Are HID's about to become illegal?

[Rick Lee]

Hey Vu, there's a discussion on Rennlist 993 board right now about how NHTSA is banning all HID's as of 8/15/03. I can't believe it. Do you know about this?

[87turbolook911]

Haven't heard that one. But I did read this:

http://www.nhtsa.dot.gov/nhtsa/announce/press/2001/pressdisplay.cfm?year=2001&filename=pr50-01.html

http://www.nhtsa.dot.gov/nhtsa/announce/press/pressdisplay.cfm?year=2003&filename=pr21-03.html


As much money as car manufacturers make on HID's and how they are integrated into their designs, I would believe they would exercise their political muscles to squash such an idea.

[87turbolook911]

Here's page to see comparisons of OEM to PIAA Super Whites to Aftermarket HID to factory HID.

http://p-car.com/diy/hid/

[Rick Lee]

Vu, in those photos the HID's look a lot better than the PIAA Super Whites. What's the price and installation difficulty differential there?

[87turbolook911]

PIAA's cost about $140 for two and simple bulb swap. Keep in mind that you can buy higher than OEM wattage PIAA bulbs, but if you do then upgrading the wiring is recomended. The bulbs cost the same but then you'll have some wiring costs, less than $20.

[jpinkert]

I don't really see a difference between the OEM and PIAA super whites. The PIAA lighting -kits- have always seemed like snake-oil to me...being popular with the tuner-import crowd for their SHOW rather than their GO.

With halogens, the wattage and headlight lens are the biggest factors in light output. We see a big improvement going from H5s to H4s...just a lense change. On my Jeep, I changed the lens as well up raised the bulb wattage.

You want better performance, you have two realistic options. 1) Upgrade your wiring and run higher wattage bulbs, or 2) spend the $$ and get the real deal - HIDs.