Blue Headlights?

[zadok]

I have been noticing the increase in cars that seem to have a new type of headlight that has a blue glow to it. Looks rather cool, I reckon. Tends to be on the more upmarket cars at the moment.
I was wondering if they make them for bikes as well and are they better than a halogen globe?
Maybe someone that has a vehicle with them fitted can let us know how they rate them.

[sAsLEX]

something like HID or high intensity discharge gas lighting system, fancy and expensive

the other thing is on a bmpy road they look like Spud and his fellow officers from a distance in your mirrors due to the "Blueness"

[John]

I have those xenon 70w bulbs, they are blue tinted but are just a bright white.

I think the actual dark tinted ones illegal in NZ anyway, I dont know - But I hate them, looks strange when your heading down the road and get a high intense blue in your eyes...

[Zed]

I have been noticing the increase in cars that seem to have a new type of headlight that has a blue glow to it. Looks rather cool, I reckon. Tends to be on the more upmarket cars at the moment.
I was wondering if they make them for bikes as well and are they better than a halogen globe?
Maybe someone that has a vehicle with them fitted can let us know how they rate them.

Funny you should say it looks cool cos Hella NZ markets a "Cool Blue" halogen bulb that has the effect you describe. Might pay to give them a call to enquire about who their closest reseller to you is?

http://www.hella.co.nz/newprod/coolblue/coolblue.htm

Personally, I dislike seeing any blue lights displayed on the front of a vehicle, excluding police of course (& I don't especially enjoy that either). Once upon a time I thought it was illegal?

[John]

Funny you should say it looks cool cos Hella NZ markets a "Cool Blue" halogen bulb that has the effect you describe. Might pay to give them a call to enquire about who their closest reseller to you is?

http://www.hella.co.nz/newprod/coolblue/coolblue.htm

Personally, I dislike seeing any blue lights displayed on the front of a vehicle, excluding police of course (& I don't especially enjoy that either). Once upon a time I thought it was illegal?

Seems they are not illegal anymore they use the term loosely so I dont know how blue they would allow.


From The LTSA

Make sure replacement bulbs are the correct colour, eg headlamp bulbs must be predominantly white or amber, although some white bulbs can look slightly blue. You should use commonsense to ensure you don’t run into trouble later on.

[Waylander]

You should use commonsense to ensure you don’t run into trouble later on.

That right there is the catch point.

[What?]

The blue-ish ones are quite legal, but you will not get the same illumination as for a std bulb of same power rating. They are supposed to be less tiring on driver's eyes, though, so may be an option if you do heaps of night travelling.

[Blackbird]

I have twin 100W Xenon blue bulbs on the Blackbird. They're really good but have doubts as to whether they're quite as good as my old 100W halogens though as they don't seem to give quite the same definition to roadside vegetation. (Forgotten most of my physics - might be due to the different wavelength).

[hondacmx450]

i want the blue for my street fighter but the cops will give me more grief so i wont

[Motu]

HID are illeagal unless OE.The sorta tinted ones only have the tint at the edges,so they look like that from an angle,get them head on and they are normal - just more rule bending.60watt bulbs are 60 watt bulbs,no matter what the colour - kinda like the fluro lamps above the veges in the supermarket,they highlight the colours to make the fruit and veges look nice and fresh.It's wavelengths as someone said,just knock some out to make different effects....kinda like visors.

[Stevo]

Can you get tinted headlight lense covers?
The reason I ask is that I get "flashed" a lot from oncoming cars which is rather annoying, and also the Mrs and Sniper have both commented that when following them at night it is quite bright too.

[John]

Can you get tinted headlight lense covers?
The reason I ask is that I get "flashed" a lot from oncoming cars which is rather annoying, and also the Mrs and Sniper have both commented that when following them at night it is quite bright too.

You definately can but I'm positive they are illegal?

[g34l]

i am not sure about the tinted covers, but i am pretty sure shining blue headligts is acceptable,unless not any red dots. new bikes and cars do have them a lot, however, it is quite painful to install one of those on an old bike or car, as it is costly

[Lou Girardin]

I have twin 100W Xenon blue bulbs on the Blackbird. They're really good but have doubts as to whether they're quite as good as my old 100W halogens though as they don't seem to give quite the same definition to roadside vegetation. (Forgotten most of my physics - might be due to the different wavelength).

You haven't had problems from the extra heat affecting the headlight lens?

[bugjuice]

the bulbs used in cars are most often able to be used in bikes too.. Most car parts shops carry them.

I had a look in Repco the other weekend at them, and they're a bleedin fortune. $70-80 for a pair of bulbs.. didn't think it's worth the cash unless the current ones blow. Anyhoo, Repco didn't have what I wanted so I head off and stumbled accross a new Super Cheap near me. They have the exact same bulbs for half the price...

As for lens tints, you could always buy some protector covers, and put a slight tint on them, then when it's dark, or you need the light, take the covers off.. Just remember it's those lights that people often see first. Don't take that away from yourself