Contour Enthusiasts Group Archives Forums Modifications General Mods a different headlight question. Chris H would probably know best

That's odd,
My initial understanding was that the Pre 98's had such a piss poor light output which led to the redesign.

I also thought that round/circle lighting was still the best shape. Which is why you see "aero" shaped lights, but circles inside, like the BMW's and Porsche's, and the newer cars coming to market, like all the '02 Nissan's as examples.

i believe thecontourguy simply meant it had more potential than the later ones.

but, i disagree (what dion said).

A large round is the most efficient reflector design. A narrow rectangular reflector is the least efficient design. The absolute worst headlamp design award has to be the Dodge Intrepid. Even the lamp's designer admits its terrible, but Chrysler wanted them to be teeny.

But newer headlamp designs using axial filament bulbs (9005, 9006, 9007, H1, H4 and H7) rather than transverse filament bulbs (9004, sealed beam headlamps) can use a narrow reflector more efficiently because an axial filament bulb uses the entire reflector, not just above and below the bulb.

speaking of which.
Those that have gone wih Chris H;s
Headlights....be it black etc. ..Has your light out put changed any? I know the Reflectors themselves are not changed, but you never know....
Anyone?

It doesn't affect the light in any way. If anything, it gets rid of stray light that might get bounced off the chrome piece that gets painted. I'm not doing anything with the part that actually concentrates the light beams. Separate piece of plastic.