HID / State Inspection

[Garb55]

I do not drive much at night however would like to convert to over to HID low beams only, no High Beams! Oh I do like High Beams :lolsmile:. Curious, if you have to have high and low beam to pass inspection in TX, what is this best route to go in order to pass or is not an issue?

[Y2Kvert4me]

I've not seen any headlight modification that completely eliminates high beam bulbs, so unless there is, I'm not understanding your question. :confused5:

Using HID lows/retaining stock halogen highs are the usual mod, short of going to the more expensive alternatives in aftermarket projector housings.

:cheers:

[Garb55]

I've not seen any headlight modification that completely eliminates high beam bulbs, so unless there is, I'm not understanding your question. :confused5:

Using HID lows/retaining stock halogen highs are the usual mod, short of going to the more expensive alternatives in aftermarket projector housings.

:cheers:

OK, My bad! I'm trying to understand in the state TX if you have HID low beams and you go for inspections and they hit the HI beams they will not be the same color / they do not match will it be a problem for passing.

[illmac77]

The past three years i have not had a prob. passing state inspections. the last one i just did was in sept. only thing there ever courious is how do u hope the door, i guess they dont see shaved handles much....

[Garb55]

The past three years i have not had a prob. passing state inspections. the last one i just did was in sept. only thing there ever courious is how do u hope the door, i guess they dont see shaved handles much....

Thanks Mike. I bet that's interesting to watch, hey were is the door Handel. :confused5:

[Defib1961]

Thanks Mike. I bet that's interesting to watch, hey were is the door Handel. :confused5:

Hope this link helps. It is the best I could do.

Texas Department of Public Safety - Inspection/Rejection Criteria (http://www.txdps.state.tx.us/vi/inspection/rules_list.asp?itemdrop=Head+Lamps&rejectsubmit=Go)

[Lowcash]

The past three years i have not had a prob. passing state inspections. the last one i just did was in sept. only thing there ever courious is how do u hope the door, i guess they dont see shaved handles much....

:iagree: I have taken my car to the same shop the past 2 years and the same guy inspects it each year and ask the same question every year. :D

[Garb55]

Installed! "WOW" Now I want them for the Truck!

[ZQQH6]

Installed! "WOW" Now I want them for the Truck!

Which lights did you go with? From who?

[Garb55]

Which lights did you go with? From who?

As I do not drive much at night in the ZO6 I choose just to try out a C5 Corvette Low Beam Slim Ballasts 6000k HID Kit from JW Motoring. It is a Plug and play, reasonable price for my limited night driving and is a Hugh Difference over the stock Lamp. Great Service Great product. If I drove more at night I would have gone with a Projector Light or Light Cannon. I have my eye on these (http://forums.corvetteforum.com/c5-general/2633732-jwm-projector-lights-lower-opening-version-thread-3-a.html) but my side job has to really pick up and it is extremely slow right now.

[Munch]

As I do not drive much at night in the ZO6 I choose just to try out a C5 Corvette Low Beam Slim Ballasts 6000k HID Kit from JW Motoring. It is a Plug and play, reasonable price for my limited night driving and is a Hugh Difference over the stock Lamp. Great Service Great product. If I drove more at night I would have gone with a Projector Light or Light Cannon. I have my eye on these (http://forums.corvetteforum.com/c5-general/2633732-jwm-projector-lights-lower-opening-version-thread-3-a.html) but my side job has to really pick up and it is extremely slow right now.


Do the ones you have now seem to bounce a lot or are they jittery?

[Garb55]

Do the ones you have now seem to bounce a lot or are they jittery?

The Bulbs did not fit as snug as the Factory ones. I bent the metal tabs on the Light Housing and reinserted the Bulbs and they were a tighter fit. I have only driven 2x at night and as of now no bounce or jitter. If they do then I will put a little silicone on them.

[Junkman2008]

As I do not drive much at night in the ZO6 I choose just to try out a C5 Corvette Low Beam Slim Ballasts 6000k HID Kit from JW Motoring. It is a Plug and play, reasonable price for my limited night driving and is a Hugh Difference over the stock Lamp. Great Service Great product. If I drove more at night I would have gone with a Projector Light or Light Cannon. I have my eye on these (http://forums.corvetteforum.com/c5-general/2633732-jwm-projector-lights-lower-opening-version-thread-3-a.html) but my side job has to really pick up and it is extremely slow right now.

:iagree:

Light cannons do rock and they look cool too. JW is great to deal with and his prices are very fair. He stands behind his product too. I love my light cannons. :D

http://www.pc-surgeon.net/images/cforum/angel_eyes.jpg

http://www.pc-surgeon.net/images/cforum/c5_halos.jpg

[Eagleeye]

Car is so shiny...hard to see the lights !

[Junkman2008]

car is so shiny...hard to see the lights !

:d :d

[Y2Kvert4me]

I have my eye on these (http://forums.corvetteforum.com/c5-general/2633732-jwm-projector-lights-lower-opening-version-thread-3-a.html)Me too. Love the sleepy eye popup look! :cool1:

[Tulsa Vette Guy]

As I do not drive much at night in the ZO6 I choose just to try out a C5 Corvette Low Beam Slim Ballasts 6000k HID Kit from JW Motoring. It is a Plug and play, reasonable price for my limited night driving and is a Hugh Difference over the stock Lamp. Great Service Great product. If I drove more at night I would have gone with a Projector Light or Light Cannon. I have my eye on these (http://forums.corvetteforum.com/c5-general/2633732-jwm-projector-lights-lower-opening-version-thread-3-a.html) but my side job has to really pick up and it is extremely slow right now.


:dance::iagree:

[Barkingowl]

THe HIDs aren't legal in NC although I did have them mounted in my C5 a number of years ago. They were low beam only. I had to go to a "friendly" inspection station to have the car passed.

[2ez 2spd]

THe HIDs aren't legal in NC although I did have them mounted in my C5 a number of years ago. They were low beam only. I had to go to a "friendly" inspection station to have the car passed.

I was wondering about NC, I want to change mine but I don't any trouble at inspection time. What makes the HIDs illegal????

[Junkman2008]

I was wondering about NC, I want to change mine but I don't any trouble at inspection time. What makes the HIDs illegal????

HID's are not illegal anywhere. It is the using of HID bulbs in a non-HID housing that is illegal.

You cannot legally put HID bulbs in a housing that is not made for HID bulbs. The reason why is that the HID bulb will throw off a scattered light pattern and could possibly blind oncoming drivers. A true HID housing will create a definitive cutoff point and eliminate the possibility of light scatter. See the pictures below:

True HID housing and bulb. Notice the definitive cutoff.

http://www.pc-surgeon.net/images/cforum/fogbeam.jpg

HID bulb in non-HID enclosure. Notice that the cutoff is not as defined.

http://www.pc-surgeon.net/images/cforum/lowhidbeam.jpg

[2ez 2spd]

So is the top pic the lights that JW has to offer?

[Garb55]

So is the top pic the lights that JW has to offer?

For me right now! Yes, price it right, Quality product, HUGE difference over stock bulbs! Not exactly what I want but fits the purpose for the price as I do not drive a lot at night! When I get some extra cash I would like to pick up these!

http://i131.photobucket.com/albums/p285/edbon/Patches/Sun%20Guns/SunGuns3.jpg


http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v169/jrc27/vette%20stuff/P1010008-1.jpg

More info (http://forums.corvetteforum.com/c5-general/2633732-jwm-projector-lights-lower-opening-version-thread-3-a.html) Warning this link will take you to the Other Place if your not Permabanned

[Munch]

Those are sweet but will they ever be ready to purchase? :bilmem:

[Garb55]

Those are sweet but will they ever be ready to purchase? :bilmem:

Hope so but for now I have the time to wait!

[Junkman2008]

So is the top pic the lights that JW has to offer?

It is not the bulbs that create the definitive cut off, it is the housing that does that. The fog light housing on a C5 is a true HID enclosure. That's what you see in the top pic. The bottom pic is my low beams. That enclosure is not a HID enclosure and thus, you don't have the definitive cut off. Technically, this is illegal to do although I was never pulled over for doing it. I also made sure that I had my lights aimed properly to keep from ever being pulled over.

[2ez 2spd]

It is not the bulbs that create the definitive cut off, it is the housing that does that. The fog light housing on a C5 is a true HID enclosure. That's what you see in the top pic. The bottom pic is my low beams. That enclosure is not a HID enclosure and thus, you don't have the definitive cut off. Technically, this is illegal to do although I was never pulled over for doing it. I also made sure that I had my lights aimed properly to keep from ever being pulled over.

Your fog lights look better than my low beams I'm going to make that change now and wait and see what happens with the headlights.

My wife's car has HIDs in it from stock and you can see so much better in her car than in mine. Thats what I'm trying to fix I do like yours and I agree if done correct I wouldn't expect any problems. Thanks for the input :cheers:.

[Garb55]

It is not the bulbs that create the definitive cut off, it is the housing that does that. The fog light housing on a C5 is a true HID enclosure. That's what you see in the top pic. The bottom pic is my low beams. That enclosure is not a HID enclosure and thus, you don't have the definitive cut off. Technically, this is illegal to do although I was never pulled over for doing it. I also made sure that I had my lights aimed properly to keep from ever being pulled over.

:iagree:The housing Makes more of a Difference but also comes with a price. For a less expensive alternative and a less expensive price the C5 Corvette Slim Ballasts HID Kits from JW Motoring are a Great Bang for the Buck over stock! If you have more cash then there are certainly much better alternatives!!

[Junkman2008]

The pictures that I posted are exactly what JWMotoring sells. :yesnod:

[Bucwheat]

First of all the statement DOT APPROVED is misleading. NHTSA, an arm of the U.S. DOT, does not approve or disapprove MV equipment. It does set Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standards for all MV equipment. FMVSS 108 covers lights. Manufacturers SELF-CERTIFY that their product meets the standard.

Several years ago when the aftermarket tail light/lens first became popular, there were many versions and most of them did not comply with FMVSS 108 even though the packaging said legal in 50 states or DOT approved. The products also have DOT numbers imprinted on them. These letters/numbers indicate certain parts of the product are compliant such as rear lens, rear color, rear reflector, side reflector, side lens, side color etc. There were DOT numbers on many of these aftermarket lenses but usually all of the numbers were not present. This indicates that parts of the lens were not compliant. Also see http://fmvss108.tripod.com-this is a NON-government site with lots of info about lights-mostly taillights.

HID headlights-If it has a transformer (ballast) it is an HID light. A true HID light casts a white light (looks like light blue tint). There are cheap imitations which are a plain bulb with a blue coating and these cast a blue light. When I stop a car with suspect headlights I hold a piece of white paper in front of the light. If the paper turns blue, that is illegal and driver gets "Norked" (gets a ticket). See the following NHTSA Interp letter at http://www.nhtsa.dot.gov/cars/rules/interps/files/21118.ztv.html-It says, "SAE J578c defines white by blue, yellow, green, red and purple boundaries within a chromaticity diagram. Thus, it is possible to design a headlamp that emits a light that approaches the blue boundary and is perceived as having a blue tint but which nevertheless remains within the boundaries that define "white"".

As far as what state you live in it does not matter. All states light laws follow FMVSS 108 for the basic MV lights.

I AM NOT SUGGESTING THAT YOU ARGUE WITH ANY POLICE OFFICER WHO MAY STOP YOU FOR THE HEADLIGHTS. You could try carrying a copy of the above NHTSA interp letter with you and politely asking to officer to read the above paragraph (this could backfire). Best bet is to plead not guilty and plead your case at court.

Hope this answers your question.

[ZQQH6]

I have come across a vendor on auction site that sells a DOT legal housing that looks exactly like the one JW is selling and for a lot less. They come with H9 halogens & 9005 highs. Purchase your pick of vendors HID kit and you can save $200 Search modified-concept.

[Bucwheat]

Wow! I have seen what these lights can do as far as distance and be brighter the 8000 series are the blue tint and the 6000 are bright white.

[Toque]

I have come across a vendor on auction site that sells a DOT legal housing that looks exactly like the one JW is selling and for a lot less. They come with H9 halogens & 9005 highs. Purchase your pick of vendors HID kit and you can save $200 Search modified-concept.

I originally had HID's in my low beam OEM housings (2-3 yrs) and I never had any issues when getting TX state inspections.

The ACA "style" HID Projectors from Ebay is what I put in my car after xmas. For the price $300 I am very impressed with them. They match the HID's I put in my C5 OEM fog lights too. They are both 6000K. The beam pattern is very defined and night time driving is great ! I will likely get HID bulbs for my high beams in the future too.

I chose NOT to run the huge harness that came with these lights. I instead installed the following.

Resistor pack to eliminate lights not turning up/down when commanded.
C5 Low Beam Inline Resistor - JW Motoring (http://www.shop.jwmotoring.com/product.sc?productId=18&categoryId=4)

and........

"Theradioflyer" sells this Hi-4 harness that keeps the low beams on when the high beams are on. Its a small harness that fits in the fuse box and is MUCh cleaner looking than the large harness that comes with the head lights.
http://i606.photobucket.com/albums/tt142/RadioflyerCustoms/IMG_1218.jpg


http://mysite.verizon.net/res0aae8/aca/aca1.jpg
http://mysite.verizon.net/res0aae8/aca/aca2.jpg
http://mysite.verizon.net/res0aae8/aca/aca3.jpg

[Bucwheat]

Just installed a set on a Neighbors kids Explorer ,the 6000k and man did be love em. Can't stop talking about them.

[[email protected]]

I have the harness installed and you can't see it at all. The key is to route it underneath the coolant tank and in front of the radiator shroud area.

http://i162.photobucket.com/albums/t245/Jhonathan_W/PopsShow008.jpg

http://i162.photobucket.com/albums/t245/Jhonathan_W/NCCOSHOW026.jpg

[[email protected]]

I have come across a vendor on auction site that sells a DOT legal housing that looks exactly like the one JW is selling and for a lot less. They come with H9 halogens & 9005 highs. Purchase your pick of vendors HID kit and you can save $200 Search modified-concept.

With the purchase of our kit you get quality 55 watt HID kits with a 2 year warranty, complete directions with tips from previous installs, and I have these on my own car and am very familiar with the C5 system. :yesnod:

[Bucwheat]

Man that's a beautiful engine compartment JW.

[Tulsa Vette Guy]

I have the HID's low beams, and stock high beams, we do not have inspections here in OKlahoma, thank goodness