Headlight bulbs

[lotus160sport]

As usual the search function is down so as the title sugests, is there any particular brand of bulb that you can recommend for the front lights on a gto-3 that will be an improvement over the standard items?

[sundance002]

lotus160sport said:

As usual the search function is down so as the title sugests, is there any particular brand of bulb that you can recommend for the front lights on a gto-3 that will be an improvement over the standard items?

Yes, I fitted an HID lighting kit very simple check out HIDS 4 U.co.uk.

[mgbond]

On my 2.5 I fitted the high intensity bulbs. There much bright than std and you don't need all the HID ballast stuff. Good enough for me.

[Blu3R]

sundance002 said:

Yes, I fitted an HID lighting kit very simple check out HIDS 4 U.co.uk.

+1 for the HIDS4U kit, they made a huge difference. Kit fitted to passenger's side compared to standard on driver's:

[joust]

sundance002 said:

Yes, I fitted an HID lighting kit very simple check out HIDS 4 U.co.uk.

This is a solid MOT failure from later this year, but it'll be down to "if they notice it"....

[Scooby P1]

mgbond said:

On my 2.5 I fitted the high intensity bulbs. There much bright than std and you don't need all the HID ballast stuff. Good enough for me.

I just drove from Newmarket to London in the dark and my lights are borderline dangerous they are so sh*t!

Bondy, where did you get your bulbs? I need a serious improvement. Guessing they are simple to change over?

[JBliss]

i used a kit from HIDs4u on my gto-3.. Bare in mind that you will have to buy a few extension cables (on their website) to make it work properly with the older style headlights.

[Blu3R]

joust said:

sundance002 said:

Yes, I fitted an HID lighting kit very simple check out HIDS 4 U.co.uk.

This is a solid MOT failure from later this year, but it'll be down to "if they notice it"....

Why, what's changing later this year?

[playalistic]

Blu3R said:

Why, what's changing later this year?

http://www.theaa.com/motoring_advice/car-servicing-repair/mot-changes-2012.html

A fair bit as it happens

[mgbond]

Scooby P1 said:

I just drove from Newmarket to London in the dark and my lights are borderline dangerous they are so sh*t!

Bondy, where did you get your bulbs? I need a serious improvement. Guessing they are simple to change over?

Halfords, very simple to change. Just make sure you buy the high intensity. They are much bright than std but HID they are not. They are fine for me.

[Hollowpockets]

My standard bulbs do me fine, not sure why people feel the need to blind one another with HID bulbs, it must make the car look more cool.

[Blu3R]

playalistic said:

Blu3R said:

Why, what's changing later this year?

http://www.theaa.com/motoring_advice/car-servicing-repair/mot-changes-2012.html

A fair bit as it happens

Thanks for that - exactly what was stated at the beginning of the year.

Your HIDs are fine, there's NOTHING new that'll cause a well fitted and correctly aligned system from failing, still.

[wessexrfc]

Blu3R said:

Thanks for that - exactly what was stated at the beginning of the year.

Your HIDs are fine, there's NOTHING new that'll cause a well fitted and correctly aligned system from failing, still.

Exactly, +1 for HID4U very helpful. There are two types for the Noble, one for the 2.5 and 3 and one for the 3R and M400. Unless you are planning on towing a trailer with your Noble, once they are set they are fine. The problem I had was ad a car or more a lorry approached at night, I struggle to see the nearside hedge or curb. HID fitted and no problems, have had no one flash me either.

[joust]

Blu3R said:

Thanks for that - exactly what was stated at the beginning of the year.
Your HIDs are fine, there's NOTHING new that'll cause a well fitted and correctly aligned system from failing, still.

Unfortunately not.

HIDs have always been a failure, because the regulations say that all HIDs must be fitted with auto-level and headlight wash/wipe.

The changes mean that MOT test now has a specific test to check the auto-level if HIDs are fitted, with specific instructions that if auto-level can't be seen working on HIDs it's an immediate fail. Ergo, if you have HIDs and no auto-level you will fail that new test and hence fail the MOT.

I've always just fitted the high-light normal bulb and never had a problem seeing where I am going, and I live in roads with no streetlights for miles.

J

[Blu3R]

joust said:

Unfortunately not.

HIDs have always been a failure, because the regulations say that all HIDs must be fitted with auto-level and headlight wash/wipe.

The changes mean that MOT test now has a specific test to check the auto-level if HIDs are fitted, with specific instructions that if auto-level can't be seen working on HIDs it's an immediate fail. Ergo, if you have HIDs and no auto-level you will fail that new test and hence fail the MOT.

Would you mind sharing a link to this information as neither I nor my 3 friendly MOT testers can find it?

As far as we can tell, if the auto levelling is fitted then it must be working. As with washing. No mention anywhere of wipe either.

[Lucozade]

I ordered my bulbs from Power Bulbs and they certainly do make a difference.

[mgbond]

joust said:

.....

I've always just fitted the high-light normal bulb and never had a problem seeing where I am going, and I live in roads with no streetlights for miles.

J

Exactly

[Scooby P1]

Lucozade said:

I ordered my bulbs from Power Bulbs and they certainly do make a difference.

Not like me to copy you Craig, but share the link......

[joust]

Blu3R said:

Would you mind sharing a link to this information as neither I nor my 3 friendly MOT testers can find it?

As far as we can tell, if the auto levelling is fitted then it must be working. As with washing. No mention anywhere of wipe either.

Can,t find the UK one, but here is the same from the Northern Ireland one.

http://www.nidirect.gov.uk/customer-information-no...

There is no getting around it any more as it's part of the European Roadworthiness Directive (2009/40/EC). All member states have to implement this year.

J

Editted:Here you go. Your friendly MOT testers clearly should read their "Testing Matters" (the testers only free magazine from the DFT). It's clear as day on page 9 that HIDs require a testified the self levelling. No self levelling you have to issue a RFR.

http://www.dft.gov.uk/vosa/repository/MoT%20-%20Is...

Edited by joust on Sunday 12th August 23:52

[Blu3R]

joust said:

Blu3R said:

Would you mind sharing a link to this information as neither I nor my 3 friendly MOT testers can find it?

As far as we can tell, if the auto levelling is fitted then it must be working. As with washing. No mention anywhere of wipe either.

Can,t find the UK one, but here is the same from the Northern Ireland one.

http://www.nidirect.gov.uk/customer-information-no...

There is no getting around it any more as it's part of the European Roadworthiness Directive (2009/40/EC). All member states have to implement this year.

J

Editted:Here you go. Your friendly MOT testers clearly should read their "Testing Matters" (the testers only free magazine from the DFT). It's clear as day on page 9 that HIDs require a testified the self levelling. No self levelling you have to issue a RFR.

http://www.dft.gov.uk/vosa/repository/MoT%20-%20Is...

Edited by joust on Sunday 12th August 23:52

I'm not going to familiarise myself with that directive so if the answer is plain in there then I apologise. However, the Northern Ireland link gives a completely different interpretation by saying levelling systems must be fitted, I've not read that anywhere else which is my whole point. But just when you thought it would be black and white, they go and grey the area again by saying:
It is also worthy of note that a few high performance vehicles fitted with HID headlamps that have barely any luggage space and stiff suspension do not require a self-levelling system.

So how do you measure how 'stiff' the suspension is? Or how high performance the car is?

In the magazine article it says 'inoperative or obviously defective' not 'must be present'. Take a look at the previous page where it speaks about hazard lights. RfR 'not fitted or inoperative', don't you think that terminology would have been used on the following page for the same scenario?

Seriously Justin, play Devil's advocate for a moment, could you see anyone failing for having a correctly aligned kit fitted, with sensibly coloured bulbs?