Recent content by IceQube

I'd rather not cover up the reflective features of my cars while it's parked on the side of the road; and, I read that a cover will scratch the car unless it's very clean. I'm just curious if I can get a straight answer from Mr. Philips. Seems that most auto care products are pure hype and...

We have super hard water in the area I'm living in and sunny weather. I park on the street too and own a black car and it always gets hit by someone's sprinklers no matter where I park up or down the street. I'm at the point where I have to wash the car every 8 hours, every day of the week, or...

Thank you for the honest answer, I appreciate it. I'll look into something like Maaco.

Would using a machine to remove the flaking clear coat followed by Optimum Clear Coat Restorer work to make this car look at least halfway presentable in the dark? Optimum Clear Coat Restorer (CCR) My goal is not to have a shiny new paint job. I just need something that doesn't look at...

I've attacked this headlamp with 4 headlamp restoration kits: 3M Heavy Duty, Meguiar's Heavy Duty, Turtle Wax, and Sylvania. Two of these kits required a drill. I've used 400 grit, 500 grit, 800 grit, all sorts of sandpaper, polishing compounds, clarifying compounds, etc. I cannot for the life...

Headlamp development is my job. The US government disagrees. CBP Targets, Intercepts Illegally Imported HID Headlamps | U.S. Customs and Border Protection Many people in the HID retrofit community are obsessed with the idea of a cutoff. A cutoff does not, and cannot prevent glare. A cutoff...

The Lincoln Mark VIII was the first domestic vehicle with a HID system. The issue with the Lincoln was that its HID system sucked. It was the only DC (direct current) HID system, which made for short bulb life, as the electrons would bombard and degrade only one electrode of the HID bulb. All...

And have you done the computer modeling and used a goniophotometer to verify your statement? Many HID systems designed by actual engineers and not random forum users emit dangerous levels of glare, such as the ones on the Chrysler 300. There's nothing safe about an unqualified person in their...

The clouding/hazing is occurring at the top because of UV exposure. That's the part that's directly hit by the sun in midday. Heat is a factor in degradation, but not as much so as UV. Different plastic chemistries. More anti-yellowing chemicals tend to increase the likelihood of cracking...

What cars were they? The Japanese ones, specifically.

2012 IS350c.

Probably not much cheaper for you (consumers), but they are certainly cheaper for the automaker, as they don't involve complicated and expensive ballasts and igniters. Halogens tend to blow before getting much dimmer, but the long-life halogen bulbs that OEMs use tend to last way longer than...

My lamps were already just slightly degraded on the outside, but I didn't want to shell out $1300 per side for new lamps, so I put some 303 on them hoping to eek out a little more lifespan. The new lamps blow the old ones out the water due to new internals as well as a new exterior lens.

I meant no OEM is forced to make their lamps with plastic. FMVSS 108 doesn't require glass or plastic. As a consumer, you're correct--we don't really have much of a choice when it comes to glass or plastic. The GMC Savana is the Chevy Express with a different badge.

Automotive HID lighting is dead and gone. The funeral occurred years ago. Today's and yesteryear's LED systems have left even the best HID systems in the dust. HID and LED lamps will generally have longer useful lifespans than their halogen counterparts. A great example is the 2010 vs 2011...