Difference between HID and non-HID headlights?

[rtcpenguin]

I knew that neither coupe (nor sedan) come stock with any type of projector, but what exactly is the difference between the two headlights? The HID versions run around 600 per headlight or so and the non-HID versions are considerably cheaper. I was at the Nissan dealer today and snapped some crappy pics with my phone of both lights. It looks the the inner reflector for the HID version is larger and surrounds the bottom of the bulb when the non-HID version does not. How effective is this and can it be retrofitted without opening the headlight??

Here are pics. Top is HID and bottom is non HID

[LongBeachCoupe]

The difference in the enclosures is essentially non existant...

Not worth replacing an HID headlight, get a regular one if you need to replace it and just take your ballast with you...

Is there any underlying question you are trying to figure out with this?

[rtcpenguin]

Yeah, basically can I somehow retrofit an HID inner reflector (reflector bulb) into the non HID light? Nissan doesn't sell that part right? You have to buy the whole headlight??

[LongBeachCoupe]

Wait a minute here... you just want to put HID headlights into a NON hid enclosure??

Just do it, you dont need to retrofit anything or do any of that nonsense, just buy an HID kit, and its pretty much plug n play, no modifications needed.

They dont sell any components of the headlights, just the whole thing.

[rtcpenguin]

I've already done it. The problem is that the light spread/scatter is really bad. I switched cars with my boy and looking at my lights in the rear view mirror of his car makes it look like my high beams are on. Its a cop trap and I don't want to piss off other drivers on the road.

I'm thinking I might just be able to build a shield on the bottom of the HID bulb and slide it through the hole on the back of the headlight, but I was wondering if anyone tried this before I go through the whole disassembly process.

[LongBeachCoupe]

Or just twist the knob behind the light that adjusts the height of the output?

[rtcpenguin]

Adjusting the angle of the bulb doesn't affect the beam scatter. The problem is that the lumen output on HIDs is much higher than halogen. With the stock HID setup, they have a "cutoff" built in by using a bulb reflector with a larger covering forcing the light up, then downward to the road. The non-HID lights don't limit the downward light output and thus that light is scattered upward. Bulb adjustment doesn't really have much effect.

I'll try to take some cutoff pics later tonight if I have time to show what I'm talking about.

[Edit] Its sorta like this but not even 20% as bad