Twistedmind
Active Member
So what's the verdict ?? Need some more power in my dipped head lights
Cheers
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Cheers
Sent from my iPhone using MBClub UK
Hid kits
- Thread starter Twistedmind
- Start date
- Joined
- May 14, 2011
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- 2,645
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- New Forest
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- ClK 209,190E 201,SLK 170(gone) audi tt vr6 3.2
Buy some brighter bulbs,HID kits are not good,they are a hazard .oem xenon or halogen bulbs only.
cinek
MB Enthusiast
I think it depends on type of head lights you have; I would definately not fit HID in parabolic clusters, as apart from dazzling oncoming traffic - they dont do much more than that.
Projector lense however can manage the light beam far more efficient.
The bottom line is
"In the Department's view it is not legal to sell or use after market HID lighting kits, for converting conventional Halogen headlamps to HID Xenon. If a customer wants to convert his vehicle to Xenon HID he must purchase completely new Xenon HID headlamps. The reason for this is that the existing lens and reflector are designed around a Halogen filament bulb, working to very precise tolerances. If one places a HID "burner" (bulb) in the headlamp, the beam pattern will not be correct, there will be glare in some places and not enough light in other places within the beam pattern.
The following is the legal rationale:
The Road Vehicle Lighting Regulations 1989 regulate the situation in the UK.
Under these Regulations, HID/Gas Discharge/Xenon headlamps are not mentioned and therefore they are not permitted according to the strict letter of the law.
However new vehicles have HID headlamps. This is because they comply to European type approval Regulations. The UK cannot refuse to register a vehicle with a European type approval. These are to ECE Regulation 98 (for the HID headlamps which are tested on a rig in a laboratory) and ECE Regulation 48 (Lighting Installation on the vehicle).
For the after market, a used vehicle cannot obtain type approval because it is only applicable for new vehicles. However we feel that saying "HID is banned in the after market" would not be reasonable. Instead we should make analogies with new vehicles. It would be reasonable to require HID in the after market to meet the same safety standards as on new vehicles. The same level of safety should apply.
Therefore a HID headlamp unit sold in the after market should:
1. be type approved to ECE Regulation 98 as a component.
2. when fitted to the vehicle should enable ECE Regulation 48 to be complied with (although no government inspection will take place).
3. Comply with RVLR as far as "use" is concerned.
In practice this means:
1. The headlamp unit (outer lens, reflector, bulb) shall be type approved to ECE 98 and be "e-marked" to demonstrate this. That can only be done by the headlamp supplier - Hella, Valeo etc. who must test the headlamp in an independent laboratory.
2. Once fitted to the vehicle it must have headlamp cleaning and self-levelling (which can be for the headlamp or can be in the vehicle suspension - some expensive estate cars have "self-levelling suspension" and that is adequate). Also the dipped beam must stay on with the main beam.
3. The headlamp must be maintained in good working order, kept clean, and aligned/adjusted correctly like any other headlamp.
Under the Road Traffic Act 1988 it is an offence to supply, fit or use vehicle parts which are not legal.
In summary it is not permitted to convert an existing halogen headlamp unit for use with HID bulbs. The entire headlamp unit must be replaced with one designed and approved for use with HID bulbs and it must be installed in accordance with the rules stated above."
Projector lense however can manage the light beam far more efficient.
The bottom line is
"In the Department's view it is not legal to sell or use after market HID lighting kits, for converting conventional Halogen headlamps to HID Xenon. If a customer wants to convert his vehicle to Xenon HID he must purchase completely new Xenon HID headlamps. The reason for this is that the existing lens and reflector are designed around a Halogen filament bulb, working to very precise tolerances. If one places a HID "burner" (bulb) in the headlamp, the beam pattern will not be correct, there will be glare in some places and not enough light in other places within the beam pattern.
The following is the legal rationale:
The Road Vehicle Lighting Regulations 1989 regulate the situation in the UK.
Under these Regulations, HID/Gas Discharge/Xenon headlamps are not mentioned and therefore they are not permitted according to the strict letter of the law.
However new vehicles have HID headlamps. This is because they comply to European type approval Regulations. The UK cannot refuse to register a vehicle with a European type approval. These are to ECE Regulation 98 (for the HID headlamps which are tested on a rig in a laboratory) and ECE Regulation 48 (Lighting Installation on the vehicle).
For the after market, a used vehicle cannot obtain type approval because it is only applicable for new vehicles. However we feel that saying "HID is banned in the after market" would not be reasonable. Instead we should make analogies with new vehicles. It would be reasonable to require HID in the after market to meet the same safety standards as on new vehicles. The same level of safety should apply.
Therefore a HID headlamp unit sold in the after market should:
1. be type approved to ECE Regulation 98 as a component.
2. when fitted to the vehicle should enable ECE Regulation 48 to be complied with (although no government inspection will take place).
3. Comply with RVLR as far as "use" is concerned.
In practice this means:
1. The headlamp unit (outer lens, reflector, bulb) shall be type approved to ECE 98 and be "e-marked" to demonstrate this. That can only be done by the headlamp supplier - Hella, Valeo etc. who must test the headlamp in an independent laboratory.
2. Once fitted to the vehicle it must have headlamp cleaning and self-levelling (which can be for the headlamp or can be in the vehicle suspension - some expensive estate cars have "self-levelling suspension" and that is adequate). Also the dipped beam must stay on with the main beam.
3. The headlamp must be maintained in good working order, kept clean, and aligned/adjusted correctly like any other headlamp.
Under the Road Traffic Act 1988 it is an offence to supply, fit or use vehicle parts which are not legal.
In summary it is not permitted to convert an existing halogen headlamp unit for use with HID bulbs. The entire headlamp unit must be replaced with one designed and approved for use with HID bulbs and it must be installed in accordance with the rules stated above."
- Joined
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Osram Nightbreaker Plus or Philips Xtreme are the safe and legal options...
OP
OP
Twistedmind
Active Member
Thanks all
Looks like sticking with standards. Always wondered why the upgraded lights blinded on coming traffic.
Will pop into halfords today. I think it's buy one get one free !!
Will let you know.
Sent from my iPhone using MBClub UK
Looks like sticking with standards. Always wondered why the upgraded lights blinded on coming traffic.
Will pop into halfords today. I think it's buy one get one free !!
Will let you know.
Sent from my iPhone using MBClub UK
fr4nkmeister
New Member
- Joined
- Aug 18, 2013
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- 1
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- C200 Avantgarde
I would personally go for the hid kit. If you own a car with reflector lens than you can buy an H7r kit or whichever bulb type which is anti dazzle, if for projector lens than you should be fine. Either ways one could adjust the lens accordingly 
OP
OP
Twistedmind
Active Member
But reading up on the subject you would still not be road legal.
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flango
Hardcore MB Enthusiast
and you wont be insured in the event of an accident, one of the first thing insurance companies check HID kits and remaps
Spinal
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I need to copy this post 
Also worth a read is this web page which explains why from a physics perspective a HID will not match a filament bulb.
http://www.danielsternlighting.com/tech/bulbs/blue/bad/bad.html
M
Also worth a read is this web page which explains why from a physics perspective a HID will not match a filament bulb.
http://www.danielsternlighting.com/tech/bulbs/blue/bad/bad.html
M
OP
OP
Twistedmind
Active Member
Upgraded the standard lamps now. Well happy with the result. No hid required now.
To much to risk with them. And I'm not forking out loads to properly customise them
Thanks all for the help
Sent from my iPhone using MBClub UK
To much to risk with them. And I'm not forking out loads to properly customise them
Thanks all for the help
Sent from my iPhone using MBClub UK
mymini007
Active Member
When I bought my vw van (52 plate) the previous owner had fitted an HID kit (badly)
When you turned the lights on it zerod the clock an the odo, wich was a pain when trying to work out MPG, but any way, they only came on on dip, and went out if you put main beam on, so the dipped lights were brighter than the main beam, because the old lenses were still in they lit up the tree tops.
I got pulled over in the van (random van stop) by police, vosa, DWP, trading standartds, customs, you name it they were there one of the coppers commented on there being an HID ballast but didn't mention they were illegal.
I subsequently removed them anyway because they were crap!
When you turned the lights on it zerod the clock an the odo, wich was a pain when trying to work out MPG, but any way, they only came on on dip, and went out if you put main beam on, so the dipped lights were brighter than the main beam, because the old lenses were still in they lit up the tree tops.
I got pulled over in the van (random van stop) by police, vosa, DWP, trading standartds, customs, you name it they were there one of the coppers commented on there being an HID ballast but didn't mention they were illegal.
I subsequently removed them anyway because they were crap!
tonyc280
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- 1997 C280 V6 Elegance Auto Facelift. 1992 Kawasaki ZZR1100 C3
The idiots round here in their astra's and Citroen's with Hid's are the bane of our society with their loud exhausts too. They need exterminating.
OP
OP
Twistedmind
Active Member
Badger cull for installed HID kits. Lmao !
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Sent from my iPhone using MBClub UK
