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New
HIDs vs. Stock
Halogens
Figuring
out the pros and cons of
installing HID headlights
can be difficult, and this
short article will attempt
to help anyone trying to
make this decision. Though
HIDs are an upgrade over
the OEM halogens included
in most vehicles, they do
require installation, and
not everyone will benefit
equally from using them.
Below, we break down
several factors that will
likely weigh into your
decision, so that you can
take a calculated approach
to deciding whether or not
HIDs are right for you and
your vehicle.
Style
It’s
really difficult to not
call this one a win for
HIDs. Unless you’re
looking to preserve the
exact look of your car when
you first bought it (which
would make sense for a
classic Mustang, less so
for a 1989 Civic), HIDs
will dramatically improve
the look of your vehicle.
Before you purchase HIDs,
you can select from an
array of custom colors that
you want your car’s
new headlights to be. You
can go for soft yellows,
sharp whites, or bold blues
and purples. The best part:
no matter what
headlight
color
you choose, you’ll
still get the same
brightness out of the HID
system every
time.
Installation
If
your vehicle was
pre-equipped with halogen
headlights, this
category’s going to
weigh in favor of halogens.
You’ll need to adapt
several pieces of equipment
to work in your car in
order to install HIDs in a
halogen headlight system,
such as new ballasts and
wire adaptors. If
you’re willing to put
a couple of hours of work
in and can follow a simple
instruction manual, than
this won’t be a
deterrent at all. But if
you’re looking for a
lazy, care-free
installation of 2 minutes,
installing HIDs is not as
simple as just switching
the bulbs (though it’s
almost that easy if your
car’s much
newer).
Brightness
& Longevity
Again,
HIDs take the cake here.
You’re going to triple
the brightness of your
car’s headlights with
an HID installation, and
these new lights can last
up to 10x as long as stock
halogens. Though you may
have spent more time
installing them (as
mentioned above),
you’ll also have to
replace these bulbs far
less often, which is
definitely something to
consider. You will also get
sharper contrast and light
that’s easier on the
eyes (as it appears more
natural than halogen-based
light), so driving should
be simpler with HID
headlight
installed.
Conclusion
So
there are plenty of facets
to consider, and if
you’re prone to taking
the easy way out with
installation, HIDs may not
be quite your thing. If
you’re also the kind
of driver who just wants
your car to blend into the
pack, HIDs are not your
best bet. But for those who
like their cars to stand
out, who want to be able to
see more easily and make
replacements less often,
HIDs work best. So weigh
your options, and find out
which headlight upgrade is
right for you and your
car.
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