter.

I am a cop and Tone is right, I would be hard pressed to pullover someone with HID because you can't tell from a distance if it's an "Aftermarket kit". I've seen more glare out of stock Bimmers and Mercs than what I see out of this kit and those are the "projectors"..

Where you may take it in the shorts is at the safetly inspection centers but, in all honesty, they would have to know that the HID is not an available option for that particular vehicle and most of the stations I've seen are just worried that the beam is properly aimed which the HID kit would be, unless they get improperly adjusted somehow.

George, if the bulb capsule is an h4 or one of the other standard replaceables.. it should fit.. but I digress, Tone has the application sheets.

[MZ-N10]

the light itself doesnt travel any different then the light from a halogen headlamp. the frequency of the light itself could change, but it still doesnt change how light travels. if ur headlights glare with stock halogens then hids will just increase the brightness of the glare. ive had tones 6500k for about a year now, have no problems with it. it also really depends on teh cop, usually i dont think they care, but if they really wanted to i guess they could ticket you for it. but the kit itself takes about 5 minutes to disconnect and reconnect ur stock halogens.

[Kenny]

I have one of Tone�s Kaixen BiXenon HID kit (diamond white) and it is awesome. Everyone I know thinks the HID are stock with the VX since they work so well with the headlamps. I�ve swapped cars with others and drove in front of my VX and don�t find the glare at all a concern. (unless you happen to be in a Miata stopped in front of me, then I have to back off a bit so as not to blind their rearview mirror)

I found that a few new Mercedes and BMW with stock HID have much, much, more glare (and more blue) than mine as I pass them. So I can�t ever see a VX getting pulled over for glare. But they might get pulled over for too much blue or violet in the HID.

[mbeach]

Yup, another 'expert' WITHOUT a VX! :rollp:

Not fair. True, but not fair.


Nology (please no relation to the ricer-scam 'Hotwires' found at AutoZone) makes a valid point based on what he has heard from those who (may) actually know what they are talking about.

I've read FMVSS 108 from end-to-end while doing some other work, and I seem to have a fair understanding of its content and applications. It is generally true that non-HID housings were not designed to control/focus light from HID bulbs. I've endured a very public battle on NASIOC with a Mr108 (employee of the NHTSA) over this very topic.
Here's a common arguement:
-Stray light outside of the 'cut-off' pattern. HOWEVER, the VX has an exceptionally sharp cut-off pattern for a halogen-designed fixture. So clear, it makes many projectors look poor by comparison. Check it out yourself @ 50 feet from a smooth vertical wall. A very nice horizontal cut-off with a distinct elbow and rise to the right. Simply adding brighter lights won't change this important feature one bit.

Bottom line is, under current guidelines/regulations, HID retrofit kits are illegal, no matter how good your housings or bulbs are. Even your 'HID housings' on your Cherokee are illegal, Nology. FMVSS 108 is outdated and needs some serious revision, but the law's the law.
Incidentally, being that I've owned 4 Jeeps (2 SJs, 1 XJ, 1 ZJ), I've NEVER heard of such HID housings being offered -when did this start?

I'd venture to say that few other VX owners (aside from the 4 others that live within 20 miles of me) need quality lighting more than I do. Poor/ nonexistant street lighting, bad roads, wildlife and long hours of darkness demand first-rate lighting. It has been my experience that no one light will do it all, and redundant light sources are important in the land of flying rocks.
I use Osram/Tungsram EUROPEAN 55/65 bulbs in the stock housings, Hella 35W projectors for fog, and 110W KC slimlights for 'moose lights'. All lights are mounted in the correct locations (fogs are low, driving beams are high, etc.) I've done some wiring modifications and upgrades to the factory harness, but aside from that, I'm pretty stock.
Granted, this is what works for me, and may not apply to others' driving environments.

[Maugan_VX]

Hmmmmm, kinda reminds me of that other "expert" around here(scratches head)...what was his name again?

You mean that guy that offers up his informed opinions on a public-free-for-use internet message board?

[Ldub]

You mean that guy that offers up his informed opinions on a public-free-for-use internet message board?

Are you referring to your "informed" opinion on debadging ?

[Maugan_VX]

Sure...

that one and other gems of unmeasurable wisdom that I've graciously offerred this group....

Nice troll and thread hijack btw.

[Tone]

Gee I miss reading Maugan's helpful posts....

[Maugan_VX]

Man,

this site has a serious lack of sarcastic humor.

lighten up people.

[Ldub]

Man,

this site has a serious lack of sarcastic humor.

lighten up people.

Perhaps you've never noticed, but you do have a way of bringing out the very best in people...a talent that will serve you well for years to come.