LIGHT up

[Christopher Hoffman <imperial67@xxxxxxxxxxxxx>]

> HID look-a-likes

The HID lookalikes, which use a blue coating on a standard halogen bulb to
allegedly create the effect of the blue-white light that a xenon HID lamp
uses (which more closely approximates the eye's perception in natural
daylight), are the scourge of the road today.

The problem is that the coating on these cheapo bulbs sends the light from
them all over the inside of the headlamp in an irregular pattern, causing
the light to be scattered out in a way that causes glare and generally poor
illumination.

Most people who have responded negatively to HID lamps (which by design are
auto-leveling to reduce glare to oncoming drivers) are actually responding
to these lookalikes, which should be banished from the earth. Please,
folks... good halogen lamps that directly replace your headlamps are
available at reasonable cost. Even the more expensive H4 (high-low) and H1
(high beam only) Euro-spec replacements are reasonably priced and require
minimal modification to your car (installing relays and upping the wire
gauge between the power source and the lamps to 12 gauge or better are a
must unless you like frying wiring in your car).

Replacing old tungsten lamps with ordinary modern sealed-beam halogen lamps,
however, is as simple as plug and play. Check the aim of the lamps and make
sure the lamps' contacts are clean and the charging system is strong, and
you should have more than adequate light for most types of driving.

Just my 2 cents from a guy who's into good headlamps...
Chris in LA