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Hey guys, I recently purchased a pair of HIDs. They work great 'n all...but I've noticed that I'm not getting a lot of light coverage on the ground. Since I've already posted this once...and lost my text, I don't want to go into too much detail. Basically, my question is, with these lights below and other HIDs I've had, there's a plastic silvery guard around the bulb for some reason that I still can't figure out why on earth it's there:

http://www.globalpremier.com/h4bixenonhid.html

I've had the same type thing on a previous kit I got, and I've noticed these guards are only on h4 kits for some reason. My questions are: 1) have you guys had lights similar to these with the guards on them? 2) have you taken the guards off? 3) if you've taken them off, do you notice a larger coverage area of light with your kit?

Please let me know what info you have! Thanks.

 
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The guard is there to prevent unwanted glare. It prevents the light that comes from the bottom of the bulb from hitting the lower areas of the headlight reflector which would result in light reflecting UPWARDS into oncoming traffic. Halogen bulbs do not have this big of a shield simply cause the light output isn't nearly as strong as HID. I have an H4 hid kit and I have almost perfect beam pattern/road coverage. Make sure your bulbs are seated perfectly. Again, DO NOT take the shields (or guards as you call it) off!!!

 
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don't take the guards off,you'll shine into 2nd story windows
make sure the bulb fits all the way into the housing

 
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after looking at that site you need to remove that housing that is in front of the tip of the bulb because our stock headlight housing already has that, so that is probably way you don't have that much light output. but still keep the lower shield. needs to look like this but with shield on

 
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I have an H1 HID kit from that same company. I am very happy with it. Tons of light out put.

 
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Thanks for the comments guys! I just worked on the beam/light placement a bit and it seems to be better...more focused, which was probably my main problem. I decided not to remove the top caps of those casings though just to be safe...don't want to tug on it and end up breaking something I shouldn't. :x

Anyway, I'm still curious why H4's are the ONLY lights to have this extra casing around the bulb. I mean, I'd assume not all H4 lights have the exact same constructed headlights to house them, right? And I've seen other cars that don't use H4s that do not have that extra chunk yet have similarly constructed headlights. Ah well. I'm no engineer.