I've been staring at tons and tons of luxury cars that I drive past on the roads these days and I am beginning to wonder if Acura TL projectors are really the best ones in terms of beam width, light output, and cutoff. I mean... are they really the best all around projectors? I'm beginning to think some of the new BMWs and even the higher end Lexuses have better HID systems than the TL.
I mean, just compare HID systems if each car were brand new and the bulbs and ballasts were brand new too.
Discuss.
I hope this won't turn into a "my setup is better than any setup in the world due to my subjective butt dyno" discussion. But at the same time... it's hard to avoid. I'm not talking about mixing and matching projectors and lenses.... I'm talking about comparing stock vs stock.
if only bone stock, acura TL (2005+) is one of the best in terms of intensity AND it has a great hi beam. s2k is more intense, but only lo beam. e46 is almost as intense, but no width at all. lexus ls430 is not as intense, but it is MUCH wider than any projector, due to a reflector around to disperse light to the sides. e55 is prolly the best projector for hi beams, but its lo beam is not the greatest. so as you can see, there are many different scenarios that will meet different peoples needs. i needed a small projector with very intense beam on the road only, i hate wide projection, so the e46 was perfect. alot of people would rather see into the corn fields off to the side, so they chose ls430. still others needed very bright hi beams for driving mostly in the county, so they went with tl or e55. it is hard to compare lights on the road since side by side is not a good comparison when beams overlap, you have to wait until the car passes in front of your headlight beam. alot of cars are just old, or lots of hours on the bulb. even 2 yrs of normal hid use will greatly reduce output. ive driven past many s2k and tl that looked dimmer than an old halogen setup. also older bulbs have colorshifted and appear much whiter. it can fool your eyes into thinking they are brighter, when in fact they are not.
if only bone stock, acura TL (2005+) is one of the best in terms of intensity AND it has a great hi beam. s2k is more intense, but only lo beam. e46 is almost as intense, but no width at all. lexus ls430 is not as intense, but it is MUCH wider than any projector, due to a reflector around to disperse light to the sides. e55 is prolly the best projector for hi beams, but its lo beam is not the greatest. so as you can see, there are many different scenarios that will meet different peoples needs. i needed a small projector with very intense beam on the road only, i hate wide projection, so the e46 was perfect. alot of people would rather see into the corn fields off to the side, so they chose ls430. still others needed very bright hi beams for driving mostly in the county, so they went with tl or e55. it is hard to compare lights on the road since side by side is not a good comparison when beams overlap, you have to wait until the car passes in front of your headlight beam. alot of cars are just old, or lots of hours on the bulb. even 2 yrs of normal hid use will greatly reduce output. ive driven past many s2k and tl that looked dimmer than an old halogen setup. also older bulbs have colorshifted and appear much whiter. it can fool your eyes into thinking they are brighter, when in fact they are not.
I want it all. I want far projection and I want to see cornfields/deer to the side. I don't think I would ever drop that kind of money on s2000 projectors.
What is the best recipe for me, given that I already have TL projectors? Keep em, or start chasing ls430s?
If your looking to sell your TL projectors hit me up! I've been half-heartedly looking around for fx35 or e55 projectors but I cringe at the thought of putting nissan or bimmer parts on my car. If I can't find a pair of TLs I think im going to pick up gearboxs e55s.
tsx is nowhere near s2k, not even close. its mid grade projector thats it. i wouldnt use it. in fact, the stupid e46 i have now is brighter than tsx here look.
e46 on top, tsx bottom
armieo, if you have tls i suggest keeping them. they are very good projectors you will be hard pressed to find something better that still has such amazing hi beam. and lo beam is good too. they are wide enough. if you want more, get a 50w ballast for them
lordhelmet, if it makes you feel better, e55 are made by hella, has nothing to do with bmw except the car uses them. also fyi, i never found the need for hi beams. the lo hid is plenty of light. i dont miss my hi beam at all. in fact i never used it when i had stock headlight either.
here is what 50w does to the tl. i was gonna use em at first but they were so big i couldnt make the shrouding look good without everything being ugly. but im very picky and gave up fast. im sure you can find a way as others have in these headlamps.
heres my terrible attempt at tl retro. do not do what i did mounting it from the back, it wont work. must be mounted from the front.
lordhelmet, if it makes you feel better, e55 are made by hella, has nothing to do with bmw except the car uses them. also fyi, i never found the need for hi beams. the lo hid is plenty of light. i dont miss my hi beam at all. in fact i never used it when i had stock headlight either.
Haha... Thanks for the info. I cringe but I would have done it any ways. I was almost set on getting fx projectors until I found out you were selling your e55 projectors.
i've got the TSX in TYC. that's how i have high beams as well
I know you do. You ssm'ed the lights too. I always thought that was very good looking. I just can't get my mind made up about what I want to do. I'd like to keep the stock headlights but mine are junk. I've wetsanded them a couple of times already and I wouldn't want to deal with that if I retro. So that means new headlights. TYCs could be nice but I just don't know if I want after market housings. If I get TYCs though I would save money from not having to buy the bixenon projectors which could therefore be spent on 50 watt ballasts and bulbs.
