You’ll agree that a car’s lights are an important aspect when it comes to driving at night. The better you can see the road ahead, the less likely it is something or someone will surprise you, potentially causing an accident. Properly adjusted headlights aren’t important just for the driver, but for oncoming traffic as well. In low-visibility situations, poorly adjusted headlights from an oncoming vehicle can blind the other driver.
HID or high-intensity discharge bulbs are a common upgrade, but the HID conversion kits are a complex subject. In this article, we’ll talk about HID conversion kits, whether they’re a legal upgrade, their benefits, and their drawbacks. All of this will hopefully answer the question are HID conversion kits worth it?
What Are HID Conversion Kits?
HID conversion kits are kits designed to replace halogen bulbs with HID bulbs in a car. A standard HID conversion kit includes two xenon bulbs, ballasts, and the required wiring harness to connect everything.
HID conversion kits are used to improve visibility during night driving, but they’re also a common upgrade for aesthetic purposes. These bulbs are known to be a few times brighter than regular halogen bulbs. The difference between traditional halogen and HID bulbs is that HID bulbs use xenon gas and an electric current to create high-intensity light.
Because HID conversion kits come with all the necessary parts, installing them is usually a breeze. How complicated the installation will be, depends on the make and model of your car.
Are HID Conversion Kits Legal?
HID conversion kits as such are illegal. The reason for this is straightforward. Halogen headlight assemblies aren’t compatible with HID lightbulbs. Where a standard halogen bulb uses the reflective material of the headlight housing to shape the light beam, HIDs require a projector to properly focus the light. This is especially important considering the higher output of HID bulbs.
What Happens When You Put an HID Bulb in a Halogen Headlight Assembly?
Let’s say ignore the legality of an HID conversion kit, which you definitely shouldn’t, and install one in your car. The first thing you’ll notice is improved better visibility. The difference between your new HIDs and your old halogen lights will be tangible. You’ll see more detail on the road, and your headlights will project farther. Good, right?
Well, maybe for you. The oncoming traffic will have a very different experience. At night, HID conversion kits without projectors are blinding, to say the least. They are often worse than high beams in terms of how overwhelming the light is. Needless to say, this can lead to dangerous situations on the road.
Is There a Legal Way to Upgrade to HID Headlights?
Your car’s headlight is a highly regulated component that has a whole section dedicated to it in the Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard documentation. Every aspect of the headlight function and design is precisely outlined. After you’re done reading this massive heap of legal lingo, you’ll realize that there isn’t a lot of room as far as headlight modifications go. This applies to HID conversion kits as well as aftermarket HID headlights.
The only way around this regulation is to get factory HID headlights from a higher-trim version of your car.
Alternatives?
If your stock headlights are hazing, and you’re just not getting enough light from them, there are better, legal ways to deal with this. For one, you can refurbish the headlight using a headlight restoration kit. Doing so will remove the top layer of the headlight surface and reveal a clear path for the light to focus as it should. This process alone can boost the effectiveness of your halogen headlights, or any other type of headlight for that matter.
In case your stock headlights are too far gone, we recommend getting new replacement headlights. Check our catalog for a wide range of headlight options. Not only are they brand new and equipped with a fresh reflective surface, but they also come with fresh UV protection that will prevent hazing for years to come.
Get Quality Headlight Assemblies For Your Car
To answer the question from the beginning – are HID conversion kits worth it – not really.
There are some good things about HID conversion kits, but there are too many drawbacks. The fact that these kits are illegal to install to halogen headlights suggests that the best option is to replace the entire headlight assembly. By doing so, you’ll be able to drive your car legally, and you’ll have a much brighter view in front of you during the night.
Keep in mind that headlights play an extremely important role in driving safety, and only the highest-quality parts should be used that provide the best performance. At eEuroparts.com, you’ll find headlight assemblies for most European vehicles available in the US.
To find the correct parts for your car, all you need to do is to select the year, make, and model of your car, after which you’ll find only compatible parts from a specific category you choose.
