Halo Headlights (Page 3/4) jelly2m8 APR 08, 01:17 AM quote Originally posted by 82-T/A [At Work]: Hahah... Ogre... we had that parked in front of my friend's house. I didn't own a house at the time, though I ended up buying a house in that neighborhood. They are million-dollar homes now, but the HOA As soon as you mention HOA, all common sense has left the building........ 87GT3800SC5SPD APR 08, 02:27 PM I noticed an interesting bit of lighting information today. The first car in the US to use an LED light source, was in the third brake light position of the 1986 Corvette . That was the 3rd production year of the first US made GM mid engine car, that was using a halogen light source in the third brake light position. Many are aware that those halogen light sources made enough heat to melt their housings under normal use, going on only when the brakes were applied. Way back then, changing to LEDs as a light source was solving a problem for GM. Even IIHS refers to LEDs as a light source, not some evil laser weapon that automotive enthusiasts purchase underground and add to their cars to burn the retinas of other drivers. Lighting technology for carriages and cars originally used housings with reflectors, lenses and a light source. From the early days of oil lamps to the LEDS of today, headlights still have housings, reflectors, lenses and a light source. Some are better than others, but the best headlight is worthless without proper aiming. 82-T/A [At Work] APR 08, 03:31 PM quote Originally posted by 87GT3800SC5SPD: I noticed an interesting bit of lighting information today. The first car in the US to use an LED light source, was in the third brake light position of the 1986 Corvette . That was the 3rd production year of the first US made GM mid engine car, that was using a halogen light source in the third brake light position. Many are aware that those halogen light sources made enough heat to melt their housings under normal use, going on only when the brakes were applied. Way back then, changing to LEDs as a light source was solving a problem for GM. Even IIHS refers to LEDs as a light source, not some evil laser weapon that automotive enthusiasts purchase underground and add to their cars to burn the retinas of other drivers. Lighting technology for carriages and cars originally used housings with reflectors, lenses and a light source. From the early days of oil lamps to the LEDS of today, headlights still have housings, reflectors, lenses and a light source. Some are better than others, but the best headlight is worthless without proper aiming. Super random, but the 3rd Gen Corvette also used fiber optics to indicate where / when a lightbulb was burnt out at any of the turn signals / headlights, etc. I can't remember... my uncle has a 69 Stingray convertible, and there's a little door / flap that opens on the center console, and it reveals a bunch of little fiber ends that are either lit or not depending on whether the light is burnt out, or you're not using it. Dukesterpro APR 08, 04:16 PM I had a feeling this thread was going to go the way that it did. LEDs are okay. As long as the police are not super stringent in your area about car mods you will be find. I assure you that most of the US is not the overpoliced hellscape TheOgre paints it to be. No cop is going to waste time writing you a ticket for driving around with White or Amber Halos up and on. As far as the legality goes, it seems to be 50/50 these day. TheOgre is completely and objectively wrong when he casts the "OEM is better argument" across literally every aftermarket upgrade there is. However cheap LEDs are not going to be better than OEMS you need to buy quality DOT tested and approved LED enclosures and bulbs to get even achieve equivalent much less superior performance. Halos are awesome, some of the higher quality led lights have them built in. As a rule of thumb if the LED headlight does not provide a Beam Pattern, its better to pass on them than risk a bad light Patrick APR 08, 06:04 PM quote Originally posted by theogre: ⚠️ In many places cops can/will stop you for "weird" or illegal lights. Yep... got pulled over and received a $100 ticket because the LED Halos I installed as auxiliary "driving" lights had a slight bluish tinge to them. CLICK FOR FULL SIZE da.slyboy APR 08, 10:53 PM The blue side markers are running lights have always been a favorite for cops to provide tickets for years (since markers and turn are a required color). I have yet to hear and or see anyone get pulled over and issued a ticket for headlights and or tail lights that were not DOT approved. theogre APR 09, 10:51 PM quote Originally posted by Dukesterpro: TheOgre is completely and objectively wrong when he casts the "OEM is better argument" across literally every aftermarket upgrade there is. However cheap LEDs are not going to be better than OEMS you need to buy quality DOT tested and approved LED enclosures and bulbs to get even achieve equivalent much less superior performance. Halos are awesome, some of the higher quality led lights have them built in. As a rule of thumb if the LED headlight does not provide a Beam Pattern, its better to pass on them than risk a bad light HL issue is Not "OEM is Better" & Far from that since the 1970's when Aftermarket first made SB Halogen Bulbs available to the public. No Car brand used them except maybe some High $ Models. Not even most or all Cadillac & Lincoln had them until very late 70's because of Cost for the Manufacturers. My First 2 pair set cost $20-$30 @ Wholesale back then way before most stores had them @ Retail including NAPA Pepboys etc. I needed brighter bulbs because lived in "boondocks" Upstate NY to see Deer etc running across roads. I got them because low beam light output didn't blind other drivers but still light the sides of the roads to see more. If you believe inflation sites... $20 in 1970 is = $159.96 today. Most vendors Only got "DOT Legal" bulbs so wasn't a huge problem w/ counterfeit & other crap on Amacon et al now. But could still find crap "upgrades" thru J.C. Wittless & some other mail catalogs & Fail Inspections, Get Stopped, etc for installing &/or using on the street. 1. But You like many compare to whatever ignore Many SB HL cars Did Not have even "cheapest" Halogen Bulbs Including Most Fiero & often Still have same Factory Install Tungsten Bulbs. In case of GM vehicles all have GUIDE brand bulb from GUIDE parts division of GM... This was 1 of 2 in a 87 Fiero that been wreck & parked for Years until finally scrapped in VA. Likely 6052 bulb. Many others bought standard Tungsten Not Halogen in the aftermarket Because was Cheap. Even these "Cheap" bulbs are Not Yellow or Dim & sold many until 2000 & later when "they" stopped packaging/making these for Business Reasons. Phillips stop selling all SB years ago & others limit to 1 to 3 Halogen SB. Osram/Sylvania have/had a "basic" Halogen SB but hardly a store sells them in 15+ years because Make More $ per bulb flogging "SilverStar" & other "performance" bulbs that often doesn't last long. 2. Most "claim" DOT is "crushing us" are just Echoing BS for Decades. Is the same "Fight The Man" crap that been pushed since 1960's just under different name & department to whine about. In Truth FMVSS 108 & reference SAE doc's has been repeatedly updated since 70's allowing Halogen & Square HL then 80's w/ first versions of "Aero" HL, to allow "ECE" cutoff for Halogen Low Beams, & more. Including HB2 Halogen SB & LED sets to Replace H6054 etc that Truck-lite & other Real Companies been selling for 10+ Years now. 3. "Halos are awesome, some of the higher quality led lights have them built in." Funny. Not. Just more proof have no clue. Some Vehicles have them Legally Only Because their made & tested to meet DOT EU & other rules. Often they are DRL like many other weird shape OEM LED setups & often Turn Off 1 or Both DRL when Turn Lights are Active. Hella, Truck-lite, & other Real Companies Do Not make this as an "upgrade" for other vehicles because Illegal in most places & can't get DOT ECE & related "Approved" for the product. All other Halo "upgrade" sold on Amacon etc are Crap, Illegal or Both. 4. "Cop's won't bother you" crowd is only fooling themselves. I know many LEO in many places that laugh @ anyone claim won't bother like many fools on YT TT etc w/ videos saying "Cops hate me" etc for illegal lights. tinted glass, truck owners ignoring GVWR, & worse problems. One Very Blue College Town in a Very Blue State stop "Cruise Night" by Stopping anyone w/ iffy lights etc & more so w/ out of state tags to "get the word out" Don't Come Here. Some NJ "Beach towns" are doing same thing now. Philly under new Mayor also claim will fight popup "car shows" & ATV "Parades" in the city likely using Live Stop that Impound a vehicle for same problems that only get a Ticket in other places. Already Impounded Hundreds of ATV etc. So @ best is more like Gambling w/ every LEO might see on every trip trying not to loose... Like Patrick... theogre APR 09, 10:53 PM quote Originally posted by Patrick: Yep... got pulled over and received a $100 ticket because the LED Halos I installed as auxiliary "driving" lights had a slight bluish tinge to them. You got lucky only getting Fined. Some states, some or all "Equipment Violation" have Points too that often directly affect Insurance Cost. Indiana I think is one of them. If claim is Driving/Fog Lights even ignore the blue tint, also Fails/Stopped in many places because both require to be lower then the bumper & LB HL On too. In a lot of places Any solid or flashing color lights (other then White or Amber for Front. Red or Amber for Rear) can get you Arrested for Impersonating EMS etc. Even many Sheriffs can't have flashing light of any color because are not LEO in those states. Just "paper pushers" for the courts even when Ex-LEO have that job. Patrick APR 09, 11:47 PM quote Originally posted by theogre: So @ best is more like Gambling w/ every LEO might see on every trip trying not to loose... Like Patrick... I had those lights on my Subie for four years before some sawed-off young runt newbie highway patrolman pulled me over. (Don't they have minimum height requirements any longer?) The part of the story I don't think I've ever mentioned before, is that I challenged the ticket in court. Without getting into what he said/I said in court... the judge lowered the fine to ten bucks. However, it was a given that I also had to replace the Halo LEDs with ones that were more yellowish. I preferred the bluish lights... but I drive right by the highway patrol station every week during hockey season, so I'm not willing to risk being sighted by that same power-tripping short-ass officer again. theogre APR 10, 11:23 AM quote Originally posted by Patrick: I had those lights on my Subie for four years before some sawed-off young runt newbie highway patrolman pulled me over. (Don't they have minimum height requirements any longer?) The part of the story I don't think I've ever mentioned before, is that I challenged the ticket in court. Without getting into what he said/I said in court... the judge lowered the fine to ten bucks. However, it was a given that I also had to replace the Halo LEDs with ones that were more yellowish. I preferred the bluish lights... but I drive right by the highway patrol station every week during hockey season, so I'm not willing to risk being sighted by that same power-tripping short-ass officer again. No matter how you count the cost & time, you lost the Bet that day. Then you went to Count... while that judge Reduce the Fine, the Time doing so count as Negative to you even if "burn" vacation or other time from work. Plus more money to get another light set to meet the Orders. Is also a another reason Why many cops stop out of state tags... Even if the Fine is High, often still Cheaper then fighting it. Worse, If you lose @ court too... Judges can add more Fines to Jail time depending on case & other things. So most Mail the Fine. Others Ignore them but then could have a Warrant that can cross state lines or just wait years if needed for you to drive there w/ Toll & other cameras tracking tag numbers now.