Purple Light bulbs for headlights
MBWorld Fanatic!
Joined: Feb 2008
Posts: 1,803
Likes: 12
From: Charleston, SC
GL450
Putting aside the legal aspect, because the law and common sense do not always go hand in hand, and laws vary between different regions, can we look at this from a safety aspect?
Most "premium" and luxury cars today come with HIDs. These are DOT/street legal in most countries. One would assume this to mean that HIDs are both safe to oncoming motorists as well as preferable to drivers. Meaning, the HID provides a more comprehensive, and hence safer (or at least more luxurious), driving experience while not hindering other drivers.
If you were to add HIDs to your car such that they were exactly the same as an OEM car, it seems that from a logical, safety, etc. point of view, you are doing nothing wrong. Is this correct, or is the assertion that HID retrofit kits are somehow unsafe?
I am also surprised to hear the retrofit kits are illegal. I have never seen any other documentation to this effect.
Most "premium" and luxury cars today come with HIDs. These are DOT/street legal in most countries. One would assume this to mean that HIDs are both safe to oncoming motorists as well as preferable to drivers. Meaning, the HID provides a more comprehensive, and hence safer (or at least more luxurious), driving experience while not hindering other drivers.
If you were to add HIDs to your car such that they were exactly the same as an OEM car, it seems that from a logical, safety, etc. point of view, you are doing nothing wrong. Is this correct, or is the assertion that HID retrofit kits are somehow unsafe?
I am also surprised to hear the retrofit kits are illegal. I have never seen any other documentation to this effect.
Senior Member
Joined: Jun 2007
Posts: 382
Likes: 2
From: Norway
2001 E220T CDI Avantgarde, 2002 E55T AMG
You guys have NO idea what you are talking about....
retrofitting of HID in a halogen housing is illegal because it is unsafe for you and others on the roads. it puts out so much glare that oncoming traffic loses almost all vision. In an OEM housing designed for HID, this isn't a problem as the light is reflected properly onto the road. In a halogen housing it's reflected in all directions because it's made for a light pattern from a specific filament bulb with other dimensions and light directions than the xenon arc burner.
and to you recommending 8000K for better night vision, are you completely out of your mind?
retrofitting of HID in a halogen housing is illegal because it is unsafe for you and others on the roads. it puts out so much glare that oncoming traffic loses almost all vision. In an OEM housing designed for HID, this isn't a problem as the light is reflected properly onto the road. In a halogen housing it's reflected in all directions because it's made for a light pattern from a specific filament bulb with other dimensions and light directions than the xenon arc burner.
and to you recommending 8000K for better night vision, are you completely out of your mind?
MBWorld Fanatic!
Joined: Jan 2004
Posts: 5,939
Likes: 178
From: Seattle WA
99 E320
dont get scared off, Javys21. if you have any other questions, feel free to
post. it may appear to take on a bar room fight scene here, but overall the
ideas and support is great. it's interesting how a lot of the emotions vanish
when folks meet at the get-togethers....even if your horn plays 'la cucaracha'
post. it may appear to take on a bar room fight scene here, but overall the
ideas and support is great. it's interesting how a lot of the emotions vanish
when folks meet at the get-togethers....even if your horn plays 'la cucaracha'
Thread Starter
Junior Member
Joined: Apr 2009
Posts: 71
Likes: 0
01 E320
dont get scared off, Javys21. if you have any other questions, feel free to
post. it may appear to take on a bar room fight scene here, but overall the
ideas and support is great. it's interesting how a lot of the emotions vanish
when folks meet at the get-togethers....even if your horn plays 'la cucaracha'
post. it may appear to take on a bar room fight scene here, but overall the
ideas and support is great. it's interesting how a lot of the emotions vanish
when folks meet at the get-togethers....even if your horn plays 'la cucaracha'
MBWorld Fanatic!
Joined: Feb 2008
Posts: 1,803
Likes: 12
From: Charleston, SC
GL450
Do you have a reference you could post regarding the legality (I think most here are concerned about US DOT, rather than European, but either would be a start) and safety. Thanks.
Senior Member
Joined: Jun 2007
Posts: 382
Likes: 2
From: Norway
2001 E220T CDI Avantgarde, 2002 E55T AMG
What about the law, what does it have to say on the matter? In virtually every first-world country, HID "retrofits" into halogen headlamps are illegal. They're illegal clear across Europe and in all of the many countries that use European ECE headlight regulations. They're illegal in the US and Canada. Some people dismiss this because North American regulations, in particular, are written in such a manner as to reject a great many genuinely good headlamps. Nevertheless, on the particular count of HID "retrofits" into halogen headlamps, the world's regulators and engineers all say DON'T!
you can read more here if you don't believe they're unsafe.
http://www.danielsternlighting.com/t...nversions.html
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MBWorld Fanatic!
Joined: Mar 2005
Posts: 2,647
Likes: 8
Youngtimer
Maybe in Norway gas hole. Not in the States.
Annoying, dangerous, and illegal, you sound like a playa hater. Thats what we want our cars to be, envyed, fast, powerful, and modded to perfection (what the police do not like, hints: illegal)! Do you even have police over there or are they minor leaguers like the British?
Annoying, dangerous, and illegal, you sound like a playa hater. Thats what we want our cars to be, envyed, fast, powerful, and modded to perfection (what the police do not like, hints: illegal)! Do you even have police over there or are they minor leaguers like the British?
MBWorld Fanatic!
Joined: Feb 2008
Posts: 1,803
Likes: 12
From: Charleston, SC
GL450
So just to clarify, HID retrofits aren't illegal. It's HID bulbs/ballast in the stock halogen housing that are illegal. Retrofitting an HID housing, bulb, and ballast is not necessarily illegal. I think this is where the confusion came in.
MBWorld Fanatic!
Joined: May 2008
Posts: 1,072
Likes: 5
From: Pittsburgh,PA, Cambridge, Ontario, CN
2003 S210 3.8L Brabus wagon
Putting aside the legal aspect, because the law and common sense do not always go hand in hand, and laws vary between different regions, can we look at this from a safety aspect?
Most "premium" and luxury cars today come with HIDs. These are DOT/street legal in most countries. One would assume this to mean that HIDs are both safe to oncoming motorists as well as preferable to drivers. Meaning, the HID provides a more comprehensive, and hence safer (or at least more luxurious), driving experience while not hindering other drivers.
If you were to add HIDs to your car such that they were exactly the same as an OEM car, it seems that from a logical, safety, etc. point of view, you are doing nothing wrong. Is this correct, or is the assertion that HID retrofit kits are somehow unsafe?
I am also surprised to hear the retrofit kits are illegal. I have never seen any other documentation to this effect.
Most "premium" and luxury cars today come with HIDs. These are DOT/street legal in most countries. One would assume this to mean that HIDs are both safe to oncoming motorists as well as preferable to drivers. Meaning, the HID provides a more comprehensive, and hence safer (or at least more luxurious), driving experience while not hindering other drivers.
If you were to add HIDs to your car such that they were exactly the same as an OEM car, it seems that from a logical, safety, etc. point of view, you are doing nothing wrong. Is this correct, or is the assertion that HID retrofit kits are somehow unsafe?
I am also surprised to hear the retrofit kits are illegal. I have never seen any other documentation to this effect.
MBWorld Fanatic!
Joined: May 2008
Posts: 1,072
Likes: 5
From: Pittsburgh,PA, Cambridge, Ontario, CN
2003 S210 3.8L Brabus wagon
Good enough for you? I don't know where to find the US DOT regulations..
you can read more here if you don't believe they're unsafe.
http://www.danielsternlighting.com/t...nversions.html
you can read more here if you don't believe they're unsafe.
http://www.danielsternlighting.com/t...nversions.html
MBWorld Fanatic!
Joined: Apr 2007
Posts: 6,171
Likes: 16
300E a couple 1994 w124wagon E320 Wagon/,1971MGB Track/Rally, MG Midget Autocross ,2000 E320 wagon.
Get the
65 watt rally H7 bulbs.From you know who.DS
And Ray, as long as the lavender crushed velour headliner has a tastefully air brushed nekid mexican chick it will pass muster along with the depo conversions
And Ray, as long as the lavender crushed velour headliner has a tastefully air brushed nekid mexican chick it will pass muster along with the depo conversions
