| bright06Pilot |
hi guys,
I'm new to this forum and wanted to share my experience with new HID lights from Lava Lighting
I was blown away at the difference in lighting and the install was a piece of cake. No removal of the headlights needed. FYI, I'm running the dual relay setup and the 4,300K Philips HIDs. The owner of Lava Lighting was nice enough to help out with the install so mucho props to Jerry:7:
So enough with the talk, check out the photos. Keep in mind that the pics turned out dimmer than what it actually looks like!!
factory halogens
my new Philips HIDs (looks even brighter in person, pics don't do justice!)
Comments welcomed! |
|
|
| jay |
quote:
Originally posted by jcantanixon
:eek:
I second that!:cool: |
|
|
| humanoid |
quote:
Originally posted by jay
I second that!:cool:
True, but it looks like it would blind oncoming drivers... or is that the point? :eek: |
|
|
| bright06Pilot |
| well if you notice how sharp the beam cut-off is, there is basically no light above that line. So even with HIDs, Pilots with projectors have virtually no glare to blind oncoming traffic unlike the reflector setups that the previous models have. The factory projectors are a very nice candidate for HIDs as it's about identical to my S2000 lights. I wonder if it's the same projector although my S2K has more color at the cut-off line? |
|
|
| ctobio |
quote:
Originally posted by bright06Pilot
well if you notice how sharp the beam cut-off is, there is basically no light above that line. So even with HIDs, Pilots with projectors have virtually no glare to blind oncoming traffic unlike the reflector setups that the previous models have.
You use an actual light meter, or just your eyeball? I'm not convinced that your eyeball is a better substitute. And you cannot really adequately describe the light coming off a vehicle with a photo.
quote:
The factory projectors are a very nice candidate for HIDs as it's about identical to my S2000 lights. I wonder if it's the same projector although my S2K has more color at the cut-off line?
Probably not. The optics on any car with composite headlamps are going to be very specifically tuned for the vehicle, particular factors such as ride hight, width, etc. |
|
|
| mtryb |
| As I look at the pictures, I see a lot more light that goes off to the sides. This is the light that blinds drivers as you pass them. Properly adjusted light patterns throw almost no light to the left of the vehicle (Look at the way the side quickly diminishes on the stock bulb). If you want to truly get an idea of what you are doing to others, park the Pilot on a deserted street and then get in a car (not suv, pickup, or anything else high up) and drive slowly towards the pilot staying only 3 feet to the side of it. If at any point you have trouble seeing the road or the other vehicle, you are causing significantly too much glare to the side. The top cut off is not the issue, it is the light spilled to the side. |
|
|
| bright06Pilot |
quote:
Originally posted by ctobio
You use an actual light meter, or just your eyeball? I'm not convinced that your eyeball is a better substitute. And you cannot adequately describe the light coming off a vehicle with a photo.
I agree, but I don't have a scientific lab setup in my garage. Just used some obvious observations. Park your Pilot and CRV side-by-side about 50 feet from your garage. Look at how focused the beam pattern from the projector lens is compared to reflectors. The CRV reflectors scatter mucho light above the Pilot's cutoff line, which is good in that it lights up road signs but bad in that it would cause glare and blind other drivers. The Pilot's projectors does not scatter the light above the cutoff, which is good in that it does not have glare to blind other drivers and bad in that it does not light up road signs up high very well.
The biggest headlight complaint among s2000 owners is the lack of light to illuminate road signs. Their projectors and our are, IMO, one of the best in terms of putting all the light to the ground.
quote:
Originally posted by ctobio
Probably not. The optics on any car with composite headlamps are going to be very specifically tuned for the vehicle, particular factors such as ride hight, width, etc.
You are probably right as the S2000 lights looks a bit wider. |
|
|
| bright06Pilot |
quote:
Originally posted by mtryb
As I look at the pictures, I see a lot more light that goes off to the sides. This is the light that blinds drivers as you pass them. Properly adjusted light patterns throw almost no light to the left of the vehicle (Look at the way the side quickly diminishes on the stock bulb).
naw dude, it's how high the light is aimed including glare that blinds people (aka, the lights shining in people's eyes). Imagine driving on a flat road and how high everyone's eye would be from the ground. Only when the light is above this height would the driver be blinded, not how wide the beam is.
The Honda S2000 lights are probably the most sought after because they have a very wide beam pattern. Also, the picture has a truck with cromed bumpers which dispersed the light upwards. Otherwise, it's really even like the right side.
Seems like all the people who don't have HIDs are hate'n :4: Really guys, it's not bad at all if you see it in person! It looks factory, my lights don't have any glare, it's aimed and leveled, and they aren't distractingly blue colored.:) |
|
|
| xGS |
quote:
Originally posted by bright06Pilot
naw dude, it's how high the light is aimed including glare that blinds people (aka, the lights shining in people's eyes). Imagine driving on a flat road and how high everyone's eye would be from the ground. Only when the light is above this height would the driver be blinded, not how wide the beam is.
The Honda S2000 lights are probably the most sought after because they have a very wide beam pattern. Also, the picture has a truck with cromed bumpers which dispersed the light upwards. Otherwise, it's really even like the right side.
Seems like all the people who don't have HIDs are hate'n :4: Really guys, it's not bad at all if you see it in person! It looks factory, my lights don't have any glare, it's aimed and leveled, and they aren't distractingly blue colored.:)
What happens to an oncoming driver as you come over the crest of a hill? |
|
|
| bright06Pilot |
| probably the exact same thing that would happen if I drove a Ferrari Enzo over that hill. Get blinded for a split second and then a stare of amazement of my exotic SUV :eek: :D |
|
|
| bright06Pilot |
frontview engine bay
right - most of the wiring harness neatly tucked under the sheetmetal. I spy a Philips ballast, a ground wire and a relay
left - ballast can be hardmounted (required drilling) or industrial strength Velcro-ed (what I chose)
dim yellow halogen color versus bright Philips 4,300K HID
blurry pic of beam pattern
Above cutoff line = no glare
Below cutoffline = you will be blinded
Pilot front with flash
 |
|
|
| Mcsierra |
If you look under the group buy section you'll see a tread I started
http://www.hondapilot.org/forums/sh...&threadid=16044
I contacted the the rep from www.XenonKing.com
He has hosted a GB for LS1GTO.com / LS2GTO.com and charged them a very fair price. I E-mailed him and asked if he could do the same for us. He replied YES, and that he would post a reply to our questions. |
|
|
| pivotalrex |
sounds like you're the owner (Jerry) of lava lights or in business with the guy. either way, between this thread and your group buy thread you seem to be pushing pretty hard AFTER you purchased your system???
seems like you're just trying to get some free advertising on this board. personally I don't think thats fair to the advertisers that have supported the board for so long. |
|
|
| bright06Pilot |
If you want to know the story behind me or Jerry why don't you call make a phone call and find out yourself instead of firing away accusations. The reason why I am pushing so hard is to get the best deal possible from Lava Lighting for everyone to benefit. I want a set of fog HIDs and I will get a discount for helping out. That is it. I setup displays for museums, libraries and other events for a living. I am not in the business of HIDs.
I would like to support Jerry and his business because he has been very helpful with the installation of my kit and I know he is s a stand up guy incase there is a product problem. |
|
|
| boostmiser |
| The only other issue is they are not self leveling. |
|
|
| bright06Pilot |
| from what I've read, self leveling is more for if you are driving up or down hill or if the back of the vehicle is weighed down. Sensors tell the motor inside the headlight to tilt up or down. I don't think it adjusts fast enough or really helps with the flickering effect on small bumps on the roads. |
|
|
| bright06Pilot |
| exampl eHonda s2000 headlamps are not self leveling |
|
|
| ctobio |
quote:
Originally posted by ThePilotster
Click Here for Consumer Reports HID test
Interesting read. Now, apply those same ideas for a HID lamp that is not in a headlamp designed for HIDs. Where a HID design throws "excess light" off to the sides because sending it forward will blind oncoming drivers, halogens don't have the same problem. But, put a HID capsule in a halogen projector assembly... that doesn't sound good to me. |
|
|
| bright06Pilot |
quote:
Where a HID design throws "excess light" off to the sides because sending it forward will blind oncoming drivers, halogens don't have the same problem.
excerpt from the Jerry after emailing this discussion
quote:
The "excess light" off to the sides should not be a problem from the HID bulb but rather the design of the projector or reflector headlamp. There are many other factors, of course. If the HID bulb is rebased properly then the beam pattern should remain the same... only brighter. If your projector throws light upwards to begin with then yes there will be more intense glare but the projectors from your Pilot are one of the best I have seen for halogen conversions interms of limiting light above the cut-off line. And because your beam pattern remains level from the center to the sides people will not be blinded unless their eyes are below this cutoff line. Your Pilot's projectors does not start throw additional light upwards and towards the sides just because you installed HIDs. The key here is the projector optic design, how well it was aimed, and how accurate the focal point is on the HID bulb.
Based on the responses I can guess that if you post this people might not understand what I just wrote. They might also be inclined to think that I am biased towards HIDs on all cars, which I am not. I do recommend or not recommend HIDs depending on your vehicle. All this doesn't really matter. The truth is, of all cars on the roads that want to do HID retrofits, the Honda Pilot's projectors are one of the best out there to actually do this with. There are people who spent a dozen hours trying to retrofit BMW M3 bi-xenons and won't get as sharp a cutoff line or as wide a beam pattern as the Pilots. The BMW's factory projector setup also has more glare than the Pilot's.
|
|
|
|
