victorkayode: Am planning to buy halogen bulb( white bulb) for my car headlamp but a friend of mine told me its not allowed, pls how true is this.

Siena:

I think you need to be clear about what bulbs you're referring to. Halogen are the regular bulbs that come with modern, lower-end to midrange. They are not pure white, generally 55 - 60W. The very white type are HID (High Intensity Discharge) also referred to Xenon, that are available on modern medium to high-end cars.

So which are you referring to, and what car are you looking to install them into?

victorkayode:
I mean the white bulb (fluorescent colour)
Ford escape

Siena:

If you're referring to the very ice white light emitted by late-model medium to high-end cars, then that's HID. Not a direct replacement for the halogens your car's currently running.

victorkayode:
Am aware of that, am considering it because its brighter than the other type when driving at night. Is it allowed by FRSC or not

Siena:

I was going by your reference to Halogen.

As for local regulations regarding their fitment and use in Nigeria, I have no idea. Surely you could enquire directly from your local FRSC / Vehicle Inspection offices?

victorkayode:
Sire educate me abt the HID. The advantages and disadvantages

sultaan: Your lamps have to be projector lamps or stick with the Sylvania Silverstar.

Siena:

Not strictly true, Sultaan. There are two types of HID bulbs. D2S for projector headlamps, or D2R for reflector ones.

There are quite a number of cars with factory HID in reflector headlamps, the Audi S8 has projector halogen, projector Xenon and reflector Xenon Plus (Bi-Xenon).

victorkayode:
the vehicle i want to use it on is FORD ESCAPE 2001 model. hope it will work?

Siena:

Yes, it'll work. You'll need to buy a D2R HID kit, with the base adapters for your particular car. Adapter will be H1, H4, H7 etc. It's not a plug-in job, wiring in the ballasts will need to be carried out ba a competent auto electrician, and they'll need to find a space to mount the ballasts.

sultaan: If you look at my head lamp I meant you can't stick the bulb from the lens into the reflector, the dispersal will be a road hazard to other users.
Even the S8 has both separated for same reason, you focus HID which is why the headlamp assembly is clear, but on reflected bulbs you'll see the grooves on the lamp see image from the S8 and the one attached above

nissparts: I've never seen HID bulbs made for reflectors

That's good bro - you can now say you have, courtesy of Siena.

Trac: I hope it is understood that you do not see better with HID lights and the burners (D2R as stated) for reflective poly-ellipsoidal optical mediums designed for incandescent filaments is a downgrade, thus yielding less useable light. This is the disadvantage. The only advantage of the HID burner is the less power it draws for the output of light.

Prestonvic: Am using HID bulb in my 98 camry. What i‘ve experience is that it has only one filament - i can‘t change it from ‘high to low‘ bt its very bright.

nissparts:

I concur. If the housing was not made for HID there's really no point. There are regular bulb upgrades that would be more effective output wise.

Siena:

Are you saying you have only dipped beam? Something's not right with your wiring, if that's the case. When you say "HID", are you referring to a HID kit with ballasts?

Trac:

Bulb upgrades are as bad also. Using a higher rated bulb will eventually burn out and damage your harnesses. Besides, you will create more glare. The geometric path of the light has been restricted by the flutting on the lenses. So in actuality, you bean pattern hasn't change ( and it if changed, it is an undisciplined change) but you made the light spread brighter. Those doing the rally-upgrade for street-use are not improving anything because many laws of optics are broken.

A lot of people want to look cool and so opt to use these bulbs without understanding the fundamental principles behind them. These so-called kits too (conversion kits) are nothing short of fraud and manufacturers installing these so-called set of lights are doing it for commercial purposes also. HID lightings (be it genuinely manufactured by OEM or unintelligibly retrofitted) is not proven technology and the scientific community does not approve of it due to the severity of the nature of its duty.

Thank GOD for the Japanese and their wonderful contributions to technology but the laws of physics cannot be broken.

nissparts:

Incorrect.
I am not referring to such bulbs.
An example is http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00480J572/ref=oh_details_o01_s00_i00
It is not a higher rated bulb but is an upgrade to the oem for Toyotas and Hondas.
No glare as well.

Trac: The laws of physics will not change; emotions will and personal opinions will.

Siena:

I agree 100%. I myself refuse to retrofit high-wattage bulbs to standard vehicle headlamps, with standard wiring. Most modern reflectors are plactic, and will distort if subjected to higher than normal heat levels (the average capsule wattage is 55/60W). I have replaced entire dash wiring harnesses, whereby the extra load has caused the conduit to melt. Sometimes, the driver's lucky, and suffers a burnt-out switch. Or unlucky enough to end us with an electrical fire.

Back to the HID debacle - I can only speak for the vehicles I specialise in - Audi. The projector headlamps used on the A4 B5/B6 are both "HID ready." Both carry the same part number, so work perfectly well with regular Halogen or Xenon capsules (HID). Maximum Kelvin value that gives the highest Lumen output is 4300k. I do have arguements with anyone who wishes to go for a Kelvin value of 6000k or higher. Higher is definitely NOT better. Higher heat range, less output in terms of useable Lumen. More blue / purple, so in my opinion, useless. I have seen owners with 12000k rated Xenon capsules, with actually produce less Lumen than a 60W Halogen. Useless.

The projector on the European (LHD) B5 Audi A4 B5 / B6 is quite different to that of the US (LHD) cars. The US cars have ridges on the projector lense, which results in a soft, slightly hazy beam pattern, unlike the crisp beam pattern from the non-ridged Euro projectors. The fitting of LHD Euro headlamps is a very common practice in the US, as a result. And I sell quite a lot of Audi A4 B5 / B6 units (e-codes) which pass inspection without any issues.

The reflector headlamps designed for Halogen and HID may differ in construction, and a different approach is required if a HID retrofit is required. It is essential D2R HID bulbs are used with reflector units, and self-levelling is fitted. The rotary, manual headlamp height adjuster is no good for HID-equipped cars. There's a bit more light "scatter" than with projector units, and with manual control, it's possible to dazzle oncoming traffic, more so if driving over bumpy roads, with no self-levelling.

Some modern vehicles have reflector headlamps that are 100% compatible with HID headlamps, as long as D2R bulbs are used. D2S bulbs are strictly for projector uses!

When I retro-fit, it's on one condition - I must fit self-levelling, AND headlamp washers. It costs more, but those are the only terms I would do a HID retro-fit with. I don't endorse the retro-fit of HID on main beam, as there is no safe way to replicate the changeover "shutter" that acts as the cut-off between high and low (dipped).