What HID kit for E36 318iS?

[Frimley111R]

Hi All,

As above. As I understand it the kit just plugs into existing connection, I secure the 'box' and the bulb fits in without any issue. Am I correct and if so can anyone recommend a suitable supplier?

Ta

[BluePurpleRed]

I've just gone from Hella HID set up BACK to originals. I may be a bit biased. I would say don't do it!

I hate the look as a lot of barry boys have done it. Also the bulbs are mega money per item (£65). Also true HID will need power packs and inverters and all sorts ( that are stashed around the engine bay ) and I have yet to pull out. It will be a £450 set up to get tru HID and they usually come with angel eyes.

I would say get some DJ Auto headlights (pattern OEM look headlights) and uprated try bulbs. I found this ok. I mean it not insanely bright as before (esp on full beam) but when was the last time you used full beam? Merc advert for the new Infra-red system they have puts main beam used at 10 - 15%?

A good clean or renew of the headlamps will prob massively increase the brightness. Better relective surfaces and also cleaner glass etc.

I you must then the people who did it for the previous owner in my car were CA Automotive who seem good chaps when I had to get new bulbs.

Oh.. and you will melt fuses and have warnings all over the shop on the trip computer if you have one as they are the wrong voltage.

I can post before and after pics if you like.

Edited by BluePurpleRed on Monday 23 November 14:06

[Mark34bn]

This place
http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/HID-XENON-CONVERSION-KIT-H11...

My E36 has an H.I.D conversion, angel eyes etc. I converted the standard lights and to my eyes it looks OEM enough. The difference in light output is staggering, it will transform your night driving.
There's some pics of my car on here, I've kept it as subtle as possible whilst being quite modified.
http://www.pistonheads.com/gassing/topic.asp?h=0&a...

Edited by Mark34bn on Monday 23 November 22:30

[Frimley111R]

Mark34bn said:

This place
http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/HID-XENON-CONVERSION-KIT-H11...

£13.00!!!!

[Mark34bn]

Yes, they don't have to cost the earth. They make their money on the postage remember. My set was about £40 inc, the prices tend to fluctuate a lot.
Mine have been faultless since I bought them about 10 months ago.

Edited by Mark34bn on Thursday 26th November 14:09

[Frimley111R]

Mark34bn said:

Yes, they don't have to cost the earth. They make their money on the postage remember. My set was about £40 inc, the prices tend to fluctuate a lot.
Mine have been faultless since I bought them about 10 months ago.

Edited by Mark34bn on Thursday 26th November 14:09

£22.00 FFS. Now I see why they are so cheap, stupid idea. Thanks for pointing that out.

[Frimley111R]

BluePurpleRed]I hate the look as a lot of barry boys have done it. [/footnote said:

Does it? How? Surely they are just brighter lights. I have seen HiDs fitted to other cars and they are just brighter. What I am missing?

[Mark34bn]

Frimley111R said:

Mark34bn said:

Yes, they don't have to cost the earth. They make their money on the postage remember. My set was about £40 inc, the prices tend to fluctuate a lot.
Mine have been faultless since I bought them about 10 months ago.

Edited by Mark34bn on Thursday 26th November 14:09

£22.00 FFS. Now I see why they are so cheap, stupid idea. Thanks for pointing that out.

Still a massive bargain though. The E36 headlights are so bad as standard I'd say H.I.D's are an essential safety upgrade rather than a modification. You'll have one of those 'I can't believe how I managed before' moments if you get some.

[TheEnd]

Frimley111R said:

BluePurpleRed]I hate the look as a lot of barry boys have done it. [/footnote said:

Does it? How? Surely they are just brighter lights. I have seen HiDs fitted to other cars and they are just brighter. What I am missing?

There was a "Kelvin rush", decent OEM HIDs are about 4500-5000K, which is a decent normal white, but Kevin and Perry knew that 5K was for oem chumps, and 6.5 and 7k were better, and obviously, Mr 8K beats them too.

Thing is, 8K is an obvious blue/purple colour, and not particularly any good either. You'll notice you'll be able to spot these 'tards a mile off when white objects start to fluoresce around you, and a dim purple/blue object appears on the horizon.
Aim for about 5k, and you'll get a decent white light. You'll probably need to swap your sidelight bulbs to LEDs or whatever superwhite things you can get as they'll look quite a sick amber next to the HIDs.

Lastly, make sure you get a H1 kit, the manual for e36s has the wrong type listed.

[Mark34bn]

I agree, I've got 6000k in mine and although they are very good I'd rather have a 4500-5000 set.
Mine look white when viewed from outside with a very mild blue at the edges.

[Frimley111R]

Mark34bn said:

Frimley111R said:

Mark34bn said:

Yes, they don't have to cost the earth. They make their money on the postage remember. My set was about £40 inc, the prices tend to fluctuate a lot.
Mine have been faultless since I bought them about 10 months ago.

Edited by Mark34bn on Thursday 26th November 14:09

£22.00 FFS. Now I see why they are so cheap, stupid idea. Thanks for pointing that out.

Still a massive bargain though. The E36 headlights are so bad as standard I'd say H.I.D's are an essential safety upgrade rather than a modification. You'll have one of those 'I can't believe how I managed before' moments if you get some.

And funnily enough on the Lotus owners website (SELOC) there's just such a thread!

Edited by Frimley111R on Monday 30th November 20:59

[Origin Unknown]

TheEnd said:

Frimley111R said:

BluePurpleRed]I hate the look as a lot of barry boys have done it. [/footnote said:

Does it? How? Surely they are just brighter lights. I have seen HiDs fitted to other cars and they are just brighter. What I am missing?

There was a "Kelvin rush", decent OEM HIDs are about 4500-5000K, which is a decent normal white, but Kevin and Perry knew that 5K was for oem chumps, and 6.5 and 7k were better, and obviously, Mr 8K beats them too.

Thing is, 8K is an obvious blue/purple colour, and not particularly any good either. You'll notice you'll be able to spot these 'tards a mile off when white objects start to fluoresce around you, and a dim purple/blue object appears on the horizon.
Aim for about 5k, and you'll get a decent white light. You'll probably need to swap your sidelight bulbs to LEDs or whatever superwhite things you can get as they'll look quite a sick amber next to the HIDs.

Lastly, make sure you get a H1 kit, the manual for e36s has the wrong type listed.

One month shy of a 10 year old thread.

Thanks for this bit, I had some nice Philips H7 bulbs turn up today only to find it's an H1 fitment