Has anyone come across these before?
ebay
link
They look pretty good value when you consider the $ exchange rate. More light for less power - can't be bad....... or can it?
They will obviously be no good for pre SVA people, as you need headlight levelling and washing fitted, but you might be able to squeeze them past the
MOT test, or just temporarily refit the old halogen jobbies for the test.
[Edited on 13-7-07 by RazMan]
I was looking at these a while back for my FTO as the headlights are crap, but if you import those particular ones then you still have to add 17.5% on for vat, so you may find its just as cheap to get something like THIS would be just as cheap, and probable quicker to arrive too.
For cheap ones from a UK source try this link - not used them myself so don't know how good they are, but you can see some of the comments in the thread. I will probably get some later this year though.
Thanks for the links guys - looks like £75-85 is about right then. I like the idea of HID but have always stayed away due to the SVA problem (and
prices have plummetted). At least when it comes to MOT time they can just be whipped out and the standard halogen jobbies popped in, although I
suspect that as time goes by, many MOT stations will let them slide through without the levelleing and washing systems required.
I'll probably try one set first (dipped beam) and see how they go. I would be very interested to hear commentsfrom guys who have experience of
these kits.
quote:
Originally posted by RazMan
Thanks for the links guys - looks like £75-85 is about right then. I like the idea of HID but have always stayed away due to the SVA problem (and prices have plummetted). At least when it comes to MOT time they can just be whipped out and the standard halogen jobbies popped in, although I suspect that as time goes by, many MOT stations will let them slide through without the levelleing and washing systems required.
I'll probably try one set first (dipped beam) and see how they go. I would be very interested to hear commentsfrom guys who have experience of these kits.
Aftermarket HID bulbs that fit into normal headlamps are pretty crap generaly. Because the light source is not the same size or shape as the tungsten
filament that the reflector and lens is designed for, you get all sorts of stray light problems, getting a poorly defined beam and blinding other
drivers.
The cheap chinese ignitors are also prone to early failure if you look through some of the car realted forums where people have bought these.
[Edited on 14/7/07 by MikeRJ]
I was thinking about the beam pattern this evening and it has got to be a compromise doesn't it - the HID tube produces light along most of its
length whereas a halogen bulb's light is all at one end (over simplified but you get the gist) Either way the reflector is not designed for the
tube and it is bound to produce dazzle for other road users.
Can anyone confirm?