Custom Headlight Upgrades - Ideas to Improve Night Vision

Headlights tend to wear out as they age. They start to produce less light and can usually go unnoticed. Bright new headlights produce a cold blue or white light at night. Old headlights will typically produce a dim yellow beam.

There are several ways you can upgrade your headlights to improve their performance. You could make them brighter by changing old worn out bulbs or opting for LEDs or HIDs. Sometimes, all you need to do is clean the lenses to remove dirt and oxidation.

In this guide, we’ll cover some of the custom headlight upgrades you can undertake at home. Some are purely for aesthetic purposes while others make your headlights more practical. The former will change the look of your car while the latter will only make your lights much brighter. Here’s how to upgrade your headlights.

Replace old headlights

If you drive an older model that has been on the road for a long time, replacing the headlight capsules can result in brighter lights. A standard headlight usually lasts about five years. However, many car owners go for years without replacing them at all.

Most vehicles will have at least one headlight replaced in their lifetime. This is typically once in a period of about 10-12 years. The replacement could come as a result of wear and tear or damage from an accident. Changing your headlights can improve your car’s illumination by up to 70 percent.

Upgrade to brighter headlights

Another way you can upgrade your headlights is by replacing the bulb with a brighter version. To make the job easier, go for direct-replacement bulbs of the same type that produce more light than the originals.

There are aftermarket options available that produce up to 80 percent more light. The amount of light produced is measured in Lumens. The higher the lumens, the brighter the bulb will be. It’s good to note that some brighter bulbs last for a shorter period of time.

Clean your headlights

Over time, headlights tend to turn yellow due to prolonged exposure to external elements. The polycarbonate plastic reacts with UV rays from the sun, causing a hazy coating to form on top. When combined with the dirt and grime the vehicle encounters every day, it leaves the headlights looking dim and yellow.

This limits the amount of light produced. It also makes a car look really old. The good news is that you can remove the buildup that causes the headlight lens to turn yellow. All you need are a few household items such as baking soda, lemon, or toothpaste.

Scrub your headlights until you achieve a clean finish. For cars that have been on the road longer, a headlight restoration kit works better. It comes with different grades of sandpaper that help to remove the oxidation without ruining the headlight. Remember to follow the manufacturer’s instructions for the best results.

Upgrade to high-intensity discharge (HID) headlights

Older vehicles come fitted with halogen headlights. These are headlights that have a tungsten filament inside a bulb filled with halogen gas. When current passes through, the filament glows to produce a yellowish dim light. It also evaporates by releasing particles.

The particles combine with the gas and get redeposited on the filament. This recycles the particles and allows the bulb to last longer. Due to their dim light, newer cars have gotten rid of halogens for high-intensity headlights (HID).

These are headlights that produce light by sending an electrical discharge between two electrodes. They emit light that is up to three times brighter than halogen headlights. They are also more durable and energy efficient. A typical HID will last up to five times longer.

Cars today prefer them because they are significantly brighter than halogens. Keep in mind that if you want to switch from halogen headlights to HIDs, you need to install ballasts. It is not a plug-in process. The ballasts helps to provide the initial voltage and maintain adequate supply of current to the bulb.

Upgrade to LED headlights

Most car manufacturers today fit vehicles with LED headlights straight from the factory. They are the brightest headlights available today. They produce up to 500% more light than halogens. They are also significantly brighter than HIDs and last much longer.

The best part is that they perform better while consuming less energy. Car manufacturers prefer them because they are also flexible to design. They can be shaped in different ways to match the design of the car.

To increase the amount of light produced by your headlights, opt for direct replacement capsules that fit your existing headlight housing or install drop-in LED capsules in your projector headlights. Keep in mind that this might not work for reflector headlight housings. It can result in a poor beam pattern.

Brightness and Headlight Beam Pattern

When upgrading your headlights, it’s not enough to have brighter lights. It’s also important to ensure that your lights illuminate in the right direction. They should not blind oncoming traffic or shine too far inwards or outwards.

This helps to prevent accidents on the road and improve visibility. It ensures that your lights shine light in the right places. In some states, it’s also important that they stay within limits set by the law when it comes to brightness.

Having bulbs that are too bright can make it difficult to see through harsh weather conditions such as rain. Furthermore, pay attention to the quality of the beam pattern. It should be sharp and not fuzzy or misaligned.

Conclusion

The easiest way to upgrade the performance of your headlights is to clean them first. This helps to remove the yellow or hazy coating that forms on top. If your headlights are still badly off, try replacing the bulb with a much brighter aftermarket option.

You can also upgrade to HIDs or LEDs if you have halogens. This is a job that may require skill so be sure to reach out to a certified mechanic. At the end of it all, you’ll have headlights that produce more light and make it easier and safer to drive at night.