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Xenon lights is not an option on the MDX from the factory or the dealer.
However, any knowledgeable souls here, know of any after market or custom places where one can get these installed.
I envy those beemer and other euro cars for their xenon lights ....
Cheers! |
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I got them from these folks for $540 for the set. http://www.hidxenon.com/
Ask for either the AcuraMDX web page or UUCBMW special.
I installed them in 1 hour working slowly and am very happy with the results.
And no, you needn't change the factory stock headlight fuses.
Tom
quote:
Originally posted by bsundara
Xenon lights is not an option on the MDX from the factory or the dealer.
However, any knowledgeable souls here, know of any after market or custom places where one can get these installed.
I envy those beemer and other euro cars for their xenon lights ....
Cheers!
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I got this idea from another member 2 months ago, I don't know if that post/thread still exists (thanks to whoever that was :) ).
Steps:
1) Buy some Phillips BlueVision 65W 9005 "HighBeam" bulbs at Kmart or Sylvannia Coolvision (not sure of the name, but they're also lightly tinted blue and supposedly with some xenon gas inside) 9005 Bulbs at Kragen. Cost: about $10 or $15 a bulb.
2) Whittle away the two ridges on the inside of the bulb's plugs with an angled razor. Time: about 5 to 10 minutes (while watching TV, carefully of course ;) ).
3) Take out your old low beams (the ones with black caps on the glass and only have one ridge). Time: about a minute.
4) Wiggle and push your new modified highbeam bulbs in place. (It takes just a little coordination and push because the edge offsets on the plugs are slightly different between low and high beams, obviously set up, along with the inner ridges, to prevent people from putting in the "incorrect" bulbs). Time: another minute or two.
5) Drive and enjoy the brighter and whiter light in less than half an hour.
One of my best friends actually got in my MDX for the first time at night, and he was a little amazed at the lighting, and asked, "Do you have those 'xenon' lights?" Nope! I'm not going to say that these are just as good as HID's, but then again they don't cost $700.
The extra 10 watts and light blue tint really seems to help, and it does not seem to blind anyone (I've had them for over a month and no one has highbeamed me). I attribute the great lighting to the lighthousing design by Acura, and the special bulbs, and attribute not blinding anyone to the proper light alignment. Haven't you ever driven in front of someone who has this one bulb totally angled towards the sky, and just seems to highbeam you in the rearview mirror?!
I personally think this is a better value/solution to better lighting than those aftermarket Razo or PIAA lights that are supposed to cast out about 85W with only 55W of usage, but cost about $70 to $100 a pair.
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As an engineer, I hate to break bubbles but in reality, the blue tint degrades the light output and quality. Read the reports from Philips or Sylvania and you'll see why. Put simply, you are filtering out a percentage of the light spectrum of the bulb, reducing its light quality and the total light energy that it throws. It may look "cool" and make you think that you have the light quality of a HID (the physiological effect - the actual color temperatures are, in fact, quite different) but the "improvement", if any, comes simply from the higher wattage. But a real HID in there and you will be amazed at the difference.
Tom
[QUOTE]Originally posted by ucsdtriton
The extra 10 watts and light blue tint really seems to help, |
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Mogur, It's nice to know we have some engineers in here.
Just want to clarify my position.
1) I don't doubt that I would be amazed at the difference real HID lighting/technology would offer. But, for $549 or $799 or $1000+ as I've seen on various spots around the internet, I BETTER be amazed.
2) I don't doubt, as I have read earlier from various informational sites denigrating blue tinted bulbs that attempt to mimic HID technology, that tinting of any kind, particularly blue, will degrade the quality of light to a certain degree. I believe it, as I often notice that dark blue signs from a distance are harder to make out and read at night than other colors. But, in particular, the web sites that I reviewed were referring to those smaller aftermarket brands, that really tout their bulbs as being the best thing next to HID or are called Super White, etc,, and are often tinted a deeper blue and cost $70+.
3) These bulbs by these major manufacturers are only tinted a very, very light blue. True, they are still tinted, but if I believed that just merely tinting the glass a light blue would look cool or would somehow improve the light output, I would have just bought the regular blue tinted 9006 low beam lights. That is why I suggested these particular high beam lights with a greater wattage output, as did the earlier poster who first suggested this idea.
4) Perhaps, the best cheap solution to brighter lighting would be to just use modified regular high beam bulbs without the blue tint, heck, it would be even cheaper. Now, after getting into this discussion, I think I might just try it to see what difference that light blue tint really makes.
5) I've never had a problem with insufficient lighting from any vehicle I've owned, and the lighting from the MDX actually has the most effective spread pattern I've seen, all the more reason I don't feel a need to spend alot of money to get the latest in lighting (HID's). And, besides, when I really need to see what's out there at a distance, when I'm out exploring the boondocks, I use the actual high beams, that's what they're for.
6) I've also read somewhere that using aftermarket HID's, may be illegal outside of carshows in certain states or any state, and that currently, only OEM HID's are legal on public roads. But, someone would have to double check that. Frankly though, if I was willing to spend that much money on HID's, I wouldn't care.
Finally, now that I know you're an engineer (Mogur), could you spend some time on a real problem that we're all having... that damn water streak from the side mirrors! ;)
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| can you post some pics with your xenons installed in your mdx. thanks |
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ucsdtriton: I posted the info about the Philips bulb modification earlier when the whole discussion about the Razo bulbs came up. Like you said the blue tinting in the glass is nowhere near as deep as those in the off-brand aftermarket bulbs that advertise as "HID-like". The deep blue bulbs are usually painted and the paint tends to flake off after several months. Many of them burn out quickly as well (1-2 months).
Rather than producing an overall blue coloration to the light (which it doesn't) I think Philips was trying to increase the perceptual visual contrast of objects illuminated by the projected light with their light blue tinting.
For the skeptics out there the bulbs are only about ~$12 each (sold singly) so just buying one bulb to try out wouldn't be too costly
I have the 9005 Philips installed on the Legend on the far right and on the MDX. I have PIAA SW on the Legend on the far left and PIAA SP on the Legend second from the right.
I've tried all variety of bulbs and think that the 9005 Philips provide the best bang for the buck.
Once the HID retrofit kits drop near $400 I'll purchase one. BTW most of the retrofit HID kits on the market use Philips ballasts and Philips HID capsules. Philips was actually the inventor of HID automotive lighting technology.
The thing to think about is that unless you notify your insurance carrier about your $500 HIDs they may not be covered in event of a frontal collision.
As far as the legality of retrofit HID is concerned technically they are not DOT certified for on-road use. Factory HID systems use reflector/lense housings that are specifically designed for HID capsules and project a specific beam pattern that retrofit kits cannot duplicate. Further most if not all factory HID systems come with self leveling devices that ensure that the HID lighting does not blind oncoming drivers. That being said I don't think many traffic officers would be wise to whether or not a MDX is equipped with factory HIDs.
Late,
LEGENDtuner
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Sure, I'll take some pictures in the next week and post them here.
I agree that the standard MDX lighting is quite good - better than most vehicles in fact - but after driving with real HIDs in the BMW for years, it's simply hard to go back...
As far a legalities are concerned, the Philips bulb and ballast are the same one used in many factory HID installations. And the MDX has the type of lense and cutoff pattern that is normally used and required by HIS installations to reduce oncoming glare. However, since it is not specifially DOT approved for the MDX it is, technically, illegal. That said, since it looks, acts and is for all intents and purposes the same as a factory HID, I think the actual chance of getting ticket is close to zero. You are probobably more likely to get a ticket with one of the (deeper) blue bulbs since that ARE illegal (at least in California).
Tom
quote:
Originally posted by xxjiggajaycxx
can you post some pics with your xenons installed in your mdx. thanks
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quote:
Originally posted by mogur
As far a legalities are concerned, the Philips bulb and ballast are the same one used in many factory HID installations.
That is partially correct. Philips does indeed produce HID lighting systems for many auto manufacturers. However these lighting systems are not 9006 or 9005 retrofit and so the bulb base designs and the headlamps (reflectors) are significantly different.
quote:
Originally posted by mogur
And the MDX has the type of lense and cutoff pattern that is normally used and required by HIS installations to reduce oncoming glare.
The MDX lense and reflector design were engineered for 9006 halogen filament bulbs and so the optics (reflector light pattern) are designed based on the standard filament depth placement of 9006 bulbs and not HID lighting capsules. BTW, there are two types of retrofit HID lighting capsules one for projector style headlamps and one for reflector type headlamp designs. One must be careful to purchase the correct type when selecting an aftermarket HID kit. Some HID lighting manufacturers do make an effort to locate the HID gas pocket in the same location as the 9006 filament to attempt to achieve the proper lighting pattern from the housing in which they are to be placed. These kits are referred to as "beam pattern corrected". However this term has become somewhat overused and so one must be careful to ensure the validity of their claims.
An HID retrofit that is not "beam pattern correct" will produce a light pattern that may be too scattered or conversely one that is too compact. Further the projected light may not be uniform in brightness across the visual field and may have areas of excess brightness (hot spots) alternating with areas of relative darkness. These problems are, in fact, fairly common among retrofit HID kits (even some that are sold as beam pattern correct). The most hazardous consequence of an HID kit that is not "beam pattern correct" would be excess vertical light scatter that could blind oncoming drivers.
Finally I would like to reiterate that vehicles that come with HID equipped from the factory usually if not always come with self-levelling systems which is are among the key stipulations for on-road legality. A retrofit HID kit would not have this self leveling function.
Like mogur says you probably won't get a ticket for having retrofit HID as long as they are not completely mis-aimed. However I am not sure what the legal ramifications would be if for example you are involved in a frontal collision with an oncoming car and they find out you are running non-DOT lighting systems.
I am not against retrofit HID lighting in any way, like I mentioned before I am considering the purchase of such a kit. However I feel that prospective buyers should know the pros and cons as well as the important factors to consider when purchasing an HID retrofit kit.
Late,
LEGENDtuner |
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| ... for the very informative post! |
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Hi Mogur:
I also purchased a HID kit from xenonshop. I'm having some difficulties installing the kit. The bulbs do not light up after installing the ballasts. Do you have any pics on how you installed your kit? Any advice would be appreciated. Thanks!
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