GMC Terrain, Equinox, and SRX Forum banner

Do you like oem Nox/Terrain lighting system or do you prefer HID or HIR or something else ?

  • OEM Lighting

    Votes: 0 0.0%
  • HID upgrade kit

    Votes: 0 0.0%
  • HIR modded bulbs

    Votes: 0 0.0%
  • H9 modded bulbs

    Votes: 0 0.0%
  • other system - post about it below

    Votes: 0 0.0%

HIR / HID Poll - Free Discussion

16273 Views 23 Replies 8 Participants Last post by  SuperMat64
Let's debate if you like HID or HIR, say what you want, bring positive or negative points... Give opinions, facts.. everthing you want about Nox/Terrain Lighting this is a forum after all !

For me, it's clear that i love HID... i got that on my Maxima and i had the feeling of being lighted by some candles when i first drove the Terrain at night.

Let us know your preference and if you find that the OEM lighting is good.

Thanks !
1 - 20 of 24 Posts
G
SuperMat64 said:
Let's debate if you like HID or HIR, say what you want, bring positive or negative points... Give opinions, facts.. everthing you want about Nox/Terrain Lighting this is a forum after all !

For me, it's clear that i love HID... i got that on my Maxima and i had the feeling of being lighted by some candles when i first drove the Terrain at night.

Let us know your preference and if you find that the OEM lighting is good.

Thanks !
H9 Upgrade

2100 Lumens, bright white. Cost 10-15 a bulb and 5mins time




HIR if it was available...but its not due to socket design. We use the H11 stock, which is different from the 900x series, I searched before I did this upgrade, there is not 1 HIR to H11 conversion posted over the web I could find, if you read some of the information provided when doing the search of HIR and H11 you will find they did the H9 upgrade for low beams, and HIR for high beams (because alot of high beams use 9005 still )...I do not need my high beams to work that good :)
See less See more
It looks a lot powerful what you've done.

I am still searching info/pictures of someone who tried the same bulbs as you on a projector style housing.

If someone done that please post info/pictures !

Thank you !

2010BlkGraniteNox said:
H9 Upgrade

2100 Lumens, bright white. Cost 10-15 a bulb and 5mins time




HIR if it was available...but its not due to socket design. We use the H11 stock, which is different from the 900x series, I searched before I did this upgrade, there is not 1 HIR to H11 conversion posted over the web I could find, if you read some of the information provided when doing the search of HIR and H11 you will find they did the H9 upgrade for low beams, and HIR for high beams (because alot of high beams use 9005 still )...I do not need my high beams to work that good :)
The only turn off i see about your mod is the lifespan of the bulb... about 320hrs... For how long did you have that on your nox ?
I prefer the standard headlights as on the LTZ,etc. In fact this projector type looks really slick on the road..in my opinion.
I think the brighter...or especially bright blue hue type are not only annoying to oncoming traffic for many...but also distracting. Almost to the point of having the brights on...but a with a much more prominent sharper brightness that is actually unneeded in traffic. Perhaps if they replaced the normal brights with the sharp blue hue system..for backroad or interstate night driving..that could be clicked off as a car approaches..it would be a better practical setup. Of course..then the coolness factor wouldn't be there.
I do like some "halo" lights..such as those on the new Camaro...but those only appear as a more glowing bluish hue ring around the headlight..rather than a sharp piercing bluish white brightness.
See less See more
I agree with you, but HID doesnt have to be bluish... between 4000 and 5000K the light output is real white.

I had 8000K on my Maxima and the light output was a way lower since they were bluish... That's why i've gone with 5000K this time.

I never get flashed with my HID on the Terrain. I think is has to the way the headlamp are adjusted too... I am just thinking about Chevrolet Cavalier in the 2000~2002 years, they are really annoying on the road and they have no HID...

As i see in the pictures of 2010BlkGraniteNox, the normal headlamps (not projector style) seems to provide real good light output !


IceMan said:
I prefer the standard headlights as on the LTZ,etc. In fact this projector type looks really slick on the road..in my opinion.
I think the brighter...or especially bright blue hue type are not only annoying to oncoming traffic for many...but also distracting. Almost to the point of having the brights on...but a with a much more prominent sharper brightness that is actually unneeded in traffic. Perhaps if they replaced the normal brights with the sharp blue hue system..for backroad or interstate night driving..that could be clicked off as a car approaches..it would be a better practical setup. Of course..then the coolness factor wouldn't be there.
I do like some "halo" lights..such as those on the new Camaro...but those only appear as a more glowing blue hue ring around the headlight..rather than a sharp piercing bluish white brightness.
Guess I just don't 'get' why more brightness is needed beyond the factory lights.....
..unless poor eyesight is a factor.
I assume that it is just another 'personalization' to to set one outside of the crowd...or..as some have stated "upgrade". With a new vehicle many always have strong desire to do that...
OEM lighting package has a distinct upper cut-off, which took some time to get used too. Would seem that there is less wasted light with this setup. On a bumpy road at night, you watch the headlight pattern bounce around in front of you...

Why isn't there an LED setup for the rear taillights, HMSL, etc? Is that only for Caddy's?

Back-up light arrangement seems to illuminate the backup camera pretty well...
I don't have a poor eyesight... I was used to Xenon with my Nissan Maxima... The Terrain's lighting was like downgrading.

And as a bonus, i really love the whiter light of the 5000K Xenon.

Personaly... i can't downgrade with my cars... If i have a BMW, you will never sell me something lower ever.

I never had Xenon HID before i had my Maxima so i was not knowing what i was missing... but since i know what is a good lighting now, i was not satisfied with the low output of the Terrain.

IceMan said:
Guess I just don't 'get' why more brightness is needed beyond the factory lights.....
..unless poor eyesight is a factor.
I assume that it is just another 'personalization' to to set one outside of the crowd...or..as some have stated "upgrade". With a new vehicle many always have strong desire to do that...
Yes you are right, the backup lights give a good light when backing up and on that i replaces the bulbs of the license lights with some leds. Now it is clear :)

Bad Dave said:
OEM lighting package has a distinct upper cut-off, which took some time to get used too. Would seem that there is less wasted light with this setup. On a bumpy road at night, you watch the headlight pattern bounce around in front of you...

Why isn't there an LED setup for the rear taillights, HMSL, etc? Is that only for Caddy's?

Back-up light arrangement seems to illuminate the backup camera pretty well...
I don't 'get' this either.
The old thread on these lights has been locked because of bickering and semi insults. Then a new one was started about HIR with the OP's comments..opinions and scolding...and then locked..allowing no further comments. Can the original poster lock his own post?..or does a moderator need be involved?
SuperMat64 said:
Personaly... i can't downgrade with my cars... If i have a BMW, you will never sell me something lower ever.
...But someone sold you a Terrain... ;D
Hehe yes sorry about that ! I was talking about the lights... not the Terrain ! I love the Terrain :)

IceMan said:
...But someone sold you a Terrain... ;D
I think the Halogen lights in the thetas is substandard to say in the least. The yellow tint and cutoff in the projectors make for a crappy system in low beam. In high beam, its pretty amazing. Driving in the country with low beam can make for an interesting situation to say in the least.

I will probably try the HIR bulbs in the lows and if those arent good enough then we will "upgrade" to HIDs.
Let me know when you'll have that done. Post pictures and your impression of how the projector handle these lights. And how the installation process gone.

:) Thank you !

bballr4567 said:
I think the Halogen lights in the thetas is substandard to say in the least. The yellow tint and cutoff in the projectors make for a crappy system in low beam. In high beam, its pretty amazing. Driving in the country with low beam can make for an interesting situation to say in the least.

I will probably try the HIR bulbs in the lows and if those arent good enough then we will "upgrade" to HIDs.
hids or bust.....in my 1st gen, unless i throw down 300+ for a retrofit, im stuck with halogens... :(
Did you check with XenonDepot.com ? They have good price and good quality product !

gar187er said:
hids or bust.....in my 1st gen, unless i throw down 300+ for a retrofit, im stuck with halogens... :(
Thanks for bringing this up - your installation thread was helpful. To me the standard headlights were my only real disappointment. I got away from doing something to fix it because of the long summer daylight, but now with Autumn coming, I have got to address this - too many critters on the road. My wife car (Camry) lighting is far more driver friendly in the lighting area, no mods needed there.
SuperMat64 said:
Did you check with XenonDepot.com ? They have good price and good quality product !
i have a 1st gen....no projectors.....im not a ricer im not putting hids in a reflector housing...
Oh ok you are right, better not put HID in non-projector housing.

Sorry i didnt realize that the 1st gen was different about headlamps.



gar187er said:
i have a 1st gen....no projectors.....im not a ricer im not putting hids in a reflector housing...
1 - 20 of 24 Posts
This is an older thread, you may not receive a response, and could be reviving an old thread. Please consider creating a new thread.
Top