this is exactly why the S is probably gonna be the last sporty japanese car i'll buy even though there's a lot of interest from the wrong crowd. then keep the S and lease euros as dailys.

 

I prefer the headlights in my wife's TSX, over the headlights in my S2000.

 

damn heLLa much 411 in here about HIDS, i didnt even know this much information exsisted.

 

The S2000's projector is larger than the TSX's so the S' projectors should be better than the TSX.

I would rather use a factory headlight over a retrofit since the optics have been engineered vs. a retro-fitter assuming they were OK. Even if it's RHD, you can adjust them (they need to be adjusted out of the box anyway!)

 

Well S projectors are harder to retro due to size.
Most housings won't work without major work.
Thus, why TSX projectors are much popular for retrofit.

You can't use RHD headlights/projectors, even adjusted.
It will flare wrong side due to shield.

You will have to open up, swap out with different shield(LHD).

We are all lucky to have proper HID. one of the best.
Because retrofit is expensive...............

 

1. A retrofitted headlight uses a pre-engineered HID projector in a halogen housing with clear lense covers so the optics of the OEM HID projector remain unchanged. Light output and beam pattern are the same as they were on the donor vehicle!

2. You can't adjust away a cutoff made for RHD on a LHD vehicle....the step in the cutoffs are on the wrong side! You have to get a LHD cutoff shield in your projector to convert them.

In the USA your cutoff must look like this: ______/---------
Oncoming traffic is below the cutoff but the higher step on the right allows you to see the shoulder and road signs.

 

FWIW, a lot of the newer cars have MUCH better beam patterns than older imports, and will not cause glare if you put a in a HID bulb.

 

Really???
something you might not know is the HID bulb will lose about 1000 lumens after about 1500 hours of use and will be about down to 50% of its original brightness after 2000 hrs.(1hr of use a day over 4 years is about 1500 hrs)
just to put that into perspective, stock 4100k-4300k temp is about 3200lumens, a 6000k bulb is about 2400 lumes.(this is NEW bulbs.....and our factory bulbs are not 100% until 100-300hrs of use, they will get brighter before as they age the first part of use)
most people on hidplanet.com LOVE the S2000 parts over the TSX parts for retrofitting.
i highly recommend stopping over on that forum to see bulb comparisons, etc.

 

I've noticed (in retrospect) this as well. My impression of the s2k, when it first came out, was that the lights were brighter than most any other car on the market, and they had one of the best beam patterns I've ever seen.

I've noticed lately, that MY03, definitely is not as bright as I remember it.

So, I know we have one of the best beam patterns out there. I want a bulb that's really bright, but not blue. So I want to keep the color temp in the 4-5000 range. Can you get different "wattage" or brightness in replacement HID bulbs?

I'll check out that web site.

 

yes,...there are about 3 or 4 different bulbs people stick with.

Philips 85122- our factory bulbs, these start out at 4100k but by the time they hit their peak they are about 5000k
Philips 85122+ - these bulbs maintain a 4100k color and dont "color shift" like the 85122

Philips Ultinon-6000k bulb, slightly bluer but more expensive

Philips Ultrablue, very hard to find as it was a Japan only release i believe

i would stick with philips, osram/sylvania or GE
I read GE is very inconsistant with their bulbs though, they will not change color at the same rate, etc