Omega Owners Forum

Omega Help Area => Omega General Help => Topic started by: albitz on 27 January 2009, 22:50:18

Title: difference between projectors and HID,s
Post by: albitz on 27 January 2009, 22:50:18
The headlights on my car are now so dim that I am tempted to stick a couple of bicycle lights on the bonnet to supplement them.
I have been in discussion with another member for the last few days regarding buying a pair of projectors he is selling.He isnt completely sure if they are normal projectors or HID,s and i wouldnt know either.
So,what are the physical differences which distinguish one from the other ? tia.
Title: Re: difference between projectors and HID,s
Post by: Darth Loo-knee on 27 January 2009, 22:55:38
Albs if you have on the dash under the lights a wheel that alters the lights you will have projectors :y

Hope that makes sense mate
Title: Re: difference between projectors and HID,s
Post by: Entwood on 27 January 2009, 22:56:08
In very simple terms ..

The HID units have a large silver box attached to them .. and warnings about the extra high voltages generated by that box .. which is called a ballast unit. The "bulbs" are basically a form of discharge light that requires a high voltage to "strike" ... thats why they are called High Intensity Discharge  (HID).


"Normal" profjectors have the same "lense" but a standard bulb and no ballst pack .. so don't need the voltage warnings.

Now the purists will have more in depth answers .. but thats my simple way .. :)
Title: Re: difference between projectors and HID,s
Post by: amba on 27 January 2009, 23:00:08
Projecter headlights are far superior to the older style with ribbed lenses,but HID,s are the prefered choice.
HID,S have a ballast unit fitted to ignite the bulb where standard units are powered by a halogen bulb from the 12volt.In appearance they are similar from the front,but as said the HID,s have a ballast fitted to the back of the lamp body and require additional wiring at the back.
Title: Re: difference between projectors and HID,s
Post by: stuart30 on 27 January 2009, 23:01:08
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Albs if you have on the dash under the lights a wheel that alters the lights you will have projectors :y

Hope that makes sense mate


Actually im fairly sure even the bog standard early lights had the height adjuster wheel...im sure my old Elite did.

Title: Re: difference between projectors and HID,s
Post by: Entwood on 27 January 2009, 23:04:15
I think the OP wants to be able to tell the difference between the light units OUT of the car .. :)


Title: Re: difference between projectors and HID,s
Post by: Turk on 27 January 2009, 23:04:33
Quote
Quote
Albs if you have on the dash under the lights a wheel that alters the lights you will have projectors :y

Hope that makes sense mate


Actually im fairly sure even the bog standard early lights had the height adjuster wheel...im sure my old Elite did.


My '94 Elite did too, as does my '00 CD  
Title: Re: difference between projectors and HID,s
Post by: albitz on 27 January 2009, 23:05:06
Quote
Quote
Albs if you have on the dash under the lights a wheel that alters the lights you will have projectors :y

Hope that makes sense mate


Actually im fairly sure even the bog standard early lights had the height adjuster wheel...im sure my old Elite did.

yea, mine has the wheel but a pair of candles rather than projectors,I am just trying to get advice for the bloke with the lights so that he can have a look and decide from what he can see if the lights he is selling are projectors or HID.I dont want to buy HID,s because I dont have washers or self levelling. :y
Title: Re: difference between projectors and HID,s
Post by: stuart30 on 27 January 2009, 23:07:09
Quote
Quote
Quote
Albs if you have on the dash under the lights a wheel that alters the lights you will have projectors :y

Hope that makes sense mate


Actually im fairly sure even the bog standard early lights had the height adjuster wheel...im sure my old Elite did.

yea, mine has the wheel but a pair of candles rather than projectors,I am just trying to get advice for the bloke with the lights so that he can have a look and decide from what he can see if the kights he is selling are projectors or HID.I dont want to buy HID,s becuase I dont have washers or self levelling. :y


Dont take this the wrong way mate....maybe its best too buy from someone who knows the difference.

You dont want too end up buying a set of fog lights do ya... :y
Title: Re: difference between projectors and HID,s
Post by: Darth Loo-knee on 27 January 2009, 23:09:55
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Quote
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Albs if you have on the dash under the lights a wheel that alters the lights you will have projectors :y

Hope that makes sense mate


Actually im fairly sure even the bog standard early lights had the height adjuster wheel...im sure my old Elite did.

yea, mine has the wheel but a pair of candles rather than projectors,I am just trying to get advice for the bloke with the lights so that he can have a look and decide from what he can see if the kights he is selling are projectors or HID.I dont want to buy HID,s becuase I dont have washers or self levelling. :y


Dont take this the wrong way mate....maybe its best too buy from someone who knows the difference.

You dont want too end up buying a set of fog lights do ya... :y

PMSL  ;D ;D ;D ;D ;D
Title: Re: difference between projectors and HID,s
Post by: stuart30 on 27 January 2009, 23:16:29
Quote
Quote
Quote
Quote
Quote
Albs if you have on the dash under the lights a wheel that alters the lights you will have projectors :y

Hope that makes sense mate


Actually im fairly sure even the bog standard early lights had the height adjuster wheel...im sure my old Elite did.

yea, mine has the wheel but a pair of candles rather than projectors,I am just trying to get advice for the bloke with the lights so that he can have a look and decide from what he can see if the kights he is selling are projectors or HID.I dont want to buy HID,s becuase I dont have washers or self levelling. :y


Dont take this the wrong way mate....maybe its best too buy from someone who knows the difference.

You dont want too end up buying a set of fog lights do ya... :y

PMSL  ;D ;D ;D ;D ;D


Mind you im no better.....didnt even notice i had non matching wheels till some one pointed it out..... :-[ ;D
Title: Re: difference between projectors and HID,s
Post by: feeutfo on 27 January 2009, 23:21:52
Quote
The headlights on my car are now so dim that I am tempted to stick a couple of bicycle lights on the bonnet to supplement them.
I have been in discussion with another member for the last few days regarding buying a pair of projectors he is selling.He isnt completely sure if they are normal projectors or HID,s and i wouldnt know either.
So,what are the physical differences which distinguish one from the other ? tia.

So, if i understand it correctly? You want to upgrade from normal bog stock Halogen
to projectors, but are worried you may be buying Hid projectors?
 I take it all the hid gubins is not present or it would be fairly obvious with the all the yellow and black warning triangle stickers on the hid housing... So if you had just the two units(headlight) side by side whats the difference? Short answer is dont know... But had assumed the basic unit is the same, just add the relevent hid parts, with the exception of the level motor... Which possibly may not be the same as the 4 position level of the normal projector.
So probably more Qs than As...


Title: Re: difference between projectors and HID,s
Post by: albitz on 27 January 2009, 23:22:34
So,are there any physical differences apart from the ballast pack on the rear of the lamps  :question :question
Title: Re: difference between projectors and HID,s
Post by: feeutfo on 27 January 2009, 23:34:37
ffs i really must type faster, only 4 replys when i started. I dont think so but cant be certain, unless you get def confirmation from a big gun on here, i would suggest a call to the parts dept in the  a.m. Sorry cant give a def answer re the two units side by side.
Title: Re: difference between projectors and HID,s
Post by: ste_bla on 27 January 2009, 23:40:06
Surely pull the bulb out and see which sort it is?
Title: Re: difference between projectors and HID,s
Post by: albitz on 27 January 2009, 23:41:10
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So,are there any physical differences apart from the ballast pack on the rear of the lamps  :question :question
Edit; just seen your post Chris,I havent seen the lights and the guy selling them isnt completely sure so I am trying to get him info on what the visual differences are. :y
Title: Re: difference between projectors and HID,s
Post by: feeutfo on 28 January 2009, 05:14:05
also it seems the age is relevent, pre face lift lights do not appear to be the same as face lift.
http://www.omegaowners.com/forum/YaBB.pl?num=1162397096/0
Title: Re: difference between projectors and HID,s
Post by: hotel21 on 28 January 2009, 10:17:40
Had forgotten all about this test thread....

http://www.omegaowners.com/forum/YaBB.pl?num=1189080951

Must get it sorted out sometime.....   ::)
Title: Re: difference between projectors and HID,s
Post by: feeutfo on 28 January 2009, 11:58:28
well just spoke to parts man, hids are different, electrical connectors not the same. Should be an i.d. Number on the back the seller can give you to double check with vx.
Title: Re: difference between projectors and HID,s
Post by: TECHNOPUG on 28 January 2009, 13:14:47
So......(having read a lot of threads but still without conclusive answers)....can projector headlamps (and therefore HID's) from facelift cars be fitted to pre-facelift (96 Elite in my case) cars? Some posts seem to suggest that "they don't fit very well". Anyone have experience of retro-fitting projectors to pre-facelift that can confrim?
Title: Re: difference between projectors and HID,s
Post by: VX1 on 28 January 2009, 13:34:30
Headlamps from a facelift Will not fit a prefacelift car, unless you change the bonnet, bumper and the wings.
HTH

Paul  :y
Title: Re: difference between projectors and HID,s
Post by: TECHNOPUG on 28 January 2009, 13:37:22
Quote
Headlamps from a facelift Will not fit a prefacelift car, unless you change the bonnet, bumper and the wings.
HTH

Paul  :y

So I'm stuck with the pathetic, dangerous and frankly illegal candle lights in the front of my car?  >:(
Title: Re: difference between projectors and HID,s
Post by: ste_bla on 28 January 2009, 14:52:41
Quote
Quote
Headlamps from a facelift Will not fit a prefacelift car, unless you change the bonnet, bumper and the wings.
HTH

Paul  :y

So I'm stuck with the pathetic, dangerous and frankly illegal candle lights in the front of my car?  >:(

Nooo. Facelift is ~2000 onwards. So Proj from a preface should fit?
Title: Re: difference between projectors and HID,s
Post by: TECHNOPUG on 28 January 2009, 15:24:22


Quote
Quote
Quote
Headlamps from a facelift Will not fit a prefacelift car, unless you change the bonnet, bumper and the wings.
HTH

Paul  :y

So I'm stuck with the pathetic, dangerous and frankly illegal candle lights in the front of my car?  >:(

Nooo. Facelift is ~2000 onwards. So Proj from a preface should fit?

I didn't think that Pre-facelift came with projectors? Or are you talking about mini-facelift? What years/models are mini-facelift projector cars in that case?

Pre-facelift - no Projectors
Mini-facelift - Projectors, no HIDs
Full Facelift - Projectors and/or HIDs

Mini-facelift Projectors will fit Pre-facelift. Full-facelift Projectors will NOT fit Pre-facelift.

???........
Title: Re: difference between projectors and HID,s
Post by: hotel21 on 28 January 2009, 15:26:44
Minilifts also had HID's from standard on the upper models and thus will be a direct fit on other minilifts and prefacelifts....   ;)
Title: Re: difference between projectors and HID,s
Post by: ste_bla on 28 January 2009, 15:41:57
This might be better in another thread but;

What exactly changed with the "mini" face lift?

As Ive had 3 omegas and only difference was;

96 2.0 CD = No Proj
97 2.0 CD = Proj
98 2.0 CDX = Proj (+ Had a CD Multi Box)

Cant see/notice any difference bumpers/body seems to be the same?
Title: Re: difference between projectors and HID,s
Post by: RobG on 28 January 2009, 17:32:36
Quote
This might be better in another thread but;

What exactly changed with the "mini" face lift?

As Ive had 3 omegas and only difference was;

96 2.0 CD = No Proj
97 2.0 CD = Proj
98 2.0 CDX = Proj (+ Had a CD Multi Box)

Cant see/notice any difference bumpers/body seems to be the same?
http://www.omegaowners.com/forum/YaBB.pl?num=1162323406 :y
Title: Re: difference between projectors and HID,s
Post by: Pitchfork on 28 January 2009, 18:23:56
I think that you will find that the connectors are different on HID
The connectors are the same on Ribbed type & Projectors however the bulbs are both H1 on the ribbed type & the projector has an H1 & an H7
Title: Re: difference between projectors and HID,s
Post by: ngrainqey on 28 January 2009, 19:24:18
right then... on the projectors you'll have rubber domes covering where you get into the bulbs, on the hids you have a full beam rubber dome on the sidelight/full beam inner light then on the outer there's a plastic cover with the hid high voltage warnings and its actually screwed onto the headlight unit!
Title: Re: difference between projectors and HID,s
Post by: Pitchfork on 28 January 2009, 20:30:50
Quote
right then... on the projectors you'll have rubber domes covering where you get into the bulbs, on the hids you have a full beam rubber dome on the sidelight/full beam inner light then on the outer there's a plastic cover with the hid high voltage warnings and its actually screwed onto the headlight unit!
And the connector is different