***THE TRUTH ABOUT SILVERSTARS***

freetolio · **Joined:** Tue Aug 09, 2005 11:47 am **Posts:** 38

Hello,
I got some cheapo mechanical hi/lo HID's off of ebay. They look great as far as color.

However, the light is thrown all over the place. I have to point the bulbs so far down not to blind people that I end up having lighting on par with the halogens while lighting up the furthest lane on the other side of the interstate. With the housings aimed as they were when stock, I was lighting up overhead road signs about 1/2 mile down the road with the HID's.

The hot spots of the beams seem too far out to the sides, but the Liberty has no horizontal beam adjustment. I considered shims placed under the lip of the headlight housing where it screws into the front of the car.

I believe that if the bulbs had a shield, they would look better. I had to wire up the hi/lo mechanism in a custom fashion because the unit had an improperly wired relay. It is possible the bulb is supposed to use an outward/downward dipping motion as opposed the the straight/inward plunging motion I am getting now.

I am willing to try reversing the mechanism. I could try to fake a shield (like on a D2R) with some foil. If nothing works out for the headlights, the stock halogens go back in, and luckily the bulbs I bought are multifit. They also fit 9004 holes...think beast foglights.

If money were no object, and I knew these would work...I'd try to rig two of these in the Libby ...
http://www.streetbeatcustoms.com/acahidxp6024bs.html

cevans · **Joined:** Wed Aug 24, 2005 12:48 pm **Posts:** 278

streetKJ wrote:

And newer projector systems have the dome floating on a gyroscope which senses the angle that the cars nose is pointing relative to perfectly horizontal, and adjusts the lamps to aim higher or lower depending on the circumstance. This allows a uniform distance throw no matter if the car is moving uphill or downhill.

Actually, to my knowledge ALL US factory installed systems were required to have a leveling system installed. They don't use a gyroscope(a gyro would keep the lights level to the earth, and the lights need to be level to the ground the car is on at that moment) . Often, the leveling sensors aren't in the headlight at all, but in the wheel well. The lights are manually set to the proper height(of the car, unloaded, relative to the ground) at the factory, and the sensor keeps it that way, mainly dipping the beam to compensate for the difference in angle that weight gives to the car (trunk/backseat lower, front angles upwards).

Many european cars, and I saw a US Murano with it once, have manually adjustable leveling motors, cool!

There are many reflector systems that work very well for HID set ups, like in the toyota prius and earlier Nissan maximas and Acura TLs. But, that cut off is necessary. Having light shining into other drivers doesn't "make you visible sooner" but makes the space behind you blind to oncoming traffic. A misaligned beam destroys someone's night vision, and if there is someone, or debris, on their side of the road, the driver will be greatly disabled in his ability to see that object. Blinding people is dangerous.

This is also why HID systems come with "headlight sprayers" in order to keep the headlight lens clean so light isn't refracted off snow/dirt, etc.

streetKJ · **Posted:** Mon Dec 11, 2006 6:41 am

cevans wrote:

streetKJ wrote:

And newer projector systems have the dome floating on a gyroscope which senses the angle that the cars nose is pointing relative to perfectly horizontal, and adjusts the lamps to aim higher or lower depending on the circumstance. This allows a uniform distance throw no matter if the car is moving uphill or downhill.

Actually, to my knowledge ALL US factory installed systems were required to have a leveling system installed. They don't use a gyroscope(a gyro would keep the lights level to the earth, and the lights need to be level to the ground the car is on at that moment) . Often, the leveling sensors aren't in the headlight at all, but in the wheel well. The lights are manually set to the proper height(of the car, unloaded, relative to the ground) at the factory, and the sensor keeps it that way, mainly dipping the beam to compensate for the difference in angle that weight gives to the car (trunk/backseat lower, front angles upwards).

Many european cars, and I saw a US Murano with it once, have manually adjustable leveling motors, cool!

There are many reflector systems that work very well for HID set ups, like in the toyota prius and earlier Nissan maximas and Acura TLs. But, that cut off is necessary. Having light shining into other drivers doesn't "make you visible sooner" but makes the space behind you blind to oncoming traffic. A misaligned beam destroys someone's night vision, and if there is someone, or debris, on their side of the road, the driver will be greatly disabled in his ability to see that object. Blinding people is dangerous.

This is also why HID systems come with "headlight sprayers" in order to keep the headlight lens clean so light isn't refracted off snow/dirt, etc.

Yeah my fault. I had the Mini Cooper in mind when I wrote that part.

Apparently it uses an air bubble level like the ones carpenters use.

http://www.miniusa.com/#/learn/FACTS_FE ... Features-i
(xenon headlamps with powerwash in box 3)

Blinding people is a relative term, as vehicles with projector HID systems still "blind" me when they come down hills and when I'm approaching from afar.

It's really a matter of common sense in aiming your halogen reflectors with an HID system so that you dont totally blind people but dont totally limit the light output you have.

I've been looking at projector systems from other vehicles and considered the systems for the Mini Cooper, Subaru WRX (bugeyes), Mercedes G class, and older Porsches.

Looks like I'll have to retrofit TSX projectors though, as I want more side coverage.

Renegator · **Joined:** Sun Jan 21, 2007 9:40 pm **Posts:** 2

I just bought a pair of 4300k HID kit from ebay for $135 and i like them very much. Just need HID fog lights.

moose · **Posted:** Sun Jan 28, 2007 11:55 am

streetKJ wrote:

Many will argue that it is dangerous to other motorists if you are using HID in a vehicle not meant for it. In my experience, oncoming traffic will be able to see you a lot sooner and will take steps to avoid being blinded by your light, meaning they will have to be more aware of their own driving. This is okay with me since there seem to be too many people who aren't concentrating on that task while at least one of their hands is holding a steering wheel. If my massively bright lights dont make them focus on getting out of my way, at least I'll be able to see them before I run them over (j/k).

I'm all for better illumination, but in wet weather when I'm already having trouble seeing the pavement, now your going to blind me with your HIDs? Be ready to see my high beams & roof lights, even if your only on your low beams. If someone has their lights off to a point where it makes it hard for me to see I will take what ever means I can to ensure that I can see the road, and if it doubles as a hint to the other guy that they need to adjust their lights - so be it. I just hope it doesn't blind you to a point where you can't see the road...

Jeepjeepster · **Posted:** Wed Jan 31, 2007 11:44 pm

Ive had my silverstars for over a year and they are doing fine. Not to sure why other people have problems with them. I dont really use my Headlights all that much though.

I agree with others, Ive got 350 watts of lights that allow me to see the roads just fine at night. I would rather have the regular headlights after watching that movie.

milou_1968 · **Posted:** Thu Feb 08, 2007 3:29 am

Hi,
I saw the movie and i was desapointed. I installed my HID in my fog lights and then adjust the fog light to match the low bean. They do not blind others, well no one flashed me with their high beams since i have them on (over a year). I did one little video on youtube.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cyvjQLaOu5M

Cdsbow1 · **Posted:** Mon Mar 19, 2007 2:44 am

No doubt about it, HIDs are great, BUT only if installed by someone who knows what they are doing, dont do a poor job and end up blinding everyone on the road. If installed properly they shouldnt blind anyone, unless you leave your brights on, then you may burn the paint off of neer by vehicles:D . Also for the record the LAMEST thing ever are the fake blue tinted lights, common sense, the blue tint BLOCKS light, and all you end up doing is looking like a moron or one of those people who spend all their money "tuning" a honda civic. I would like to get HIDs installed, but intill i have the $$$$ for some proper ones, i will stick with my Sliverstars, they are a good bang for the buck.

Donkeykong · **Posted:** Mon Nov 19, 2007 12:02 am

Sorry if I missed it, but how much was the HID kit that you had purchased?

Thanks!
-Mark

KJ4ME · **Posted:** Mon Nov 19, 2007 12:35 am

i was also into the tuner scene before the kj and i had hid's in my scion xA which used the regular multi-flector halogen headlamp. so long as you dont use a cheap hid kit, take your time on install and aim the lights, you will get a good light beam that dosent blind everyone.

C co Crusader 2/127 · **Posted:** Mon Nov 19, 2007 1:14 am

does your hid conversion still have the high/low function. I know in most states that its required to have a high low function

KJ4ME · **Posted:** Mon Nov 19, 2007 1:42 am

just to throw it out there for any one that is ordering an hid system...
if you want both the high and low beams to be HID, that is a bi-xenon system so you should order a kit that is named as such

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THE TRUTH ABOUT SILVERSTARS