Tech Info >> Halogen Lighting Technology > Many automotive enthusiasts are quick to spend money on products labelled as an "upgrade" without spending the time to research the technology before finalizing their purchase. Halogen lighting may not be the newest lighting technology, but its low cost and simplicity still has good potential. There are still many high quality halogen bulbs worth using. Selective-Yellow Bulbs: These bulbs emit slightly less light than a standard un-coated bulb. However, their warmer color spectrum does a fantastic job of piercing through mist, fog and rain. These bulbs are ideal for cars subjected to poor weather conditions and offer a significant increase in visibility and safety. These bulbs are especially ideal for foglamp assemblies. Halogen/Xenon High-Output Bulbs: Manufactured in Germany by reputable companies like Osram, Narva and Philips. These bulbs use a mixture of halogen and xenon gas, plus a high-efficiency filament winding to increase total light output. Bench tested and proven -- we love these bulbs and so do our customers. Competition Bulbs: More light output. More heat. Greater power consumption. Shorter lifespan. These bulbs offer serious light output and are only suitable for off-road track conditions. In order to sustain at these higher temperatures, headlamps must be constructed of metal and glass to avoid burning and premature deteriation. Heavy-duty wiring/relay harness is mandatory. Blue-Coated Junk Bulbs: These bulbs are typically made overseas with the intent to mimic the appearance (color-temperature) of xenon headlight systems. Users will notice a blurred cutoff pattern and a significant reduction in overall lighting performance. These bulbs greatly effect the optical qualities of the headlamp and how the light is distributed on the road, hence the reason we call them: JUNK. Check out these great features! - Incorrectly marked packaging. Misleading claims like 55w=110w, 100% more light output, xenon super white, etc. Foreign writing and fancy packaging sets the trap. - Incorrect wattage specifications on bulb base. We have seen bulbs marked, rated and advertised at 55w that actually consume 85w in order to achieve greater light output. This is not only misleading for the consumer, but can also cause damage to your headlamp, wiring harness, or even catch fire. - Low quality glass that is not tempered and bubbles or explodes when over-heated. - Inferior blue coating techniques that peel or smoke. Smoke fills headlamp assembly and adheres to interior of headlamp lens. Headlamp must either be replaced or disassembled and repolished.   Halogen Infrared Reflecting (HIR) High-Output Bulbs: Halogen Infrared (HIR) bulbs were first developed by General Electric. HIR bulbs have a special infrared coating that retains heat which offers increased light output. It was used in applications ranging from the Dodge Viper to the NISSAN R34 GT-R. The 1st-gen bulbs made by GE had a unique HID-like appearance that was visually appealing. However, the bulb's long length not only caused fitment issues with retrofit applications, they also suffered from vibration issues that would cause the bulb glass to fracture. The GE patent was licensed to Toshiba, who redesigned and improved the HIR bulb design. The Toshiba bulb offered increased light output and reliability. HIR Knock Off Bulbs: These bulbs are advertised and marketed as H3 HIR bulbs, and priced at nearly $52.00 USD per bulb -- nearly double the cost of TWO authentic HIR bulbs! Bulbs are stamped with pride during production, stating their country of origin: China. A quick glance at our first picture will reveal that the filament is actually placed in the wrong direction in comparison to a standard H3 bulb. Manufacturing is far from precise, as the bulbs are crooked and look as if they were created quickly and carelessly. Test bench revealed that even though they were rated at 65 watts, these bulbs are stamped incorrectly and actually consume 85 watts. The second image is of some H4 bulbs. Yes, they are yellow. Apparently, the manufacturer thinks they can fool consumers by coating them yellow and marketing them as HIR bulbs. Our advice? Take your money and set it on fire before spending money on these bulbs. They are an ABSOLUTE RIPOFF. Check out these great features! - Incorrectly marked packaging. Misleading claims like 55w=110w, 100% more light output, HIR, hyper white, etc. Foreign writing and fancy packaging sets the trap. - Incorrect wattage specifications on bulb base. This is not only misleading for the consumer, but can also cause damage to your headlamp, wiring harness, or even catch fire. - Low quality glass that is not tempered and bubbles or explodes when over-heated. - Inferior blue coating techniques that peel or smoke. Smoke fills headlamp assembly and adheres to interior of headlamp lens. Headlamp must either be replaced or disassembled and repolished. High Output Discharge (HOD) Junk Bulbs: More blue coated junk being sold by unscrupulous vendors. These bulbs are inferior.