HID for 5

[fecat]

Has anyone upgrade their headlight to HID for their 5? thinking of getting one since they are so affordable now.

Also, has anyone seen people running HID on their foglamp, not just on 5 but on other car. wonder how it would look like...

[sliq]

*puts flame retarding suit on* i have 6000k HID's for my car.. i haven't had any complaints from oncoming cars (no one high beaming me). i manually adjusted the height to which they shine at.. and angled them more to the left. If you look at the car on an angle, you can tell the right headlamp's light is focused to the left.

HID's for foglamps are a bad idea as they can reflect on cats eyes and road paint which could seriously blind oncoming cars and motorcyclists/cyclists.

the best vision for foglamps are the standard globes.

[bruce]

They are supposed to be angled to the left, NOT straight ahead.

[Hammer]

Fecat, which MX5 do you have?

If you have the NA & NB8A, I wouldn't recommend them as they have the reflector type headlight units. This type of headlight does not really suit HID in the perspective of on coming traffic.

The HID bulb just doesn't align well to the original position of the H4 bulb, hence, it seems to spread the beam much much wider. Even if you adjust the headlight low enough, some light still project high. And when you do this to avoid blinding on-coming traffic, most of the light spread is so low that from the driver seat, they are practically useless. I see a lot aftger market cars with HID lights on reflector type headlights and they are blinding.

However, if you have the NB8B, which has a projector style low beam. Then they suit better. This type of headlight unit also have a very defined horizontal plain which can be adjusted to match the halogen globe level of height.

I have a set on my low beam and do not get complaints from on coming traffic.

Plus IMO, do not go higher than 6000k (Kelvin) light range. Any higher - while it might look cool being more bluish - is useless when the road is wet. Most of the bluish light is absurb by the wet road and does not reflect much back. So the road looks dark. To the point you can't see potholes etc - counter productive really. 6000k is closer daylight colour (white), and very good in the wet.

Well, that's my 2cents worth.

[sliq]

i might reduce my HID's to 5000k, reasons being, mine is a tiny bit blue white. i prefer it to be chalk white. 4000K gives you optimum road vision i read somewhere

[fecat]

Fecat, which MX5 do you have?

NB8B - late 2000 model

However, if you have the NB8B, which has a projector style low beam. Then they suit better. This type of headlight unit also have a very defined horizontal plain which can be adjusted to match the halogen globe level of height.

Cool, good to know that.

Plus IMO, do not go higher than 6000k (Kelvin) light range. Any higher - while it might look cool being more bluish - is useless when the road is wet. Most of the bluish light is absurb by the wet road and does not reflect much back. So the road looks dark. To the point you can't see potholes etc - counter productive really. 6000k is closer daylight colour (white), and very good in the wet.

Thinking to go for 6000K as well. I am thinking to get the HID kit from SRSAuto in Chinatown. They stock the Vision X HID. $320 including installation, one pair of G4 Halogen for high beam , and a matching pair of white parker. I think the price is reasonable. They claimed that the kit is made in Japan... not sure if it is true or not. They said the ballistic comes with lifetime warranty. SRSAuto has been around for quite a long time so if I have any problem I will just bring them back.

PS - I have no affiliation with SRS.

Thanks Hammer and Sliq for your info. Cheers

[Hammer]

Hmmmm, I'd be very surprised if they were made in Japan.

Even the ones that I have, which are Bosch states on the unit "Designed in Germany, Made in China or was it Malaysia". I can't remember. I'll need to check the car.

[sliq]

lifetime warranty on the ballasts? that's value.

on the nb8b's, the low beams are HB4 and high beams are H7 from memory. you'd probably figure that out once you've yanked out the globes and look at the holders.

[Hammer]

... high beams are H7 from memory....

Nope. High beams on the NB8B are HB3 (9005) bulbs.

[sliq]

... high beams are H7 from memory....

Nope. High beams on the NB8B are HB3 (9005) bulbs.

i've just gone back to double check. you stand corrected hammer

[crzymx]

*puts flame retarding suit on* i have 6000k HID's for my car.. i haven't had any complaints from oncoming cars (no one high beaming me). i manually adjusted the height to which they shine at.. and angled them more to the left. If you look at the car on an angle, you can tell the right headlamp's light is focused to the left.

HID's for foglamps are a bad idea as they can reflect on cats eyes and road paint which could seriously blind oncoming cars and motorcyclists/cyclists.

the best vision for foglamps are the standard globes.

Reflect on cat eyes and blind other drivers.. lmfao i have never heard that one.

[sliq]

think about it.

aren't fog lights directed at a very sharp decline down towards the road? we all know that HID's provide a longer range of vision, hence, when light reflects up from the reflectors and paint, this range would be extended towards oncoming cars.

why do you think so few people have HID's on their fog lights (if anything, any cars)?

[crzymx]

No, just the thought of someone explaining why they had the accident. 'Well you see, it was the cat, it blinded me with its eyes!"

[grump]

No, just the thought of someone explaining why they had the accident. 'Well you see, it was the cat, it blinded me with its eyes!"

just re read sliq's post and have a little think about it, it should come to you.

[Regie]

im running a set of 4300 HIDs in mine. the 4300K is pure white and it is just that. illl take some piccs tonight if you wish. but yeah even they arent ideal for the projector style lights, they are much better than the standard type reflector.

When i get some time i want to get another set of NB8B lights and retrofit some BMW/Merc projectors in there.. the proper type projectors with HIDs are phenominal.

if you have any more question post up. Ive been running HIDs in my various cars for 5/6 years now.