HID's installed

[Bartacus]

Originally Posted by crownr0yal

There are plenty of cars with projector halogen headlights. Sonata, Dodge Dart, Honda CR-Z....

Originally Posted by Winkle

Projectors are just a type of reflector, HID's are generally projectors as they focus the light better but you can still have halogens in projectors.

All factory-installed HID's are in projector housings, you can buy 3rd party HID's that are not in projector housings but those are of questionable legality.

Yep, all 2012 and 2013 Mazda3's have projectors and they're all halogens except for the top of the line 2.5 engine trims that has HIDs.

Well consider this old man "schooled". I had no idea they started coupling halogens and projectors. Most likely to fool stupid old guys like me into thinking HIDs were standard. The nerve of those deceptive marketing criminals!!

[CanuckElantraGT]

The list of vehicles with halogen/projector combo is quite long... Most every manufacturer has at least one or two that have this combo.

[Bartacus]

I haven't purchased a car in 10 years, so I'm a bit behind the times.

[Winkle]

Originally Posted by Bartacus

Well consider this old man "schooled". I had no idea they started coupling halogens and projectors. Most likely to fool stupid old guys like me into thinking HIDs were standard. The nerve of those deceptive marketing criminals!!

LOL, no worries. We all have to learn somehow.

Originally Posted by Bartacus

I haven't purchased a car in 10 years, so I'm a bit behind the times.

Yeah this is my first new car, my previous vehicle was a 99 Toyota Corolla and before that it was a 93 Honda Civic. This is the first time I've owned a car that has power locks and windows and even those features seem technologically advanced and new to me!

[M3Chef]

Originally Posted by Winkle

No we don't, HIDs are not optional either. We have standard halogens.

HID's give off a bluish tint.

Not the ones installed at the factory (Acura, BMW, Audi, etc.). Those are typically around 4100-4300 kelvin and are very close to daylight white with slight yellow. The blueish tint starts to occur around 6000+ kelvin and actually puts out less usable light. Anything over 6500 I want to smash out with a hammer. It causes glare and blinds oncoming drivers, regardless of aim.

There are other threads about HIDs. Do your homework. They are illegal unless installed correctly.

HID color chart | Xenon colour chart

[LeMeez]

Originally Posted by warpdriv

hmm... I'm new to this forum, so I apologize if the info on the HID kit is posted elsewhere. Do you mind letting me know what kit you bought and from where? How did you decide which brand of kit to purchase?
I am in Ontario as well. I am just over 2000 km on my 3 week old GT, but the first item I want to improve is the night lighting.
My previous car had factory HID lighting... guess I am spoiled for it.
~Brad

I bought them from a friend locally here that supplies most of the shops. I bought my old set 6 years ago from him as we'll and never had a problem, plus I know where to go if I do.

Originally Posted by SacGT

Did you use 35w or 55w HID bulbs?

These are 35 watt, plenty of light, you're asking for trouble with 55 watt ones.

Originally Posted by Winkle

No we don't, HIDs are not optional either. We have standard halogens.

HID's give off a bluish tint.

I think this was answered previously, not all HID's give off a blue tint, 4300 is the normal white, 3000 is the equivalent of a halogen. I used 5000, very strong white light, no blue.

Originally Posted by crownr0yal

Can you take a picture of them up against a wall? I'd like to see the cutoff.

I will do that one of these nights, but like I said, the cutoff did not change from the factory bulbs, same projector.

Originally Posted by M3Chef

Not the ones installed at the factory (Acura, BMW, Audi, etc.). Those are typically around 4100-4300 kelvin and are very close to daylight white with slight yellow. The blueish tint starts to occur around 6000+ kelvin and actually puts out less usable light. Anything over 6500 I want to smash out with a hammer. It causes glare and blinds oncoming drivers, regardless of aim.

There are other threads about HIDs. Do your homework. They are illegal unless installed correctly.
.......

These are installed correctly, inside a projector so the light is controlled and aimed properly, not put in a regular reflector housing that sends the light everywhere including oncoming drivers eyes! This setup is legal.

Thanks for all the kudos, hope this helps others decide, it really is quite simple.

[CanuckElantraGT]

Ugh, do we really need to rehash the HID and headlight housing argument? His set-up is legal. If he had 10,000K or up (where it goes purple) then it's illegal. I've run 6000K for years and have never been stopped for them being too blue. Same with friends that have 8000K. 6000K is where my limit stops as the light output decreases. As mentioned before 4300K is optimal (as it still has a titch of yellow in it) but 5000K adds a nice classy touch. Good job, love love love it!

[SacGT]

What are the pros and cons to installing 55w vs 35w bulbs. Please educate/inform me, thanks.

[M3Chef]

Originally Posted by SacGT

What are the pros and cons to installing 55w vs 35w bulbs. Please educate/inform me, thanks.

It's not the bulb, but the ballast. 55w is usually too bright for low beams.

[LeMeez]

Originally Posted by M3Chef

It's not the bulb, but the ballast. 55w is usually too bright for low beams.

You are correct sir, I should have clarified that it's the ballast that puts out the wattage to fire the bulbs. 35 watts is what you want for low beams.