Are hid's Legal?

[P12od]

i just installed a hid kit from efx at 3800 and WOW they are bright. anyone know the laws?

[smonkbmw]

hids are not legal in most states. i see you have a 89is so i assume that you have elipsoids, this is a good start. easiest way to avoid drama is to make sure they are aimed proper as not to attract the attention of any local police.

[P12od]

ok cool. i was also thinking on just putting them on my high beams. but thats no fun. ill aim them down tomorrow.

[Bimmerman325i]

They are definitely illegal in Colorado, I looked into getting HIDs but decided I didn't want a ticket badly enough. I upgraded the bulbs in my ellips' instead-- they're no HID but they work pretty well.

The law here is that the light output must be as close to white as possible-- the test is to hold a white piece of paper a set distance away from the headlight to see if there is any color tint. Also if the light output is blinding or severely distracting to other drivers you can get a ticket. IIRC it's not a simple fix-it type ticket, it's a much heftier one.

I think that if your color choice is pretty close to white and if you have them aimed properly, you should be fine.

[BMW BUM]

what is the sole attraction to hid's anyways? If you just want to blind the fuck out of other drivers... you have high beams... and if you want to see better... you have high beams... maybe I'm crazy, but I don't seem to follow the thought process between the ricers and new wave modder's who want to run crazy Godbright headlights with out puts probably closer to airplane headlights than most cars, and then they want to smoke out every other warning/indicator light on their car so no one can see when they are stopping/turning, assuming half the bulbs even work under the smoked lenses...

Just seems to be deteriorating your cars night time functionality over all... /rant

[Van Westervelt]

Wow, I really should put you two in your places about how wrong you are, but I dont have the time, maybe later today if I find some time...

[nando]

conversion kits are generally not legal (unless they are DOT approved, and I've never seen one that is). But I doubt any cop is going to pull you over if you have them aimed properly. I've passed hundreds of cops and none have ever given my car a second glance.

Euro ellipsoids, euro trim, MHW tails etc. aren't legal either but it doesn't seem to stop people from using them.

[FLUTE007]

what is the sole attraction to hid's anyways? If you just want to blind the fuck out of other drivers... you have high beams... and if you want to see better... you have high beams... maybe I'm crazy, but I don't seem to follow the thought process between the ricers and new wave modder's who want to run crazy Godbright headlights with out puts probably closer to airplane headlights than most cars, and then they want to smoke out every other warning/indicator light on their car so no one can see when they are stopping/turning, assuming half the bulbs even work under the smoked lenses...

Just seems to be deteriorating your cars night time functionality over all... /rant

ya i hate to see better in the dark also:down:

[scabzzzz]

Aiming is the key. The brightness isnt what is illegal, its blinding people that pass by you on the other side of the road that is.
Besides, ever notice new SUV's with HID's? When youre sitting in a low car, and one of those assholes rolls by, you get temporary blindness. Its legal.

[PiercedE30]

Yea, that's one thing I hate about driving at night. Every car tries to blind me.

[AlarmedBread]

If you ever get pulled over, lower your car more. Mine are aimed straight out via the wall method and I've had no complaints, even driving in a pack of cars at night and asking if my headlights were bothering anyone.

Thus coil overs are necessary to properly install HID's ;)

[CleanAzzE30z]

I guess most the cars that are sold in the U.S. arent sold in Colorado? This thread is full of fail.




Mariano

[smonkbmw]

I guess most the cars that are sold in the U.S. arent sold in Colorado? This thread is full of fail.

im thinking this is why....

The law states that in order to be "legal" the light housing has to be approved WITH a certain light source.

which if i understand this means since there was no hids back then it technically would be illegal.

[nando]

im thinking this is why....



which if i understand this means since there was no hids back then it technically would be illegal.

yeah, unless you used DOT approved housings. so would E46 projectors be legal then? I think you also need self leveling too.

[smonkbmw]

yeah, unless you used DOT approved housings. so would E46 projectors be legal then? I think you also need self leveling too.

i dunno? thats a interesting concept. the e36 guys use acura tl projector housings in their euro housings for a better cut off pattern. but that still isnt DOT legal. self leveling isnt really required. but then again with e46 projectors youll have to look at the philips lights that come with it, and that wouldnt be cheap.