Changing Standard Car Bulbs to Xenon
If you are considering changing car bulbs to improve the light produced from your car by switching from standard bulbs to Xenon lights you will probably be weighing up the cost versus the benefits, of which there are many.
Xenon Look Car Bulbs and Xenon HID Bulbs – There is a Difference
Crisp white Xenon lighting helps improve night time vision and is therefore a great way to reduce eye strain and improve safety when you are on the roads. However, if you replace your existing bulbs with ‘Xenon’ look car bulbs these will be a bit brighter than your current bulbs – up to 120%, but they are still halogen filament bulbs. They are direct replacement bulbs so the cost to change over to them is quite low, especially when compared to the cost of changing to a HID bulbs with a HID Kit. HID bulbs are not direct replacement options, you need to get HID bulbs as well as HID ‘ballast’ kits to complete the installation.
Xenon HID (high intensity discharge) bulbs are different from ‘Xenon’ look car bulbs as the HID version has no filament, using an electric arc to create light. They are more expensive and require very high voltages and it is for this reason you need to add a ‘ballast unit’. It is important to get a good quality one so that you benefit from quality light, with a good light pattern. Cheaper aftermarket Xenon HIDs tend not to last as long as quality branded ones.
Improved Lighting Gives You Many Benefits