Articles » Civics & HIDs: What to Keep in Mind

Civic enthusiasts know that Honda Civics are among the most popularly modified cars in the world, and body kits are certainly not the only upgrades being made to these cars. From rear spoiler additions to custom rim replacements, Civic owners recognize that cars can have personalities and they needn't be the stock carbon copies that most other vehicles on the road are. Headlight upgrades are no different, though Civic owners should consider several things before deciding on whether or not to install HID headlights on their cars.

Installation

For newer Civics, HID installation should be a breeze, and even more so when considering the level of difficulty compared to other custom modifications, such as turbocharger additions. With a standard Civic HID kit, installation should only take an hour or two. HID bulbs aren't always plug-and-play unless the model is extraordinarily recent; otherwise, it usually comes down to removing the current headlight assembly, modifying it with a wire harness and new ballast setup, and reinstalling everything with the HID bulbs in place.

PLEASE Note: Do not make skin contact with the HID bulbs, or handle them with your bare hands.

Customization

One of the many reasons Civic owners often take to HID upgrades is that it usually compliments other work done on the car. After paint jobs, rim upgrades, and other features have been installed, basic halogen head lamps often seem boring by comparison. Many Civic owners paint their cars bright, outrageous colors, and HIDs can be customized by color as well. Simply pick a color temperature for your Civic HID kit, and you'll get a corresponding color that you can use to match to your car's paint job, or to differentiate the headlights from the car's overall look. Remember: headlight color temperature has nothing to do with brightness; a 5000K HID and a 10000K one will be equally as bright, as only the colors will vary.

Utilization

Beyond getting these HIDs installed and deciding how they'll affect your car's appearance, HIDs also have a purpose. They're designed to provide up to 3x brighter lighting than halogens, and can last nearly 10x as long as conventional halogen bulbs. Considering the longer lifespan of most Civics, these headlight additions could mean that the new bulbs last the time you spend driving your particular car. Plus, these light components are efficient, meaning they'll do doubly well in an already-efficient Civic model.