Are the new HID headlights really not being stolen? I need to decide whether to get xenons or not on my new purchase. Dealer says (natch) that the 2004's are safe, no reports of stolen headlights.

Thanks for your input.

 

Haven't heard of any being stolen. They are quite difficult to get at now. Even to change a burn out bulb.

 

I'd advise you to get the HID's and not worry about people stealing them. After all, there's lots of other stuff people will steal even if you don't have HID's, and they're a HUGE advantage in night driving.

The only exception to this advice might be if you live in the barrio and have to leave your car outside at night. (Well, in that case, maybe I'd advise you not to even have a car. )

Mike

p.s.: Not that there's anything wrong with living in the barrio ...

 

Get the HID's, they are awesome.

 

no offense to 04 owners, the factory hid projectors suck in terms of performance/output...

 

jattmaxx.

"no offense to 04 owners, the factory hid projectors suck in terms of performance/output..."

Compared to what? The HID's in the '04 Maxima are by far the BEST headlights in any car that I have owned, and this includes xenons in a '99 MB CLK and HID's in an '02 Cadillac STS.

Most people that happen to be riding with me at night make unsolicited comments about how bright they are. I have not experienced a better OEM setup.

 

Uh, that one doesn't deserve a response. Another brilliant, educated, well written '04 slam from someone who doesn't even drive one.

 

Yep, I have to agree. Guys, there's no need to diss the car you don't have. It's okay to not like it, etc., but don't just make stuff up.

The Maxima is my third HID car, and these are every bit as good as the others. In fact, they don't have the sharp cutoff in the upper illumination area some others have, and they provide more side lighting, too. The amount of extra range they provide is a lifesaver in night driving.

It's called Progress. Get over it.

Mike

 

R U referring to: a) the 04 Maxima HIDs, b) Nissan HIDs or c) HIDs from any OEM??

 

THe HIDs on my max are by far one of the best units I've come across. My family has 2 other HID equipped cars, a E46 M3 and an E class, and they pale in comparison. The HIDs in the Max are brighter and more intense. The low beam spread is also more even. Although I have to admit the two German cars are in my home country and not in the US but I do believe the HIDs used are the same. Just my two cents.

 

no offense to you, but your wheel suck in terms of look
sorry just had to do it

 

theres no need for anyone to get offended, i work for nissan north america, i do not drive a 2004 and never would with all the problems they have. I am comparing the nissan hid projectors to other "various" projectors out there on the market. go sit in a honda s2000 or a lexus sc430, then i'd like to hear you say that the factors proj's on the max are "all that"... they are nothing more than looks, output is nothing to go crazy over...

 

I have to agree, my best friend owns an '04, and I've driven it a number of times. But I have to say that while they're VERY bright, they're extremely rudamentary and crude. They aren't self leveling, many of the Max's I've seen with them around here, including my friends, aren't aimed properly, and one light is always aimed higher than the other. But my biggest beef is that they aren't auto leveling, which any respectable xenon HID equipped car has. This is noticed by other drivers, so owners of the '04 don't care, but I know that I never drive ahead of my friend, because every little bump he hits totally blinds the driver ahead (me) due to the fixed headlight design.

I love the '04 Max (although I'm liking the new TL more and more every day), I just don't understand why Nissan cheaped out on otherwise great looking HIDs.

 

You mean that there are cars with better factory projectors than the '04 Maxima?!?

I don't think that people said they are the absolute best in the world, they are just pretty damn good or at least improvement over the 5th gen.

 

many people will protest this, however i believe that nissan/infiniti HID performance has always been a laughing matter, they make premium cars which means they should make premium lighting systems, yes the 04 does have improved output when compared to the 02's and 03's, however when compared to other vendors in terms of lighting performance.... nissan is at the bottom.

 

I have an '03 BMW 540i, which has the self-leveling HID's you talk about. I can tell you they do NOT instantaneously level, so hitting a bump will still still cause a jiggle that will make the lights appear to flash at cars ahead.

The self-leveling device is mechanical, so it takes a minute to adjust. It's meant to compensate for loads in the rear (trunk and/or back seats) that would otherwise change the angle of the headlights ... NOT to keep bumps from "blinding drivers ahead".

While I'm at it, ths is the 3rd HID car I've had, and I can't see why some people are trying to knock the Nissan units. They are IMO as good as the BMW HID's, and in fact don't have as sharp a cutoff point at the top of the beam as the BMW's.

Mike

 

"Work for Nissan North America". Hmmmm. Your website says you work for a company that owns a Nissan dealership (as well as other brands) and that you are their Tech person.

I think that hardly qualifies you as an expert on automotive systems, HID's, or anything else car-related. And you admit you don't even own a 2004 Maxima. Have you ever even driven one? At night? More than just "around the block"?

I'm no expert, either, but I have at least put 10,000 miles on a 2004 Maxima, and I have owned 2 other cars with HID's, so I do have a point of comparison. To me, you sound like just another non-2004 owner slamming the 6th Gen Maxima, and goodness knows, we have enough of those already. Go PITT (play in the traffic).

Mike

 

did nissan even make lighting unit?
i thought phillips/hella/ect. were supplying those HID units to
them...
maybe not...

 

I used to have 99 prelude with philips 6000k ultinon HID conversion.
i have to say philips ultinon bulb was brighter than 04 max's HID.
but 04 max's HID provides much much wider beam which is great.

i always have fog lights on.

04 max's HID + stock fog lights =

 

if the 6 gen has a great lighting system, why are you gettin offended? i have much more knowledge on cars than you may think, perhaps you havnt seen all the hid retrofits ive performed... my point of view is my point of view, and in my experience workin with various cars as well as projector retrofits, i kno that the projectors in teh maxima arent all that... stop whining, sala pahnchod...

lastly yes ive driven a 04 in detail as my dealer demo...

 

Which is why after market HIDs are illegal now.

 

uhh..it's supposed to be like that. Have you ever driven into a lot or a garage pointing towards it with your lights on!? The passenger side is always aimed higher than the drivers side...this is to illuminate dim signs on the road

the same goes to cars with right hand drive..but it's the left headlight that's aimed higher

 

i have a 2002...first HID-equipped car. It is great compared to the other car (94 corolla reflector halogens) but compared to other HID equipped cars, it doesn't give a great output.

 

You're the man!

 

 

Ah, but you misunderstand, my fine feathered friend. I am hardly whining, and I am not offended that the Maxima's HID's are being slammed ... I am just offended that you are slamming them! You started this, you know.

Everyone is entitled to their opinion, but you seem to be saying that you have some kind of expertise or superior knowledge that makes your opinion better than that of people who actually drive these cars every day. I didn't even mention that the featured car on your website is a Honda! You're probably a whiz at IT stuff, but I just don't think you know what you're talking about here. (And that's just MY opinion ... to which I'm entitled!)

I've had enough of this. You'll never be convinced and you'll never convince me.

Mike

p.s.: "sala pahnchod" ? You're not cursing me in your native tongue, are you?

 

Just an FYI for everyone - The 04 Max has Hella Bi-Xenon projectors - http://faq.auto.light.tripod.com/car-oem-hid.htm . They are used in many different cars incl. Mercedes, Audi and BMW (Jattmax - there goes your "premium car, premium headlight" argument). Also, you're comparing non Bi Xenon systems (ie S2000) to a bi xenon system. The cut off may be better with regular projectors and the light output on low beam may be slightly higher, but turn the brights on and see who has the best light output. If you'd like to continue believing that you know more about this than everyone else, you should head over to HID Forum - http://hidforum.com/ - and read up.

 

That's one area where IMO the 2k4 Maxima is clearly better than the 5.5G: HIDs (that and 18" wheels) .

Some dude in a 6G was about 1/4 mile behind me Sat. night but I couldnt tell it was a 6G until it came closer. But the Xenon pattern was more like a Benz or BMW than my 5.5G Maxima.

The 5.5G has the weakest HIDs I've ever seen by far. EVERY other HID light set on the market looks better (though I cant verify the effectiveness of other HIDs) That said, they thoroughly beat halogens.

 

the bixenons are actually just 1 capsule per headlight that are aimed a little higher when put on highbeam mode...not 2 capsules(bulbs) per headlight

i wish they would stop stealing our 2k2/2k3 headlights then!!

also it's not the HIDs that are weak..they are actually very quality parts. It has a REAL philips capsule and a panasonic ballast. It's the reflector design that isn't so well.

 

99-03 TL's are on par with the 02/03 Maxima so is the G35 sedans. They get the job done and just be glad you have HID's people and stop nit picking everything, some of those cars that have those other features cost 10-20k or more more than the Max as well.

 

He's desi (Indian)...you'lll have to forgive him. I'm ABCD so I have no clue what he's saying but I'll assure it's not good.

 

I was speaking in terms of aesthetics but @ $27G, I'll nitpick until the cows come home. TDB!! As far as other cars with HIDs, the Ford Focus Mach edition has better HIDs (again speaking aesthetically); and I think they're projectors @ that. As far as getting the job done, the Y2k/2k1 Max halogens get the job done also.

Peace.

 

I think BMW and Lexus make some of the nicest hids. My cousin owns a 03 BMW 504i and let me say they do look nice, maybe better than the 04 Maxima.
I will say that the 04 maxima hids are better than 02-03 maxima hids.

 

At least with the '04, Nissan did it right by not forcing the owners to have to replace the fog lamp bulbs to get them to match the HID's. What I find humorous is the following...

Yeah, there haven't been hardly any issues with our 2002-03 versions.

 

I know there is only one capsule per headlight, but you are wrong about how the bi-xenon system works. The capsule never moves, the shield is switched mechanically when you turn on the high beams.

 

Yup !

 

I have no complaints about my HID lights. I will have to give up the HIDs for halogen when I have to move to the NE.