Improving stock HID Bulbs?

chops · 01-07-2014, 07:51 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by After_Shock

Thanks for the pointers. Yeah will deffo raise them a touch to start see if it helps enough.

But I agree the light output is definately down on other HID's, even just parking it next to the Volvo's we have at work can easily see the brightness emitted is higher on those without factoring in light levels. Likes of some of the new Mercedes seem to be far far brighter at night.

I just want to be able to see where im going lol

does the volvo have traditional halogen lights? if so, thats a given unfortunately. halogen lights are designed to throw tons of light forward, in no real particular manner. the reflectors are aimed to an extent, but they just throw alot of light forward. thats it. your HID projectors in your Z are designed to throw lots of light far, and wide. this gives you more visibility in reality, but it appears to be less bright, because it is not as focused as a halogen throwing as much light forward as possible. instead, the projector is trying to spread as much light as possible over a wide area

Quote:

Originally Posted by jameeljoker

I've read that the CBI's don't work well for some people with the 370 ballasts, anyone has had good experiences with them?

its really hit and miss. i experienced the same issues as everyone else, one bulb always not firing on the first try. id have to turn the lights off, then flip them on to get both lights working again. after a month of driving, it stopped. not sure why, but ive never had any issues aside from that very first month or so.

After_Shock · 01-08-2014, 06:20 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by chops

does the volvo have traditional halogen lights? if so, thats a given unfortunately. halogen lights are designed to throw tons of light forward, in no real particular manner. the reflectors are aimed to an extent, but they just throw alot of light forward. thats it. your HID projectors in your Z are designed to throw lots of light far, and wide. this gives you more visibility in reality, but it appears to be less bright, because it is not as focused as a halogen throwing as much light forward as possible. instead, the projector is trying to spread as much light as possible over a wide area

its really hit and miss. i experienced the same issues as everyone else, one bulb always not firing on the first try. id have to turn the lights off, then flip them on to get both lights working again. after a month of driving, it stopped. not sure why, but ive never had any issues aside from that very first month or so.

The Volvo's all have the active bi-xenons in and give out much more light than the Z, halogen as you say is just a reflector but the xenons all use the projectors so ive been comparing like for like.

chops · 01-08-2014, 11:49 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by After_Shock

The Volvo's all have the active bi-xenons in and give out much more light than the Z, halogen as you say is just a reflector but the xenons all use the projectors so ive been comparing like for like.

in that case, then the reason for seeing a huge difference is likely the projector. our Z's have a 3" projector lens, but the bowl itself isnt that big. im willing to bet the volvo has a much larger projector or at least a more efficient design. you can always pay someone to do a retrofit!

throw a lexus ls projector in there and you'd light up miles of road

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