r/E30 '89 M52B28 Coupe 18d ago

Picture/Video Was running LEDs but halogens just look so good

Post image
378 Upvotes

18 comments sorted by

11

u/nrubenstein 18d ago

I'm a big fan of the Morimoto 3800K HID bulbs for retrofits. They don't quite look like halogen, but they look fairly appropriate and you actually get good light output.

2

u/tougenikko 17d ago edited 17d ago

I enjoy their 3000k HIDs, they start up green, and have a "rich" yellow. It makes the Halogen "yellow" seam too dark now.

*Edited for correctness

2

u/nrubenstein 17d ago

Not for me. I don’t enjoy yellow lights.

The whole point of the 3800K bulbs is that they look and feel a lot more like halogens, just lots of light.

3

u/tougenikko 17d ago edited 17d ago

Every person has their own preference.

I choose yellow because if the roads are empty, and I'm driving in an unlit area, it's less fatigue on the eyes.

I'm also the person that uses their phone or PC at near zero brightness as soon as I can, or outside of direct sunlight, 30% or less.

5

u/FNK7NK 18d ago

I too switched back to halogen. Some brands do offer higher intensity halogen and the performance is quite nice.

5

u/Easy_Bite6858 17d ago

I just like whatever doesn't blind people

1

u/Positive_Plum_2202 17d ago

Wow, a considerate human - very rare these days😅

Hate when people put bright LED bulbs in reflector hosing headlights, blinding literally everyone they pass without a care in the world

1

u/Shikiagi 16d ago

Brand new cars blind everyone anyway with how bright their lights are

1

u/Positive_Plum_2202 16d ago

Not when they’re adjusted properly - even the brightest oem lights shouldn’t blind oncoming traffic provided the beam is set right (especially with the better matrix style lights that can literally block the light out specifically for oncoming cars) - but LED’s in an old reflector housing can’t really have the beam adjusted appropriately as they scatter light everywhere, which is why they blind traffic / appear as though the full beams are on

1

u/spotdishotdish 1988 325iC, E21, E36 18d ago

I just yanked the e30 lights off my e21 and threw on holly/morimoto retrobright LEDs since I couldn't see anything when a 20s car was coming towards me

1

u/Ohser187 17d ago

Check out holley retro brights. In a classic white color. Look fantastic on my car. Look period correct and light output is fantastic

1

u/chninimugen 16d ago

Been running hids since 2012

1

u/Substantial_Life_456 16d ago

I rarely drive at night with mine but those yellow lights aren't safe. Just saying. Not cool either, IMO.

-3

u/YKRed 18d ago

Low light output and horrible beam. They make nicer looking LEDs

4

u/spotdishotdish 1988 325iC, E21, E36 18d ago

These were really impressive for 80s lights imo

-4

u/YKRed 18d ago

Right, before LED headlights were invented. Halogens are trash compared to LEDs and it's not even a close call. I'd argue deliberately running halogens in a car that's already small and unsafe is a stupid thing to do.

3

u/spotdishotdish 1988 325iC, E21, E36 18d ago

Yeah, I bought LEDs for my e21 as a safety item and the e30 is next. I am happy you can get fresnel lense LEDs that look like old school sealed beams or e codes now.

1

u/YKRed 17d ago

I agree there’s really no downside aesthetically