MPR

Since HID kits are not ideal and the bulb type is not properly designed for the stock civic headlight assembly/reflector (00 SiR), Naturally, you'd replace the whole headlight assembly with one designed for HID bulbs.

Well that can cost quite a bit and I simply don't have the money for that.

The other solution to the absolutely pathetic stock headlights on these cars is to increase the wattage of the bulb. I know it is illegal to have headlight bulbs above 60 watts, but imo it is worse to install an HID kit with the stock headlight reflector and blind everyone. (which so many people do...)

Anyways, buying and installing higher wattage H4 bulbs is the other much cheaper option. The bulbs I'm looking at have the potential to melt or damage the headlamp assembly.

Has anyone tried using higher wattage bulbs? If so, what wattage didi you use and did they damage the headlamps?


Thanks.

P.S. I do realize extra wiring/relays are necessary to allow for the extra current they will be drawing.

jdm_77

i dont think you have to change the headlights because my boy has a 99 SIR n he has a HID kit on it and everything even the headlights are all oem and all original.

MPR

Yes, but if you look at the HID bulb compared to the stock H4 bulb, the filaments are arranged differently causing the light being produced to be reflected differently off the stock reflector.

You can install HID kits on factory headlamp assemblies but they were not designed to be used with HID bulbs. This is why HID kit's/bulbs used with factory head lamps tend to blind on-coming traffic, even using the low beams.

By using a standard H4 bulb but with increased wattage, you retain the proper beam reflection/projection (so you don't blind anyone with your low-beams), but you increase the brightness/intensity of the beam.

I never knew there was a difference in bulbs between HID and H4 in such a way to cause the issues it does or what that difference in the filament was until I did some research on it. Not many people know this is an issue. Most people just slap in an HID kit with their stock head lamps, not realizing the reflectors were not designed to work with those HID bulbs.

MPR

What I was talking about is just part of it. There's a lot more to lighting then you think.


This web site has some good info:

Daniel Stern Lighting Consultancy and Supply

slowandfurious

i think i had 60w long time ago. they were pretty good light output but blue lights are the worse to have as they are terrible in wet weather. They kept blowing after a couple of months, might have been a current thing. There use to be a high watt headlight harness that used to be for sale, basically just larger guage wires. You might be pushing to much current threw the oem wire, and get to hot. If you try it post a dyi i might look into it myself as i hate aftermarket hid light pattern. Also i have noticed that my jdm headlight gives off better light pattern than my usdm one. The jdm headlight does not have the shield over the bulb.

MPR

The stock H4 bulb in a civic like mine (ek chassis) is 60watt high beam and 55watt low beam. Aside from the wattage difference, the placement of the filament in the bulb changes how the light is reflected off the reflector as well, changing the beam pattern. The reason those bulbs you had kept blowing is they may have just been cheap bulbs. A lot of after market bulbs are cheaply made.

And yep, I mentioned in my first post, in order to run high wattage bulbs you need to beef up the wiring to handle the extra current, which is exactly what I plan to do.

I will most definitely post up a DIY once I complete the installation. Good idea.

MPR

So my new bulbs just arrived in the mail fresh from www.rallylights.com.

They are H4 100/80watt bulbs. The stock bulbs on my civic are 60/55watts (high/low beam).

I now have to make a wiring harness to allow for the extra current these bad boys will be drawing.

Can't wait to be able to actually see when driving at night! Will be nice to be able to see beyond 50 feet infont of the car...lol.

Will post up the results.

D.T.P

oh sick! cant wait to see the outcome.

kwikb16a2

Lookup HIR lights. I think that would have been a much better choice

kwikb16a2

9011 HIR Bulbs Installed w/ Pictures - Subaru Legacy Forums

kwikb16a2

HIR bulbs - 8th Generation Honda Civic Forum

MPR

So I got the new bulbs installed and wiring completed.

The factory wiring for the low beams (now 80watts), works fine and won't blow the fueses.

For the high beams (now 100watts, which will blow the 10amp fuses instantly...) I used the original wire to the high beams on the bulb plug as the trigger for the new 30amp relay and fuse which now feeds power through larger gauge wires to the highbeams.

It all works perfectly.

What a difference!!! Unfortunately I don't have before and after pics, but the difference is nigh and day! (literally.. lol)

The beams are still aimed properly, so with the low beams, the light is much more intense and I don't blind on coming traffic...The high beams are MUCH better. They shine much farther and with much more intensity. I feel alot safer now driving at night on these back roads near my house where animals just out all the time.

For $50 all said and done...much better value per $ then a $150 HID kit with ballasts that like to blow and other issues etc...

I hope this helps others to save a few $ when deciding to upgrading their lighting system...


Cheers!

D.T.P

How does it compare with hids? And that's great to hear that everything is in. Hope to see them soon. Hope you are coming wed.

MPR

I haven't sat my car beside one with an HID kit yet...

Hopefully coming to the meet this week, where someone will have HID's for sure...lol

jdm ek4

Hmmm interesting, i always wanted to do something like this but when it comes down to electrical im sorta lost. I rate my self from 1-10 in electrical at 5. lol

I have some PIAA and they made a big difference but they cost me $100. lol Still hasnt blown after 3yrs though

D.T.P

I'm sure hids will be brighter just because they are all over the place. Control wise your bulbs will be much better. Can't wait to see them!!!

MPR

Yeah I think you may be right. Would be interesting to do a side by side comparison..

MPR

Haha, yeah, automotive wiring can be a little intimidating sometimes. Glad headlight circuits are quite simple and easy to work with...

NorthernEG

I was thinking of doing the same thing. At the time I worked at part source and picked up a pair of PIAA's for a good price. They state they pull the same wattage of stock headlights(so no new wiring needed) but the design of them made the put our more power 135/125w.

MPR

So I now realize, all these peope who have put HID kits on their cars, only have the HID capability with their low beams only!

Not only that, because the HID filament location design is different from the regular H4 bulb, their low beams (often brighter then the high beams) are improperly aimed and blind everyone...

What is the point of crazy bright low beams and lame factory high-beams? I don't get it...

If you like them, no offense, and by all means, go ahead and install them. Personally and officially, I do not like HID kits on factory headlamps.

Changing the bulb wattage itself keeps the low beams aimed correctly and the high beams just plain kick-*** and shine extra bright everywhere, as they should.