AFTERMARKET XENON H/LAMP KIT ADVICE E46

[mikchim]

can anyone recommend a good aftermarket xenon h/lamp kit for a early e46(clear lense without magnified lense inside
there appears to be several on ebay but has anyone tried any of them also i have heard some are illegal and can dazzle other road users depending on bulb type ????any help advice much appreciated as it seems a bit of a mine field

[HellDiver]

Aftermarket kits are all illegal, end of story.

Only way to do it is fit OE HID lamps, self levellers, washers etc.

[DennisCooper]

Hi Helldiver,

Could you please let me know where the legislation is that deems all aftermarket HID kits illegal please?

I have an aftermarket kit installed on my E39 and more than happy with it.

There are a number of very large ebay power sellers who have bricks and mortar premises as well who sell alot of these kits. So I'm wondering how they sell so many and yet according to your information, they're illegal? I haven't heard anywhere that these kits are illegal. Is it some new legislation that's quietly come into force?

Cheers, Dennis!

[Ean218]

http://www.dft.gov.uk/pgr/roadsafety/drs/hidheadla...

I don't neccessarily agree but thats the government view...

[HellDiver]

Ean218 linked the appropriate information.

Edited by HellDiver on Tuesday 15th June 14:00

[DennisCooper]

Hiya

Ahh, I just read that and it seems at best something which just isn't strictly enforced at all and at worst deems a very substantial part of road users operating illegally. I think becuase so many conversions to HID work well in practice, owners adjust them in accordance to the MOT test etc that it's just not worth 'chasing up' by the government.

I agree, that when they are slightly out of adjustment, then they do dazzle - however seeing that 'usually' the other car passes by quite quickly and sometimes it just 'happens' to be at a certain distance/angle to you - the dazzle effect is very short. Even badly adjusted halogon bulbs/headlamps can dazzle as well.

So overall, a bit wishy washy in practice, and I'm not about to go whip my HID kit out and put back in candle power halogen ones.

Cheers, Dennis!

[Ean218]

DennisCooper said:

Ahh, I just read that and it seems at best something which just isn't strictly enforced at all and at worst deems a very substantial part of road users operating illegally.

I wouldn't call less than a percent a substantial part. There's more than 30 million cars on UK roads, I would be very surprised if even 250,000 have had aftermarket HID conversions but you are right they will mainly have been done by enthusiasts who want to get it right. So hardly any about and mostly done properly, that is more likely the reason for non-enforcement.

[mikchim]

Can anyone recommend a particular brand that they have tried

[Fox-]

Your E46 does not have projector headlights. To fit HID's into the standard reflector lense would be dangerous and blinding to other road users. It doesn't stop people doing it, but you shouldn't.

Retrofitting into projector lenses is fine, but reflectors not so.

[Fun Bus]

HellDiver said:

Only way to do it is fit OE HID lamps, self levellers, washers etc.

And have your wallet relieved of hundreds of £'s in the process.

[parapaul]

mikchim said:

Can anyone recommend a particular brand that they have tried

www.HIDs4u.co.uk

[parapaul]

mikchim said:

Can anyone recommend a particular brand that they have tried

www.HIDs4u.co.uk