![]() Our ratings of two Limited trim 2016 Jeep Grand Cherokees-one diesel, one gas-showed nearly identical overall headlight performance, even though one was equipped with high-intensity discharge xenon lights and the other with halogens. Conversely, the 2018 Audi Q5 with LED lights rated only a Fair overall, as its low-beam seeing distances are short. While HIDs and LEDs are typically brighter and often illuminate better to the sides of the road, the straight-ahead visibility differences vary in our tests.įor example, the 2016 Buick Envision equipped with halogen lights earned a Good overall score for its headlight performance, driven mainly by the low-beam seeing distance. Aspects such as headlight brightness and a uniform pattern of light that make the headlight more pleasing also factor in to our ratings, but to a lesser extent. Low-beam visibility counts the most in our ratings, since people drive with low beams on most often. Testing takes place on dark, moonless nights at our track, where experienced staff assess how well they can see a series of flat, black signs arranged in specific locations on our track with both low and high beams. The main criteria in Consumer Reports' headlight ratings is safety, meaning how well they allow a driver to see what's ahead. But do these brighter, whiter HID/xenon and LED headlights help you see any better when you're driving? The answer: Not necessarily. In its ongoing headlight tests, Consumer Reports has seen an increase in cars equipped with these technologies. These high-tech headlights have become a signature look of aftermarket upgrades, and they distinguish the styling on many new vehicles, in particular cars with LED headlights, which can be grouped in signature looks. Many models from Audi, BMW, Cadillac, Lexus, Mercedes-Benz, and others are equipped with these stylish headlights.īut as appealing as these headlights can be to people whose car is equipped with them, they can be a discomfort to other drivers, who might flash their lights, mistakenly thinking that the other driver's high beams are on even when they're not. I believe this because voltage and wattage for each of the three bulb types are listed on the housing (D2R, H7, and H1), even though only 2 of them are used in each configuration.You can't help but notice high-intensity discharge (HID/xenon) and light-emitting diode (LED) headlights-the light they produce is noticeably brighter and whiter than halogen headlights. I believe at least some parts of the housing, maybe the black, back portion are identical for 2003-2005 regardless of which system is in use. The HID system uses the H7 for high beam, and the halogen system uses the H7 for the low beam.Īlso, I don't think you can tell by reading the markings on the housing. As we discussed before instead of using the filaments halogen lights are filled with halogen gases. It's strange, but both systems use an H7 bulb. If the high beam bulb is an H1, you have a halogen system, and for low beam, your Z uses an H7 bulb. If you want to confirm, your car will have a ballast. All this means is that there’s additional time and effort involved in upgrading your headlights. A conversion kit may need to be purchased and installed along with the bulbs. If the high beam bulb is an H7, you have a HID system, and for low beam, your Z uses a D2R bulb. LED and HID bulbs are smaller than halogen bulbs, and each converts electricity into light differently. I can tell that my Z has a Philips H7 high beam. The H1 is not fully cylindrical, and has electronics visible within the bulb (at least the bulbs I looked at online). Luckily, they look quite different, with the H7 almost perfectly cylindrical. ![]() Your high beam bulb will be either an H7, or an H1. Shine a light on it, and you can see it clearly which bulb it is. The High beam bulbs are visible though, and that's how you can tell which system you have.Īt the bottom, center of the housing, below the projector/reflector, there's a bulb facing forward. On 2003-2005 models, the low and high beam bulbs are separate, with the low beam bulbs located behind a projector/reflector, so they aren't visible without removing them. The housing is different on the 2006+, and there isn't a second bulb for high beam. My understanding is that 2006+ only come with the Bi-Xenon headlamps regardless of model, so both low and high beams are implemented with one D2S bulb. I found a consistent, and easy way to tell whether a 350z has HID or Halogen low beams on a 2003-2005 without removing the housing. ![]()
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