HIDs fitted - that's better!

[Neil VR6 0]

After a moment of credit card madness whist having some bits done for the MOT I had some 6000K HIDs fitted at the same time.

 

I have to say that I can

[coolrado 0]

which ones did you get? as different kits seem to vary quite a lot.

[horney 0]

I have to say that I can

[Neil VR6 0]

I knew you were going to ask that. I can't remember. I'll look tonight.

[Neil VR6 0]

I have to say that I can

[Kevin Bacon 5]

It's a bit of a grey area mate. Factory fitted HIDs have to have headlight washers and auto levelling (yaw sensors) IIRC?

 

For the aftermarket, I think it gets even greyer, but I've not heard of anyone failing an MOT with them?

 

Yeah I'd like to know which ones you used also as MysticStorm was less than ethusiastic about his setup :D

 

Shame the high beams are still the old crummy halogens, but I find those new Phillips spangly bulbs are almost white and very bright.

 

For the side lights, I recommend a 3W luxeon star. Anything else is just too weak and pants.

[Neil VR6 0]

Thanks for the bulb suggestions - I really need to cut down on the amount of yellow!

 

The whole legality thing's a nonsense - the worst offenders are the new Range Rovers, X5s, Q7s and all the other Chelsea tractors with their HIDs about 4 feet off the ground dazzling everything in the opposite direction. My headlights are dipped and only about 5 inches from the tarmac :lol:

 

I'll take some proper pics of the beam pattern with the slr soon you can see what it looks like.

[horney 0]

Yeah I don't disagree that factory units can be pretty poor on people in other cars. I'm forever being dazzled by Range rovers and BMWs.

 

As for the law on aftermarket HID's it's pretty clear.

 

Fact sheet: Aftermarket HID headlamps

December 2006

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.

 

If you require any further information regarding the regulations covered by this fact sheet, please contact the DfT at the address below:

 

Transport Technology and Standards 6

Department for Transport

Zone 2/04

Great Minster House

76 Marsham Street

London

SW1P 4DR

 

Telephone: 020 7944 2078

Fax: 020 7944 2196

Email: [email protected]

 

I looked this up ages ago as I wanted to fit HIDs to my 1990 Passat but the fuzz round my way are pretty ho ton stuff like this and I decided it wasn't worth the risk.

 

Anyway get some pics up! I want to see what they look like in a rado :-)

 

Nick

[Kevin Bacon 5]

Seems pretty conclusive then!

[Neil VR6 0]

I just read that too here: :lol:

 

http://www.mbclub.co.uk/forums/showthread.php?t=32372

 

I think that looking at it pragmatically

[horney 0]

Just to make it clear I wasn't having a dig or a moan, people are free to do what they want I just thought it prudent to make folks aware of the facts. And yes you're right, anything is better than the candles in a dirty goldfish bowl the Rado has as standard!

 

Nick

[Philuk 0]

to be honest i have seen these and am quite impressed (on different cars not a C) ande would be interested to see what they are like on this. have been tempted by them quite often! :D

[Neil VR6 0]

Just to make it clear I wasn't having a dig or a moan, people are free to do what they want I just thought it prudent to make folks aware of the facts. And yes you're right, anything is better than the candles in a dirty goldfish bowl the Rado has as standard!

 

Nick

 

I know mate 8)

 

Given there's a bit of interest I'll take some pics of the ballasts etc as well as the beam pattern

[Neil VR6 0]

Can anyone recommend the exact bulbs and place I should go to get some whiter high beams and white LED sidelights? I don

[flusted 0]

I expect they are illegal on standard lenses but if you use projectors it should be fine.

 

Heres mine as ive just found out my headlights are LHD argh

 

 

Got mot on thurs aswell uh oh

[coolrado 0]

what make are they? IN-PRO angel eyes and the sonus or whatever they where called are both switchable between LHD and RHD as far as i know.

[NS16V 0]

If are the in-pro units, take them apart and there is a small screw under the projector unit and lever you can adjust from LHD to RHD, so they will dip to the left. What make of HIDs did you use?

[flusted 0]

mine are sonar, bit crap quality but bought them from a guy locally on the island.

Anyone got any info on changing the sonars?

 

Got the HIDs (sounds like a disease) from ebay about £50 all in but they are H1 only, got them from a uk supplier rather than hong kong

[Exup Man 0]

I've got the Sonar ones and to be honest not bad for just over £100 BUT they are not adjustable from LHD to RHD. I took the glass out, unscrewed the beam deflector and flipped it over. My car was MOT'd yesterday went straight through with just a pair of tyres. :D

[flusted 0]

Take glass out? plastic front is glued on? do i heat it up? help help help :lol:

[skinnyman9000 0]

To be honest i use superbright phillips ones in mine and they're pretty good, could do with a new loom though.........

[G60_Marc 0]

I've got the Sonar ones and to be honest not bad for just over £100 BUT they are not adjustable from LHD to RHD. I took the glass out, unscrewed the beam deflector and flipped it over. My car was MOT'd yesterday went straight through with just a pair of tyres. :D

 

Interested in how this was done as i bought a pair of in-pro blacks on here from **** and when they arrived they were sonars :censored:

[flusted 0]

im guessing hair dryer to heat up the glue, but hopefully some1 will shed some light (excuse the pun) il have a go at mine next week

[flusted 0]

bump for advice?

[flusted 0]

Started tonight on 1 light.

 

Hairdryer to warm up glue that holds lense on, then unclip the reflector from adjusters, unscrew the projector which was a PITA then swap the plate around inside

 

Just gota suss how to glue the lense back on