Your Guide to Projector Lights for Cars (2024)

Perfecting a good lighting system for motor vehicles has been in the works for decades, and today, the projector headlight housing system is gaining popularity over the reflector design. Projector headlights are fitted with lenses that allow the light to focus better. The reflector design covers a wider area is less focussed and intense.

The reflector housing system is commonly found in cars manufactured in the early 2000s or before. However, the projector headlight design is not exactly a new invention. Many luxury vehicles were fitted out with this type of headlights in the 1980s.

What Are Projector Lights for Cars?

The projector design uses a reflector that is specially shaped to focus the light. A shutter directs the light to the road in a better beam pattern that is closely put together and evenly distributed.

Projector lights offer the following benefits:

• Headlight assembly comes with a replaceable bulb.
• Much brighter than reflector headlights.
• Lower likelihood of blinding other drivers.
• Light pattern is more even.
• No dark spots.
• Better range and visibility.

In the oldest reflector headlights model, which was the sealed-beam type, a burned-out bulb could not be replaced because the casing could not be removed. The projector headlight design, however, is made up of four parts: the reflector, lens, shutter, and bulb.

• Reflector: The reflector in a projector headlight is elliptical in shape, and the light that is emitted from the bulb is trained towards the narrow point where the reflector meets the shutter.
• Lens: The lens of a projector headlight is designed to distribute the beam of light, which is aimed and shaped by the shutter and the elliptical reflector. Some lenses come with an added component that cuts off the line between light and dark when the headlight hits the road. While the reflector headlight tends to create some dark spots, the light from the projector headlight is more even.
• Shutter: The shutter is inserted under the light beam, and the most important characteristic of a projector headlight shutter is that it directs the light to the road and does not blind other drivers. Some vehicles are fitted with lights that lower or raise the switch between low and high beams. The shutter is an extremely important piece in the projector design. It is not found in classic reflector systems.
• Bulb: The light of a projector headlight is brighter than what is emitted through reflector headlights. LED, HID, or halogen bulbs can be used in this system.

Types of Projector Lights for Cars

When shopping for projector lights, you will find the following types of products available:

Replacement Bulbs for Project Lights

The basic design of projector lights is generally the same, but different bulbs can be used in this system:

• Halogen bulbs: Used in reflector headlights, halogen lights were also installed in the first projector headlights introduced to the market.
• HID bulbs: These are also known as Xenon HID headlights and are still available. HID bulbs are brighter than halogens and have a longer lifespan.
• LED bulbs: Highly energy-efficient, LEDs are the newest innovation. They have a longer lifespan than halogens or HIDs. Experts say that if these bulbs do not suffer any kind of damage, they could outlive even the lifespan of the vehicles they are fitted in.

Projector Lights for Car Doors

You can also find projector lights designed for car doors. A customized logo or photograph can be fitted on your car door to welcome passengers. The photograph or logo is fixed on the door panel, so it can be seen when the door is opened. A magnetic sensor helps the light to come on and go off when the door opens or closes, respectively.

These car door lights match any model and are affordable, like the Car Door Lights kit available from Qwertyui. Car door project lights come in three types:

• LED projector lights with wires: Easily available, these lights must be wired from the door panel to the dome light of the car.
• Wireless LED projector lights: These lights are easier to install. Simply fix the light to the door panel, and a sensor to the chassis right below the light. The lights will turn on whenever the door opens. One example is the Car Shadow Light kit available from HAOHAOYUN.
• Courtesy door logo projector lights: To install this type of light, you must remove the light already installed on your vehicle and replace it with these interior projection lights.

How to Choose Projector Lights for Cars

One of the biggest factors when choosing projector lights is what type of bulb you want. Experts say LED bulbs are more efficient than HID bulbs and offer the following benefits:

• LED bulbs are usually between 15-18 watts.
• LEDs have a longer lifespan.
• LEDs are fully bright as soon as they are switched on, while HIDs take longer to light up fully.

The downside is that LEDs require more room to be fitted in the car.

You may also want to consider whether you'd like a flashy headlight design. For instance, some projector headlights cast a distinct halo or ring, which is often referred to as an angel eye or halo by manufacturers.

How to Replace/Install Projector Lights

Disclaimer: The guidelines in this story are general and not meant to replace instructions for your specific vehicle. Please consult your owner's manual or repair guide before attempting any repairs.

Both universal and model-specific kits are safe and easy to install, as long as they are done correctly. Follow these steps when it's time to change your headlights:

Prepare for the Installation

Start by removing the front bumper. Place the light inside.

Install and Test the Lights

Connect the lights to the parking power source and ground. Some come with pre-assembled wiring and are easier to install. For those that are not pre-assembled, the wires could be red and black, red and white, or black and white, depending on the brand.

Test the wires to power and ground source to find out which goes where before installing.

Test and Reassemble

After installing the new lights, turn on parking lights to test them out. Replace the projector headlight cover and bumper.