Reflector and Projector Headlights

Ardennes1944

So whats the dealio with headlights. Which are better? Or what are the advantages and disadvantages or both?
Why do some manufacturers choose one over the other?

challengemaster

If you're fitting HID's and you put them in reflectors you're a coont :pac:

Ardennes1944

Yes we know that dr.spock!

vectra

Redlectors spread the light

Projectors direct the light

Am I right??

Ardennes1944

Yeah but one must be better than the other. It surely cant be a cost thing cos my punto had projectors

Chimaera

Projector lamps can be much smaller for a given light output than reflectors. And it's probably a cost thing still - one thing I've noticed about the ones is the spherical aberration in the light from them. That orange halo that makes it look like the indicators are on. On more expensive ones, you don't get that.

Anan1

Just to further muddy the waters, my car came from the factory with HID reflectors. They have auto levelling and they have washers, but they're reflectors, not projectors.

ianobrien

Just to muddy things even further, I reckon the best light I ever saw from a headlight was from a Ford Escort round headlight, as fitted to the RS & Mexico......

Mr Benevolent

I have reflectors and they're useless, utterly terrible. Can't fit HIDs because they'd blind everyone. It's actually dangerous to go down a dark country road with them. The high beams are even worse. Any suggestions?

Mycroft H

Go for some nightbreakers huge improvement over the standard 55w bulb.

EPM

BX 19 wrote: »

Go for some nightbreakers huge improvement over the standard 55w bulb.

And if you buy from a reputable source the Osram warranty is handy...I've used it before:)

langdang

I'd say it's definitely down to cost - you can be sure if projectors were cheaper every car would have them. FIAT were forced into them due to the space left by the styling of the Punto - Picture that punto with big VW Polo lights from the same year?

Have never seen a yellow/orange fringing due to projectors, only blue!

Ardennes1944

i have reflectors on the astra and theyre brilliant with standard bulbs. thanks for the answers lads.