HID's
#51
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This is a great thread....very informative. Thanks Rickyj for making some great points and doing the research.
I find that being able to see clearly at night warrants the risk of possibly being illegal. I will do my best to make sure the light is not blinding others....but first and foremost I need to be able to see!
I find that being able to see clearly at night warrants the risk of possibly being illegal. I will do my best to make sure the light is not blinding others....but first and foremost I need to be able to see!
#52
It doesn't take more than 2 seconds to tell whether a vehicle has a projector setup or not (at least if it's dark out). Also... while I could be mistaken, my understanding is that headlights need to be DOT/ECE certified, and is done so with a specific bulb. So while your reflector has been DOT certified with the 60/65w halogen bulb (or whatever stock is), it wasn't DOT certified with a different bulb... I'm also certain there are limits to the legal limit of wattage you can put in the headlights (meaning most aftermarket 100w bulbs are likely illegal as well)... however as you're not messing around with the light source at all, it's less of an issue, and I doubt it would ever come up unless you were getting a VI done.
Oh something else for all you who blame those "bad cops" for being assholes... I'm not sure about how things work in the US, but up here, if a cop pulls you over for a violation, and fines you, but then allows you to continue on... Or even if he suspends your license for 24 hrs, but doesn't ensure you leave. Should you get into an accident after the fact, it's HIS ass in shit for allowing you to keep driving.
Oh something else for all you who blame those "bad cops" for being assholes... I'm not sure about how things work in the US, but up here, if a cop pulls you over for a violation, and fines you, but then allows you to continue on... Or even if he suspends your license for 24 hrs, but doesn't ensure you leave. Should you get into an accident after the fact, it's HIS ass in shit for allowing you to keep driving.
And police officers do not have an obligation to respond or protect, this has been hashed out again and again in areas such as the Supreme Court of the United States. They have no (criminal at least) liability for even the most absurd situations they allow.
But to the first issue, that is what I want to know. IS it illegal? Being "fairly certain" isn't enough.
#53
This is a great thread....very informative. Thanks Rickyj for making some great points and doing the research.
I find that being able to see clearly at night warrants the risk of possibly being illegal. I will do my best to make sure the light is not blinding others....but first and foremost I need to be able to see!
I find that being able to see clearly at night warrants the risk of possibly being illegal. I will do my best to make sure the light is not blinding others....but first and foremost I need to be able to see!
#54
But I do understand why throwing "bad cop" out there can run against people the wrong way - especially without more description and explanation.
#55
I'm not sure of the part#'s I will call the guy tommorow and get the specifics, the installation was so easy I wish I hadn't paid the guy to do it. I opted for the 55 watts and ran relays if you run 35's which I did to begin with the ecu may get whacky causing "flickers" ( at least with a hi-low kit). For an extra $40 I got the Hi/low so I can use Hi-beams if I ever need them, the entire kit was 110 bucks installed.. And I've never been happier. IMO, the stock bulbs are terrible, it's like driving with gas lamps or candles as headlights. I'll let you know on which kit it is and part #'s.
What relays did you run and how/where are they interfaced. I have an 09 wrangler x unlimited and installed a hid kit last year,(HID hi/halogen lo) got the flicker and the kit tripped a factory relay preventing the lights from working at all when the vehicle was running. I even tried pulling the relay and then the vehicle wouldnt start. Reinstalled relay and removed hid kit. Now wife is complaining she cant see and wants hids back. Going to try a ddm tuning 55w 6000k kit. but dont want to deal with ecu or relay issues. any recommendations are greatly appreciated. Thanks
#56
Stoppey,
What relays did you run and how/where are they interfaced. I have an 09 wrangler x unlimited and installed a hid kit last year,(HID hi/halogen lo) got the flicker and the kit tripped a factory relay preventing the lights from working at all when the vehicle was running. I even tried pulling the relay and then the vehicle wouldnt start. Reinstalled relay and removed hid kit. Now wife is complaining she cant see and wants hids back. Going to try a ddm tuning 55w 6000k kit. but dont want to deal with ecu or relay issues. any recommendations are greatly appreciated. Thanks
What relays did you run and how/where are they interfaced. I have an 09 wrangler x unlimited and installed a hid kit last year,(HID hi/halogen lo) got the flicker and the kit tripped a factory relay preventing the lights from working at all when the vehicle was running. I even tried pulling the relay and then the vehicle wouldnt start. Reinstalled relay and removed hid kit. Now wife is complaining she cant see and wants hids back. Going to try a ddm tuning 55w 6000k kit. but dont want to deal with ecu or relay issues. any recommendations are greatly appreciated. Thanks
I should get the kit on Monday. I will post up some install pictures, beam pattern shots if I can find a reasonable wall to do so, and impressions/opinions. I will try to do so by the end of next week, unless someone has already done so on here. I am curious as to how much the pattern differs, if at all, and a little curious on if I will be able to get a picture that demonstrates it at all.
ETA - welcome to the forum........kinda. Looks like you have been registered over a year and only posted once? You aren't a deep cover NHTSA secret agent are you?
Last edited by rickyj; 04-28-2011 at 11:21 PM.
#57
JK Enthusiast
Join Date: Apr 2008
Location: Quantico, VA
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#58
One posters comment was basically "if you don't like your headlights, you should save up to buy a new car - not new headlights".
Then, predictably, thread closed and locked without a law being posted.
ETA - I understand the "must conform to FMVSS" statements. But what is the punishment if it does not? A felony? Misdemeanor? A capital offense? How many years in prison are we talking about? In addition to the $10,000 fine or not? The punishment for a car manufacturer is very clear, they can not sell the vehicle as it does not conform or comply to FMVSS, and that is a huge financial problem. I don't see listed anywhere in the section about criminal punishments for aftermarket installers. Given that it is a parts standard that is not surprising in the least. Show me the law. Since you are a member on Candlepower, ask Bill to provide the law.
Last edited by rickyj; 04-29-2011 at 02:47 PM.
#59
Who care's if it's legal or not, running lights that help you see and blind others is selfish, dangerous, ignorant and down right stupid. I drive past these people every night on the highways. Flashing them does nothing, they just flash back to show you they are running their low beams that scatter light and rob me of my night vision.