An end to the HID conversion debate?

[ctwrench]

I'm pasting in pretty much the entire text from an email I received from Texas Dept of Public Safety concerning the fact that I asked about converting to HID from halogen. I read all the back and forth on here without finding any actual "scientific / legal" defining information. Here is what I found out for Texas, which should probably cover the rest of the free world as well as science doesn't care what state you're in.

Dear Mr. McNeil,

I have been asked to respond to your e-mail inquiries.

Here's the Inspection Criteria from Chapter 4 of our Vehicle Inspection Rules & Regulations Manual and the headlamps must be DOT or SAE approved.

http://www.txdps.state.tx.us/vi/publications/rules/safety_manual/chapter4.htm#HEAD_LAMPS

Below is the rule for headlamps from the Texas Transportation Code, which is also in Chapter 4 of the Vehicle Inspection Rules & Regulations Manual, and I also attached the link to 49 C.F.R. Section 571.108 for the federal standard on headlamps.

§ 547.321. HEADLAMPS REQUIRED. (a) A motor vehicle
shall be equipped with at least two headlamps.
(b) At least one headlamp shall be mounted on each side of
the front of the vehicle.
(c) Each headlamp shall be mounted at a height from 24 to 54
inches.

Acts 1995, 74th Leg., ch. 165, § 1, eff. Sept. 1, 1995.


§ 547.3215. USE OF FEDERAL STANDARD. Unless
specifically prohibited by this chapter, lighting, reflective
devices, and associated equipment on a vehicle or motor vehicle
must comply with:
(1) the current federal standards in 49 C.F.R. Section
571.108; or
(2) the federal standards in that section in effect,
if any, at the time the vehicle or motor vehicle was manufactured.

http://www.access.gpo.gov/nara/cfr/waisidx_03/49cfr571_03.html

Here are a couple of links that we have posted on our website regarding two major lighting companies, Sylvania & GE, which have some great information.

http://www.sylvania.com/ConsumerProducts/AutomotiveLighting

http://genet.gelighting.com/LightPr...IVE&PRODUCTLINE=Automotive&CHANNEL=Commercial


I also found this link online that has an interesting story about the Halogen to H.I.D. conversion, so please read this carefully and then you may want to check with someone at NHTSA (National Highway Traffic Safety Administration) before performing this conversion to see if it's legal or not, because this involves a change in a vehicle manufacturer's specification. By reading the conversion, it looks like not only the bulbs are different, but also the lens itself, so again, I would highly suggest that you contact NHTSA before performing this conversion.

http://www.danielsternlighting.com/tech/bulbs/Hid/conversions/conversions.html


Here's some more interesting links on the conversion.

http://www.aa1car.com/library/hid_headlamps.htm

http://forums.officer.com/forums/showthread.php?t=94511

http://www.dft.gov.uk/pgr/roadsafety/drs/hidheadlamps

http://forums.focaljet.com/exterior...vernment-clamps-down-hid-conversion-kits.html


NHTSA Report.

http://www.nhtsa.dot.gov/staticfile.../PDFs/Crash Avoidance/2008/DOT-HS-810-902.pdf

I hope that this information was of help to you.

Thanks,

Ronnie Heselmeyer
Program Specialist
Vehicle Inspection Bureau
TXDPS
(512) 424-2995








--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
From: Eddie McNeil
Sent: Tuesday, November 25, 2008 1:44 PM
To: PIO - Texas DPS
Subject: RE: Vehicle Headlight Modification


I looked on this site previously but do not see anything specifically mentioning converting from halogen to H.I.D. Since there is nothing said about it, does that make it legal? Again, I simply want to improve my night visibility but stay within the confines of the law.

Thanks again,


Eddie McNeil




>>> On 11/25/2008 at 1:36 PM, in message <[email protected]>, "PIO - Texas DPS" <[email protected]> wrote:

For more information on specifications on headlights and taillights, please see our Web site at http://www.txdps.state.tx.us/vi/.


Public Information Office

Texas Department of Public Safety




--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
From: Eddie McNeil
Sent: Tuesday, November 25, 2008 12:39 PM
To: PIO - Texas DPS
Subject: Vehicle Headlight Modification


I own a 1992 passenger car and want to change from my current halogen headlight system to newer technology with a Xenon H.I.D. kit. Before I spend that much money however, I want to make sure that doing so will be legal and that my car will still pass state inspections. I have read about heights and quantities of lights required, but do not see anything about this modification. Several people I have talked to and numerous web-forums say that the modification is illegal. I figure going to the source is the best course of action.

Thank you,



Eddie McNeil

 

[Kens1992mtxSHO]

That's good info there... :thankyou:

 

[GaryH]

just get a set and install them . i have had them in my 95 atx since 2001. i wouldnt get rid of them for anything.

 

[SeanMc]

just get a set and install them . i have had them in my 95 atx since 2001. i wouldnt get rid of them for anything.

Do you still have the stock lenses? I know someone who had them on his regular Taurus, and the scatter was terrible. When he was behind you, you were blinded.

 

[HotRodKid]

as far as ive been told, HID's HAVE to be self adjusting, that way when you fill the trunk of the car w/ a massive amount of luggage your not blinding everyone ahead of you.

and on top of that, anything that isnt DOT tested isnt DOT legal, and therefore illegal to use, at least as the "important" vehical lighting.

headlights, taillights, turn signals and running lights all have specific requirements for light dispersion, lumens, and visable distance

in closing: if your going to install HID's, i would suggest replicating the original install as much as possible, and aim them a bit low so they arent killing peoples eyes when you load your trunk for a weekend trip.

 

[ctwrench]

Based off this info...

I will be sticking w/ Silverstar Ultras instead of switching to HID. I like my sleeper old man car to stay out of trouble. No sense causing any undue attention to the fact that I'm blowing away a sports car at night.

 

[SHO_DOODmorrris]

im doing what goofsho has done and will be aiming them down plenty...

 

[SeanMc]

im doing what goofsho has done and will be aiming them down plenty...

GoofSHO doesn't have HIDs....

 

[Pro*banshee]

im doing what geek SHO has done and will be aiming them down plenty...

Fixed