HID Upgrade? Check Your Tint First

[jut703]

Many people complain that their headlamps are too weak, and eventually opt for the HID upgrades to get the best lighting output for their car.

True enough, a proper HID retrofit has much, much better output than stock halogen bulbs, with clearer cut-off as well:



On the left is a Mazda 3 with an HID projector retrofit, on the right is an Altis with stock halogen headlamps. The HID output is so strong that it overpowers the halogen output.

Viewed individually:



So, let's all get retrofits and call it a day, yeah? Not so fast.
More than your headlamps, it's your tint that really hampers your car's visibility. In bright, sunny conditions, our eyes are able to adjust such that even dark tint is livable (it's just like you're driving in perpetually gloomy weather). However, at night, are eyes are already at their maximum sensitivity but still cannot compensate very well for dark tints.

Based on the example above you'd think that even with dark tints, you'll still have better visibility as long as you have HIDs since they're so much brighter than halogens. Think again.



Both shots were taken with a dSLR with the same exposure settings (1/10 shutter speed, f4.0 aperture, ISO 3200) at night with a light drizzle.

You might be thinking, "How can that be? The HID retrofit is so much stronger than the halogen headlamp!"

Well, that's your tint wasting your bi-xenon projector's output. Take note, these are Vkool tints, which many claim to already have better visibility from inside compared to 3M and other brands. This is also just medium (20% VLT) tint; just imagine how much less output you get with dark (5% VLT) tint. Lastly, the Mazda already has HID retrofits, which are stronger than most factory OEM HIDs. Yet, the Altis still had better visibility despite its stock setup simply because it had lighter tint.

So what's my point? Basically, if you're thinking of getting super dark tints, think about why you're doing so. Do you really need that much privacy? From my experience, even medium tints are already dark enough that only your silhouette is visible from outside. I won't feel scared to let my hapless little sister drive my car with medium tint because I know that she's anonymous enough from outside. Also from experience, noone has broken into my car with clear tint even if I park in not-so-secure areas - I just make it a point to put valuables in the trunk, where they should be.

If heat rejection is the concern, lighter reflective tints such as Vkool's K-series or 3M's Black Chrome can offer better heat rejection without compromising nighttime visibility. And if aesthetics is your only concern, is it really worth the tradeoffs?

I'm not saying that people should abandon dark tints altogether - I'm sure some have really good reasons why they just had to get the darkest possible tint for their car. However, I'm just saying that it severely limits visibility during poor weather conditions at night, and increases the risk of accidents in such circumstances. Hopefully, people take that into consideration. If dark tints are really a necessity, please consider getting HID retrofits if your car doesn't already have HID to be able to compensate for the decreased visibility.

[CVT]

Nice one bro.jut. Thanks for sharing...

And bros,- if you chose to have dark tints,- PLEASE do not turn on your high beam when following another vehicle or there is an oncoming vehicle.

Because if you do,- you are an arrogant driver.


"The measure of a man is what he does with power" LJIOHF!

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[airolynx]

I was once at a crossroads deciding whether to keep my medium black 3M full windshield tint and just get an HID upgrade. I decided to just keep my halogen lights and remove my windshield tint.

[Lew_Alcindor]

Nice explanation.

Our innova has this almost nothing tint hahaha. Everyone can see what is inside but it has tint except on the windshield.

Then came a time I have to exchange vehicle with my bro in law which has a dark tint (not the darkest though). Lo and behold, it felt like 7pm when it was just 5pm in the afternoon.

[Lew_Alcindor]

Nice explanation.

Our innova has this almost nothing tint hahaha. Everyone can see what is inside but it has tint except on the windshield.

Then came a time I have to exchange vehicle with my bro in law which has a dark tint (not the darkest though). Lo and behold, it felt like 7pm when it was just 5pm in the afternoon.

[dishcom]

Thanks sa info.
Its like if want dark tint then upgrade your lamp so the visibility will be ok during night.


Ano ba ang best tint brand or model na dark sa labas then maliwanag sa loob ng car?

[Juan Martinez]

great post bro with the visuals and all. drive home the point. mine is super dark and, for a security freak like me (read: paranoid), it got me thinking. seriously.

[dr. d]

ang tanong ko...
bakit madalas ay nasisilaw ako kapag may naka-HID na kasalubong?
and i am already already riding a higher seat than a sedan's...!

[dr. d]

doubledouble.

[cast_no_shadow]

ang tanong ko...
bakit madalas ay nasisilaw ako kapag may naka-HID na kasalubong?
and i am already already riding a higher seat than a sedan's...!

mga hindi retrofitted lamps Doc, those cheap-ass plug and play na HIDs.

Basta magka HID lang kahit sabog and glaring sa kasalubong ayos lang.

[mda]

Interesting. This is why I have magic tint... Quantum / Solargard.

[Morz]

Interested on the heat rejection part. Will look at v series, black chrome or something for my bare windshield. Thanks

[red_one]

*jut703: Great post bro.

Our Mitsubishi ASX has stock HID for Low Beam and halogen for High Beam. I have light tint 3M BC35 on the windshield. I never ever felt unsecured or exposed with light tint on the windshield. It already provides privacy versus no tint.

[red_one]

This can also be a nice share in V-Kool thread. Both cars have V-Kool tints on them.

[dct]

Tapos sabayan pa ng malakas na ulan sa gabi. Nako po.. tama si jut. Think twice guys..

[Walter]

For those with security concerns, you can only go so far with preventive measures. Ultimately, if you are really a target, professionals will find a way to get you.

If you have 2 bodyguards, they'll send 10 men, if you have 10 bodyguards, they'll send 30 men.

If you have dark tint, they will still know your car and see you when you get in. Unless all you go to are buildings with secured basement parking or take a helicopter. You'd still need to stop at traffic lights, slow down in traffic, etc. one way or another you get exposed.

This is not to say that we should just throw cautions to the wind.

[shadow]

Always had super black all over and medium black windshield, never had any problem even in heavy downpour, can't even remember when was the last time i turn on the high beams.

[lsalapare]

I'm using super dark tint on my white suzuki swift. Though the visibility is significantly hindered by the tint, I never had any problems driving in any conditions.

[jut703]

Thanks sa info.
Its like if want dark tint then upgrade your lamp so the visibility will be ok during night.


Ano ba ang best tint brand or model na dark sa labas then maliwanag sa loob ng car?

Yes, it's prudent to upgrade your headlamps to somehow mitigate the loss of visibility from dark tint. However, as you can see, mas maliwanag pa rin ang stock headlamps sa light tint.

Walang tint na black sa labas tapos maliwanag sa loob. Lahat nung nagsasabi na maliwanag naman daw yung ultra dark tint nila sa gabi eh hindi ata alam kung gano kalayo pa rin ang visibility compared sa clear/light tint.

The best compromise is magic tint, na reflective ang itsura sa labas.

mga hindi retrofitted lamps Doc, those cheap-ass plug and play na HIDs.

Basta magka HID lang kahit sabog and glaring sa kasalubong ayos lang.

Ma-glare na nga, wala pang kwenta yung output. Stock projectors yung Mazda nung kinuha namin, tapos yung dating mayari naglagay ng PnP HID. Sobrang layo ng output compared dun sa retrofit. Pag nakahighbeam yung retrofit akala mo umaga eh. Yun nga lang dahil naka-OEM20 tint ako, di ri masyadong maliwanag sa loob.

*jut703: Great post bro.

Our Mitsubishi ASX has stock HID for Low Beam and halogen for High Beam. I have light tint 3M BC35 on the windshield. I never ever felt unsecured or exposed with light tint on the windshield. It already provides privacy versus no tint.

Ganda ng stock HID ng ASX bro, clear cutoff na, no need for retrofits. 👍

Always had super black all over and medium black windshield, never had any problem even in heavy downpour, can't even remember when was the last time i turn on the high beams.

I'm using super dark tint on my white suzuki swift. Though the visibility is significantly hindered by the tint, I never had any problems driving in any conditions.

I also had super dark tint on our old car (5% VLT wraparound), which had stock HID. In city driving, kaya naman na hindi maghighbeam.

But the fact still stands that super laking percentage ng lighting output ng kotse mo ang nawawala pag madilim ang tint. Kahit gaano kalakas na HID, mas madilim pa rin kaysa stock halogen sa light tint.

I'm curious though, why super black tint?

[shadow]

Yes, it's prudent to upgrade your headlamps to somehow mitigate the loss of visibility from dark tint. However, as you can see, mas maliwanag pa rin ang stock headlamps sa light tint.

Walang tint na black sa labas tapos maliwanag sa loob. Lahat nung nagsasabi na maliwanag naman daw yung ultra dark tint nila sa gabi eh hindi ata alam kung gano kalayo pa rin ang visibility compared sa clear/light tint.

The best compromise is magic tint, na reflective ang itsura sa labas.



Ma-glare na nga, wala pang kwenta yung output. Stock projectors yung Mazda nung kinuha namin, tapos yung dating mayari naglagay ng PnP HID. Sobrang layo ng output compared dun sa retrofit. Pag nakahighbeam yung retrofit akala mo umaga eh. Yun nga lang dahil naka-OEM20 tint ako, di ri masyadong maliwanag sa loob.



Ganda ng stock HID ng ASX bro, clear cutoff na, no need for retrofits. [emoji106]





I also had super dark tint on our old car (5% VLT wraparound), which had stock HID. In city driving, kaya naman na hindi maghighbeam.

But the fact still stands that super laking percentage ng lighting output ng kotse mo ang nawawala pag madilim ang tint. Kahit gaano kalakas na HID, mas madilim pa rin kaysa stock halogen sa light tint.

I'm curious though, why super black tint?

Probably just an old habit that don't die. Every since I got my first car. I had dark tint and medium in windshield.

I don't like magic type tint, doesn't look good and lalo na mirror type, kadiri! While no tint or vkoll type na kita ka sa loob paano na ako magkulangot sa traffic eh di makita ng Lahat ng tao. [emoji23]

I have this tradition na 1 week walang tint pag labas ng casa kotse then after full tint na.