Factory fitted HID headlights (Jim's favourite)

[Xaccers]

I've seen many cars with these and their beam looks great, brilliant white and very bright.
My question is what causes HIDs to be dimmer than this? Is it the bulbs on their way out?

[CitroJim]

Potentially although they either seem to be good or dead...

[Stickyfinger]

I've seen many cars with these and their beam looks great, brilliant white and very bright.
My question is what causes HIDs to be dimmer than this? Is it the bulbs on their way out?

Most likely the cause is Hal(screw-you)fords....and the "Super Bright Whites" they sell for off road use

[Xaccers]

I've seen many cars with these and their beam looks great, brilliant white and very bright.
My question is what causes HIDs to be dimmer than this? Is it the bulbs on their way out?

Most likely the cause is Hal(screw-you)fords....and the "Super Bright Whites" they sell for off road use

Alas not the same bulbs. It really didn't help that normal bulb manufacturers started mentioning xenon with theirs.

[daviemck2006]

The factory fit ones are usually ok. My C5 had good lights and I never got flashed by oncoming traffic which suggests they did not dazzle other cars. It's the stupid aftermarket blue ones that are a pain. I hate them with a passion now after being blinded by them and writing off the c5 because of them.

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[Stickyfinger]

The factory fit ones are usually ok. My C5 had good lights and I never got flashed by oncoming traffic which suggests they did not dazzle other cars. It's the stupid aftermarket blue ones that are a pain. I hate them with a passion now after being blinded by them and writing off the c5 because of them.

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This 100%

then there is the extreme
https://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=p ... 6RjE4#t=20


just....whatever you do.....|DO NOT FLASH at this guy !

[KP]

The colour of the light usually helps a little but as i have learned, they can go a bit weak when they are about to fail as i have had one fail on me... the day before it died it went purple-ish and then nothing...

[Xaccers]

The colour of the light usually helps a little but as i have learned, they can go a bit weak when they are about to fail as i have had one fail on me... the day before it died it went purple-ish and then nothing...

Funny you should mention that, the ns had a pink tinge.
Most websites say Monty takes D2R bulbs which I ordered as replacements. Although a bit brighter they were still poor.
Another site said Rs are for reflectors, S are for projectors and Monty has projectors so I took a chance and ordered a pair of proper D2S bulbs (ie not cheap Chinese) for £20 and they work great.
Looks like the previous owner fell into the same trap and fitted the wrong type.
D2Rs have the cut off painted onto the bulbs while D2S are clear with the cut off being part of the projector, so half the light from the D2Rs was being blocked twice.