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Do hids burn hotter than regular halogen bulbs?

gpse2000

New member
I got brand new headlights (actual gm ones too) and they are starting to show signs of discoloration on the top and inside of lense like my hids are too hot. Do hids actually burn hotter than halogen? cuz they are wrecking my brand new headlights
 


From my understanding with the heat they give off, yes. 55W burns hotter than the 35W from what I understand as well. If running 55W you could either try a 35W or just run stock halogen.
 
Gonna go buy me some silverstar ultras for the s***s and giggles. Prolly wont be much dimmer cuz I swear my hids are slowly getting dimmer
 
The wattage is the energy used to light the bulb, which is then converted to heat. Normal 35w HID's run cooler than stock 55/65w halogens, because they're a lower wattage. They also use less power except upon initial startup, where they need a large amount of power to initially create he arc of light.

People melt their enclosures with HID's due to the bulbs being physically longer and thus being closer to the inside of the enclosure. It doesn't have anything to do with the heat being given off, it has to do with where that heat has to go.
 
If your car sits outside in the sun all day, it's more than likely the coating on the headlights is failing and not the bulbs causing the issue. I recommend you use some type of sealant to protect your lights from any UV everytime you wax the car.
 
Are you running 55w bulbs? Guz has a good point, are you sure it's inside the enclosure? It could just be oxidation.

Regardless the halogens are worth it in my opinion, but that's because hid's without projector lenses have horrible spread and look tacky/ricer. Retrofit or go for some Phillips HIR2 bulbs, I had great luck with those before I went retro. A bit brighter than silverstars and I didn't have to replace them every few months, 1 and a half years on he same bulbs.
 


Are you running 55w bulbs?

35w

If your car sits outside in the sun all day, it's more than likely the coating on the headlights is failing and not the bulbs causing the issue. I recommend you use some type of sealant to protect your lights from any UV everytime you wax the car.

It does spend a fair amount of time in the sun but im positive its in the inside, and its right above where the hid sits in the low beam position on both sides. The day I got them I put wax on them and have done so once a month, trying to see if that will help the outside in the long run
 
Well its cloudy and miserable outside but I tried one in my garage. Its much more noticeable when its in the sun


Also ever since I got the hids my radio has done this occasionally, so just another reason why im going to go back to halogen
 
Yeah didn't realize how you can barely see it on here but right above the low beam. I will try some pics outside if it does ever get nice out
 


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