My HID Fixed Headlight Mod - Continued
#16
BTW, from what I have read in a few different places recently, DOT is quietly heading toward implementing E-code standards for all vehicle lighting. So far it seems they have adopted those standards for everything but headlights. I'll see if I can find a link about this.
#18
I bought a 2004 Passat last year and the OEM lights have a very e-code like pattern, with a sharper cutoff and a RH bias. They are pretty decent at stock wattage.
As for fixed 944 lights, I think the shadow from the front valance makes any fixed light in the stock location a bad idea.
-Joel.
As for fixed 944 lights, I think the shadow from the front valance makes any fixed light in the stock location a bad idea.
-Joel.
#19
Originally Posted by IceShark
Well, doesn't really matter how good they work, they are too low and illegal. So you are left wide open for equipment violation stop when driving the car and some of the Eastern States that have equipment inspections will probably nail you for it as they are pretty pickey.
So if you spend all this time and money and then get caught and put in the system, all your effort just went down the tubes.
So if you spend all this time and money and then get caught and put in the system, all your effort just went down the tubes.
#21
Originally Posted by IceShark
You will be at HID levels, maybe better. Here are pictures of what you can do with halogen
Originally Posted by IceShark
The best shot would be using the Hella HID lenses but you will soar over $1000 pretty quick when you add in the hardware and fabrication.
Make up your mind.
Those of you with constructive critism, I'm all for it, but Iceshark's comments just feel like solid bashing IMO.
#22
Ice, you were always someone I respect and in fact your craftsmanship inspired me to really step-up to the plate and rewire my whole car the "right" way - but you couldn't be further from the truth with a comment like this:
that is SO ABSOLUTELY DEAD WRONG it's not even funny. this setup used to be on my car and was brighter than my friend's Audi S4 with 3x HID conversion (stock lows, added highs and fogs). It was brighter in fact than ANY car I've seen. PERIOD. The non-cutoff MOTORSPORT high-beams are already illegal, part of why they are soooo bright, so who cares about mounting height etc. In (somewhat) rural upstate NY it's easy as hell to find a "sympathetic" inspection station - there's tons of guys running around with 60s/70s muscle cars that are far from street-legal, Mike's car won't stand out like a sore thumb, that's for sure. Believe it or not, cops aren't out to get you, and actually having a "simple" equipment violation will often provide them the opportunity to ticket you for a fix-it violation INSTEAD of the reckless endangerment (drifting) that they originally stopped you for (you can guess how i know). I think Mike's install is top-notch (it's what I had planned for the silver car until I remembered the two Setrab units were located there) and can't wait to see the finished product.
Just because you sell a competing product and are a "co-sponsor" means f**k-all in this thread, so please go harass another competing product and stop putting down someone as innovative as Mike. It's a rarity that someone as young as him isn't a stupid ricer looking to put MOMO stickers and 4 15" subwoofers in his "r4ceKAR-y0!!1!" so stop discouraging this kind of productive and well-executed mod. KTHXBYE.
bottom line is stick with a 7" round E-Code lens, rewire for more voltage, and go overwatt. It is far cheaper and it works. You will be at HID levels, maybe better.
Just because you sell a competing product and are a "co-sponsor" means f**k-all in this thread, so please go harass another competing product and stop putting down someone as innovative as Mike. It's a rarity that someone as young as him isn't a stupid ricer looking to put MOMO stickers and 4 15" subwoofers in his "r4ceKAR-y0!!1!" so stop discouraging this kind of productive and well-executed mod. KTHXBYE.
#23
PS - as to how I know the comparison, I had overwatted e-codes (from the P.O.) that I literally THREW AWAY after doing this comparison. Not saying your product isnt' a significant improvement over the miserable stock lights but it's only that - an improvement, not a drastic step up like the hella 90mms. lets see, 10-15 years of technology's worth of improvement, vs a little P=I*V. hmm...
#24
OK, I give up. I wasn't bashing the lights, just noting that they were too low to be legal so people might run into problems with them from LEOs.
If you put them up in the headlight bucket area like some of the fixed headlight projects are doing then you would be AOK.
The Hella 90mm HID is a great light. It is just a bit expensive when you have to go and buy 4 of them. More than the typical 944 owner will want to fork over. The HID with the shield that moves to change between high and dipped beam would be much cheaper (like in half) but I'm not sure what fitment issues would arise with the servo motor and all.
As to the Co-Sponsor deal, I'm not sure how that actually happened or what it even means. I went to bed one night and the next day that was there. And if you think I'm selling the lighting stuff as some sort of business you are on crack or meth. I could care less if guys are offering different lighting ideas, I was pointing out the obvious problems, too low to the ground and probably too expensive if in HID.
If you put them up in the headlight bucket area like some of the fixed headlight projects are doing then you would be AOK.
The Hella 90mm HID is a great light. It is just a bit expensive when you have to go and buy 4 of them. More than the typical 944 owner will want to fork over. The HID with the shield that moves to change between high and dipped beam would be much cheaper (like in half) but I'm not sure what fitment issues would arise with the servo motor and all.
As to the Co-Sponsor deal, I'm not sure how that actually happened or what it even means. I went to bed one night and the next day that was there. And if you think I'm selling the lighting stuff as some sort of business you are on crack or meth. I could care less if guys are offering different lighting ideas, I was pointing out the obvious problems, too low to the ground and probably too expensive if in HID.
#25
FWIW, I drive around with ONLY the driving lights unless I am on a dark deer covered back road in the middle of nowhere. These are going to be great, and I really doubt you will have a hard time with police. The police in Rochester will probably think that it is OEM.
#27
I just got off the phone with a friend who is a judge and ex NY state trooper. He told me that as far as altered height regulations go, NY currently only has a law against headlights being too high. (I believe he said they need to be 54" or lower.)
#28
FYI Michigan law states headlights must be between 24" and 54" off the ground. I looked this up because I would greatly like to get rid of the pop-up lights. With my old intake system I wasn't even able to have the lights up b/c the brackets were in the way of my intake. I had that system for 2 years, and for 2 years I drove with only the lower lights. Passed many cops at night and not a single one ever gave me a second look for my lights. BTW, I have 100w bulbs in them so lighting is fine on city roads and they are too low to cause any interference with other drivers.
Now with my new MAF I use the regular lights until I find some way to get permanent stationary lights.
Now with my new MAF I use the regular lights until I find some way to get permanent stationary lights.
Last edited by eniac; 08-08-2005 at 12:15 AM.
#29
Originally Posted by tedwright
I just got off the phone with a friend who is a judge and ex NY state trooper. He told me that as far as altered height regulations go, NY currently only has a law against headlights being too high. (I believe he said they need to be 54" or lower.)
EDIT Oh, and they are based on USDOT guidelines.
#30
Originally Posted by Manning
I just did a google to see if I could find anything about it. The heights are just as eniac stated, between 24 and 54". It looks like some of the factors regarding heights were updated or restated pretty recently, I guess as a result of issues with SUV lamp heights and the increasing age of the average driver.
EDIT Oh, and they are based on USDOT guidelines.
EDIT Oh, and they are based on USDOT guidelines.
I'm pretty sure it is 24" as the minimum height. That is to centerline of the lens. Never really had this issue come up much before so haven't got it memorized. I've got the Fed regs at home. individual States can adopt different rules but they don't matter as the Feds trump everything States do. But out of whack state laws do matter when it comes to enforcement by local LEOs in that state.