Automotive Repair Guide

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

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Your windshield is one of the most important safety features on your vehicle. It is essential to keep your windshield and all of your auto glass repaired and in good condition at all times. Driving with a chipped or cracked windshield may put you and your passengers at risk for injury in the event of a rollover or collision.

The original purpose of a windshield was to keep road debris, wind, and rain from entering the vehicle. This is still an important function of a windshield, especially when traveling at high speeds that are typical of modern vehicles. Unfortunately, road debris, rocks, hail, and other items may collide with your glass as you travel from place to place. Often, these impacts can cause a small chip or crack to form. When this happens, it is important to have it fixed as soon as possible. Many times, small chips can be fixed so that a replacement is not necessary.

Another purpose of a windshield and auto glass is that they allow you to have a clear view of the road and traffic around you. Awareness of your surroundings is essential to driving safely and avoiding potentially dangerous situations. When your windshield is cracked or damaged, your vision may be obstructed, putting you and others at risk.

No matter how careful we are, accidents do happen. If your airbags should happen to deploy, your windshield is essential to absorb the impact of the passenger airbags. Once the airbag is engaged, it springs upward and bounces off of the windshield to shield the front seat passenger. If your glass is cracked or improperly installed, it may not be able to withstand this powerful force. As a result, your airbag may not protect your passenger as intended.

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