Hid headlights vs halogen4/10/2024 ![]() Also, with additional moving parts, there is more opportunity for things to go wrong. As you can imagine, these lights are high end, and their price reflects it. The metal light shield actually moves down to allow the full light from the bulb when the high beam switch is activated. This style of headlamp has a metal shield in front of the headlight bulb that actually helps focus the light in a specific direction with the help of a special lens inside the headlight housing. Halogen and HID versions of projector headlights both exist depending on the vehicle. These types of headlights are also blinding to oncoming traffic if not aimed properly, which would obviously attract unpleasant hand gestures as well. There are also more areas for failure because there are more components than in a non-HID headlight. Replacing a factory HID headlight can be twice the price of the halogen version, and they are not interchangeable without modifications. The HID headlight system is slightly more complicated than a halogen headlamp because HIDs require a "ballast" to control the power flow to the bulb itself. The HID bulbs lasted two to three times longer than the halogen bulbs, they draw less power, they are brighter, and they look great. Back in 1991, the European spec BMW 7-series was the first factory vehicle to come with HIDs, and they were a game changer. HID and xenon lights are the same kind of headlight. This is why these two terms have become interchangeable over the last several years. HID is an acronym for "high intensity discharge." The HID bulbs contain xenon gas. The problem is that none (that we have encountered) will last for more than a couple months at the very most, and that won't help you see the road at night. When it comes to yellow or sandblasted headlight lenses, some drivers like to try the magic headlight cleaners, and that's because some of these products do actually work. Both can be embarrassing and won't get you a passing inspection sticker. This really gives the car and truck designers a blank canvas to work with and makes for great looking vehicles.Ī con of this type of headlight is that the plastic lenses eventually turn yellow or fall off completely. Pros and Cons of Composite/Halogen HeadlightsĬomposite or halogen headlights have the ability to incorporate turn signals and even fog lamps into their design. For this reason, many people call these lights "halogen headlights." The vast majority of them have plastic lenses, though there are a few exceptions here and there. They have replaceable bulbs, which are filled with halogen gas. This meant that car and truck manufacturers could finally design the headlights to "flow" with the styling of the vehicle itself and not hide them behind plastic covers.Ĭomposite lights came right after the sealed beam headlight. It was then that the Federal Motor Vehicle Safety team fully removed the entire sealed beam rule, and allowed plastic lenses and replaceable light bulbs. The Camaro RS/SS and Buick Riviera are two great examples of this.īy 1978, rectangle headlights were finally permitted, and many car manufacturers rejoiced. To make vehicles look good when they all used the exact same lighting, many manufacturers had headlamp covers. There were only two sizes of sealed beam lights available between 19, which were the round 5.75 inch and 7 inch style. If the bulb burns out, the whole headlamp needs to be replaced. The bulb, the lens, and the housing are all connected and cannot be separated without destroying the light itself. Sealed beam headlights are one-piece designs with glass lenses. Let's discuss the different types of headlights. Today there are different types, such as halogen, xenon, and HID headlights. They can be called " headlights" (without the space), "head lights" (two words), headlamps, or head lamps. ![]() "Headlights" don't even have a standard name. These days, for the sake of styling and improved visibility, lighting up the darkness has become a bit more complex. They were inexpensive to buy and easily found in every single auto part store in America. Did you know that for the 42 years between 19, sealed beam headlights were required on all vehicles in the United States, with only four styles allowed? Imagine what modern cars and trucks would look like if they all shared the same headlights.īefore 1984, headlamps were easy to replace with a Phillips screwdriver.
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