Thinking about HID lighting or H4 bulbs or?? FC specific test showing the difference
 

Have you been thinking about upgrading your lighting to HID, and been scared off because of someone posting clueless info (like the cars wiring will burn, or HID lights are not designed for H4 housings or they cost too much, or all the other malarky). Well, I decided to do a FC specific test showing some of the real differences.

Almost every time someone talks about retrofitting HID lights to vehicles previously fitted with Halogen or H4 bulbs, some brings up some obscure webpage with a self proclaimed expert denouncing such a modification. He claims H4 and Halogen Light housings being not designed for HID lighting will result in poor lighting, and wasted money.

On these pictures, the FC is located in exactly the same spot each time, the lights are left in the up position, battery voltage is at 12.5 volts (standard battery voltage with the engine not running). The lights are not aimed each time, but rather retain the stock aim of the FC stock H6054 sealed beam bulbs. Only the lens or bulb assembly is changed. All pictures are with the lights set on "Low Beam" or city driving level and in a darkend garage.

http://www.mazdamark.com/HIDDOTLeftHalogenRight.jpg
This first picture is of a HID 6000K bulb in a DOT legal H4 lens/housing on the left and a conventional stock H6054 Halogen bulb on the right. The Halogen bulb has about 1 hour on it, while the HID bulb has about 20 hours on it.

http://www.mazdamark.com/HID6KDiamon...bay6KRight.JPG On this picture there is a HID 6000K bulb in a DOT legal H4 lens/housing on the left and a Ebay 6.5K Zenon H4 bulb in a Ebay "Diamond Cut" Lens/Housing (note the City light in the Ebay "Diamond Cut" Lens/Housing is not wired in). Both bulbs have less than 20 hours on them.

http://www.mazdamark.com/HIDDiamondLeftHalogenRight.jpg
On this picture there is a Ebay "Diamond Cut" Lens/Housing with a 6000K HID light in it on the left, and a onventional stock H6054 Halogen bulb on the right. The Halogen bulb has about 1 hour on it, while the HID bulb has about 20 hours on it.

http://www.mazdamark.com/HID6KDiamondLeftDOTRight.JPG
And finally a Ebay "Diamond Cut" Lens/Housing with a 6000K HID light in it on the left, and HID 6000K bulb in a DOT legal H4 lens/housing on the right.

So you can see that the light patterns (with the exception of the diamond cut light) actually increases over the stock Halogen bulbs, allowing you better veiwing at night in the FC. Of course the nearly 5 times life of a HID bulb should help offset some of the cost concerns as well.

I didn't test E-code lenses/housings other than the Diamond cut ones as E code or European cut lenses (like Ciba and Hella) are illegal in most states for use on public highways.

You have alot of time on your hands don't you?

Anywho, nice tests. I've always wanted my lights to be brighter and this might be my solution.

Ok you are talking about the lights that use a different harness deal correct, well all the kits I have seen come with new conectors and more wires that go to the switch and a constant to the battery.

I am a light n00b though.

holy..what a difference!!!

Thank you Icemark.

Wow!

wow, nice information
lets archive it or sticky it

Yeah, actually I did a group buy on HID lights for March and April. The kits I have been selling have complete new harnesses, and you get power from the battery or underhood fuse box.
http://www.mazdamark.com/hid_lights.htm

Yeah i saw them at advanced auto today. I thought about getting the setup but wasnt sure if it would be worth it. Now I know.

wow, thanks icemark, where do you get the DOT legal H4 housings from?? everyone ive ever boughten/seen are euro or cheapy ebay ones.

right now in the vert im use euro projector H4 lenses with silverstart bulbs, havent aimed them properly yet, but they light up nicely, although i'd love to switched to the HID now that ive seen the difference.

haha wow.... i love this part of your fine print

"Do not attempt to install the lighting system in a vehicle that is moving. Please park the vehicle and turn the key to the OFF position, before attempting any sort of installation."

and im assuming that warning wouldnt be there unless you have seen or heard of somebody actually trying this, wow... hahaha

When I found that the DOT allowed a SAE H4 housing, I started looking around. I finally found a company in India that makes the DOT SAE H4 housing, but normally they have a sheild in them for use with a Zenon type bulb. I had them make a couple dozen for me without the shield for HID lights. Since then I have also seen a Ebay seller selling the same DOT housings, so I guess I started something.

I do have the H6054 replacement instock, with the 7" round (for the FB/Porshce) coming soon.

Nah, on many of my items there is something hidden in the fine print.

Like on the Retail versions of my rebuilt wiper switches (that I sell theough a couple of dealers) the box says "Do not deep fry, protect from Liquid Nitrogen".

And on the retail boxes labels for the CPUs it says,"Protect from Hydrogen Peroxide".

just something to make people smile a little

LOL omg you rock :)


also, can you take a look at my S5 vert, weird problems thread, i pmed you and sorry to ask you on this thread, i just know you might be the only one who knows whats going on. sorry again, and thanks

Can you take a few pictures with both headlights HID from a bit further back...maybe 40 foot back from a garage door to show how the cutoff is?

James

Yeah on the next set of pictures, I'll do that.

so are you selling them if so how much

If I buy anything from you there better be a warning involving thermite or you're getting a lawsuit. :squint:

I like that... something like "use of switch with thermite may void warranty"???

Yes I am selling them, as well as a there are a couple other venders in the group buy section of the board. We all have the simular priced, the only differnce being that my HID H4 bulbs have a Hi/Lo setting that changes the bulb location in relation to the reflector rather than bolting on a 2nd bulb (usually a zenon/Halogen bulb).

But this post was really more to show what the difference was on a FC. There are a lot of rumors around the lights floating around out there, and this seemed to be the easiest way to let people actually see what the differences are.

However my prices are listed here: http://www.mazdamark.com/hid_lights.htm

sooo... whens the next group buy.

Great thread Mark. Thanks for posting this stuff up. After my next possible headlight project I'll have to talk to you about some HID goodies. :)

Zach

First off, GREAT comparison. Thanks for taking the time to do it. However, I think the cutoff on both those ebay housings and your DOT h4 housings is not sharp enough to be used for HID. Personally I think you'd be better off using Hella e-code or Cibie housings with sharper cutoffs. Granted they may not be DOT legal, but then again, HID retrofits are not DOT legal either...

i have HIDs on my car and i love them, HOWEVER, housings need to be matched to bulbs for a good cutoff or you will have light spray blinding people. i want to keep my lights but unless i can get the pattern better i may have to ditch them since the pattern just isn't right, the light on the road is much better but having to aim the headlights low to keep the pattern out of people's eyes kind of defeats the purpose. i know the first time i pass by a cop in oncoming traffic he is going to flip a bitch and pull me over, that much i'm sure of.

something to think about, not sure if you have tested them on the road yet or not.

Hey Karak if you want to try a set of the DOT housings let me know.

And for everyone else, I am placing another order for the HID kits next week, and I just shipped out my last in stock set, so if anyone wants to be getting in on the next buy, they should do so in the next 6 or so days.

http://www.mazdamark.com/hid_lights.htm