Custom HeadLights.. Yay or Nay??

[fjfar80]

Wow...I know way too much about lights and light patterns now. Think of it this way all this discourse has brought tons of information to the board that is definitely a positive. Thanks for all the information...all of you.

 

[cary]

Just for giggles, I stopped and took some beamshot photo's. Notice a few things:

1) There is no ambient light that would fill in any dark spots in the beams. There are no homes, streetlights or any other lights within 2+ miles of where I was.

2) There are no darkspots in the beams.

3) There are no hotspots.


Oh, did I mention these are the "crappy" stock 80 series lamps.

 

[cary]

One More.

 

[aircrew]

I don't like the look of them, because I believe stock is best....BUT it is really about how it works, and not how it looks. so if they WORK. Its bitchin ...
Does that make sense?

 

[CSA]

Never Enuf, are the PIAA driving lamps depicted in the first pic still turned on in the second pic?

 

[NVR ENUF]

I have kept an open mind. Have you noticed yet, my first post was not until after you posted beamshots and in direct response to those photos. I made my decisions on the evidence you provided, and that evidence shows a mediocre product.

I am all about useful information. To me useful information extends further than simply opinions of "dude I think it is better."

You keep talking about "POST[ING] SOME PICS AND THEN WE CAN DISCUSS IT FAIRLY AND WITH OPEN MINDS", in fact you have posted several pictures several times. The problem is when we point out the problems with the lights that you love, you simply respond that we are stupid, don't know what we are talking about, are being mean, are raining on your parade, . . . . You need to take a close look a who isn't being objective.

Finally, it is rather ironic that you have several times said "ALL I'M SAYING IS YOU ARE NO EXPERT AND HAVE NO EXPERIENCE". Have you bothered reading the lighting FAQ yet? Give it a go and while you are reading it, take a look at who wrote it. Those HIR bulbs that people keep talking about. Try a search to find out where they came from and who arranged the first group buy and why the search began for a better product. Guess who did all that?

Glad to see the mistaken identity here of you thinking Sage was me. I'm the one who posted the pics, not him. I already know you think I'm a dumbass anyhow because I don't know lighting like you do and because I bought PIAA's and I don't know if they're fog, driving or pencil beam. BTW, they are "driving" lights.

You say you've kept and open mind but your actual first post stated, " Somebody will try to argue the projectors are more efficient, but cheap projectors aren't very efficient usually. So to further fan the flames". That comment there already shows your biased opinion and then you've called these lights "rice rockets" twice but quickly deleted them, most likely to conceal your biased opinion about them. I can see why you quickly attacked me after my "anti-asian market" comment cause you knew how you already felt about these.

[quote = cary]Actually, I am being fair. As I previously explained a good pattern is a good pattern. There will be no difference in the pattern from H1 to H1 bulb, the focal point and length of the filament should be the same (unless they are not constructed properly) from bulb to bulb.[/quote]

I know your trying to give the best info possible to MUD members but you question my reading comprehension and yet, you haven't figured out I have agreed with you and Doug just about everything with these being inferior projectors with the exception of the "triangular fracture" of the lamps because I went out to see for myself, having these lamps firsthand to see if it is so. Even though I made my conclusion and said otherwise, you still went on to say it wasn't the damage multipier that's causing the problem. Also, since it doesn't matter what bulb is used, a good pattern is a good pattern, you should've just used hoser's standard projectors then since we should all see the good pattern anyhow but instead, you throw out his nice HID retro's and for good measure, you toss in your stock with HIR's. Even though I asked the dumb question of high lumens beeing blinding, I knew you were trying to post a good pattern of projectors but I see you workin' here! If you did your reading as well, you'd know we had already discussed these lamps having 2 projectors for the low beams cause as Doug mentioned, they don't perform well for high beams but yet you went on to say how expensive it would be to put together 4 modules when actually, 2 is needed. Also, this thread didn't start off asking if these are the "BEST" lights but yet you keep making it so.
I don't know what else to say or do but maybe bow down to your excellence. I was glad to see you and Doug jump aboard because of the knowledgeable info you two brought but your starting to sound a bit too cocky. It's sad when someone does great things for this forum but then lets it get to his head and feel high & mighty to put down newbie peons. But if it makes you feel better, then go for it.
I'm not here to sell these lamps, after your's and Doug's comments about the lighting it gives, I wouldn't endorse them either if someone is looking for that perfect light. Once again, I also made the change for a different look. IMO, the rig looks newer to me and the lights are brighter than before. Seeing your pics of the HIR's in stocks, those are very good as well and I too, would highly recommend those looking for better lighting to go that route first. The only concern I have is the fading. If they fade in 5yrs, I will most likely buy another set or hopefully, they'll have a better aftermarket lamp by then to upgrade with. I may even try the Euro's Mot showed cause they look to be made of glass and I'll take glass over plastic most of the time but the Euro's just didn't look that much different in appearance than stock and I wanted a completely different look. But if these lights don't cut, I would make the change. I don't know about you, but whenever I see an 80 on the road, I always look to see what's been done to it. Everybody has their own style which makes it great how adaptable these rigs are.
Well, I'm not here to argue but I'm sure you'll have your last say once again even though you've already put it bluntly that these are cheap rice rocket lamps!

 

[notyourmomslx450]

well said NVR ENUF. I'd still like to see the black ones that sage has.

edit: Oh yeah, x2 on CSA's question from post #145

 

[NVR ENUF]

Never Enuf, are the PIAA driving lamps depicted in the first pic still turned on in the second pic?

No, I haven't used the PIAA's since I bought these new lamps. Like mentioned, these lamps do have that noticeable hot spot.

Mike - I took the damage multipliers off to see if my theory of the "triangular fracture" and the dead spots were caused by them. Once again, I stand by my conclusion.

At first, I took one multiplier off first and used a cardboard to cover up one lamp to see what light it gave off. As you can see, from what Doug mentioned, it does have the vertical lines. As pointed out already, these are not your top-o-line projectors.

multiplier on driver side

tried to find a dark road nearby.

 

[FirstToy]

I was 100% on the chrome ones but what do you think about the black ones? My truck is black... I'd like to see pics of the black ones on a truck. Just thinking of the Audi TT has black ones...

 

[Sage Fly Rods]

Glad to see the mistaken identity here of you thinking Sage was me. I'm the one who posted the pics, not him. I already know you think I'm a dumbass anyhow because I don't know lighting like you do and because I bought PIAA's and I don't know if they're fog, driving or pencil beam. BTW, they are "driving" lights.

You say you've kept and open mind but your actual first post stated, " Somebody will try to argue the projectors are more efficient, but cheap projectors aren't very efficient usually. So to further fan the flames". That comment there already shows your biased opinion and then you've called these lights "rice rockets" twice but quickly deleted them, most likely to conceal your biased opinion about them. I can see why you quickly attacked me after my "anti-asian market" comment cause you knew how you already felt about these.
I know your trying to give the best info possible to MUD members but you question my reading comprehension and yet, you haven't figured out I have agreed with you and Doug just about everything with these being inferior projectors with the exception of the "triangular fracture" of the lamps because I went out to see for myself, having these lamps firsthand to see if it is so. Even though I made my conclusion and said otherwise, you still went on to say it wasn't the damage multipier that's causing the problem. Also, since it doesn't matter what bulb is used, a good pattern is a good pattern, you should've just used hoser's standard projectors then since we should all see the good pattern anyhow but instead, you throw out his nice HID retro's and for good measure, you toss in your stock with HIR's. Even though I asked the dumb question of high lumens beeing blinding, I knew you were trying to post a good pattern of projectors but I see you workin' here! If you did your reading as well, you'd know we had already discussed these lamps having 2 projectors for the low beams cause as Doug mentioned, they don't perform well for high beams but yet you went on to say how expensive it would be to put together 4 modules when actually, 2 is needed. Also, this thread didn't start off asking if these are the "BEST" lights but yet you keep making it so.
I don't know what else to say or do but maybe bow down to your excellence. I was glad to see you and Doug jump aboard because of the knowledgeable info you two brought but your starting to sound a bit too cocky. It's sad when someone does great things for this forum but then lets it get to his head and feel high & mighty to put down newbie peons. But if it makes you feel better, then go for it.
I'm not here to sell these lamps, after your's and Doug's comments about the lighting it gives, I wouldn't endorse them either if someone is looking for that perfect light. Once again, I also made the change for a different look. IMO, the rig looks newer to me and the lights are brighter than before. Seeing your pics of the HIR's in stocks, those are very good as well and I too, would highly recommend those looking for better lighting to go that route first. The only concern I have is the fading. If they fade in 5yrs, I will most likely buy another set or hopefully, they'll have a better aftermarket lamp by then to upgrade with. I may even try the Euro's Mot showed cause they look to be made of glass and I'll take glass over plastic most of the time but the Euro's just didn't look that much different in appearance than stock and I wanted a completely different look. But if these lights don't cut, I would make the change. I don't know about you, but whenever I see an 80 on the road, I always look to see what's been done to it. Everybody has their own style which makes it great how adaptable these rigs are.
Well, I'm not here to argue but I'm sure you'll have your last say once again even though you've already put it bluntly that these are cheap rice rocket lamps!

Very well said bro. I totally agree with you. BTW those pics you just posted definately look better than the stock. You can't argue that. But anyways like you I bought these headlights because they are an upgrade from stock, IMHO the look great, and i love rollin with just the angel eyes and side markers on in the day and evening. Whether they are the best projectors I could really care less. They didn't set me back $600 like that HID retrofit, they are better than stock and they have the angel eyes which imo I think are really a neat idea. The lighting is better than stock and the look is updated. They are a great product and since october I have not had any problems with them whatsoever. If anyone else gets these I think updating the bulbs with some higher quality ones will definately be a good idea and make the light output a little more even.

 

[jditom]

Very well said bro. I totally agree with you. BTW those pics you just posted definately look better than the stock. You can't argue that. But anyways like you I bought these headlights because they are an upgrade from stock, IMHO the look great, and i love rollin with just the angel eyes and side markers on in the day and evening. Whether they are the best projectors I could really care less. They didn't set me back $600 like that HID retrofit, they are better than stock and they have the angel eyes which imo I think are really a neat idea. The lighting is better than stock and the look is updated. They are a great product and since october I have not had any problems with them whatsoever. If anyone else gets these I think updating the bulbs with some higher quality ones will definately be a good idea and make the light output a little more even.Thats what i plan on doing. I'm sorry I have been really busy I will try to get some pics when the car is clean but here are some for now.

Thanks for the pic.
How about a shot a bit set back so you can see the entire LC with a slight angle.

It puts things in better prospective.
I appriciate you guys doing this in light of all the excessive flamming you are getting:shotts:

 

[cary]

I give up, you guys are right, these things are the best. Their pattern is the best. Who cares about science, objectivity, or anything else. Let's not let facts stand in the way of truth.

 

[concretejungle]

Cary, i hear all you and doug are saying. I think bottom line for most of us, is, is it brighter than stock? If yes, then its better. If no, then it's not and go back to stock.

 

[IdahoDoug]

Hey - thanks for removing the 'damage multiplier'! The black triangles are indeed gone and I'm surprised (pleasantly) by that. Now you might as well keep unbolting to get the "real" damage multiplier off - heh. By that, I mean the entire grill guard is what we have dubbed a damage multiplier due to its tendancy to make a gentle bumper tap into a hood/fender replacement when they bend backward into the sheetmetal.

Anyhow, thanks for the hard work you put into clearing that issue up.

DougM

 

[mot]

Guys,

I think what cary and doug are saying is that superior lighting should have an even spread of light w/o hot spots, etc... Some who are not anal/familiar with lighting might consider having a hot/bright(er) spot in the center "better" or brighter.

The bottom line is that these projector lights look new/modern/different, with (slightly) worse performance than OEM.

If you're looking to upgrade the lighting of your OEM go with HIR, but if you want to improve the front facia of your tired old 80, then this is an attractive option.

As they say... to each their own.

PEACE!

Mot

 

[Beowulf]

Once again, Mot (the pleaser appeaser) sums it up nicely and averts WW-III.

You should be in politics Mot!

-B-

 

[robmir]

If I were going to do a headlight assembly swap, the only thing I would consider is the Australian set-up with traditional rectangular lights; it would be different, and a burned/broken light is a quick, cheap, easy fix. Plus I think it looks

You can´t compare the single glass version against the dual rectangular australian version.

We have both of them available here and the single is way better, period.

 

[Sage Fly Rods]

pics

Guys,

I think what cary and doug are saying is that superior lighting should have an even spread of light w/o hot spots, etc... Some who are not anal/familiar with lighting might consider having a hot/bright(er) spot in the center "better" or brighter.

The bottom line is that these projector lights look new/modern/different, with (slightly) worse performance than OEM.

If you're looking to upgrade the lighting of your OEM go with HIR, but if you want to improve the front facia of your tired old 80, then this is an attractive option.

As they say... to each their own.

PEACE!

Mot

Pics... BTW To anyone who decides to upgrade there headlights with these they will perform better than OEM. They probably will not perform as well as OEM with HIRS but they will perform better than OEM and IMO they look way more bad ass than HIRS do! PEACE!

 

[FirstToy]

black...chrome... I can't decide...hehe

 

[CodyRx7]

I always wondered what the dark ones would look like on a light color truck when I first saw them on ebay...

Id say chrome with any light color and dark with the dark colors.

Red, you're just doomed.