Car and Bike Talk Discussions and comparisons of cars and motorcycles of all makes and models.

Headlights

Thread Tools
 
Old 10-26-2004, 04:11 PM
  #1  
Registered User
Thread Starter
 
Arashi's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jan 2004
Location: Madison, WI
Posts: 182
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
Default Headlights

1. Which is the first production car to use convex lenses infront of their bulbs?

2. Which is the first production car to use projector style lights?

3. Which is the first production car to use xenon bulbs?

4. Which is the first production car to use projector style with xenon lights?


E30 seem to have convex lenses for the outer lights, Supra is one of the older cars that used projector style lights but there could be older cars. I have no clue who used first HID lights but in 1999, cars from Acura and Lexus seemed to have advertise hard about their HID lights. S2000 seems like the first car to sport projector style HID lights as a standard equipment (debuting in 1999) but any older cars? Any that came even as an option?
Old 10-27-2004, 07:49 AM
  #2  
Registered User
 
AbusiveWombat's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jul 2003
Location: Austin
Posts: 554
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
Default

The first HID's I saw were on BMW's, Porsche's, and Lincoln MarkVIII's around 1997.
Old 10-27-2004, 08:19 AM
  #3  
Registered User
 
Saint_Spinner's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jun 2003
Location: Los Angeles
Posts: 3,456
Likes: 0
Received 2 Likes on 2 Posts
Default

The first time I saw projector style headlights were on a 300zx.
Old 10-27-2004, 08:37 AM
  #4  
Former Moderator

 
The Gasman's Avatar
 
Join Date: Nov 2001
Location: Ventura, California, USA
Posts: 59,195
Likes: 0
Received 1 Like on 1 Post
Default

HID made its North American debut in 1995 on the Lincoln Mark VIII.
Old 10-27-2004, 11:38 AM
  #5  
Registered User
 
Mossad's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jan 2001
Location: Playa Vista, CA
Posts: 987
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
Default

I thought the SL500 was the first to use HID lights in 95/96?
Old 10-27-2004, 12:53 PM
  #6  

 
Karl O.'s Avatar
 
Join Date: Mar 2003
Location: Valdosta, GA
Posts: 759
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
Default

Originally Posted by s2000raj,Oct 27 2004, 11:37 AM
HID made its North American debut in 1995 on the Lincoln Mark VIII.
I believe you are correct sir.
Old 10-27-2004, 01:37 PM
  #7  
Former Moderator

 
The Gasman's Avatar
 
Join Date: Nov 2001
Location: Ventura, California, USA
Posts: 59,195
Likes: 0
Received 1 Like on 1 Post
Default

Yeah, that statement came from the Sylvania website.
Old 10-27-2004, 02:26 PM
  #8  
Registered User
 
jsalicru's Avatar
 
Join Date: Sep 2003
Location: Murrieta
Posts: 1,877
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
Default

Yeah.. i was gonna say... it was either the Lincoln or the 94ish 745s that had them first.

I know the BMW was one of THE at least...

First projectors? Hmm.. thats a good question... BMW used projectors inside their 3 series lights on the E30... at least in Europe I think.

First Projector HID? The 7-Series mentioned above.
Old 10-27-2004, 02:53 PM
  #9  

 
LUV2REV's Avatar
 
Join Date: Aug 2003
Location: Calgary
Posts: 1,420
Received 8 Likes on 8 Posts
Default

Originally Posted by Saint_Spinner,Oct 27 2004, 09:19 AM
The first time I saw projector style headlights were on a 300zx.
I believe you are right, the Z32 300ZX had projectors and it arrived in 1989.
Old 10-28-2004, 10:13 PM
  #10  
Former Moderator

 
The Gasman's Avatar
 
Join Date: Nov 2001
Location: Ventura, California, USA
Posts: 59,195
Likes: 0
Received 1 Like on 1 Post
Default

Acetylene gas was an early power source for car headlights, which were also called headlamps beginning in 1885. The first electric headlamps appeared in 1905 and eventually became the norm.

Sealed beam headlights were standard fare well into the 1970s. They were replaced by brighter halogen headlamps by the 1980s and '90s, but the new technology wasn't without debate as some consumers complained about the higher price for the halogens and claimed their brighter light was distracting.

Near the end of the century, the same complaints were being heard as high-intensity discharge (HID) lights appeared on many high-priced vehicles as standard equipment or an option and were being offered in the aftermarket for a variety of other vehicles. As the name implies, HID provides a high-intensity light produced from an electric arc inside a capsule filled with xenon gas. The arc produces significantly more light than a glowing filament found in halogen lighting.

In fact, the HID projector headlamps on the 2005 Chevrolet Corvette deliver about double the light output of the average halogen headlamp, according to the headlight maker, Visteon.

HIDs, also known as xenon headlamps, have another advantage. They draw less power from a vehicle's electrical system. Thus, the 2005 Corvette's HIDs use a power-saving 42 watts for the low beam as opposed to a halogen's 55 watts. Not only does this mean less energy drain on the Vette's battery, there's also potential for enhanced performance in the car's other systems.


Quick Reply: Headlights



All times are GMT -8. The time now is 07:35 AM.