HID KIT Conversion?

[WeirdNeville]

Byard said:

If you get a HID KIT, do you have to have both main and dipped bulbs? I could only afford main HID bulbs so didnt want to get 1 and no be able to keep using my normal dipped lights?

Anyone know? Car is a Ford Focus '53

Thanks

You can do "just" dipped beams, indeed that's what I put in on my 200sx. I also built a relay so that if you gave a "main beam" flash then the HID lights wouldn't ignite. They would only come on when the sidelights were already on, i.e. in normal low light conditions.

There is no problem using them "Just" for dipped, in fact it's a good idea for the reasons stated above.
A word of warning though - I wouldn't install them with any headlight that doesn't have a projector lens. I'm pretty sure '53 Focuses don't have that. The reason I say that is that a projector keeps the beam nice and focused (fnar) but the cars I've seen with the HID bulb just plonked in a standard light have horrible scatter and can be very blinding for oncoming drivers. Not a good Idea IMHO, and you may run into problems come MOT time if the beam can't be controlled well enough.

[300bhp/ton]

GTIR said:

BeeRoad said:

The VOSA newsletter suggests that from December 2011 aftermarket HID kits will be an automatic MOT fail. Be interesting to see if it is implemented.

I really hope that's correct!

Trouble is, it'll only attack the people causing no harm anyhow. Lets face it, swapping bulbs over for an MoT is no biggy.

GTIR said:

Aftermarket HID are one of the biggest pains on the road - I'm talking about the badly fitted ones or mega bright ones (usually on old stter BMW's) and I don't understand how these idiots don't realise they are blinding everyone!

I don't, but despite doing 180 miles a day for the past week and a bit I'd have to admit to only seeing 1 such car.

GTIR said:

FFS, the OEM "super lights" are sometimes bad depending on the angle of attack (I often get flashed at the same point on the M11 as it looks like I have my high beam on, but it's just the pitch of the road and the angle my lights are to the approaching car who flashed) so this aftermarket crap has to stop.

If they are fitted correctly and are not cheap st then that's fine, but I've got news for you, if you have a 2001 Ford Galaxy they just look crap with HID lights!

Edited by GTIR on Monday 29th November 15:58

[Dave_ST220]

Well I've got the washer kit sat in the garage just never got chance to fit them

[GTIR]

300bhp/ton said:

GTIR said:

BeeRoad said:

The VOSA newsletter suggests that from December 2011 aftermarket HID kits will be an automatic MOT fail. Be interesting to see if it is implemented.

I really hope that's correct!

Trouble is, it'll only attack the people causing no harm anyhow. Lets face it, swapping bulbs over for an MoT is no biggy.

That's as maybe, but these things usually end up being enforced by BiB anyway. Non road legal car (whatever the reason) = nick.

[300bhp/ton]

alock said:

2 biggest websites that sell them:

http://www.hids4u.co.uk/terms.html
"In the UK, fitting an aftermarket HID kit is not technically road legal as you are replacing a halogen bulb with an HID bulb, because of this the HID bulb cannot be E marked, which is a requirement for it to be road legal. Therefore our HID kits are sold for off-road use only."

http://www.hids-direct.co.uk/pages/terms-and-condi...
"Please also note that under UK regulations HID kits are not yet approved road legal, this is because HID kits are not e-marked approved in their entirety. Until UK regulations are changed or up-dated our HID kits are sold for off road and show use only."

Where are the road legal ones that you want to fit?

Edited by alock on Monday 29th November 15:40

probably the same place all the road legal sports exhaust are, the 80 and 100 watt halogen bulbs and people driving at 71+mph on UK roads

[Ranger 6]

GTIR said:

BeeRoad said:

The VOSA newsletter suggests that from December 2011 aftermarket HID kits will be an automatic MOT fail. Be interesting to see if it is implemented.

I really hope that's correct!
....I've just googled it and apart from the forum chat there is no hard evidence to back this up. Link anyone?

Top para on P:9
http://www.dft.gov.uk/vosa/repository/MoT%20-%20Is...
Basically a liberal interpretation, but it sounds like they will be actively enforcing this....
http://www.dft.gov.uk/pgr/roadsafety/drs/hidheadla...

The actual text of the EU directive is...
http://eur-lex.europa.eu/LexUriServ/LexUriServ.do?...
P64 contains...

EU Directive said:

(Item) 6.1.9. Engine
(Method) Visual inspection
(Reason for failure) (a) Control unit illegal modified performance (b) illegal engine modification

For headlamps, there's something similar on P58...

EU Directive said:

(Item) 4.1.4. Headlamps - Compliance with requirements
(Method) Visual inspection & operation
(Reason for failure) (a) Lamp, emitted colour, position or intensity not in accordance with the requirements.
(b) Products on lens or light source which obviously reduce light intensity or change emitted colour.
© Light source and lamp not compatible

[alock]

300bhp/ton said:

alock said:

2 biggest websites that sell them:

http://www.hids4u.co.uk/terms.html
"In the UK, fitting an aftermarket HID kit is not technically road legal as you are replacing a halogen bulb with an HID bulb, because of this the HID bulb cannot be E marked, which is a requirement for it to be road legal. Therefore our HID kits are sold for off-road use only."

http://www.hids-direct.co.uk/pages/terms-and-condi...
"Please also note that under UK regulations HID kits are not yet approved road legal, this is because HID kits are not e-marked approved in their entirety. Until UK regulations are changed or up-dated our HID kits are sold for off road and show use only."

Where are the road legal ones that you want to fit?

Edited by alock on Monday 29th November 15:40

probably the same place all the road legal sports exhaust are, the 80 and 100 watt halogen bulbs and people driving at 71+mph on UK roads

Just wanted to check that several on this thread are breaking posting rule #10. Since they are, I'll be checking out of this thread.

[to3m]

SB10 said:

I know you will get the "you need washer jets, self levelling etc" Mine are in without both these items, passed an MOT, and had no issues blinding any other road users.

I think you're supposed to get the ones that don't blind other road users...

[mattmoxon]

Aftermarket HIDS are not currently legal unless they are fitted with self leveling and washers. MOT pass (unless the light is an odd colour temperature) but if you are stopped by a VOSA inspection crew at best you will have a get it sorted and return this form and at worst you may be served with a prohibition notice.

My car has poor lights (US flat beam type) I have been tempted to fit a HID kit but the legality issue is keeping me from doing so. I just bought super bright halogen bulbs instead.

I really am glad I have a US import though, those EU things on engine mods aren't going to be welcome for EU vehicles.

[eldar]

GTIR said:

300bhp/ton said:

GTIR said:

BeeRoad said:

The VOSA newsletter suggests that from December 2011 aftermarket HID kits will be an automatic MOT fail. Be interesting to see if it is implemented.

I really hope that's correct!

Trouble is, it'll only attack the people causing no harm anyhow. Lets face it, swapping bulbs over for an MoT is no biggy.

That's as maybe, but these things usually end up being enforced by BiB anyway. Non road legal car (whatever the reason) = nick.

NO. Not nick! It is not illegal to replace halogens with HID. Provided they don't dazzle, which is covered by existing C&U regs. You do not need auto adjust or projector lenses, the MOT requires only proper function and alignment, no bulb type is required.

The rules were written before HID was fitted in cars.

That may change next year, but for now fit HID with gay abandon. Just please do it properly.

[Pigeon]

300bhp/ton said:

Dave_ST220 said:

Do a search, I thought the same(which is why OEM is 4300K) but apparently 6000K is closest to natural light. I have 6K Philips in my 220 and the light is pure white, makes the OEM's look yellow, I wouldn't call it blue tbh.

I did do a search


http://www.intellexual.net/hid.html

web said:

MISCONCEPTIONS

There are many companies and private merchants out there that will advertise 7000K, 8000K, and even 12000K HID kits. Most of these vendors lurk around on ebay, online car forums, websites, and ricer accessory shops. 100% of the people that buy these kits do so because they are uninformed, uneducated, or misguided in the field of lighting, and will buy these junk kits thinking three things: that these bulbs are brighter, that these bulbs should cost more money, and/or that they will perform better. All three statements are completely false. Perhaps this misconception and frenzy for purple lights originates from BMW and Audi's infamous Hella projector HIDs.

So allow me to explain the real truth of the matter... Philips is the number one manufacturer of HID bulbs. The Philips OEM D2S bulb is rated at 4100K at 12.8 volts and produces 3200 lumens of light. The Philips Ultinon D2S is 5800K at 12.8 volts and produces 2400 lumens of light. As you can see, with all other factors remaining constant, the brightness of an HID bulb declines the higher up the color index you go. Vision, a Korean bulb manufacturer, makes an 8000K bulb, which they used to advertise on Acura-Forums as 2000 lumens bright. This is barely a marked improvement over halogens, and will produce more glare and eye fatigue than it is beneficial. 4100K has been proven through tireless independent research by the Germans, Japanese, and Americans to be the most functional, truest white and thus the brightest possible color temperature (ceteris paribus).

Every car manufacturer in the world (including BMW and Audi) uses none other than a standard 4100K gas-discharge bulb. No exceptions. The reason being is that 4100K is daylight white in color and produces the same color visible light as direct sunlight. This is least fatiguing functional color on the eyes and produces the most comfortable contrast on the road.

Also the 4 something K bulbs are closer to the eye's wavelength of maximum sensitivity, so not only are they making more light in the first place, your eyes are producing more signal from it. Double win

[SB10]

to3m said:

SB10 said:

I know you will get the "you need washer jets, self levelling etc" Mine are in without both these items, passed an MOT, and had no issues blinding any other road users.

I think you're supposed to get the ones that don't blind other road users...

I meant they dont blind other users.

AS for quality of kits, the ones i had were from HIDS4U, probably the better ones on the market.

Nothing beats a proper OEM Projector Xenon Set up. The light pattern is absolutely perfect.

[300bhp/ton]

SB10 said:

to3m said:

SB10 said:

I know you will get the "you need washer jets, self levelling etc" Mine are in without both these items, passed an MOT, and had no issues blinding any other road users.

I think you're supposed to get the ones that don't blind other road users...

I meant they dont blind other users.

AS for quality of kits, the ones i had were from HIDS4U, probably the better ones on the market.

Nothing beats a proper OEM Projector Xenon Set up. The light pattern is absolutely perfect.

Funny you should say that. But the other week I was doing 180 miles a day to clientsite and back, in the dark in both directions.

I made an informal study and by far the worst offenders for glare where new (as in 09 or 10 plate) Mercs. So I'd assume they where all factory spec and fitted.