One of the most popular topics I run into on car forums is the discussion of how to “upgrade” a car with aftermarket High Intensity Discharge lamps, or Xenon headlights. I find the discussion amusing, because the posters readily admit that they could have ordered their cars with the Xenon headlights in place before they took delivery, and opted not to do so in order to save a few bucks. They often find out later that not only are those aftermarket conversion kits not legal, and not DOT approved, but properly installing Xenon headlights after a car has been purchased is prohibitively expensive.

Aftermarket HID kits are often labeled as being DOT approved, but the NHTSA does not approve motor vehicle equipment for sale. Several manufacturers of these kits have written to the NHTSA asking for approval of their kits, only to be told that they are not compliant with current US law regulating headlamps and that the NHTSA does not offer approval for motor vehicle equipment.… [Read More]

The Truth About Aftermarket HID Conversion Kits.