If you want to upgrade the headlights of a car with halogen lamps, you can actually replace them with better halogen bulbs, which are cheap and effective.
Upgrading xenon and LED is not cheap
- Upgrading xenon headlights is expensive
First, let’s talk about why we don’t recommend everyone to upgrade to xenon headlights.
Upgrading xenon headlights is actually not as simple as replacing a light bulb. It comes with a set of items that need to be replaced, so the cost of upgrading is relatively high, which may cost 2,000 yuan.
The main reason is that the lighting principles of xenon lamps and halogen lamps are different.
The structure of a halogen lamp is similar to our flashlight. There is a filament inside the bulb, and the filament emits light. Then there is a reflective bowl on the side to focus the light "gua" from your filament and scatter it.
Xenon lamps rely on xenon gas to emit light. Each xenon molecule is a light-emitting point, a bit like a large field of fireflies.
It's not like a halogen filament that's fixed on a focal point, just a reflective bowl.
Ordinary xenon lamps cannot focus the light. They look very bright when installed, but they are scattered. Not only is the lighting effect not good, but the car on the opposite side will also be blinded by you.
He'll be blinded and bump into you. It's very dangerous and he can't see clearly.
Therefore, ordinary xenon lamps require a lens.
Or choose a reflective bowl specially designed for xenon lamps, such as D2R or D4R with an R on the tail. At the same time, pay attention to the adaptability, light type, etc.
On the other hand, for xenon to emit light, it requires an instantaneous voltage of 23,000V, and a special electronic rectifier, or ballast, is needed to increase the vehicle's 12V to 23,000.
It's a bit like upgrading the computer configuration. You need to use a good graphics card and the power supply must be "bah bah bah". All these things add up to one word: money!
How does it feel? One word: expensive! right? Not very recommended.
- Upgraded LED lights cannot dissipate heat as well as the original ones
Isn’t there something called “LED headlights” now? To upgrade LED headlights, in addition to the lens, you also need to install a special radiator.
This is because LED lights can generate a high temperature of 150°C when working, but the normal operating temperature of LEDs cannot exceed 85°C.
The "Energy Star Program" jointly participated by the U.S. Department of Energy and the Environmental Protection Agency also says Energy Star on the computer, right?
It conducted a test and found that if the operating temperature of the LED light exceeds 85°C, the service life will be reduced sharply. The purpose of installing a radiator is to reduce the operating temperature of the headlight.
For models on the market equipped with LED headlights, manufacturers have specifically considered heat dissipation issues when designing them and have also conducted durability tests, so they are fine.
But if we install it ourselves, we may not be able to guarantee the cooling effect like the original one. It is cool and beautiful to spend a lot of money to modify, but it breaks down soon, which makes it even more uncomfortable.
Upgrading the headlights requires disassembly and assembly, which is risky
When modifying headlights, in addition to considering how much it costs, you should also consider safety.
From a safety perspective, I don’t recommend every friend to modify it, every friend!
- Difficult to operate and easy to damage the car
First of all, whether it is xenon headlights or LED headlights, there are really a lot of things you have to disassemble and assemble.
It's not just a matter of "puff, peep, peep", unscrewing a light bulb at home, and then "puff, peep, peep" and screwing another one back on.
The headlights need to be removed and baked in a special oven.
I remember the first time I went to replace my xenon headlights, I really didn’t expect, “Why did you take off my lights and put them in the oven to bake them? What does this mean? I don’t cook.”
It needs to be baked before it can be opened. As soon as it is disassembled and reassembled, the sealing of the headlight may become worse.
It is similar to current mobile phones, such as the one-piece ones from Xiaomi and Apple, which are also waterproof. If you dismantle them, dust may get in, and the sealing will not be as good as before.
Dust is actually fine, but what should I do if water gets inside the headlight? If the circuits and light bulbs inside are exposed to water for a long time, they are faulty, which is inevitable.
Changan Automobile Shanghai Research Institute has an analysis report: the scrap rate of original headlights from some domestic lamp factories is as high as 30%. Original factory!
The main reason is that the problem of water in the car lights and fogging has not been solved.
- Unprofessional construction can also cause spontaneous combustion
Therefore, whether it is repairing or upgrading headlights, it is a test of skills. It is not like just finding a car beauty shop. If it can do it, it will be done well.
In 4S stores or good repair shops, headlight upgrades and repairs are usually outsourced. You need to find professionals, such as those light factories that do lamp modifications.
You see, when you go to this store, there are only car lights and nothing else. If it sells you Coke, popcorn, or engine oil, it probably won’t do well.
For example: when I just talked about disassembling and assembling the headlights, in some models, the headlights are sealed with cold glue and cannot be disassembled using an oven. You need to use something called a "cold glue knife", which is done by hand. dismantling.
Well, it just depends on the skill of the master. It is similar to surgery. If I accidentally cut off an extra piece on your side, it will be too late to regret it.
If the operation is unskilled, the lamp housing may be deformed or damaged, and the wiring may also be at risk of short circuit.
According to the "Investigation and Analysis of Motor Vehicle Spontaneous Combustion Accidents" published by the Shanghai Fire Department in 2015: more than 60% of spontaneous combustions in automobiles are caused by short circuits in wires, more than half.
If the car lights are modified and the circuit short-circuit causes spontaneous combustion, the insurance company will not pay the claim.
The disclaimer clause of "Spontaneous Combustion Insurance" is clearly written in every insurance company, and there is no way to escape it.
Is there any good solution?
For cars with halogen lamps, the recommended upgrade method is to simply replace the bulb with a better one.
For example: halogen lamps with a higher color temperature. Don't think that halogen lamps are all yellow. Look over there, they look a bit like warm white to the naked eye, and there are actually some now.
Generally, the color temperature of original halogen bulbs is 3000 Kelvin (K), and the color is yellowish. You feel that it is low-grade, not bright, and cheap. It is similar to the 10 yuan light bulb at home, right?
The brightness is only 1,000 lumens, which is equivalent to the brightness indoors on a sunny day.
If you change to a halogen bulb with a higher color temperature, the brightness can be increased by 80% to 130%, or doubled. It is basically the same brightness as a xenon lamp.
For example: a pair of light bulbs from famous brands such as Philips and Osram does not cost much, 100 or 200 is fine.
Let’s mention the color temperature, 4300K. It is not uncomfortable for the eyes, just like sunlight during the day, and there is no yellowish or dim feeling, and the brightness is also improved.
It's pretty good, I think you should really give it a try.
Even in some places, you can take an old light bulb and let someone replace it for you. If you look at it and you are not satisfied, then take it out and don’t want it, right?
I am really not satisfied. I really want to change the xenon lights. I must change them. I must use LEDs. Then I suggest you look at the original headlight assembly of high-end models and install it directly in the original position. Follow their manufacturer's instructions. Plan comes.
Still using the analogy of upgrading the computer configuration, just take the old computer at home and see the difference between it and the new high-configuration computers, and plug it in according to its plan.
It can be inserted horizontally or vertically, which reduces installation risks.
How to scientifically fight against high-beam dogs
In fact, for car owners of halogen lamps, they usually turn yellow and darken after using them for a long time. In addition to the headlight itself, there may be nothing wrong with the lamp. The lampshade outside it The seeds have turned yellow.
You have to think: If I wear a pair of glasses and walk outside, there is actually no problem. If you wear a pair of sunglasses and walk there, don’t you think it’s dark outside?
Not only is the problem with the headlights, there may also be problems with the lampshades. After being used for a long time, how do we renovate the lampshades?
Do you have toothpaste and soap at home? WD-40, people say it is very reliable, which one has the best effect?
We just shot a video and did it again. You can take a look and see which solution is most suitable for you.
Xenon lamps and LED lamps are very bright and can sometimes be a bit dazzling, right?
If you encounter an ignorant guy across from you at night, he flashes like a high-beam dog and makes us uncomfortable. Is there any way to kill him? It's not illegal, it's legal and compliant, but it can still make people's noses bleed?
I've prepared everything for you. This time it's all video material, you can watch it.
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