HID for Camry 2k4 available and legal?

[vincewu]

Hi guys,

This is my first post here. I have a 93 camry that i'm trading off next week for a 04 camry.

I want to get HID lights for the car. What are the parts I need to do this properly and is it legal?

Thanks for all of the tips,
Vince Wu

[Daffunda]

Aftermarket HID is illegal. This is because they don't come with automatic beam leveling system. But that won't stop you from doing it, I suppose.

[situman]

so any HID conversions are illegal? If I get a Hella HID kit its illegal?

[Tubbyc]

I would suggest you to do a projector retrofit to reduce the glare problem.

[mcv30]

so any HID conversions are illegal? If I get a Hella HID kit its illegal?

I have heard Hella is illegal and quite expensive but also a good brand name. Some people said as long it is white HID then it is okay but I believe that some places have certain laws about it, then again if you get pulled over just testify and say it comes stock and it is a new car. To me a lot of vehicles have HID conversion, but are recognized more in the blue for some reason than the white colors like the silverstar bulbs that are non-hid.

[SKYravefever]

^ HID legality is not defined by color.

However, it does draw the attention of cops, which in turn, can lead them to give you a ticket for having illegal lamps.

[TakeABao]

Originally posted by situman
so any HID conversions are illegal? If I get a Hella HID kit its illegal?

A true projector-HID conversion is NOT illegal. Unless you're absolutely godlike with a dremeling tool (just to name one...), chances are, you'll need to find someone to retrofit projectors that accept D2S/D2R HID bulbs into your stock headlamp assemblies. You'll get an OEM beam pattern like the ones found on the likes of Lexus, Acura, BMW, Mercedes-Benz, Audi, etc. and there will be tons of usable light on the ground with very little, if any, glare to oncoming traffic.

A "HID kit" on the other hand is illegal. I believe the NHTSA banned the sale of such kits on 8/15/03. Basically, a HID kit is made up of D2R bulbs that are re-based to fit into the various halogen sockets (i.e. 9006, H4, etc.). The controversy surrounding rebased HID kits, aside from legality issues, is quality and dependability. Since most HID kits can only be purchased from sources outside the US, where they remain untouched by the legislation regarding them, if your kit fails, good luck with warranty and trying to find a replacement. Furthermore, the only company that I've ever heard about doing near flawless rebases with little complaint is Catz, who used GE D2R envelopes for their rebases. Because CATZ was US-based, the ban on the sale of kits sort've well....put an end to that chapter so to speak and you'll be very very very very very hard-pressed to find a new Catz kit for a reasonable price (I'm talking under 700 bucks), let alone find one at all. And OK....i'm rambling...

Anyways, don't get a HID kit. Even if you have an H4 application and use a Casper shield, the effect is simply not there. If at all possible, take into consideration the burning retinas of oncoming drivers from the glare produced by shitty refractions of 3200 lumen light. Instead, save up your hard-earned $$$ and get someone like www.hidtech.com or Illusion Lighting to custom retrofit projectors for you.

Just my two cents.

-Ray

[vincewu]

Now I feel a little smarter about DIY HID. After all the costs and knowing how ungodlike I am with a dremel (I injured my left index finger and scratched my eyelid with shrapnel on a computer fan install with one) perhaps I should be wiser hehehe...

At this point, I guess i'll go with the the syl. silverstar and put the rest of the money, on a decent home entertainment system and a gym pass.

Later,
Vince