Help wit hids!!
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ThE CoRRupToR
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Help wit hids!! I need a place where they can adjust ur headlight beam cuz i just got HIDs and i tried and tried adjusting it but for some reason the left headlight still shines too much to the left and on to on coming traffic at night 
. Does anyone know how to adjust it correctly? HELP! 
. Does anyone know how to adjust it correctly? HELP! 
Joined: Sep 2001
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From: Los Angeles, CA
Rep Power: 0 to adjust the headlights is on the bulb... there is a bracket on the bulb itself that you have to adjust, i think... not to sure on the HID's though...
Joined: Sep 2001
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From: Los Angeles, CA
Rep Power: 0 this is the bracket thing i'm talking about... this is a pic of H4 H.I.D. bulbs... the red arrows are pointing to the "bracket." i think thats the part you have to move and adjust to aim the bulbs...
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From: So Cal, This place called Orange County
Rep Power: 0 how can you "adjust" the bracket you are talking about, when the bulbs go straight in. it's a fixed pattern, and they won't go in unless it's fitted in the right position.
what i think is...its because we are using our stock headlight housings with our HID's. no matter what, the beam is still gonna spread out a bit cuz of the way the stock housings are designed. if you think about it, practically all Factory cars with HID's use projector headlights (exception to the 2002 Acura 3.2TL). thats why all those cars have such a straight and forward reaching beam.
and on the other hand, my car's HID beam go really straight and also spreads out a lot. on the freeway, My HID's light up 3 lanes, my own and the two left and right. so yeah, they're obviously spreading out a bit too much.
anyway, ...my thought is it's probably becuase of the stock headlight housing. but if anyone does know how to adjust the beam, then by all means please enlighten us
what i think is...its because we are using our stock headlight housings with our HID's. no matter what, the beam is still gonna spread out a bit cuz of the way the stock housings are designed. if you think about it, practically all Factory cars with HID's use projector headlights (exception to the 2002 Acura 3.2TL). thats why all those cars have such a straight and forward reaching beam.
and on the other hand, my car's HID beam go really straight and also spreads out a lot. on the freeway, My HID's light up 3 lanes, my own and the two left and right. so yeah, they're obviously spreading out a bit too much.
anyway, ...my thought is it's probably becuase of the stock headlight housing. but if anyone does know how to adjust the beam, then by all means please enlighten us
Joined: Sep 2001
Posts: 3,101
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From: Los Angeles, CA
Rep Power: 0 Originally posted by reflekt
how can you "adjust" the bracket you are talking about, when the bulbs go straight in. it's a fixed pattern, and they won't go in unless it's fitted in the right position.
what i think is...its because we are using our stock headlight housings with our HID's. no matter what, the beam is still gonna spread out a bit cuz of the way the stock housings are designed. if you think about it, practically all Factory cars with HID's use projector headlights (exception to the 2002 Acura 3.2TL). thats why all those cars have such a straight and forward reaching beam.
and on the other hand, my car's HID beam go really straight and also spreads out a lot. on the freeway, My HID's light up 3 lanes, my own and the two left and right. so yeah, they're obviously spreading out a bit too much.
anyway, ...my thought is it's probably becuase of the stock headlight housing. but if anyone does know how to adjust the beam, then by all means please enlighten us
how can you "adjust" the bracket you are talking about, when the bulbs go straight in. it's a fixed pattern, and they won't go in unless it's fitted in the right position.
what i think is...its because we are using our stock headlight housings with our HID's. no matter what, the beam is still gonna spread out a bit cuz of the way the stock housings are designed. if you think about it, practically all Factory cars with HID's use projector headlights (exception to the 2002 Acura 3.2TL). thats why all those cars have such a straight and forward reaching beam.
and on the other hand, my car's HID beam go really straight and also spreads out a lot. on the freeway, My HID's light up 3 lanes, my own and the two left and right. so yeah, they're obviously spreading out a bit too much.
anyway, ...my thought is it's probably becuase of the stock headlight housing. but if anyone does know how to adjust the beam, then by all means please enlighten us
if you look under the bracket thing on non-HID H4's, you'll notice little tabs in pairs... you can take a knife and loosen these tabs to get the bracket loose, then you can adjust it... then you'll have to find a way to tighten these tabs back up either using a pair of pliers or some other tool... once you put the bulb back in, you'll notice that its aiming in a different direction, depending on how you moved the bracket... or you can just leave the bracket loose, pop the bulb in, turn on your headlights and move the bulb around and see the direction of your beam move around... (i've done this before)
i'm not sure if HID bulbs are the same though... but since you have HID's, go take a look at your stock bulbs then you'll see what i'm talking about... i'm not talking about the actual 3 tabs that stick out that hold the bulb in place, i'm talking about the entire piece...
but of course they should already come aimed properly, but they only should be moved if they somehow got messed up, which is what i'm *guessing* happened to dru106's bulbs...
so either adjust the bracket or buy some new HID bulbs... for sure, new HID bulbs will be aimed properly..
Last edited by CivicHX01; Apr 21, 2004 at 03:58 AM.
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From: Los Angeles, CA
Rep Power: 0 here's a pic to help explain what i'm talking about... on non-HID bulbs..
2 parts of an H4 bulb
1. Bracket in blue arrows
2. Bulb part in red arrow
2 parts of an H4 bulb
1. Bracket in blue arrows
2. Bulb part in red arrow
What CivicHX01 explained can't adjusted on HID brackets I believe.
I have Bellof HIDs and on my bulbs I can twist the bulb to remove it from the H4 bracket but their isn't anything to adjust it.
I guessing that some brands don't have the bulb exactly perpendicular to the bracket piece, which is one thing that can cause the glare your getting.
Know that you'll never have the sharp cut off lines of stock HID equipped cars so it'll be difficult to aim properly. The lines are blurry and you need some good eyes to see the cut off lines.
Second thing to know is that the 2 gears on the headlight housing for left/right and up/down adjustments aren't perfect. For example, when you try to aim it down you might notice its also moving slightly to the side. Another example is that although you're rotating the gears to move it left, you might notice it isn't going anywhere. You have to really play around with the adjustment gears to get it where you want it. Also cover one light with a towel or something and adjust the other because it makes it easier to distinguish left and right beams.
When I first installed my HIDs I was high beamed by everyone. It took me two long tries before I got the lights to shine where I wanted them. And no one high beams anymore. Its still not 100% perfect but I learned to live with it. Only problem now is that if I'm next to you right behind your blindspot and you look in your side mirrors, you'll be blinded by intense light =P.
Where in LA are you? If you're near the Glendale area, I can help you out. There's a hardware store near my house with a underground parking area that has a white flat wall to work with. Its the perfect place to adjust your lights.
Good luck with HIDs!!!
I have Bellof HIDs and on my bulbs I can twist the bulb to remove it from the H4 bracket but their isn't anything to adjust it.
I guessing that some brands don't have the bulb exactly perpendicular to the bracket piece, which is one thing that can cause the glare your getting.
Know that you'll never have the sharp cut off lines of stock HID equipped cars so it'll be difficult to aim properly. The lines are blurry and you need some good eyes to see the cut off lines.
Second thing to know is that the 2 gears on the headlight housing for left/right and up/down adjustments aren't perfect. For example, when you try to aim it down you might notice its also moving slightly to the side. Another example is that although you're rotating the gears to move it left, you might notice it isn't going anywhere. You have to really play around with the adjustment gears to get it where you want it. Also cover one light with a towel or something and adjust the other because it makes it easier to distinguish left and right beams.
When I first installed my HIDs I was high beamed by everyone. It took me two long tries before I got the lights to shine where I wanted them. And no one high beams anymore. Its still not 100% perfect but I learned to live with it. Only problem now is that if I'm next to you right behind your blindspot and you look in your side mirrors, you'll be blinded by intense light =P.
Where in LA are you? If you're near the Glendale area, I can help you out. There's a hardware store near my house with a underground parking area that has a white flat wall to work with. Its the perfect place to adjust your lights.
Good luck with HIDs!!!
Last edited by LiKEaFeRiO; Apr 21, 2004 at 04:09 AM.
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From: So Cal, This place called Orange County
Rep Power: 0 Originally posted by civic4dizoor
relax guys...lol
relax guys...lol
CivicHX01,
I see what you mean now. But i took a look at an MTEC bulb, like the one you have pictured. the 3 ring thing, and the bulb are indeed two pieces, but they are welded together by little tiny tabs. i guess if i really wanted to adjust (rotate) the bulb, i'd hav to break the tabs, then continue to solder the tabs back on until i get it right. thats pretty tough. i haven't looked at my HID bulbs yet though.
Joined: Sep 2001
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From: Los Angeles, CA
Rep Power: 0 yea, no hostility... just exchanging ideas and knowledge...
but yea... if its welded, you would have to break it,
but the hyperwhites i had before weren't welded and became loose and ended up being aimed high, but yea it is tough, because i wasn't able to get it on right... the bracket was still loose no matter how hard i tried to tighten those tabs... in the end i was like f*ck it and just got new bubs and tossed the ones that were aimed all high...
LiKEaFeRiO seems to know more about the HID bulbs.. he can probably help u out dru...
but yea... if its welded, you would have to break it,
but the hyperwhites i had before weren't welded and became loose and ended up being aimed high, but yea it is tough, because i wasn't able to get it on right... the bracket was still loose no matter how hard i tried to tighten those tabs... in the end i was like f*ck it and just got new bubs and tossed the ones that were aimed all high...
LiKEaFeRiO seems to know more about the HID bulbs.. he can probably help u out dru...
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From: Da Heights, California, US
Rep Power: 299 i was just saying d0ode... i mean it is true that more and more people got HIDz kit on their 7thgenz and i liked the idea! ^_^ besides if i still HAD my 7thgen, my phillips kit would b a lil outdated neways heh heh oh wellz...
All you n00bs don't know what you're talking about. :-p The bottom line is, the headlamp reflector housing NEEDS to be adjusted, but on top of that remember w/ slapping in H4 HIDs, the beam pattern will never be ideal -- it will only magnify you're stock pattern w/ a little extra light scattered. The filament needs to be in the exact same position as OEM for a true beam pattern. If you're around sfv, ill help you adjust them. there are two screws
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ThE CoRRupToR
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Rep Power: 346 DAM!! Im gettin these long replies!! Thanks!! Really informative 
. Well i had this shop adjust it for me and it looks WAAAAY better but still it kinda shines too the left a bit. If anyone could help me out i appreciate it.
. Well i had this shop adjust it for me and it looks WAAAAY better but still it kinda shines too the left a bit. If anyone could help me out i appreciate it. 
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