Your assumptions are incorrect. The "K" refers to the light temperature in degree Kelvin, not the amount of light output. The lower "K" you go the more yellow the light output will be and conversely the higher "K" you go the more blue or purple you will get, but you will also lose more light output.

You should try re-aiming your headlights first and see if that helps you out. It's not the temperature of the bulbs that are giving problems, it's the glare from those cheap PnP kits. The correct way to use HIDs is to do use them in a projector housing like those from 06-08 Pilots. Not sure why Honda went away from using those, but I digress. Projectors will give the proper cutoff as not to glare oncoming drivers. The other way is to do a complete retrofit with the widely used Acura TL projectors. All of your HID questions and needs can be found on HIDplanet.com. For the sake of your fellow drivers, either re-aim your headlights or put back the halogen bulbs.

 

They need to be reaimed.

 

It's not just the headlights that needs to be re-aimed... it's your entire headlight reflectors that need to be replaced. This goes for all headlights which were designed for halogen bulbs. Aiming your HIDs light lower to reduce glare, kind of negates the point of having HIDs...

Switching to just any old projector setup won't fix the problem, you need to switch to a projector designed for HIDs, or you could even use reflectors that are designed for HIDs (Maxima, Lexus GS comes to mind).

I'm honestly tired of seeing cars and especially lifted trucks with HIDs non-HID housings.

 

The other way is to do a complete retrofit with the widely used Acura TL projectors

So has any1 on this forum done a full retrofit on the 09/10 pilot? I'm very interested in this, as its one of the gripes that i've always had when honda did the refresh.

Pics if possible please...

 

i agree with the replies posted so far. however, i have 4300k HID's in my 06 and the factory halogen projectors handle the increased output surprisingly well. the cut-off is not as sharp or defined as HID projectors, but the important thing is that oncoming drivers are shielded from excess glare. i did adjust the aim slightly, but not enough to negate the HIDs. i've had them in for over a year now and haven't gotten any highbeams flashed at me. the problem with putting HID's in 09+ pilots is that they utilize reflector housings, rather than projectors, likely resulting in excessive glare. adding to tank99's response, the best way to add HIDs to any vehicle is to retrofit the existing housings with HID-designed reflectors/projectors. unfortunately, this can involve a lot of work, but i have seen it done.

what type of HID bulbs were included with your kit? bulbs designed for reflectors (D2R) have a shield on the capsule which cuts some of the glare. projector bulbs (D2S) do not have this shield. changing to a D2R bulb MIGHT help your situation, but you will probably still have glare issues.

 

The lamps I put in do not have a shield or projector tube I have seen in factory HID headlamps. At the advice of humanoid, I did go back to the halogens. (5 minute job max.). Just returned from a ski trip through a lot of falling snow and was a little dis-satisfied with the performance let alone blinding my fellow oncomers. Perhaps Honda will upgrade the 2011 with the HID's in the correct housing.

Thanks for everyone's input. Be safe tonight!

 

The lamps I put in do not have a shield or projector tube I have seen in factory HID headlamps. At the advice of humanoid, I did go back to the halogens. (5 minute job max.). Just returned from a ski trip through a lot of falling snow and was a little dis-satisfied with the performance let alone blinding my fellow oncomers. Perhaps Honda will upgrade the 2011 with the HID's in the correct housing.

Thanks for everyone's input. Be safe tonight!

If you want better night vision with the 09/10 Honda pilot reflectors you can up grade to 65w H-9. The low beams can safely and effectively take 2100-lumen H9 bulbs instead of the 1350-lumen H11 bulbs: http://store.candlepower.com/h-9.html You may need to shave a small ridge of plastic off the H9 bulb's connector so that the H11 socket will snap on. Other than that, it's a direct swap. The only disadvantage is shorter bulb lifespan. The extra ten watts isn't enough to create a heat or power consumption problem.
I've run mine for over a year, no oncoming flashing, great cut-off.


bulb mod link
:2:

 

I've upgraded to 6000K Philips Ultinon bulbs for my low beam, and 3000K for the fogs. Both work perfectly and I get nothing but complements on them. Visibility is greatly improved and the fogs really light up the sides of the road. One thing is to make sure that your bulb has a shield installed so it doesn't blind other drivers. Also, make sure to re-aim your headlights as the HID's project much farther.

As for glare and blinding light, if you buy one of those cheap $69 korean made HID kits, then for sure you will get bad results. Do yourself a favor and invest in a good kit. You will be happy you did.

 

No offense but nobody should be putting Hid kits in non-projector headlights. It's bright for you but it blinds the S out of anyone in front of you. The light just goes all over the place instead of focused in front of you.

Baiason how is a $69 "korean kit" any different from a $300 made in the proud usa kit? Both are drop in kits for non-projector headlights. I don't think the price tag will aim the light any better in the same headlights.

Anyway you could probably just get better halogen bulb as suggest by RSQ-Pilot. Other then that I don't think a replacement projector headlight is available for the 2nd gen pilots. As I type this I bet a company is busy making it.

 

I have used 6000 in my truck then I downgraded to 4300
4300 is the closes match to factory head lights and to the daylight

 

A lot of folks would consider it a downgrade to go from 4300k (factory) to 6000k (rice).

 

I have used 6000 in my truck then I downgraded to 4300
4300 is the closes match to factory head lights and to the daylight

I have a 5000k and had no problem with it ever..its been about as year now and i love it, id hate to go back to the h11 or in my case the h9 conversion...my light output is all white and really brightens up the road especially on snow...and no flash from others..i never re aimed the lights or anything..it all depends on the kits..some are good and some are junk

 

A lot of folks would consider it a downgrade to go from 4300k (factory) to 6000k (rice).

:29:

 

I will be installing my 4300k kit soon from XenonDepot and plan on doing a full writeup of the installation and thoughts. Will post it up on here as well.

 

I have to somewhat agree with samc... you should NOT be using HID light in any headlight housings (projector or reflector) that aren't designed for them. It's not just the aiming, it's the reflectors themselves. You have to remember these housings were designed for halogen, so that lower piece of chrome trim here, chrome trim there (which aren't aim-able), with a halogen bulb the reflection is negligible, but with brighter HIDs they're just a nuisance to other drivers and yourself in adverse weather conditions.

I once had 5000k HIDs in my WRX, even though the lights were aimed properly, you can see the light going up from the cutoffs, very evident when you drive up to a wall or garage door. This is the glare you're giving other drivers.

I admit it was hard to switch back to halogens since you can clearly see (see what I did there) the advantages. I've since replace the WRX with a Porsche that has stock HIDs and there's a huge difference with crisp cutoffs, better light spread, and visibility.

 

I have to somewhat agree with samc... you should NOT be using HID light in any headlight housings (projector or reflector) that aren't designed for them. It's not just the aiming, it's the reflectors themselves. You have to remember these housings were designed for halogen, so that lower piece of chrome trim here, chrome trim there (which aren't aim-able), with a halogen bulb the reflection is negligible, but with brighter HIDs they're just a nuisance to other drivers and yourself in adverse weather conditions.

I once had 5000k HIDs in my WRX, even though the lights were aimed properly, you can see the light going up from the cutoffs, very evident when you drive up to a wall or garage door. This is the glare you're giving other drivers.

I admit it was hard to switch back to halogens since you can clearly see (see what I did there) the advantages. I've since replace the WRX with a Porsche that has stock HIDs and there's a huge difference with crisp cutoffs, better light spread, and visibility.

Proof is in the pudding. I will put my writeup on here within the next 3 or 4 days. I think you will be suprised with the cutoffs. Old reflector style housings did not do a good job with cutoffs. The newer ones like in the accord and new Pilot are better. Are they as good as projectors, No. But not ALL projectors are made specifically for the HID application either.

I am going from a 2007 Pilot with Projectors to a 2010 without. Are they as good. Obivously not. But are they blinding to oncoming drivers. Not anymore than the 2007 with projectors.

Again I was very pissimistic as well. But I was pleasantly suprised after the install yesterday.

Again I have pictures with the cutoff so the proof is in the pudding. You can judge for yourself once I have the pics up.

If its not your cup of tea then that's fine.

FYI.. Here is the link to the install and review I did for my 08 Accord on driveraccord.net

http://www.driveaccord.net/forums/showthread.php?t=22469

This shows you the cutoffs on the accord. The Pilot cutoff is much better then the Accords.

 

I once had 5000k HIDs in my WRX, even though the lights were aimed properly, you can see the light going up from the cutoffs, very evident when you drive up to a wall or garage door. This is the glare you're giving other drivers.

The light that 'leaks' out above the cutoff is actually a design feature. That slip of lighting is there so you can see road signage at night, without causing glare to oncoming drivers. That's because the light 'leakage' is very small and dim. Most road signs are unlit, and the little bit of light that escapes above the cutoff helps the driver see the reflective sign better. It's not poor design. It's there for a reason.

Pretty neat, huh?

 

The light that 'leaks' out above the cutoff is actually a design feature. That slip of lighting is there so you can see road signage at night, without causing glare to oncoming drivers. That's because the light 'leakage' is very small and dim. Most road signs are unlit, and the little bit of light that escapes above the cutoff helps the driver see the reflective sign better. It's not poor design. It's there for a reason.

Pretty neat, huh?

It's an ok design... only problem is it was designed for halogens and not HIDs. Now that "very small and dim light" (with halogens) are now bright and annoying with HIDs.

Sharp cutoffs that rise to the right probably do a better job of illuminating signs etc. without blinding oncoming traffic.

 

I do not know if anyone else has mentioned this or not but I do find it amazing how yellow everyone elses lights are when I switched over to HIDs. WOW there is a lot of yellow light out there !!!