Question about HID headlights?
08-12-2007 | 06:29 PM
#1
Question about HID headlights?
I have a 2005 350z with HID's are my headlights different than say 2007 HID headlights. I wanna get my headlights painted but it seems i see diff. painted styles. I see some with a little bit of chrome reflective parts left and then i see the whole headlight painted. This is the type of painted headlight i want but do i need to buy newer headlights or can i achieve this look with my 2005?
also anyone know how much zipps charges i def. dont wanna do it myself?
also anyone know how much zipps charges i def. dont wanna do it myself?
08-12-2007 | 07:07 PM
#2
Hmmmm note sure about this, but I think the pre-2006 headlights were HID but also reflector based, meaning they relied on the reflection of light off the chrome painted sections to achieve full light output. Painting all black would adversely affect light output.
The 2006+ HID headlamps are definitely full, true HID projection units so the entire housing can be painted black without affecting light output.
The 2006+ HID headlamps are definitely full, true HID projection units so the entire housing can be painted black without affecting light output.
08-12-2007 | 08:18 PM
#3
I'll be nice and inform you, but I'm sure others will tell you to search.
The pre 06 HIDs are only xenon lights for the low beams, and the hi beams are regular bulbs and require the reflective/chrome lights of the housing to gain higher output for the hi beams.
The 06-07 lights are bi-xenon, meaning that both the low and high beams uses the xenon light. If you compare your 04 lights to the 06 lights in person, you'll notice that the 06 lights has less of the chrome/reflective parts in the housing. You can achieve that look (assuming that you're talking about the redline Z's lights) on the 05s as well, but your hi beam will suffer the most on the light output, so it's really up to you. Most people don't really use the hi-beams too much anyways. IMO, the 06-07s look the best when painted, there's a member named brandonaix or something like that, I think his lights looks the best out of all the ones that I've seen and he did it himself. There is a close-up pic of it towards the bottom of the pictures that shows the result. Definitly don't use a glossy paint if you're to do it yourself. Or you can try and PM Mr. Zipps and see how much he charges. I think it's a good learning experience to learn and do it yourself though.
http://www.cardomain.com/ride/2486905/1
The pre 06 HIDs are only xenon lights for the low beams, and the hi beams are regular bulbs and require the reflective/chrome lights of the housing to gain higher output for the hi beams.
The 06-07 lights are bi-xenon, meaning that both the low and high beams uses the xenon light. If you compare your 04 lights to the 06 lights in person, you'll notice that the 06 lights has less of the chrome/reflective parts in the housing. You can achieve that look (assuming that you're talking about the redline Z's lights) on the 05s as well, but your hi beam will suffer the most on the light output, so it's really up to you. Most people don't really use the hi-beams too much anyways. IMO, the 06-07s look the best when painted, there's a member named brandonaix or something like that, I think his lights looks the best out of all the ones that I've seen and he did it himself. There is a close-up pic of it towards the bottom of the pictures that shows the result. Definitly don't use a glossy paint if you're to do it yourself. Or you can try and PM Mr. Zipps and see how much he charges. I think it's a good learning experience to learn and do it yourself though.
http://www.cardomain.com/ride/2486905/1
08-13-2007 | 03:10 AM
#4
Originally Posted by sry110
Hmmmm note sure about this, but I think the pre-2006 headlights were HID but also reflector based, meaning they relied on the reflection of light off the chrome painted sections to achieve full light output. Painting all black would adversely affect light output.
The 2006+ HID headlamps are definitely full, true HID projection units so the entire housing can be painted black without affecting light output.
The 2006+ HID headlamps are definitely full, true HID projection units so the entire housing can be painted black without affecting light output.
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