Just a quick question about doing the whole black housing headlights.
 

Im fixing to do the black housing headlighs on my 04 track with HIDS. If i do the mod, will i lose alot of function out of the headlight at night?

I'm guessing your high beams will lose a lot of function... but your low beams probably wouldn't be affected too much. I'm just guessing though, I'm sure someone else probably knows better.

^^that..you have no reflections in the housing to create the high beam(if Iam correct about how the high beams work). I have black out headlights and havent had any problems using just my low beams. Besides wanting to flick them on when jerk offs dont turn their high beams off and I get blinded.

If you paint the reflective part that surrounds the lowbeam, you will lose out on the functional aspect of the headlight(s).

Even with HIDs? I looked at them last night and it didnt look like it was reflecting off of anything in the headlight

You probably can't see it just looking at the headlight. If you look at it from above, you probably won't see anything. That's because the piece isn't designed to reflect the light directly up (obviously). It's designed to reflect straight-forward or onto other parts of the housing. My guess is that if you tried to look at the headlight whie on and see it, you won't be able to discern the reflection.

The piece is there and it's metallic for a reason. Painting it black will definitely decrease the overall output, but by how much is another question. I haven't heard anyone make any significant complaints after doing it.

I might do a search to find members who have painted their headlights and PM them. Just in case they don't see this thread.

thanks for the input buddy, i understand where u are coming from. i just bought a set of 8k hid bulbs so im hoping that will give me alil more light ....maybe.....im not going to paint them for another month or two. just so i can read up lil more. thanks everyone for your help

Actually, the 8K bulbs will probably give you less light output. The higher the kelvin number, the lower the light output. The stock 4300K bulbs are probably the brightest you can get.

FML..... :icon22: I feel like a noob. Thanks for the info tho buddy

^^false... i recently changed from stock bulbs to 8000k and my night visibility doubled if not tripled. great improvement over stock imo.

as for the blackout. me and another member did mine. blacked out everything but the headlight/highbeam/city light sections. looks great and didnt lose any visibility over stock.

edit:forgot to mention i have 03-05 h.i.d.'s which many have said lack good output
Attachment 429072

Thanks buddy for your input. This helps out alot. My bulbs should be in sometime next week and im doing my headlights then. DO u have any pics close up? so i can see what yours look like painted?

4300k does produce more light output than 6000k or 8000k, that is a fact.

http://www.genesisupgrades.com/hid-c...hart-i-28.html

http://www.hid-conversion-kits.com/

I agree with you. It's also worth mentioning that light output vs. color temp. should only be compared within the same operating power (Wattage). So if someone's running a 4300k bulb on a 30 Watt system it will probably be lower light output than an 8000k bulb on a 55 Watt system.

i'm using 6000k hid bulbs and blacked out my entire housing and i am proud to say that i still have exceptional if not increased visibility everytime i drive.

well honestly in my case.... the visibility was enhanced dramatically. not only do i light up my path but also most of the lanes to my left and right. and distance ahead is also much more illuminated. i was honestly hesitant to go with 8000k's but once i put them in and drove at night, i was 110% happy with the swap. only concern i have is how long they will last.

pics:

Attachment 429074

Attachment 429075

Attachment 429076

Did the mod once on an old pair of headlights. The output is at least doubled. You get a lot of people flashing their brights at you.

If people are flashing their lights at you... your headlights are aimed too high.