How to Customize the look of your Headlights
Headlight upgrades are a popular way to improve the look and drivability of a vehicle. There are several options out there, some more effective and legal than others. There's a lot of information and misinformation on the Internet about this issue. I will attempt to sift through it for the truth. It's important to do a little research before you change the way your vehicle lights the road ahead of it.
High-intensity discharge (HID) bulb upgrades are increasing in popularity. They use less electricity and produce more light than traditional halogen bulbs. HID conversion kits are, however, illegal as an upgrade in many states. They change the way the lamp reflects the light and can result in blinding other motorists as well as the owner when driving past reflective signs. Reflective qualities vary greatly from (car and bulb) brand to brand. Upgrading lamps to properly reflect the HID beam is apparently illegal as well, if the lamp is not produced by the OEM. In short, there is no way to legally install HID bulbs in an old Honda in the United States.
E-code headlamps are lamps that use a European standard, instead of the US standard. They produce a more focused beam, and tend to use a slightly higher wattage, but not enough to cause problems. They are technically illegal in the US if they are not dual-approved (ECE and DOT), but they do not draw attention. They produce less glare to oncoming traffic when aimed properly, and they better illuminate the parts of the road that a driver should be focusing on. They also create less back-glare in inclement weather; some sources say it is completely eliminated. The color may be a little more white than US-spec bulbs, but lamps of this type should not have any of the blue tint that draws the attention of police. US highway laws prohibit these bulbs, but most states permit them or do not include the regulation as a part of their inspection process.
Projector beam headlamps use a plano-convex lens to produce a more focused beam from a standard halogen bulb. They are a very popular modification because they often look cooler, but they do not produce a significantly improved light pattern. If you get these lamps, check to make sure they are DOT approved. Most are. Sometimes they improve the beam quality, but other times they don't. They also tend to extend deeper into the vehicle than standard lamps, which can cause some fitment issues. It may be helpful to search some message boards to see which applies to your particular application.
Overall, it seems that E-code headlamps are the best upgrade available as far as visibility. They are almost universally legal, and they are a significant improvement over standard US-spec lamps. HID bulbs do improve visibility in good weather, but they produce more glare and can blind oncoming traffic. Projector beams look cool and are legal, but they generally do not provide a performance advantage.
