HID all it's cracked up to be?

Beacher · 06-03-2005, 11:05 PM

We just picked up our Prius yesterday. I thought I knew everything about this car from reading this site for months, but there have been quite a few pleasant surprises. Like the radio picking up station and song information for some FM stations... cool!

I'm not sure I'm going to be too fond of the HID headlights though. I just took the Prius out for a quick spin for the sole purpose of seeing what they are like. It's cloudy tonight with no moon or stars, so it's very dark and we live out in the country. The high beams seem fine and are probably better than most conventional headlights, but the low beams sure don't reach very far down a country road. I don't think they are as good as either our 10 yo Camry or our Infiniti SUV. They definitely don't compare to the Infiniti. I can see why they are aimed somewhat low because when you go over a slight bump they do pop up a bit and you can see that having them aimed any higher would blind an oncoming driver. Essentially what you get is a very bright low beam so you can see every detail of the pavement for a little ways, but the cutoff means that you can see nothing down the road further. Since I typically use low beams much more than high, I'm not sure this is a good trade-off.

Well, I guess will see if I get used to them over time.

V8Cobrakid · 06-03-2005, 11:32 PM

The lowbeams still put off a "glow" so if something comes out in front of you, you'll see it. Not nicely lit up, but it becomes somewhat visible. I would take your car in and have the HIDs professionally adjusted. They may need to be a little higher and they could possibly be off center. My low beams work wonderful. the only other car that's as good.. or better is my parents 400h. That's only because their headlights move when you move. An awesome featuere but both of their headlights need to be moved up and their left one needs to be moved up a little more than the right. it's too low.

My prius headlights still need to be adjusted. I see little tiny "off" things about them that bugs me.

brandon · 06-04-2005, 12:11 AM

Really? I have night blindness issues, and I thought the HID option on the Prius was 100 times better than the Grand Prix I used to own. However, a friend of mine doesn't think they're powerful enough. To each their own opinion, I guess.

V8Cobrakid · 06-04-2005, 12:39 AM

powerful enough? well.. if you like high, you should like low. the brightness doesn't change, the reflector re positions to give you a high beam or low. possitioning makes a huge difference with these and any powerful lights

Bill Merchant · 06-04-2005, 01:14 AM

[font=Comic Sans MS:b6ccf37fc8]Have a friend switch between low beam and high while you watch the light from the side. Amazing![/font:b6ccf37fc8]

Sufferin' Prius Envy · 06-04-2005, 02:24 AM

I have no problems seeing down dark county roads with the Prius HID low beams. In fact, reflectorized surfaces pop out! If you can see the cutoff line on the road, your lights are adjusted low.

On a flat level surface, drive up to within 10 feet or so from a wall. The cutoff line should be at about the same height as the headlights. If lower, get them checked at your dealer.

If you live in a fog prone region, you’ll love the HIDs. They tend not to light the fog directly in your line of sight . . . just the stuff below.

V8Cobrakid · 06-04-2005, 02:30 AM

Fog: i love these lights for the fog. these and the nav

going down 280 on a foggy day with visibility about 20 feet or so. i can see the reflectors clearly.. that's about all i need to see at that time. car reflectors are easier to spot because they are a different color.

add the nav and you now know what to expect with the road with a simple glance to your right every once and a while.

Bill Merchant · 06-04-2005, 02:42 AM

Quote:

Fog: i love these lights for the fog. these and the nav

going down 280 on a foggy day with visibility about 20 feet or so. i can see the reflectors clearly.. that's about all i need to see at that time. car reflectors are easier to spot because they are a different color.

add the nav and you now know what to expect with the road with a simple glance to your right every once and a while.

[font=Comic Sans MS:3f80baeae9]Sort of like instrument flying on the ground...[/font:3f80baeae9]

Beacher · 06-04-2005, 09:00 AM

Quote:

On a flat level surface, drive up to within 10 feet or so from a wall. The cutoff line should be at about the same height as the headlights. If lower, get them checked at your dealer.

Thanks for the very practical suggestion for checking aim. I'll give that a shot. As other have said, it's not an issue of power, but aim.

KTPhil · 06-04-2005, 10:14 AM

I love the pattern of the new lights. For my older cars, I used to buy European 7" round halogens with the razor cutoff so I could see better with my poor night vision. I risked the ticket (this is back in th days of sealed beam POS headlights) for the added safety. I made sure they were aimed correctly so I didn't blind other drivers. The brightness and pattern of the HIDs is fantastic. If yours aren't, check the aim, and maybe the leveling system.

06-03-2005, 11:05 PM	#1
Beacher Join Date: Apr 2005 Location: Oregon, Wi Posts: 102 My Car: Package: Nominated 0 Times in 0 Posts TOTM Awards: 0 Friends: 0	HID all it's cracked up to be? We just picked up our Prius yesterday. I thought I knew everything about this car from reading this site for months, but there have been quite a few pleasant surprises. Like the radio picking up station and song information for some FM stations... cool! I'm not sure I'm going to be too fond of the HID headlights though. I just took the Prius out for a quick spin for the sole purpose of seeing what they are like. It's cloudy tonight with no moon or stars, so it's very dark and we live out in the country. The high beams seem fine and are probably better than most conventional headlights, but the low beams sure don't reach very far down a country road. I don't think they are as good as either our 10 yo Camry or our Infiniti SUV. They definitely don't compare to the Infiniti. I can see why they are aimed somewhat low because when you go over a slight bump they do pop up a bit and you can see that having them aimed any higher would blind an oncoming driver. Essentially what you get is a very bright low beam so you can see every detail of the pavement for a little ways, but the cutoff means that you can see nothing down the road further. Since I typically use low beams much more than high, I'm not sure this is a good trade-off. Well, I guess will see if I get used to them over time.

06-03-2005, 11:32 PM	#2
V8Cobrakid some guy... Join Date: Jun 2004 Location: San Jose, CA Posts: 2,563 My Car: 2004 Prius Package: #9 Nominated 0 Times in 0 Posts TOTM Awards: 0 Friends: 5	The lowbeams still put off a "glow" so if something comes out in front of you, you'll see it. Not nicely lit up, but it becomes somewhat visible. I would take your car in and have the HIDs professionally adjusted. They may need to be a little higher and they could possibly be off center. My low beams work wonderful. the only other car that's as good.. or better is my parents 400h. That's only because their headlights move when you move. An awesome featuere but both of their headlights need to be moved up and their left one needs to be moved up a little more than the right. it's too low. My prius headlights still need to be adjusted. I see little tiny "off" things about them that bugs me. __________________ Silver 9 as of June 12th '04 (over 101k Miles now) Decals, Mud Flaps, BT Tech Rear Brace, coastaletech 2" receiver hitch, and 215/45/17 tires.

06-04-2005, 01:14 AM	#5
Bill Merchant absit invidia Join Date: May 2005 Location: USA \| Oregon \| Portland area \| 97004 \| Posts: 3,964 My Car: 2007 Prius Package: #5 Nominated 6 Times in 1 Post TOTM Awards: 1 Friends: 53	Re: HID all it's cracked up to be? [font=Comic Sans MS:b6ccf37fc8]Have a friend switch between low beam and high while you watch the light from the side. Amazing![/font:b6ccf37fc8]

06-04-2005, 02:24 AM	#6
Sufferin' Prius Envy Platinum Member Join Date: Jul 2004 Location: USA Posts: 4,012 My Car: Other Non-Hybrid Package: N/A Nominated 15 Times in 1 Post TOTM Awards: 1 Friends: 0	Re: HID all it's cracked up to be? I have no problems seeing down dark county roads with the Prius HID low beams. In fact, reflectorized surfaces pop out! If you can see the cutoff line on the road, your lights are adjusted low. On a flat level surface, drive up to within 10 feet or so from a wall. The cutoff line should be at about the same height as the headlights. If lower, get them checked at your dealer. If you live in a fog prone region, you’ll love the HIDs. They tend not to light the fog directly in your line of sight . . . just the stuff below. __________________ My words are my word. I refuse to actively participate in any forum where my written words can/are changed by the powers that be. If you don't like what I wrote, delete it – but don't put words in my mouth that aren't mine. Good-bye.

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06-04-2005, 12:11 AM	#3
brandon Proud member of the "Lunatic Fringe" Join Date: Oct 2004 Location: Manhattan, KS Posts: 769 My Car: 2005 Prius Package: #6 Nominated 0 Times in 0 Posts TOTM Awards: 0 Friends: 0	Really? I have night blindness issues, and I thought the HID option on the Prius was 100 times better than the Grand Prix I used to own. However, a friend of mine doesn't think they're powerful enough. To each their own opinion, I guess.

06-04-2005, 12:39 AM	#4
V8Cobrakid some guy... Join Date: Jun 2004 Location: San Jose, CA Posts: 2,563 My Car: 2004 Prius Package: #9 Nominated 0 Times in 0 Posts TOTM Awards: 0 Friends: 5	powerful enough? well.. if you like high, you should like low. the brightness doesn't change, the reflector re positions to give you a high beam or low. possitioning makes a huge difference with these and any powerful lights

06-04-2005, 02:30 AM	#7
V8Cobrakid some guy... Join Date: Jun 2004 Location: San Jose, CA Posts: 2,563 My Car: 2004 Prius Package: #9 Nominated 0 Times in 0 Posts TOTM Awards: 0 Friends: 5	Fog: i love these lights for the fog. these and the nav going down 280 on a foggy day with visibility about 20 feet or so. i can see the reflectors clearly.. that's about all i need to see at that time. car reflectors are easier to spot because they are a different color. add the nav and you now know what to expect with the road with a simple glance to your right every once and a while.

06-04-2005, 10:14 AM	#10
KTPhil Senior Member Join Date: Jan 2005 Posts: 1,213 My Car: Package: Nominated 0 Times in 0 Posts TOTM Awards: 0 Friends: 0	I love the pattern of the new lights. For my older cars, I used to buy European 7" round halogens with the razor cutoff so I could see better with my poor night vision. I risked the ticket (this is back in th days of sealed beam POS headlights) for the added safety. I made sure they were aimed correctly so I didn't blind other drivers. The brightness and pattern of the HIDs is fantastic. If yours aren't, check the aim, and maybe the leveling system.