HID Upgrades

[rees_A]

Does anyone have any views on the HID upgrades that are currently being offered on Ebay -

H7 6000K HID Xenon Conversion KIT Mercedes SLK CLK

I'm tempted to buy an upgrade kit for my car I'm picking up on Saturday.

 

[lynall]

Has it not got xenons as std?




Lynall

 

[Silver CL55]

There are a few scare stories about these more powerfull bulbs melting the holders.
Colin.

 

[lynall]

I think you will find the higher the k number the bluer and duller the light output is, 4300k is std, pretty sure still only 35 watt as opposed to std halogen at 55 watt.



Lynall

 

[Baron_Samedi]

Precisely, the power doesn't change...

 

[Adam230K]

35watts is std bulb wattage for xenons, and try to go for 4300K/6000K. There's a bit of DIY wiring involved, but nothing complex, and make sure you store the ballasts in an appropriate place in your engine bay.

Soon our forum police will be notifying you that xenon retrofits into non-xenon headlamps are illegal, but i've put them on my car regardless .

 

[Baron_Samedi]

Adam230K did you not look at the new HID types especially for non-projector head lamps shells?

H7 HID Conversion Kit - HIDS4U Ultimate

These are available, for an extra tenner with H7R "Bulbs" that have the beam shaping former in the crystal.

 

[prc]

Just remember it's still illegal without auto-leveling and headlamp washers. That said have run them in My Seat for 8+yrs now with no problem.

 

[Baron_Samedi]

Not if you use the ones I suggest....

 

[prc]

Not if you use the ones I suggest....

AFAIK the regulatory laws for EU countries hasn't changed, so all HID kits require auto-leveling and washers (but could be wrong).
This doesn't mean they will bother you though. My Seat went through 3 MOT-equivalents here and no one said a thing.

 

[Baron_Samedi]

Right on, but the ones I suggest are not standard HID Ballasts.

They light like a HID Ballast but include the fin to shape the light.

Thus, they give off the light output of a properly installed HID setup but work legally in a standard headlight shell.

Think of them as really expensive Xenon type bulbs.

 

[Spinal]

Right on, but the ones I suggest are not standard HID Ballasts.

They light like a HID Ballast but include the fin to shape the light.

Thus, they give off the light output of a properly installed HID setup but work legally in a standard headlight shell.

Think of them as really expensive Xenon type bulbs.

Still illegal without self-levelling and washers...

M.

 

[lynall]

They are bloody expensive

Baron what does the beam pattern look like parked 20 feet or so from a wall, not looking to knock you just curious!


Lynall

 

[Baron_Samedi]

Still illegal without self-levelling and washers...

M.

What makes them illegal?

If the beam shaper is present and 4300k is chosen, the light would look like Xenon.

And they are expensive, the only reason I chose Halfords finest instead.

 

[markmifsud]

from what I can see, the H7R version is only available in 8000k not 4300k. Either way you look at them, they are not a legal retro fit without wash/wipe and self levelling. But if they work as described, at least you wont be causing oncoming drivers temporary blindness.

When all is said and done, who has ever heard of a car failing an MOT for using a HID upgrade?

 

[rees_A]

Hmmm, based on the above, I'll wait a bit longer before making my mind up, don't want to cause other drivers any issues...

Thanks for all your comments

 

[bolide]

Self-levelling and washers are only a requirement on new cars fitted with Xenons. There's no provision for retrofits

Nick Froome

 

[markmifsud]

Self-levelling and washers are only a requirement on new cars fitted with Xenons. There's no provision for retrofits

Nick Froome

not quite correct, read here

Aftermarket HID (Xenon) headlamps

It says, you can not just replace the halogens with HID, but you must fit a complete HID compliant headlamp, and that must be fitted with headlamp cleaning and self levelling

 

[flango]

not quite correct, read here

Aftermarket HID (Xenon) headlamps

It says, you can not just replace the halogens with HID, but you must fit a complete HID compliant headlamp, and that must be fitted with headlamp cleaning and self levelling

That advice by the DT is also not quite correct and has been challenged by some manufacturers, as I have mentioned before my Subaru and many others like it had factory fit HID and yes it did have self levelling but did not have headlight washers. It all depends on the type approval apparently.

On the MOT front having just installed an MOT ATL at our new premises and being the Authorised Examiner I can confirm that any vehicle fitted with aftermarket HID kits WILL fail an MOT under current VOSA guidelines. It is also worth noting that after accidents the police examiners now routinely check the lights for fittment of these kits and criminal prosecutions have been made after accidents where aftermarket HID kits were fitted.

 

[Baron_Samedi]

Ian,

Out of interest, if beam shape and light output is compliant on the MOT test machine, does it matter what created the light?

For example, would it matter if the slight ource were, candle, gas lamp, incandescent filament, HV discharge or indeed LED?

Or, do the agencies have a bee in their bonnet that the physics of HID alone is evil and will kill all children if headlamp levelling and wash are not used to tame that devil?

Sorry if I appear facetious but it winds me up that people automatically assume that HID = headlamp levelling and wash, as my contention is that a bulb is a bulb no matter what is powering it, as long as the light output is shaped by a mask.

I must add that I am not an apologist for people who misuse HID "kits" by installing them in non-projector headlamp units...