# Bright, blue-white headlights **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [November 25, 2012, 11:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bright-blue-white-headlights/642110 "2012-11-25T23:29:07Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 7\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Johnny\_L.A](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/johnny_l.a/32/1084_2.png) [@Johnny\_L.A](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Johnny_L.A)\ **Post date:** [November 25, 2012, 11:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bright-blue-white-headlights/642110/1 "2012-11-25T23:29:07Z")
The headlights on my 2005 Prius are bright and blue-white. I like them, compared to the ‘standard’ (yellow-white) headlights I’ve had over the years. 1. What kind of lamps are these? 2. I think my 1999 Jeep Cherokee has sealed-beam headlights. Do they make sealed-beam replacement lamps like the ones I want? ---
**Author:** ![beowulff](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/beowulff/32/542_2.png) [@beowulff](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/beowulff)\ **Post date:** [November 25, 2012, 11:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bright-blue-white-headlights/642110/2 "2012-11-25T23:37:30Z")
They are probably HID. You can get a conversion [kit](http://www.hidextreme.com), but they’re not cheap. You can also get tinted bulbs, but they just look like HID, without being as bright. ---
**Author:** ![Johnny\_L.A](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/johnny_l.a/32/1084_2.png) [@Johnny\_L.A](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Johnny_L.A)\ **Post date:** [November 25, 2012, 11:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bright-blue-white-headlights/642110/3 "2012-11-25T23:46:49Z")
‘Xenon’ was the word I was looking for, which I see are also called ‘Xenon HID’. Your link doesn’t list the Cherokee XJ, but I’m sure I can find a suitable conversion then the time comes. Thanks. ---
**Author:** ![jz78817](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jz78817/32/1028_2.png) [@jz78817](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jz78817)\ **Post date:** [November 26, 2012, 12:06am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bright-blue-white-headlights/642110/4 "2012-11-26T00:06:56Z")
DO NOT CONVERT YOUR JEEP TO HIDs. #1 you can’t because it has sealed-beam headlamps, #2 even if it had modern-style halogens, swapping in HID capsules is a bad idea because the “focal point” of an HID capsule is all wrong and reflector housings will splash poorly-focused bluish light all over the place. blue-tinted light is practically the _worst_ thing you can have for headlamps. [http://www.danielsternlighting.com/tech/bulbs/Hid/conversions/conversions.html](http://www.danielsternlighting.com/tech/bulbs/Hid/conversions/conversions.html) don’t do it. ---
**Author:** ![beowulff](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/beowulff/32/542_2.png) [@beowulff](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/beowulff)\ **Post date:** [November 26, 2012, 12:09am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bright-blue-white-headlights/642110/5 "2012-11-26T00:09:04Z")
> [@Johnny\_L.A](#): > > ‘Xenon’ was the word I was looking for, which I see are also called ‘Xenon HID’. > > Your link doesn’t list the Cherokee XJ, but I’m sure I can find a suitable conversion then the time comes. > > Thanks. You need to be a bit careful. True HID lamps are arc lamps. They use Xenon gas to create usable light immediately upon startup. Since HID lamps are expensive (and coveted), there are a lot of “cheap junk” lights out there that are just Quartz Halogen. Some of these may be called “Xenon HID-style” lamps or something similar. Make sure you know what you are buying. Here’s some [discussion](http://www.candlepowerforums.com/vb/showthread.php?73986-HID-vs-Xenon-vs-Halogen). ---
**Author:** ![smithsb](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/smithsb/32/12107_2.png) [@smithsb](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/smithsb)\ **Post date:** [November 26, 2012, 3:39am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bright-blue-white-headlights/642110/6 "2012-11-26T03:39:01Z")
It’s not just bulbs. The housing is different, lens are different, voltages and electronics are different. If the Xenon’s weren’t an option on your vehicle, I don’t see a conversion going well. You could be in for an expensive ride with; stuff that won’t work, might be stolen, might damage the rest of your electrical system including the computers $$$$$. Checking Edmonds, I don’t see Xenons as standard or an option in 2005 on a Prius. ---
**Author:** ![Pacific420](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/e9bcb4/32.png) [@Pacific420](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Pacific420)\ **Post date:** [November 26, 2012, 4:03am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bright-blue-white-headlights/642110/7 "2012-11-26T04:03:38Z")
had modern-style halogens, swapping in HID capsules is a bad idea because the “focal point” of an HID capsule is all wrong and reflector housings will splash poorly-focused bluish light all over the place. I suppose this is why, when I meet one of these cars on the road, they get my high beam