Projector/Reflector

[Jimbob4]

Hello, everyone. I was wondering if the Nissan Altima Coupe 3.5SR (CVT, so no standard HID lights) has reflector or projector type headlamps. I want to put in HID headlights, but I will not do this if the stock car has reflector headlights because of glare/etc. Thanks in advance for the help.

[dangeris]

there are no reflector lines in a projector. The amount of glare is determined on the cutoff shield. It also determines the color the HID will throw from a distant. Some HID look bluish purple from a distant and some not. Only way to find out is get a HID kit, throw it in and at night drive up to wall and park about 25 feet away and see how the cutoff looks..

[Jimbob4]

I am sorry, but I do not know all that much about headlights. What do you mean when you say "there are no reflector lines in a projector"? I believe that it has projector headlamps, but I was wondering if anyone knew for sure, before I wasted money on an HID kit that would produce unfocused, intensely bright light that blinds people.

[Hussain]

all 2010 altima coupes have projectors.... and the glare thing with non projectors isn't always true. the 08 and 09 do not have projectors BUT they have a piece that sort of acts like a cut-off and stops the light from causing a glare for on coming drivers. but it says you have a 2010 and YES the 2010 altima COUPE has projectors (the sedan doesnt).

[Jimbob4]

So that means that I could simply get an HID xenon kit and install it without problems? Would I need to aim the headlights to prevent blinding other drivers? If so, how would I go about doing that? Also, this is off-topic, but that quad exhaust looks awesome on your car, Hussain. How would I get that done, and how much would it cost? Thank You.

[fyrcomm]

So that means that I could simply get an HID xenon kit and install it without problems? Would I need to aim the headlights to prevent blinding other drivers? If so, how would I go about doing that?

ideally, yes, you could just get an HID kit and install it with no problems (just make sure you get the correct bulb size). You shouldn't need to adjust the aim after the install, but if for some reason you do, just check out the service manual for directions. for 08-09 models, there's a screw on the topside of each headlamp that will adjust the vertical aim. i'm pretty sure it's the same for 2010 models.

[AppleBonker]

CVT, so no standard HID lights

FYI, the HIDs are bundled in the leather package. Transmission selection makes no difference.

Also, if you have the car it is easy to tell the difference between the two:


On the left is a projector (it looks like a glass sphere).

On the right is a reflector (you can see the bulb and it reflects off the housing behind it. The picture kind of sucks, but it should give you the idea.

[Jimbob4]

Thanks again to all who responded. One final question: Do 6000k HID headlights cast blue light on the road? How about 5500k HID headlights? I know that there are pictures available from the bulb manufacturers, but they do not necessarily accurately reflect the real-life color of the light. I want to get the whitest light possible without a blue tint to it, as blue light is said to increase the rate of eye fatigue.

[Jimbob4]

To AppleBonker: To clarify, I mentioned that I had the CVT since this would mean that the leather package would not come standard (As it does on 2010 6MT models).
This will probably sound like a stupid question to people who know about headlights, but only the low beams are projectors?

[AppleBonker]

Fair enough. My point was only that the CVT can be equipped with HIDs. I misread your original post to mean OEM rather than standard. I did not take it as you had the base model. My mistake.

Your question is not stupid. Some HIDs are only low beams, some do both (generally referred to as bi-xenon). On the bi-xenons, the shield that creates the cutoff is adjusted to throw light higher out of the headlight. I'm fairly certain that you still have halogen highs. TBH, I didn't look that much into it since I'm not about to be getting a 2010+ model anytime soon.

Without looking it up, I think OEM HIDs tend to be around 2800-3200K. Aside from seeing 6000k bulbs in person, it will be tough to tell what color they are.

[fyrcomm]

my bad. i didn't think and assumed you had projectors. i'll go eat my words now..

Without looking it up, I think OEM HIDs tend to be around 2800-3200K. Aside from seeing 6000k bulbs in person, it will be tough to tell what color they are.

i think OEMs are 4300K, at least they are for 08-09. they produce a fairly "pure" white

[Jimbob4]

No, fyrcomm, you were right, I do have projectors. I guess I will go with 6000k HID lights, since that seems to be the purest white color that can be achieved. Thanks to all who responded!

[Hussain]

purest white will be 4300k or 5000k. I had 5000k and now have 4300k since those once burnt out. my HIDs are white with a hint of blue to them.... about the quad exhaust, you have to have it custom done. I have a Magnaflow muffler and got the tips for free from my brother. I had to cut off 2 fins from the rear diffuser to make room for the extra 2 tips. then I had a muffler shop weld on the quad tips. they're a little crooked so I have to get them straightened someday and also I'm going to have a body shop put the 2 fins back on and paint my rear diffuser a gloss black. should look a lot better when it's done... as far as price goes, you'd have to check with a local muffler shop. mine charged $40 to put on the tips and I had the tips from my brother. so expect around $50 plus the cost of tips and you have to cut your rear diffuser.

[LongBeachCoupe]

Apple lol.. OEM is somewhere around 4500.... That being said, aftermarket HID manufacturers arent the best scientists... a 8k bulb from one, may be whiter than a 6k bulb from another!

[AppleBonker]

Meh, I was taking a random stab at it. Never swapped in aftermarket HIDs since I've never retrofitted projectors. I do stereos, not lights.