cosmick
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| posted on 17/1/10 at 09:00 PM |
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HID Headlight conversions. has anyone used them yet?
I am thinking about upgrading my headlights to the new H4 HID Bi Xenon bulbs with the ballast. I have been looking at the advantage of fitting them to
a BEC. One of the reasons for thinking about the change is that the xenon bulbs only draw 35 watts as oposed to 55/60. So, I should get a much
brighter path in front of me and be pulling less out of the charging system.
I drive at all times with my lights on to encourage other drivers to see me. I have also driven home in the dark and currently it is not a pleasant
experience.
I would like to hear from other people who have fitted these. How easy were they to fit? Where did you fit the ballast? Where did you buy from? etc
etc.
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andyharding
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| posted on 17/1/10 at 09:03 PM |
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There conversions are illegal unless 1) the headlight was originally designed for HID 2) auto leveling system is fitted. Lots of boy racer arse holes
fit them round here and they are a PITA dazzling oncoming drivers. If you fit them expect to become a target for pissed off dazzled drivers. Also
expect to fail MOT with them.
[Edited on 17/1/10 by andyharding]
Are you a Mac user or a retard?
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eddie99
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| posted on 17/1/10 at 09:10 PM |
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I didnt think it would be illegal in a kit car because you can argue its not a modification!
Plus if you line them up, they dont dazzle other drivers either...
[Edited on 17/1/10 by eddie99]
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NOTE:This user is registered as a LocostBuilders trader and may offer commercial services to other users
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JohnN
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| posted on 17/1/10 at 09:13 PM |
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I have fitted them to cars (only H7 type bulbs, not H4's) but not a seven type headlight. Mine went into projector style headlights which were
originally fitted with halogen bulbs.
However, I'm pretty convinced that the ballast will have to go inside the headlamp, due to the high voltages involved. Whether there is the
space I couldn't comment, but I imagine it would be tight.
Finally, I guess there is a need to try and make the enclosure as watertight as possible and ensure that there's a drain hole at the bottom.
There is the usual argument of dazzle if fitted in a traditional reflector headlight, but as long as they're properly adjusted they should be
OK. They'll certainly ensure you're noticed!
I bought mine from www.hids-direct.co.uk where I had no problem exchanging a faulty ballast
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twinturbo
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| posted on 17/1/10 at 09:14 PM |
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Don't you need a was system with them?
TT
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tegwin
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| posted on 17/1/10 at 09:16 PM |
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Someone had retro fitted them into my Seat Leon Cupra R when I bought it.... they were very bright, but the pattern was all wrong.... the light was
in the wrong place and it actually made driving harder..
My polo GTI has proper HID bulbs fitted as standard with projector lenses..... the patern is perfect and the lights are AMAZING... They have washers
and self leveling devices..
Get some of those hella enclosures with projector lenses and you might be ok... dont even think about it in a "normal" 7"
defuser....
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Would the last person who leaves the country please switch off the lights and close the door!
www.verticalhorizonsmedia.tv
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cosmick
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| posted on 17/1/10 at 09:21 PM |
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Bearing in mind the firmness of the suspension on a 7 and the fact that i do tend to adjust the headlights to shine on the road in front of me, i
don't think i would be dazzling on coming cars. My main concern is actually being able to drive safely and at night. I do not want to fit 80/100
bulbs as the charging system will not cope with it. I am also concerned about how hot the bulbs get. Apparently the HID bulbs run cooler like a
Flourescent light does. So lower temperature, lower demand and brighter lights seems to be a win win situation, (apart from the legality).
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tegwin
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| posted on 17/1/10 at 09:27 PM |
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quote:
Originally posted by cosmick
Bearing in mind the firmness of the suspension on a 7 and the fact that i do tend to adjust the headlights to shine on the road in front of me, i
don't think i would be dazzling on coming cars. My main concern is actually being able to drive safely and at night. I do not want to fit 80/100
bulbs as the charging system will not cope with it. I am also concerned about how hot the bulbs get. Apparently the HID bulbs run cooler like a
Flourescent light does. So lower temperature, lower demand and brighter lights seems to be a win win situation, (apart from the legality).
You will dazzle yourself instead..... you dont want all that white light directed at the road infront of the car... it doesnt help!
Your best bed IMHO would be to get some of those trick philips nightvision halogeon bulbs and perhaps look at fitting a bigger alternator... unless
you change the lens to a projector type!
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Would the last person who leaves the country please switch off the lights and close the door!
www.verticalhorizonsmedia.tv
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cosmick
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| posted on 17/1/10 at 09:31 PM |
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quote:
Originally posted by tegwin
Get some of those hella enclosures with projector lenses and you might be ok... dont even think about it in a "normal" 7"
defuser....
Do Hella do a 5 3/4" headlight that will fit in a Westfield Headlight? i would be willing to change the lense if I could improve the lights in
some other way.
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Danozeman
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| posted on 17/1/10 at 09:50 PM |
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Iv got 7 inch headlights on mine and have no trouble seeing in the dark
As for the hids you need a wash system on them to be legal aswell and clear not paterned lenses. Im sure someone on here has fitted them though,.
Dan
Built the purple peril!! Let the modifications begin!!
http://www.eastangliankitcars.co.uk
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dlatch
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| posted on 17/1/10 at 10:16 PM |
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this is the response i got from the DFT
The Road Vehicles Lighting Regulations 1989 (RVLR), as amended, govern the use of all lights on motor vehicles. All lamps must be used so as to
avoid undue dazzle or discomfort for other road users.
The regulations measure light intensity at various points of the beam pattern on a flat screen 25m from the light source. If you look at a light while
standing 25m away, the light intensity measured at your eyes should be the same as that measured in the test. However, a small point source may be
perceived as being much brighter.
The Department is concerned about the risk of dazzle from such headlamps and we have sponsored research into the safe limits for glare and how these
might be achieved without adversely affecting a driver's ability to see the road ahead adequately. The results of this research were used in
discussions with our colleagues in the European Community and the United Nations Economic Commission for Europe about the regulatory control of
vehicle front lighting systems. Agreement was reached recently on a regulation to permit adaptive lighting systems to be fitted to vehicles. These
lights can modify the beam pattern depending on driving conditions and there is the option to include a town pattern which is intended to reduce glare
when driving in built up areas.
The Road Vehicles Lighting Regulations 1989, as amended (RVLR) prescribe the fitment and use of lights on vehicles. Under Regulation 27 of the RVLR it
is prohibited to use a headlamp which causes undue dazzle or discomfort to other persons using the road. The enforcement of this Regulation would be
carried out by the Police and the Vehicle and Operator Services Agency (VOSA). However, it would need to be clear that the lights were causing a
problem and checking the headlamp aim at the roadside is very difficult (they are checked as a matter of course at the MoT inspection). The level and
manner of Police enforcement of road traffic law is an operational matter for the individual Chief Officers of Police.
Yours sincerely
Martin Rogers
DfT – Transport Technology and Standards
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dlatch
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| posted on 17/1/10 at 10:22 PM |
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so make your own conclusions 
but i have a set fitted to my citroen ZX and i am in no doubt they have all ready saved a pedestrians life due to the fact with the better lighting i
could see them walking down a single track country lane all in black
been running them for a few months now and they do give a vast improvemnet in light i went with the white 4300k bulbs and its this imo that makes them
so good. to this date and two months of use i have yet to be flashed by other drivers and i don't consider them dazzling at all but as a
sidenote the headlights are correctly aligned and not pointing to the sky.
The HID lights were originally designed to be used with projector lamps and thats where all the stuff about self lvling and wash ect comes from
For a 7 type kit though i would prob go for one of these halogen xenon bulb upgrades as i am not sure how long they would last bouncing about on a
kitcar
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cosmick
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| posted on 17/1/10 at 10:29 PM |
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Thanks for the update.
I would have thought that as the HID Bulbs have no filament that they would last longer than a tungsten bulb.
I am of the same opinion as you that if aimed correctly, there is little chance of dazzling.
I would still like to here from anyone who has actually fitted them to a 7. Especially 5 3/4" Headlights with Hi/Lo.
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adithorp
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| posted on 17/1/10 at 10:39 PM |
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quote:
Originally posted by cosmick
Thanks for the update.
I would have thought that as the HID Bulbs have no filament that they would last longer than a tungsten bulb.
I am of the same opinion as you that if aimed correctly, there is little chance of dazzling.
I would still like to here from anyone who has actually fitted them to a 7. Especially 5 3/4" Headlights with Hi/Lo.
The reason for the required wash system is that the light from HID's is easily deflected by grim/dirt on the lens. So it doesn't matter
that you check your alignment regularly; You need a wash system to constantly clean them.
As the leveling and wash system are/was required for IVA/SVA then retro-fitting without one would be an illegal modification I think .
adrian
"A witty saying proves nothing" Voltaire
http://jpsc.org.uk/forum/
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britishtrident
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| posted on 17/1/10 at 10:59 PM |
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Fit standard wattage high tech halogen bulbs they make a much bigger difference than you would think possible and are 100% legal.
Don't get the blue type --- that is just a gimmick.
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DorsetStrider
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| posted on 18/1/10 at 01:44 AM |
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quote:
Originally posted by eddie99
I didnt think it would be illegal in a kit car because you can argue its not a modification!
Plus if you line them up, they dont dazzle other drivers either...
[Edited on 17/1/10 by eddie99]
These kits are illegal.
HID headlights MUST be automatically self leveling and have washer/wipers for the glass to prevent dazzle... this is a direct quote from both VOSA and
DfT.
I've also head a rumour (don't know how true) that as of next year the MOT test will be changing specifically to prevent any vehicle with
HID that does not self level passing.
Oh and the little switch some cars have inside to change the angle of the light does not count as self leveling as it requires an input from the
driver.
Who the f**K tightened this up!
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jeffw
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| posted on 18/1/10 at 06:34 AM |
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My A6 does a self levelling test when you turn the key and the auto lights are on. As previously stated HID bulbs in a standard pattern lens are
illegal and potentially blinding to other road users.
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Grimsdale
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| posted on 18/1/10 at 08:47 AM |
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quote:
Originally posted by dlatchFor a 7 type kit though i would prob go for one of these halogen xenon bulb upgrades as i am not sure how
long they would last bouncing about on a kitcar
I got some osram ones probably about 15,000 miles ago and still going strong 
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sucksqueezebangblow
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| posted on 18/1/10 at 09:29 AM |
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For any one whose interested Trillogy were doing H4 HID kits for £99 at the Autosport show and I think that was the standard price not a show special.
Better to Burnout than to Fade Away JET METAL ~ AndySparrow © 
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aitch
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| posted on 18/1/10 at 09:47 AM |
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no experience on cars
but have HIDS fitted to bike from HIDs4u that claim to have same pattern as original
i dont see how light from a HID would be any more difflected by grit, dirt, grime than any light from another source??? light is light whatever the
source.
and for sure i can now see at night which is a safety improvement, i have never been flashed by another driver for dazzling them and have passed
MOT
aitch xx
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flak monkey
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| posted on 18/1/10 at 03:30 PM |
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My Leon has had 6000k HIDs fitted from hids4u - fitted by previous owner. Its passed previous MOT's with them in as well, at the time all that
was said is that as long as the beam pattern is correct and not blurry they are fine.
Never been flashed by any other drivers indicating they are dazzling, that said I keep my lights clean.
Also they seem to light up the signs at the side of the road a lot LESS than the scattered light of filament bulbs.
Sera
http://www.motosera.com
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robinj66
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| posted on 18/1/10 at 07:04 PM |
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Plenty of guys have fitted them to their Cobra's without problems. Have alook at some of the links here
Cobra forum
Somewhere in there is a thread going into the legalities - they are not illegal on kit cars.
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