HID Headlights

[IRONMAN]

It's not mine...that's just a half decent pic from a google image search of "HID cutoff".

Cutoff prevents the blinding HID light from being projected above the ground too far on low beam (in to oncoming traffic's eyes). The cutoff is the reason HIDs are allowed on the road with 3X the light output of a halogen bulb.

Either way that cut off on the Raptor is going to be at eye level with most small cars, don't you think?

 

[Droid]

I still wouldn't mind finding someone that can retro fit the original lights with the projector bulbs.
Anyone???? Autowerks, do you guys do this?

Guessing there'd be a strong market for this...key would be having one extra set of lights....either doing a core charge or having a temporary set of beat up F-150 lights for customers to use for a week.

 

[Droid]

Either way that cut off on the Raptor is going to be at eye level with most small cars, don't you think?

Low cars are certainly going to get hit harder, just as they do with halogens. I believe the legal spec on HIDs is that they can't be much/any worse.

In Europe, the spec is even more difficult. Over there HIDs require headlight washers to prevent beam scatter due to debris on the lights, and lights must be autoleveling to prevent rear-loaded vehicles from causing a problem.

 

[IRONMAN]

I might just have to get on the ball and attempt a retro fit. Maybe go to a junk yard and get a spare light to do this to.

 

[Raptizzle]

It's not mine...that's just a half decent pic from a google image search of "HID cutoff".

Cutoff prevents the blinding HID light from being projected above the ground too far on low beam (in to oncoming traffic's eyes). The cutoff is the reason HIDs are allowed on the road with 3X the light output of a halogen bulb.

How do we know his kits don't have the cutoff?

 

[FlounderStalker]

Cutoff - who gives a shit. I can see just fine from the drivers seat!!!!

But seriously, no one has every flashed me with my HID low beams on. If the lack of cutoff was blinding everyone, don't you think someone would flash me?

 

[Droid]

How do we know his kits don't have the cutoff?

$100 kits tend to be bulbs and ballasts. HID-spec optics and a retrofit into a stock headlight housing tend to cost much more than $100. Photo looks like stock reflector.

Cutoff - who gives a shit. I can see just fine from the drivers seat!!!!

But seriously, no one has every flashed me with my HID low beams on. If the lack of cutoff was blinding everyone, don't you think someone would flash me?

Read the DanielSternLighting article. The other effect besides not having cutoff is that the reflector optics don't properly focus the beams where you want them. Lighting/optics is a pretty precise science, and if the light source and reflectors are not designed to work together you can wind up putting a lot of light in places you don't want it. The most common example is a lot of light right in front of the vehicle, where the driver actually perceives an increase in brightness even though the distance has decreased.

Not an expert on this..just basing it on what I've read. Looked into it years ago for my GMC (I want HIDs) and discovered that the only solution is a $700+ retrofit. I'm all ears if someone can bring that cost down and still give proper HID light output.

Just go look at the light output of a luxury car with factory HIDs (or a proper HID retrofit) next to a car with HIDs in halogen reflector optics.

 

[FlounderStalker]

I will not argue that $1000 worth of HID's are probably much better than $100 HID's. But check out my $100 HID's compared to stock.

http://www.fordraptorforum.com/f11/xenon-hid-head-lights-kc-lights-hid-replacement-bulbs-1339/

 

[shelteredraptor]

I installed a good hi-low beam kit, promptly got yanked by a very pissed off cop (luckily he was a friend of mine) and they are sitting on the bench waiting for someone to do a nice cutoff job on the stock housings. Anyone that says they are legal is wrong. I am totally in if anyone is gonna do the mod though.

 

[bfr]

Have looked at doing a high quality HID retrofit with cutoffs. Good info here: The Retrofit Source online: headlight upgrades for all applications

Also some decent discussions at HIDPlanet.com