HIDs w/ new/dull reflectors, aluminum foil comparison!

[///M42 sport]

To all you kids who think HIDs and dull reflectors will solve your lighting issues. I put together a comparison of what I found. I blocked out the passenger light and tested all three scenarios. Clearly there is a huge difference betw new/aluminum/dull. I invite others to take pics of their tests for a more objective comparison. BTW I have the 55w 5k apexcone kit.

New reflectors





Aluminum foil




Dull reflectors

[dr.strangelove]

so are new ones still available? or can one refurbish them to look new? and also, is this a H1 setup or a 9006 setup? i have US ellips.

[Kwaaahhh]

LOL, I think mine might be dull! Damn US ellip.

[///M42 sport]

H1, yes new ones are still available, thats how I got mine. I searched online and there are specialty chroming places that just do automotive stuff. So I believe the reflectors can be refurbished. I know I was happy w the aluminum for a while since it was cheap and effective.

[dr.strangelove]

so what can be done to refurb them?

[JZM3]

bump?

One side of mine is completely destroyed, where can I get it refurbished?

[silversleeper]

Couldn't one technically polish the shit outta the reflector? I wanna try this when I get back to MD.

[JZM3]

I guess you can but whoever owned mine before had some kind of bulb that burned the crap out of the reflector, we just used the Aluminum foil trick to see if its any better, judging from OP's pictures the foil looks better than the dull. Once I find a place to re- chrome them I will just do that I think.

[evilnickwong]

Wow, that's a big diff with the new reflectors. Do you think chrome paint might be reflective enough to refurb old units?

[gearheadE30]

I'd think that polish would just wear through the chrome coating unless you have metal reflectors.

[td325ic]

Just giving you guys a heads-up that if you need a good condition, shiny replacement reflector for US Ellipsoids then send me a PM. I have some extras that I'll sell for $15 shipped.

[///M42 sport]

I was thinking of getting depos and using just the reflector piece