HID Retro-Fit Conversion Kits
Discussion
I've seen a few of these for sale, ranging from eBay-Specials to quite pricey.
Quite tempted after driving a Cooper S for a few weeks with HIDs, then moving back to my crappy Halogens. Especially with the dark nights coming in.
What's the general consensus on these?
Are any of them E-Marked?
What do MOT stations say re. Beam Patterns etc?
Quite tempted after driving a Cooper S for a few weeks with HIDs, then moving back to my crappy Halogens. Especially with the dark nights coming in.
What's the general consensus on these?
Are any of them E-Marked?
What do MOT stations say re. Beam Patterns etc?
Not legal for road use.
HID requires a self-levelling mechanism at the very least, and usually a very different lens too.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fzfAqyo6oN4 is worth watching.
HID requires a self-levelling mechanism at the very least, and usually a very different lens too.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fzfAqyo6oN4 is worth watching.
Edited by marshalla on Wednesday 13th October 10:55
It is illegal to use an HID capsule in a housing designed for halogen bulbs.
Strictly speaking the law says you should have a self levelling mechanism and washers in order to have legitimate HID headlights.
I can't stand those sodding plug 'n' play kits when used in reflector based headlight housings. They glare so badly and blind the crap out of people. Especially when they're behind you.
Projector based halogen lights aren't as bad, as they provide a much crisper cutoff, but it's still nowhere near as good as a proper OEM setup.
Having said that though, some OEM setups are crap aswell.
Strictly speaking the law says you should have a self levelling mechanism and washers in order to have legitimate HID headlights.
I can't stand those sodding plug 'n' play kits when used in reflector based headlight housings. They glare so badly and blind the crap out of people. Especially when they're behind you.
Projector based halogen lights aren't as bad, as they provide a much crisper cutoff, but it's still nowhere near as good as a proper OEM setup.
Having said that though, some OEM setups are crap aswell.
Malcster said:
Yeah, I see what you mean.
I still am tempted, but I hate the folk who use front fog lights unnecessarily, and kinda get the feeling this might put me in the same boat.
So whats the best option
Just a bulb upgrade?
've tried some H4 Osram +50's before, wasn't really impressed...
There is someone near me who has these things fitted and they are painfully bright. If you are concerned about looking like a fog-light-tI still am tempted, but I hate the folk who use front fog lights unnecessarily, and kinda get the feeling this might put me in the same boat.
So whats the best option
Just a bulb upgrade?
've tried some H4 Osram +50's before, wasn't really impressed...
t i would steer clear, because you will be worse if anythingTyre Smoke said:
So, these replacement kits off ebay. Do they literally involve a bit of wire splicing and directly fit where your halogen bulb used to be? Of course you have to mount the ballast resistor, etc.
The replacement kits are plug and play. You mount the ballast, and the old headlight power plug connects into the ballast without any fiddling.Legality? - This comes up time and time again. Please provide evidence that they are illegal. Please don't post that 'fact sheet' from the DfT which is not a legal document.
Will they pass an MOT - Yes, every time assuming they are working and properly adjusted of course.
Do they dazzle oncoming traffic - Yes, inherently they do - but only because the source of the light is 3x brighter than 'normal'. If people learnt not to look into the light, they won't get dazzled...just like mummy told you not to look at the sun when you were 3 (the big yellow thing in the sky, not the 'news'paper - although I wasn't allowed to look at that either
) .
Will they make any difference to my night time vision - YES, a massive difference.
Are there any Halogen bulb upgrades that are just as good - No, non come even close.
Do they use less or more power - they use less power, and produce less heat.
Are the cheap kits from China the same as the expensive kits you can buy in the UK - Yes. I have fitted 15+ kits for people from various sources, and they're all pretty much identical. It wouldn't surprise me if there were only a couple of factories in China making these kits.
What is the best colour temparature and wattage - 6000k IMO and 35 watts. You can get 50w kits but these are seriously bright and very dazzling to the point of taking the piss really!!
I hope that covers everything.
Will they pass an MOT - Yes, every time assuming they are working and properly adjusted of course.
Do they dazzle oncoming traffic - Yes, inherently they do - but only because the source of the light is 3x brighter than 'normal'. If people learnt not to look into the light, they won't get dazzled...just like mummy told you not to look at the sun when you were 3 (the big yellow thing in the sky, not the 'news'paper - although I wasn't allowed to look at that either
) .Will they make any difference to my night time vision - YES, a massive difference.
Are there any Halogen bulb upgrades that are just as good - No, non come even close.
Do they use less or more power - they use less power, and produce less heat.
Are the cheap kits from China the same as the expensive kits you can buy in the UK - Yes. I have fitted 15+ kits for people from various sources, and they're all pretty much identical. It wouldn't surprise me if there were only a couple of factories in China making these kits.
What is the best colour temparature and wattage - 6000k IMO and 35 watts. You can get 50w kits but these are seriously bright and very dazzling to the point of taking the piss really!!
I hope that covers everything.
Edited by Dr Doofenshmirtz on Wednesday 13th October 11:58
It's a xenon bulb which fits in the same way as the old halogen bulb. The wires then run to a ballast which you mount anywhere suitable. They're very simply to fit and takes no more than 10-20 minutes. I've got a 5000k set on my Coupe and they've made night time driving far safer than before, but then anyone who's driven a Fiat Coupe at night will tell you, the standard lighting is appauling.
I've got some Philips X-Treme Power bulbs - £27:
http://www.powerbulbs.com/product_detail.asp?prod=...
They're a vast improvement over the standard bulbs giving a much broader, longer beam and a nice clean white light.
Worth a go!
...although they seem to do an 'upgraded' version now - NEW Philips X-treme Vision, but are twice the money at £47:
http://www.powerbulbs.com/product_detail.asp?prod=...
http://www.powerbulbs.com/product_detail.asp?prod=...
They're a vast improvement over the standard bulbs giving a much broader, longer beam and a nice clean white light.
Worth a go!
...although they seem to do an 'upgraded' version now - NEW Philips X-treme Vision, but are twice the money at £47:
http://www.powerbulbs.com/product_detail.asp?prod=...
Dr Doofenshmirtz said:
Legality? - This comes up time and time again. Please provide evidence that they are illegal. Please don't post that 'fact sheet' from the DfT which is not a legal document.
Will they pass an MOT - Yes, every time assuming they are working and properly adjusted of course.
Do they dazzle oncoming traffic - Yes, inherently they do - but only because the source of the light is 3x brighter than 'normal'. If people learnt not to look into the light, they won't get dazzled...just like mummy told you not to look at the sun when you were 3 (the big yellow thing in the sky, not the 'news'paper - although I wasn't allowed to look at that either ) .
Will they make any difference to my night time vision - YES, a massive difference.
Are there any Halogen bulb upgrades that are just as good - No, non come even close.
Do they use less or more power - they use less power, and produce less heat.
Are the cheap kits from China the same as the expensive kits you can buy in the UK - Yes. I have fitted 15+ kits for people from various sources, and they're all pretty much identical. It wouldn't surprise me if there were only a couple of factories in China making these kits.
What is the best colour temparature and wattage - 6000k IMO and 35 watts. You can get 50w kits but these are seriously bright and very dazzling to the point of taking the piss really!!
I hope that covers everything.
So why would the MOT tester in the clip fail them then?Will they pass an MOT - Yes, every time assuming they are working and properly adjusted of course.
Do they dazzle oncoming traffic - Yes, inherently they do - but only because the source of the light is 3x brighter than 'normal'. If people learnt not to look into the light, they won't get dazzled...just like mummy told you not to look at the sun when you were 3 (the big yellow thing in the sky, not the 'news'paper - although I wasn't allowed to look at that either
) .Will they make any difference to my night time vision - YES, a massive difference.
Are there any Halogen bulb upgrades that are just as good - No, non come even close.
Do they use less or more power - they use less power, and produce less heat.
Are the cheap kits from China the same as the expensive kits you can buy in the UK - Yes. I have fitted 15+ kits for people from various sources, and they're all pretty much identical. It wouldn't surprise me if there were only a couple of factories in China making these kits.
What is the best colour temparature and wattage - 6000k IMO and 35 watts. You can get 50w kits but these are seriously bright and very dazzling to the point of taking the piss really!!
I hope that covers everything.
Edited by Dr Doofenshmirtz on Wednesday 13th October 11:58
Why are MOT testers being instructed to fail them?
I'd rather listen to the DFT than someone called doofenschmirtz on an internet forum.
Fitting HID bulbs to halogen reflectors is an MOT fail according to them.
Never had an issue with the HID conversion on my E36.
These were 6000k. If chosing again, I'd prob go for 4300k as those are closer to OEM. MASSIVE difference over any bulb upgrade I've done (Philips Vision Plus, Philips X-Treme etc). As mentioned plenty of cheap kits on ebay which are much of a muchness.
If you want dazzle - approach a Range Rover or RR Sport with their HIDs on.
These were 6000k. If chosing again, I'd prob go for 4300k as those are closer to OEM. MASSIVE difference over any bulb upgrade I've done (Philips Vision Plus, Philips X-Treme etc). As mentioned plenty of cheap kits on ebay which are much of a muchness.
If you want dazzle - approach a Range Rover or RR Sport with their HIDs on.
Dr Doofenshmirtz said:
Legality? - This comes up time and time again. Please provide evidence that they are illegal. Please don't post that 'fact sheet' from the DfT which is not a legal document.
Will they pass an MOT - Yes, every time assuming they are working and properly adjusted of course.
Do they dazzle oncoming traffic - Yes, inherently they do - but only because the source of the light is 3x brighter than 'normal'. If people learnt not to look into the light, they won't get dazzled...just like mummy told you not to look at the sun when you were 3 (the big yellow thing in the sky, not the 'news'paper - although I wasn't allowed to look at that either ) .
Will they make any difference to my night time vision - YES, a massive difference.
Are there any Halogen bulb upgrades that are just as good - No, non come even close.
Do they use less or more power - they use less power, and produce less heat.
Are the cheap kits from China the same as the expensive kits you can buy in the UK - Yes. I have fitted 15+ kits for people from various sources, and they're all pretty much identical. It wouldn't surprise me if there were only a couple of factories in China making these kits.
What is the best colour temparature and wattage - 6000k IMO and 35 watts. You can get 50w kits but these are seriously bright and very dazzling to the point of taking the piss really!!
I hope that covers everything.
It is not UK law that says it is illegal, it is EU law, specifically ECE 98 and ECE 48. That is why it's not in any UK regulations. It states that in the fact sheet, that EU law supercedes UK law. They state that a headlight must be independently tested in a laboratory and marked by the manufacturer that they conform to type approval. Why do you think low volume car manufacturers borrow lights and clusters from other manufacturers? It is an expensive and difficult process to get lights type approved.Will they pass an MOT - Yes, every time assuming they are working and properly adjusted of course.
Do they dazzle oncoming traffic - Yes, inherently they do - but only because the source of the light is 3x brighter than 'normal'. If people learnt not to look into the light, they won't get dazzled...just like mummy told you not to look at the sun when you were 3 (the big yellow thing in the sky, not the 'news'paper - although I wasn't allowed to look at that either
) .Will they make any difference to my night time vision - YES, a massive difference.
Are there any Halogen bulb upgrades that are just as good - No, non come even close.
Do they use less or more power - they use less power, and produce less heat.
Are the cheap kits from China the same as the expensive kits you can buy in the UK - Yes. I have fitted 15+ kits for people from various sources, and they're all pretty much identical. It wouldn't surprise me if there were only a couple of factories in China making these kits.
What is the best colour temparature and wattage - 6000k IMO and 35 watts. You can get 50w kits but these are seriously bright and very dazzling to the point of taking the piss really!!
I hope that covers everything.
Edited by Dr Doofenshmirtz on Wednesday 13th October 11:58
As such, just sticking an aftermarket kit into an existing halogen light, that hasn't been tested and marked as such, is illegal.
I seriously doubt the Chinese manufacturers are putting their £20 kits through for type approval....
So is it more the actual glass housing that is causing the legality issues here - i.e. the part that reflects / refracts the light itself?
Or is it the actual light source (bulb/HID Kit) that is at fault?
For example, what about taking say the HID lamps from an BMW E46 M3 and retro fitting them to an E36?
Would that be legal?
Or is it the actual light source (bulb/HID Kit) that is at fault?
For example, what about taking say the HID lamps from an BMW E46 M3 and retro fitting them to an E36?
Would that be legal?
marshalla said:
Not legal for road use.
HID requires a self-levelling mechanism at the very least, and usually a very different lens too.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fzfAqyo6oN4 is worth watching.
That video is just another example of overreacting British pussies and their cotton wool safety crap. Over exaggerating claims about how it will lead to deaths. I tell you what leads to deaths and accidents, the stupid potholes and rough road surfaces that the councils are doing little about. Also speed cameras that make you look at your speedo more than at the road and cause people to suddenly brake when they see one because they don't know what they're meant to be doing.HID requires a self-levelling mechanism at the very least, and usually a very different lens too.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fzfAqyo6oN4 is worth watching.
Edited by marshalla on Wednesday 13th October 10:55
I think the LED DRLs are far more dazzling and distracting than anything I've seen in terms of aftermarket kits. Also xenon lights on a 4x4 are terrible.
Malcster said:
So is it more the actual glass housing that is causing the legality issues here - i.e. the part that reflects / refracts the light itself?
Or is it the actual light source (bulb/HID Kit) that is at fault?
For example, what about taking say the HID lamps from an BMW E46 M3 and retro fitting them to an E36?
Would that be legal?
If you headlights use projectors, I don't see why not.Or is it the actual light source (bulb/HID Kit) that is at fault?
For example, what about taking say the HID lamps from an BMW E46 M3 and retro fitting them to an E36?
Would that be legal?
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