FYI: brighter H9 bulbs for fog lights

[~tc~]

Like anybody is going to know what came stock in a Kizashi? You're probably as likely to get charged with illegal importation of a non-US approved model as written up for "illegal" headlights...especially since we have projectors anyways.

[Woodie]

I ran 80/100's in my last Metro for 100K miles with no trouble at all.

[murcod]

Like anybody is going to know what came stock in a Kizashi? You're probably as likely to get charged with illegal importation of a non-US approved model as written up for "illegal" headlights...especially since we have projectors anyways.

It's easy to pick - all genuine factory HID's have the obvious washers on the bumper. You don't even need to lift the bonnet to see that.

Plus the self leveling system is missing - if someone digs deeper. The aftermarket wiring kit in the engine bay (you posted about) would also be easy to spot.

[murcod]

Out of interest, here's the approval/ test criteria for a "Gas Discharge Headlamp" within Australia. Have a quick browse as it's quite mind boggling how in depth the tests are! These tests would be based on international standards.

http://www.comlaw.gov.au/Details/F2006L02305

Here's a bit more from one of the local state/ territory transport authorities on retrofitting kits: http://www.transport.nt.gov.au/__data/a ... /ibv15.pdf

And a bit more from one of the motoring organisations.
http://www.racq.com.au/motoring/cars/ca ... headlights

[KuroNekko]

Like anybody is going to know what came stock in a Kizashi? You're probably as likely to get charged with illegal importation of a non-US approved model as written up for "illegal" headlights...especially since we have projectors anyways.

Hahaha, you're probably right.

It's easy to pick - all genuine factory HID's have the obvious washers on the bumper. You don't even need to lift the bonnet to see that.

Plus the self leveling system is missing - if someone digs deeper. The aftermarket wiring kit in the engine bay (you posted about) would also be easy to spot.

Headlight washers are not required for HID in the US. That's a Euro requirement that maybe Australia and other markets adopted. I don't even think they are required in Japan.
Also, levelers are not a concern unless you are getting the car inspected. However, most US inspection stations don't care about the headlights other than that they work. I've past inspections in both my Mazda and my Suzuki with HID aftermarkets.

However, you are correct that any HID kit is illegal. In fact, the law as I understand it is that any modification to the original design as it came from the OEM is illegal. How these aftermarket components are sold is through the "show car and off-road use" loophole, if you can call it that.
Keep in mind that having darker tints than state limits is also technically illegal. People still get darker tints. Heck, going 55 MPH in a 50 MPH zone is technically illegal too.

In the end, it's all about what's reasonable. I'd definitely support the cops pulling over and ticketing lifted trucks running HIDs in halogen multi-reflectors because those actually blind people. A HID kit in projector lenses aimed correctly is not going to cause problems to others. As ~tc~ stated, the large majority of people, including the authorities, have no idea whether the HIDs are factory or not unless they research it. In this regard, there is very little to worry about in terms of legal compliance because actual enforcement is almost nil.

There's a risk with any head light bulb upgrade of the loom/ connector suffering long term damage. I've read where HID kits have "burnt" the wiring long term. Apparently, the ballasts draw a lot of current when initially "firing" to start the arc inside the bulb. Then the voltage/ current draw drops back.

While I don't doubt it's possible, that's unlikely to occur in most cases. The ballast is where the electrical amplification occurs. From that point, the flow is to the bulbs. Also, the ballasts only amplify the voltage at initial start-up, as you wrote. This is the mere split second when they first come on. Compare that with halogens that not only run hotter, but continuously do so as long as they are on.

HIDs have their own set of problems and flaws, but temperature is not really one especially compared to halogens.

[KuroNekko]

I ran 80/100's in my last Metro for 100K miles with no trouble at all.

Oh snap, Metro in the house!

Honestly, Suzuki should have brought the Swift and if/when that did well, should have brought the Kizashi. That would have been a better and cheaper course to take than the Kizashi first, maybe Swift later plan they took. It failed.

North America could have had these:

[Woodie]

However, you are correct that any HID kit is illegal. In fact, the law as I understand it is that any modification to the original design as it came from the OEM is illegal. How these aftermarket components are sold is through the "show car and off-road use" loophole, if you can call it that.
Keep in mind that having darker tints than state limits is also technically illegal. People still get darker tints. Heck, going 55 MPH in a 50 MPH zone is technically illegal too.

Funny this would come up in a thread where I already posted a picture of my Magnum Metro. No front license plate, 80/100 headlights, all white front turns and corners, 20% tint, no rearview mirror, no CHMSL, even drove it with no wipers for about two years as you can see in the picture. Never had any problems with the law, just drove as if I had some sense and they ignored me.

Yea, those of us on the Metro/Swift forums cried, pleaded, and cajoled Suzuki to bring us the Swift for eight years, to no avail.

[murcod]

Many years ago I ran 80/100 H4 bulbs with no (known) problems. I think, as the years have gone by, manufacturer's have found they can save weight by running thinner electrical cables. The wiring gauge is certainly a lot thinner in newer vehicles than it was 15-20 yrs ago, which leaves less safety margin for such mods.

[KuroNekko]

I'm actually impressed with the LHS output! What's going on with the RHS though

Any issues with glare from the fogs with HIDs?

TRS hooked me up with a good deal on 3000K H11 HID bulbs and I ordered them. They should arrive soon so I'll post pics once they are installed. I'm hoping they will be a vast improvement over the HID bulbs currently in my fog lights.

[bootymac]

Looking forward to it! I'd appreciate it if you could include a picture of the beam pattern of both your fogs and HIDs against a wall. I'm interested to see the aim of both for comparison