Some may recall that 2 years ago or so I retrofitted morimoto HID projectors into the 2006 tundra in my sig. The oem light output was not really--- anything-- you really couldn't tell they were on. I put a lot of work into the headlamps, and also then did the mod on the fogs.
During that process I discovered where the problem was--- the reflective surface of the oem lamps was all greyed out above the bulbs. but I was committed to the install by the time I saw it.
Well, The fogs turned out way better... and I suspect it's because those projectors are meant to be a certain distance from the ground--- and the headlamps may just be too high. No matter what I did, to keep the upper cutoff at appropriate elevation, the amount of midground light was still too much. With the upper cutoff out of others' eyes, there was not enough hot-spot biased to the very top of the throw, like an oem would provide. It was fine for city and around town driving, but awkward on the highway. It wasn't a problem if I ran the fogs, which for some reason just excelled in that application... light just went on forever and ever... and together it was very nice.
But the perfectionist in me was just quite pleased.
So this weekend I spent several hours undoing all of it. And I polished the oem reflectors, and did a normal cleanup on the plastic covers. And put in I think it was the Xtravision--- just $5 more than the standard offering, nothing radical.
It was weird going back....
1. I just prefer the light color devoid of "bright white." my hids were not blue. i think 4100. The 3200k halogen is just easier on the eyes.
2. the oem lamps are harder to aim -- the HID has a smoother distribution--- just buttery smooth--- and the sharp cutoff along with the notched line make them easier to sight. You really have to read the hot-spots on the oem beam pattern, which are not identical, to get it right.
3. distance distribution is better with the oem beam by a country mile.
4. the oem beam is just as bright on the road, but in doing so they don't have the lumens to spare on side fill like the HIDs.
5. I can read street signs again
6. colored traffic markers are more vibrant with the halogens.
So it's odd. The projectors in the fogs are still fabulous --- and it's the exact same unit. But really, while I liked the side fill and brighter light on the mainbeams, the long-distance hwy vision was just abused by the not-quite-right distribution from the mains.
So there you have it. It can be very hard to outdo the oems.
I'm still a fan of projectors--- you just have to respect the application.
I suspect HID will be with the dinosaurs in a few years anyway--- LED will most likely stomp it out of existence. The LED drop-ins already look to be just as good (which is not to say they are any good, just *as* good) as the HID retrofits.
During that process I discovered where the problem was--- the reflective surface of the oem lamps was all greyed out above the bulbs. but I was committed to the install by the time I saw it.
Well, The fogs turned out way better... and I suspect it's because those projectors are meant to be a certain distance from the ground--- and the headlamps may just be too high. No matter what I did, to keep the upper cutoff at appropriate elevation, the amount of midground light was still too much. With the upper cutoff out of others' eyes, there was not enough hot-spot biased to the very top of the throw, like an oem would provide. It was fine for city and around town driving, but awkward on the highway. It wasn't a problem if I ran the fogs, which for some reason just excelled in that application... light just went on forever and ever... and together it was very nice.
But the perfectionist in me was just quite pleased.
So this weekend I spent several hours undoing all of it. And I polished the oem reflectors, and did a normal cleanup on the plastic covers. And put in I think it was the Xtravision--- just $5 more than the standard offering, nothing radical.
It was weird going back....
1. I just prefer the light color devoid of "bright white." my hids were not blue. i think 4100. The 3200k halogen is just easier on the eyes.
2. the oem lamps are harder to aim -- the HID has a smoother distribution--- just buttery smooth--- and the sharp cutoff along with the notched line make them easier to sight. You really have to read the hot-spots on the oem beam pattern, which are not identical, to get it right.
3. distance distribution is better with the oem beam by a country mile.
4. the oem beam is just as bright on the road, but in doing so they don't have the lumens to spare on side fill like the HIDs.
5. I can read street signs again
6. colored traffic markers are more vibrant with the halogens.
So it's odd. The projectors in the fogs are still fabulous --- and it's the exact same unit. But really, while I liked the side fill and brighter light on the mainbeams, the long-distance hwy vision was just abused by the not-quite-right distribution from the mains.
So there you have it. It can be very hard to outdo the oems.
I'm still a fan of projectors--- you just have to respect the application.
I suspect HID will be with the dinosaurs in a few years anyway--- LED will most likely stomp it out of existence. The LED drop-ins already look to be just as good (which is not to say they are any good, just *as* good) as the HID retrofits.
