We live in an era when cars are more comfortable, affordable and economical than ever before, and even a stock car with basic options for things like headlights feels like a luxury compared to some of the options that were on the market a decade or so ago. The stock lights are becoming more powerful and more versatile every year. Even a modern family sedan has blinding high beams, and it’s comparatively easy to retrofit older models with the latest and greatest lights.
The aftermarket is full of amazing options, and it doesn’t take a huge amount of skill to fit them. Before you import anything fancy, it is worth checking what is legal to use in your area, but you should easily find options that will appeal to you and that look amazing.
Improving Your Existing Lights
You don’t necessarily have to spend a fortune to get amazing lights. Sometimes, it’s enough to just clean up the lights that you already have. Often, headlights will fog over, and the lens becomes yellowed and dirty. Headlight buffing kits are quite affordable and will take your dirty set of lights and turn it into something that looks like a brand new model.
If that’s not quite good enough for you, then the next option is to replace the bulbs with brighter ones. Replacing old bulbs is a very simple task. The challenge is finding out what bulbs your car will take. Usually, an auto parts store will be able to tell you this based on the make, model, and year of your vehicle.
Upgrading to HIDs
HIDs are a good option because they offer better output compared to a standard halogen light. They are cooler, and they drain less energy from the battery. They have been around for a very long time now so the technology is mature. This means that it is usually quite easy to find a set of HIDs for any car, and they should be easy for you to install.
LED Headlights
LED conversions are a good option in terms of offering value for money and performance such as demon eye headlights. They offer a number of advantages over other technologies, and they are energy efficient. The thing that makes them particularly suited to being car headlights is that they don’t have a “warm-up time”. As soon as you activate your headlights, they are offering peak output.
Go Truly High Tech With Lasers
Lasers may sound space-age, but they are actually a legitimate option for car headlights now. They offer a better color temperature (one that allows you to see the road more clearly and that reduces fatigue when driving long distances), and they will last a lot longer than a HID or LED. Unfortunately, they will need to be installed by a skilled technician. There are no simple end-user conversion kits. This means that you will end up spending a lot more money, on average, to get them fitted. Being able to say that your car has lasers on it, however, is probably worth the money if you’re a tech geek.
Exploring the DIY Options
Most of the options in that above list are easy enough to DIY. Lasers are the only one that would require you to take your car to a mechanic to have the upgrade done for you. Most people are probably going to opt for either Halogen, HID or LED upgrades if they want to breathe a new lease of life into a classic car, but which is the best option?
Really, it depends on what your priorities are. Halogen bulbs have the shortest lifespan, typically lasting for 200-400 hours. They’re the easiest type of bulb to fit and can often just be slotted into your existing system, but you’re not getting much out of them in terms of an upgrade in brightness or clarity. Halogen is for those who prioritize price and convenience.
Xenon HID bulbs have an estimated lifespan of 2,500 hours. They use a different voltage to most stock light sets, so there may be some tinkering required, but it’s not an arduous task to do. These lights are brighter and whiter and offer good visibility. However, they take some time to achieve full brightness and they will also need to be used a few times after installation to ‘settle in’. This means that you should take care when driving at night just after getting them installed. Once they’re up and running properly they are a great choice, however.
If your car uses a halogen set of headlights and you don’t want to completely refit the system, you can use an HID conversion hit that acts as a ballast to allow your system to take a Xenon HID bulb. Do be aware, however, that these kits are not road legal everywhere. Check the regulations in your area before you invest in a conversion kit.
LED kits are becoming increasingly popular, although they are still not mainstream because they need cooling at the back of the bulb, which means that they won’t fit into every headlight system. Sometimes the headlight unit needs completely replaced to get LEDs to work. They are low wattage, however, and can have a useful lifespan of up to 5,000 hours. This makes them a great choice for people who drive long distances and who want a long-lasting, stylish look.
LEDs are being used for more than just headlights. They are starting to be added to vehicles for Daytime Running Lights, and they offer a lovely, stylish look.
Treat Yourself
Whatever car you drive, it makes sense to invest in a good set of headlights from Diodedynamics.com. You can get basic Halogen kits for as little as $25, and they will be more than up to the task of keeping you safe on the road. You could spend a lot more than that if you wanted something that would fulfil that task and also “look good while doing it”. The choice comes down to your budget, and how much you care about the exterior aesthetics.
Article Submitted By Community Writer
