DO you have problems driving at night?

Nice authoritative reference.
One person saying, “And they should be replaced in pairs (they dim/color shift over the lifetime)†does not substantiate your statement of “They are very exspensive if one light burns out you must replace both lights.â€

Sure you aren't playing the Telephone Game there syncmaster?

I wonder what the cost difference would be if you replaced the HIDs once in the life of your Prius, compared with the need to replace halogen headlights several times.
The labor costs just may be the great equalizer.

Maybe one of our resident Prius Techs can give us an idea of the associated costs in parts and labor between HID and halogen replacement.

 

Replace both? No. The link ouposted RECOMMENDS replacing both, but it's not necessary. You caould make the same argument about halogen bulbs also. One burned out, so the other can't be too far behind; go ahead and replace both. Even with tires are people often told to replace all four at once.

There are also reports of people steraling whole cars too. I don't see how this is any reason not to buy a car.

Can't use them as DRL's? I do. My lights are on whenever I drive. It's just safer. I really don't get why headlights should be dimmer when it's brighter out.

They are very annoying? Mayve if you don't have them yourself. Anyone I've ever heard say this didn't have HID's on their own car. Oncoming will flash you more often. Hate to burst your bubble, but evan after 2000 miles with not only HID headlights, but also HID foglights (that's right, FOUR HID bulbs), I have not once been flashed to dim my lights. It's all a matter of good design. The Prius has well designed reflectors and have very sharp cutoffs.


We have HID headlights on both of our daily drivers now. I will never again buy a car without them (that and a nav system).

 

i'm told:

-the difference between HID bulb replacement vs halogen is about $600/bulb
-you don't have to replace both HID bulbs at once

hope that helps

 

Maybe a U.S. DOT requirement? Here in Canada, DRL are mandatory on all vehicles. As far as I can tell, when parked in the condo underground parking, there is no difference in light output on DRL or if I flick the headlight switch to Auto or On.

For quite a few years, Ford's used a lower output low beam as a DRL, but that was to extend the life of the bulb. In many cases, especially once the car got older, the voltage was much too low and the headlights gave off a sickly orange glow like an old kerosene lamp.

My 1992 Honda Prelude had 4 headlights: two low beams and two separate high beams, and properly aimed they provided great nighttime illumination. The DRL worked off the highbeam units at lower voltage.

I've noticed every vehicle in the company parking lot I've seen with HID (Chrysler Pacifica, BMW X5, Range Rover) do *not* use the HID as DRL. In the case of the Pacifica, the halogen high beams are used at reduced voltage, ditto the X5. The Range Rover appears to use a separate halogen bulb for DRL.

Perhaps not using HID lamps as DRL is related to bulb life? They are expensive to replace.

 

$600/bulb ?!?!?!??!

So, when an HID bulb burns out, you have to spend $600+ (or $1200+ to do both)? No wonder people steal them so much!

 

Unless the labor comes out to be over $450, thatis simply rediculous. You can purchase a set of HID bulbs for the Prius for $200-250, and that's not from eBay either. Go there and you can get it for even less. These bulbs are NOT that hard to change. A nice set of aftermarket halogen bulbs can cost up to $100 a pair, so they are not necessarily that much cheaper.

Anyhow, if that is what Toyota is charging to change bulbs... I have a joke. "How many Toyota technicians does it take to change an HID bulb?" "None, I did it myself!"

Seriously though, that's way to much for something so simple. But as with al things automotive, most people will just pay to have it done without questioning.

Yes, you are right. Our Volvo XC90 has a separate halogen bulb that is used as DRL's. IT looks just like a smaller regular halogen bulb. I guess instead of using a standard headlight bulb, they just used one with lower power requiremets and output. Anyway, it looks almost yellow compared to the HID headlight. Also, our Volvo uses the HID for both low and high beam (bi-xenon they call it). The reflector moves inside the housing to refocus the beam. Actually works quite well. THe Prius moves the bulb in and out I believe.

Also, maybe I should rephrase my statement. I am NOT using my HID's as DRL's. Instead, I just drive with my headlights on all the time. Is that better for everyone? Really a matter of semantics anyway.

 

Thanks for the excellent picture. Mine is not like that so it looks as if I've got the ordinary mirror. This doesn't irk me as I'm not bothered by rear reflections at night and won't be ordering that accessory.

 

Are the fog lamps HID also? that come with the 06?

 

Try rotating the mirror so it is upside down. This seems to align the sensor so the the auto-dimming function works better with bright headlights on your tail. Just be careful to rotate it the right way (clockwise or counter; I don't remember which way but if you watch the wire it will be obvious which way puts the least strain on it.)
It also makes the shape of the mirror match the back window's image, so it works better in daytime, too.

 

that's the DIFFERENCE between replacing an HID and a halogen.

but, that's parts and labor- with typical dealership parts markup and at a labor rate of nearly $85/hour. as docvijay mentioned, it's much cheaper to do it yourself.

 

Right. Hence the "+" after the price I wrote. So how much does it cost to replace a normal Halogen? And if the bulbs don't cost so much more than the normal halogens (according to Vijay), why are the HIDs so much more expensive to replace?

 

my husband's away at toyota classes this week... might take me awhile to answer that. maybe another tech or someone who's had it done can answer...

 

Info on laws from different countries which dictate DRLs. (More than you probably care to know.)
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Daytime_running_lamp

 

Be careful before you travel too far. The dealer in Daytona Beach told that Toyota was not even building any package 6 Priuses a week ago and I picked mine up Saturday at the DeLand dealership 30 miles away! Trust, but verify...

As to the HID and mirror question. This morning was the first time I drove my Prius in the dark and the difference with the HID is outstanding. I travel 30 miles on a two lane rural road to and from work and animals (deer and pigs) have always been a worry, but these lights make me feel much better. The mirror seemed to work fine for me and it is not even upside down!

Steve

 

Actually, that's how the DRL worked on my 1990 Toyota 4Runner. Whenever the motor was running, it was the same effect as turning the headlight switch on the stalk to On.

There were numerous complaints from 4Runner owners - myself included - of short low beam headlight life. After a few years of bickering, Toyota Canada offered free lifetime headlight repalcement. It was a standard rectangular halogen sealed beam.

In 1992 I was refused entry to the Air Force Academy at Colorado Springs, as my 4Runner had all the lights on. They had a policy of headlights OFF during the day, apparently the security and emergency vehicles ran with the headlights on.

Naturally, I couldn't turn my headlights off, and I sure wasn't in the mood to start pulling fuses or relays, so I drove back into Colorado Springs and took a ride in.

 

Hey.. thats a good point I haven't thought of?

What is the life expectancy of an HID bulb verses a normal halogen?

as much money as they cost to replace?.......