HID Kits

[mike foster]

If i was to buy a set of GENUINE projector bi/xenon headlights they would not come with washer jets... so would still be illegal that is my point.

This conversation is now getting out of hand.

It is not illegal to buy OEM lights or to fit them. But it is illegal to use them on UK roads without washers and self-levellers. You would have to buy those as well, and fit them !

You know the regulations (or should do) so whether you abide by them or not is your choice.

End of !!!

 

[Jonathaan]

You are just repeating my point?

Granted it is not illegal to buy, but as i say unless you have bumper cut out and the pumps or what ever you need for the headlight washers it will be as illegal installing OEM as HID... would it not?

 

[mike foster]

You are just repeating my point?

Granted it is not illegal to buy, but as i say unless you have bumper cut out and the pumps or what ever you need for the headlight washers it will be as illegal installing OEM as HID... would it not?

So don't do it unless you can afford to do it properly ! That is my point !!!

 

[smurfworth]

Please don't include an edited quote in your reply when the whole quote needs to be understood !

Sorry Boss, however i don't see anything in the rules about that.

Anyway, buy them, fit them, tell all of your experiences. Cheers

 

[mike foster]

Sorry Boss, however i don't see anything in the rules about that.

Anyway, buy them, fit them, tell all of your experiences. Cheers

No rules - just obvious to most people that part of a quote, taken out of context, can mean a totally different thing !

Stop trying to be clever !

 

[bleedout]

Nope,
to get washers you woulkd need a whole host of parts from actual washers to new bumper and auto level sensor connected to rear wheels.
My last car (focus ST3) had Xenons with an self level sensor and i found of all the cars i have fitted HID's/Xenons to this one flirted with almost dazzeling other drivers most.
if you do fit the kit, do NOT try to squeeze every extra ft of range from them, adjust to slightly below youre standard range.
this should save you dazzeling other drivers while still allowing you improved headlights.

Mike while i think the entire forum is getting your point there are still plenty of people who will fit these its better to point out the error then advise how NOT to be the classic chav with HIDS he has spent 10 seconds fitting / setting up.

 

[c_w]

At the end of the day, a well adjusted projector xenon unit is not dazzling to other road users. That's the key difference between a HID kit in a standard A3 headlamp vs OEM HIDs fitted without the levelling. The latter is fine IMO, but a HID kit in a halogen unit can cause glare and looks dodge.

 

[Mikemc]

I'd like to see what these hid h7r bulbs look like before I'd put my money on one, I don't see how they can be better than the standard h7?

 

[BradHatton]

Are 55W bulbs just as damaging as HID's?

 

[mike foster]

Are 55W bulbs just as damaging as HID's?

Just as damaging to what ?

55 Watt bulbs are factory fitments on halogen headlights.

 

[BradHatton]

Just as damaging to what ?

55 Watt bulbs are factory fitments on halogen headlights.

Sorry, wrote that whilst half asleep.

I meant are they as risky to wiper motors as HID's are, then read up an realised that like you said, they are what halogens are

Thanks anyway.

 

[Jonathaan]

Its is the 100watt bulbs/lamps which people sell that can cause issues at a later date - as wiring harness and fuses are rated @ 50watt not 100watt.

Also the poor poor lamp housings which usually suffer, being plastic and the 100watt lamp gets slightly warmer it can melt this.

 

[BradHatton]

Its is the 100watt bulbs/lamps which people sell that can cause issues at a later date - as wiring harness and fuses are rated @ 50watt not 100watt.

Also the poor poor lamp housings which usually suffer, being plastic and the 100watt lamp gets slightly warmer it can melt this.

Sweet, cheers

 

[sachen]

Hi all,

I know there has been a lot of heated discussion about this, so just trying to keep things civil... Has anyone bought one of these kits yet and tested them out?

 

[nothingness]

I believe the wiper motor issue is due to the motor being run on the same ground as the headlights. Aftermarket ballasts require more voltage which messes up the ground of the motor. If you to the big three (TB3 as its known in the car stereo world) you wont have this problem - you wire the grounds seperatly.

 

[Mikemc]

I believe the wiper motor issue is due to the motor being run on the same ground as the headlights. Aftermarket ballasts require more voltage which messes up the ground of the motor. If you to the big three (TB3 as its known in the car stereo world) you wont have this problem - you wire the grounds seperatly.

So your saying if I was to run a desperate earth for the ballasts all would be ok?

 

[Jonathaan]

So your saying if I was to run a desperate earth for the ballasts all would be ok?

That is a theory, Some of the new style HID kits come with a wiring harness already, which i presume is an additional earth for the HID Ballast. Removing it from the same earth strap as the wiper motor. However as far as im aware nobody has tried this,

 

[IceHanger]

+1

When factory fitted they call them Xenon’s, retro fit are called HID’s or Xenons, they are basically the same thing.

'Xenons' is just a shortened name for them, regardless if they're OEM or aftermarket they're High Intensity Dischange lights that use Xenon gas.

...and FWIW not seen any aftermarket ones that don't look ****e regardless of what car they're on lol, stick with a good legal bulb or do it properly

 

[MrLapou]

See a lot of cars about locally with HIDs fitted to non projector lamps.. They are a menace as the light beam is scattered causing on coming traffic to be dazzled by them.
Agree with you guys, dam idiots who use them do not seem to care as long as their 'car' looks cool.................
The bluey coloured ones look well chavey...

 

[mookster]

Yup, seen HIDs fitted to none projector and poorly aligned chav mobiles and they are a menace. I suspect the regulations were put in place with a specific aim to prevent these poor and inappropriate retro fits. This is also probably why a number of retro fitted HID kits within projector lights and correctly aligned have got through MOTs without self levelling or washers.

I've had projector lights retro fitted to my gen 5 Celica and installed an HID kit in them (some years ago now and prior to the current legislation being put in place). I don't have self levelling unit or washers but I have set them up correctly, a little lower than the normal range - as mentioned above - and have never had any issues with them. No flashes from on coming vehicles, no irrate pedestrians, etc., and they work perfectly well.

When I purchased my Evo the previous owner had fitted clear lensed headlight units (halogen) with HIDs, and to top it off they were for LHD vehicles! First thing I did was remove the HIDs and the lights and went back to standard - inappropriate fitment gone mad! I've since found Auto Bulbs Direct do some decent none HID bulbs with a whiter light and greater output in the 55W rating - H7 ABD StyleVision +50% 12v 55w bulbs NEW! (pair) - which I've used and found to be very good.

I intend to get some projector style headlights for the A3 and will probably use the above bulbs, no point in getting HIDs retro fitted these days when bulbs have improved notably and you can be 100% of being legal (without the additional expense to make HIDs legal)

 

[bailzey]

I believe the wiper motor issue is due to the motor being run on the same ground as the headlights. Aftermarket ballasts require more voltage which messes up the ground of the motor. If you to the big three (TB3 as its known in the car stereo world) you wont have this problem - you wire the grounds seperatly.

I believe you are correct on that they share a common ground. The high inrush or start-up current when you initially turn them on drops back down once the HID is lit, this current has to go somewhere so it goes down the ground and back feeds through the wiper motor which is obviously sharing a ground. It's probably actually burning out the motor due to the high current causing heat. I think the ground is located under the headlight it's self, splitting them might solve it; as in leaving the motor grounded at the same point and run a fresh ground directly from the battery for the lights. That's my view on it might be slightly wrong ha but its very much along them lines.