2010-2014 Mustang Information on The S197 {GenII}

HID vs Standard lights...

Thread Tools
 
Search this Thread
 
Old Nov 4, 2009 | 04:48 PM
  #1  
RickyD's Avatar
Thread Starter
Bullitt Member
 
Joined: November 3, 2004
Posts: 426
Likes: 0
From: QC, Canada
HID vs Standard lights...

I am wondering, what is the purpose for HID lights ? 600$ seems a lot for 2 lightbulbs ?!
Will it add future value to our mustang or it is just a scam?

I understand it might be a bit brighter... but 600$ !!
Reply
Old Nov 4, 2009 | 05:27 PM
  #2  
05GT-O.C.D.'s Avatar
I lust for a M24
 
Joined: November 6, 2004
Posts: 7,042
Likes: 4
From: Football HOF, Canton OH
HID stands for High Intensity Discharge. I'd try google if you want the specifics of HID, but yeah, the effect is brighter lights. It's more than just bulbs, there's a ballast system, etc as well.
Reply
Old Nov 4, 2009 | 05:30 PM
  #3  
2k7gtcs's Avatar
Post *****
 
Joined: October 9, 2007
Posts: 32,808
Likes: 163
Less wattage used, less heat given off, but who cares about that in a car.

I personally prefer the looks of the standard lights on the 2010. I think they look **** good. I don't care for the HID's. Especially for $600 more. IMHO
Reply
Old Nov 4, 2009 | 07:55 PM
  #4  
05GT-O.C.D.'s Avatar
I lust for a M24
 
Joined: November 6, 2004
Posts: 7,042
Likes: 4
From: Football HOF, Canton OH
I agree Gary, especially on a car w/ fogs. The HIDs by themself look OK, but combine them with the fogs and they look kinda goofy.
Reply
Old Nov 4, 2009 | 08:18 PM
  #5  
RickyD's Avatar
Thread Starter
Bullitt Member
 
Joined: November 3, 2004
Posts: 426
Likes: 0
From: QC, Canada
Waiting to place an order on a GT500 2011, I guess I will not get the HID.
Thx
Reply
Old Nov 4, 2009 | 10:01 PM
  #6  
merc50's Avatar
V6 Member
 
Joined: November 4, 2009
Posts: 74
Likes: 0
From: Flower Mound, Texas
I don't drive around with the fog lights on all the time so the mismatch would not bother me.

I will say after having them I really do feel they help with driving at night and were worth it for me.

Expensive, but nice.

I think if I was going to get a Shelby I would get the lights and the Shaker 1000 myself.
Reply
Old Nov 4, 2009 | 10:07 PM
  #7  
Ford Fan's Avatar
Member
 
Joined: October 16, 2009
Posts: 21
Likes: 0
i definitely like them. my mom has HID lights in her 2008 maxima & they really light up the road better than stock. it is up to you if you want to spend the extra $$. don't get me wrong, the stock ones are perfectly fine & if cost is a concern don't check that box lol.

i do want to say, DON'T put HID lights in stock housing though. it creates a lot of glare for other drivers & its just annoying. retrofit or don't bother.
Reply
Old Nov 4, 2009 | 10:40 PM
  #8  
2010MustangGT's Avatar
Cobra R Member
 
Joined: September 11, 2009
Posts: 1,776
Likes: 0


HID lights (or xenon) have been around for years- since 1991 7 series BMW...

I don't know where you priced it but, they're $525; not $600.

HID lights typically provide 3000lm while the standard provides 1400lm (FYI lm = Lumens, which is a unit of measure calculated to give the perceived power of emitted light.) So with that... HID gives the driver over a 100% more usable light penetration and illumination at the night time. Also, not only do they add a different light and look at night, but also give a different appearance in the day do to the fact it's a different housing for the light- which gets away from the 05-09 front definitive "eyeball" lighting. Personally the white light is far superior, and I wont buy a car without it. Which is why it's on my 2010

What I don't get is, you're buying a 50,000+ car (some upcharged and priced well above 60,000) and saying $525 is too step? So if they were $200- Maybe you'd consider? You're arguing over the fact $325 is too much... which is less than 1% of the total price built into the car- and slandering it buy calling it a scam!? Believe me, Ford's profit margin on selling you a GT500- isn't dependent on someone buying the HID lights...

Just my 2 cents.

Reply
Old Nov 4, 2009 | 10:52 PM
  #9  
Adam's Avatar
Cobra R Member
 
Joined: March 12, 2004
Posts: 1,560
Likes: 0
From: Orange County, CA
BMW charges around $600 for light up door sills rofl
Reply
Old Nov 5, 2009 | 07:01 AM
  #10  
05GT-O.C.D.'s Avatar
I lust for a M24
 
Joined: November 6, 2004
Posts: 7,042
Likes: 4
From: Football HOF, Canton OH
Originally Posted by merc50
I don't drive around with the fog lights on all the time so the mismatch would not bother me.
.
The mismatch I was referring to was when the lights were off, but now that you mention it the nighttime would probably bother me too, lol.
Reply
Old Nov 5, 2009 | 07:11 AM
  #11  
Dixie_Flatline's Avatar
Mach 1 Member
 
Joined: December 16, 2007
Posts: 652
Likes: 0
From: West Chicago
HIDs also don't have lightbulbs you have to change. If one goes out, it's because it's defective and should be covered under warranty. The reason they are so much is it's an entire closed and sealed system with different wiring and parts than the standard systems. You can't open it up, you can't retrofit the factory ones onto Mustangs without HIDs, et cetera. Factory HID systems also have mechanical shutters to orient the lights so as not to blind oncoming traffic -- unlike conventional halogen systems, there aren't high and low beams -- there's one beam of the same strength that is flipped up and down when you activate or deactivate high beams. At least that's how it is on BMWs.

If you guys think $600 is expensive, you should have seen how much they were when they first came out in the 90's.


Definitely agree with the comment on usability and night time safety. If you live in and drive at night in a suburban or rural area, once you have a car with HIDs, you won't order another car without them.
Reply
Old Nov 5, 2009 | 07:12 AM
  #12  
Glenn's Avatar
Legacy TMS Member
 
Joined: August 7, 2006
Posts: 16,113
Likes: 789
From: In Boredom
aaaaaa 2010 he wasn't calling it a scam he was asking if it was a scam .....
Reply
Old Nov 5, 2009 | 07:46 AM
  #13  
xlover's Avatar
Mach 1 Member
 
Joined: September 10, 2009
Posts: 956
Likes: 0
From: Boston
also some say (and I agree) that the GT500 looks better with the HIDs, while the GT looks better with the standard lights. So factor looks in!
Reply
Old Nov 5, 2009 | 07:48 AM
  #14  
tom281's Avatar
Legacy TMS Member
 
Joined: October 8, 2005
Posts: 12,395
Likes: 29
From: Medina county, OH
I would order any new car with HIDs. I've retrofitted aftermarket kits to several of my cars, they are a must have IMO.
Reply
Old Nov 5, 2009 | 07:51 AM
  #15  
bpmurr's Avatar
Team Mustang Source
 
Joined: October 13, 2004
Posts: 2,842
Likes: 0
From: MD
Originally Posted by RickyD
Waiting to place an order on a GT500 2011, I guess I will not get the HID.
Thx
I have HID on my 2010 GT500. It's the only way to go IMHO.
Reply
Old Nov 5, 2009 | 07:56 AM
  #16  
05GT-O.C.D.'s Avatar
I lust for a M24
 
Joined: November 6, 2004
Posts: 7,042
Likes: 4
From: Football HOF, Canton OH
Originally Posted by xlover
also some say (and I agree) that the GT500 looks better with the HIDs, while the GT looks better with the standard lights. So factor looks in!
+1

I did not realize the OP was talking GT500
Reply
Old Nov 5, 2009 | 08:54 AM
  #17  
cdynaco's Avatar
Post *****
 
Joined: December 14, 2007
Posts: 19,953
Likes: 4
From: State of Jefferson Mountains USA
I don't know if its because they're brighter or that the light is a whiter light, but they are fantastic at night on rural highways.
I just bought a used rig for the winter while my Bullitt is garaged, and its got halogen. What a difference going back! I'm already looking for aftermarket HID's for it.
Get 'em. You'll be glad you did!
Reply
Old Nov 5, 2009 | 09:07 AM
  #18  
MBK's Avatar
MBK
Mach 1 Member
 
Joined: January 31, 2008
Posts: 603
Likes: 0
Originally Posted by 2k7gtcs
Less wattage used, less heat given off, but who cares about that in a car.

I personally prefer the looks of the standard lights on the 2010. I think they look **** good. I don't care for the HID's. Especially for $600 more. IMHO
same opinion over here. i don't like the look of the HIDs on the 2010, the car looks "cross-eyed" to some extent. that and replacement cost of the system are deterrents for me. as to night-time visibility, at the moment i am fine with high beams and standard halogens to get me through. another point is HIDs and fogs. if both are turned on, it looks silly, just my opinion.
Reply
Old Nov 5, 2009 | 09:26 AM
  #19  
WeinerDog's Avatar
Bullitt Member
 
Joined: September 8, 2009
Posts: 292
Likes: 0
Originally Posted by MBK
same opinion over here. i don't like the look of the HIDs on the 2010, the car looks "cross-eyed" to some extent. that and replacement cost of the system are deterrents for me. as to night-time visibility, at the moment i am fine with high beams and standard halogens to get me through. another point is HIDs and fogs. if both are turned on, it looks silly, just my opinion.
I agree. I would've got them on my GT otherwise. My last two cars have had them and they are great for night driving, no doubt. But I find the GT with the headlights/fogs on is quite good. Get a little tired of the clowns flashing me, though I got that quite often with the HID's too.
Reply
Old Nov 5, 2009 | 09:31 AM
  #20  
2k7gtcs's Avatar
Post *****
 
Joined: October 9, 2007
Posts: 32,808
Likes: 163
I just think that the standard headlight housing in the 2010 is the best looking headlight setup since 1969 on a Mustang. I don't care for the looks of the HID setup. And the remarks of the fog lights with the lights is true. I hate it when they don't match. It's like a pet peeve I guess.

With all that said I have aftermarket HID's in my 2007. I have smoked headlights and needed the extra brightness so that now I'm only a hair brighter than the original stock setup. I think in about any other vehicle I would order HID's. Especially factory ones. But for me on the 2010 I like the standard setup. But that's just me and I'm only talking about looks. Which honestly is pretty important when purchasing a Mustang. That's all I meant.
Reply



All times are GMT -6. The time now is 05:28 AM.