H.I.D Yes or no??
04 February 2008, 01:12 PM
#1
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H.I.D Yes or no??
theres so much cr*p flying about that i dont know if i should get them or not...
legal or not?? will they fry your headlamps? every time i think of getting them, someone on here bumps their gums and puts me off...
cheers
chris.
legal or not?? will they fry your headlamps? every time i think of getting them, someone on here bumps their gums and puts me off... cheers
chris.
04 February 2008, 01:33 PM
#2
No HID retrofit kit is 100% technically legal (neither are high wattage bulbs). HIDs to be 100% legal would need projector units, headlamp washers and self levelers.
That said they seem to pass MOTs fine and no problems with getting pulled over
What you will get is far more light (3 times more than halogen), without dazzling drivers and a far better bulb lifespan (3000 hours).
They actually run cooler than normal bulbs too and are only draw 35w.
Let me know if you want to try some out, you won't be disappointed.
Bob
That said they seem to pass MOTs fine and no problems with getting pulled over
What you will get is far more light (3 times more than halogen), without dazzling drivers and a far better bulb lifespan (3000 hours).
They actually run cooler than normal bulbs too and are only draw 35w.
Let me know if you want to try some out, you won't be disappointed.
Bob
04 February 2008, 02:11 PM
#3
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Im actualy in a similar boat as you mate. I fancy getting some, then think about just upgrading the bulbs but when you look at spending £50 or so on bulbs your half way to a HID kit 
Main reason im put off them TBH is cos im a mechanic womble and wouldn't be able to fit them
Main reason im put off them TBH is cos im a mechanic womble and wouldn't be able to fit them
04 February 2008, 04:05 PM
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Well i was in the same boat, till i got some of Bob, and have to say i wont be looking back, they are great for night driving and have only been flashed at once,
As for fitting, thats what kepted putting me off, then just jumped in and only took 30min, i laided them out so i know what i was doing, removed lights placed bulbs in placsed the ballest just behind the lights, zip tied to thing to save them moving around, then wire to battery pos and earth and earthed the other one on drives side, started car turned light on and thought WOW, and that was in daylight.
As for fitting, thats what kepted putting me off, then just jumped in and only took 30min, i laided them out so i know what i was doing, removed lights placed bulbs in placsed the ballest just behind the lights, zip tied to thing to save them moving around, then wire to battery pos and earth and earthed the other one on drives side, started car turned light on and thought WOW, and that was in daylight.
04 February 2008, 04:08 PM
#5
As far as I'm concerned, the answer would be "no" for the reasons Bob5 has stated.
If you have a classic with OE Scoob headlights I'd say defo "NO"!!!.
Scatter from those is awful, and with 3 times the scatter, (it's actually more light than Bob5 says
), I'd say you were going to be a nuisance at best, and dangerous at worst.
Also, the solution that HID manufacturers have come up with for the H4 bulb is at best, inelegant, and at worst, useless!.
However: If you have a Bug-, Blob-, Hawk- etc eye, then I'd be tempted to give it a go.
Alcazar
If you have a classic with OE Scoob headlights I'd say defo "NO"!!!.
Scatter from those is awful, and with 3 times the scatter, (it's actually more light than Bob5 says
), I'd say you were going to be a nuisance at best, and dangerous at worst.Also, the solution that HID manufacturers have come up with for the H4 bulb is at best, inelegant, and at worst, useless!.
However: If you have a Bug-, Blob-, Hawk- etc eye, then I'd be tempted to give it a go.
Alcazar
04 February 2008, 05:09 PM
#6
Alcazar: Most people who have them fitted would disagree with you. Have had them on my classic for over a year without a single issue and it doesn't dazzle oncoming cars. But you already know that
In fact I've not had a single person complain about the light scatter who has brought a kit from us
As stated, they are quite easy to fit, the hardest part being finding somewhere to fit the ballasts, but lots of info on here to help for fitting to various models.
Cheers,
Bob
In fact I've not had a single person complain about the light scatter who has brought a kit from us
As stated, they are quite easy to fit, the hardest part being finding somewhere to fit the ballasts, but lots of info on here to help for fitting to various models.
Cheers,
Bob
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04 February 2008, 05:34 PM
#9
I've had them in my classic for about 12 months now, not one single flash ...but that's probably because i had them aligned properly from day one
Alcazar & Bob are both right in a way ...the difference in dipped beam is like night & day <no pun intended> BUT main beam is pretty much as good/bad as before, with most of the light scattering all over the place. Easily fixed by upgrading f/fogs to PIAA driving lights (or similar) tho'
Alcazar & Bob are both right in a way ...the difference in dipped beam is like night & day <no pun intended> BUT main beam is pretty much as good/bad as before, with most of the light scattering all over the place. Easily fixed by upgrading f/fogs to PIAA driving lights (or similar) tho'
04 February 2008, 06:05 PM
#10
YES YES YES
got mine last year no problems never been flashed.Alot of new cars these days have powerful lights lost count the number of times i've thought the car coming the other way as had there main beam only to be proved wrong
It is a good upgrade from standard lights
got mine last year no problems never been flashed.Alot of new cars these days have powerful lights lost count the number of times i've thought the car coming the other way as had there main beam only to be proved wrong
It is a good upgrade from standard lights
04 February 2008, 06:43 PM
#11
I was apprehensive in the manner mentioned here too so I did some reading up.
I went for the 4300K dipped kit from Bob for my bugeye and have been very pleasantly surprised in both the quality of the kit and the incredible difference it made driving at night - visibility is improved both in terms of brightness and range - the only thing is I had to then upgrade my sidelights to LED's so they didn't look so yellow in comparison!
I had the car MOT'd a week after fitting them and it passed first time, no problem. The only thing the tester said to me was that light coming from the front of the vehicle must be yellow or white, although I think a lot of testers "pretend" they don't see this anyhow .
He told me the pattern was not scattered, and that it was absolutely fine, and I haven't been flashed once since having them. I think that says it all, and as for easy to fit - read my fitting guide in the lighting section.
I went for the 4300K dipped kit from Bob for my bugeye and have been very pleasantly surprised in both the quality of the kit and the incredible difference it made driving at night - visibility is improved both in terms of brightness and range - the only thing is I had to then upgrade my sidelights to LED's so they didn't look so yellow in comparison!
I had the car MOT'd a week after fitting them and it passed first time, no problem. The only thing the tester said to me was that light coming from the front of the vehicle must be yellow or white, although I think a lot of testers "pretend" they don't see this anyhow
.He told me the pattern was not scattered, and that it was absolutely fine, and I haven't been flashed once since having them. I think that says it all, and as for easy to fit - read my fitting guide in the lighting section.
Last edited by MrNoisy; 04 February 2008 at 06:46 PM.
04 February 2008, 08:38 PM
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8000k kit from the states,fitted in 2 hours ,complete wiring loom and instructions 3 x better than standard,no problems with drivers flashing just get them ajusted,a massive best £89 i have spent (YES)
04 February 2008, 08:38 PM
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I got a pair of 6000k for my Blob.. never will look back. They are truly awesome.
Also had mine re-aligned straight after by a very very stringent MOT station (the only place i would ever use because of this very reason) who said that once aligned they were perfectly fine. Good light pattern and no scatter at all.
I have mine set so position 1 is MOT legal point, Position 3 is where i usually leave them for around town driving so they are pointing downwards of MOT line... then Position 0 i use for country roads when no-one is around as its slightly higher than MOT. Dip back to Position 1/2 when a car appears and never get flashed. Very rarely use my main beams now... doesnt seem to be a need (but i do still use them on occassion)
This being said, please bear in mind that mine is a MY05 for what its worth. Not sure what the Bug lamps would be like with them in.
Edit: My kit was from BOB'5 Groupbuy
Also had mine re-aligned straight after by a very very stringent MOT station (the only place i would ever use because of this very reason) who said that once aligned they were perfectly fine. Good light pattern and no scatter at all.
I have mine set so position 1 is MOT legal point, Position 3 is where i usually leave them for around town driving so they are pointing downwards of MOT line... then Position 0 i use for country roads when no-one is around as its slightly higher than MOT. Dip back to Position 1/2 when a car appears and never get flashed. Very rarely use my main beams now... doesnt seem to be a need (but i do still use them on occassion)
This being said, please bear in mind that mine is a MY05 for what its worth. Not sure what the Bug lamps would be like with them in.
Edit: My kit was from BOB'5 Groupbuy
Last edited by marmski; 04 February 2008 at 08:42 PM.
04 February 2008, 08:44 PM
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Ive also got the 6000k kit from Bob for my classic.
Ive had no problems what so ever, they have improved visability for me and I really think they look the business.
Would recommend buying from Bob as it was hassle free and seems a real good piece of kit
Ive had no problems what so ever, they have improved visability for me and I really think they look the business.
Would recommend buying from Bob as it was hassle free and seems a real good piece of kit
04 February 2008, 09:47 PM
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I've got them in my classic with crystal headlamps and they are 100 times better than the original set up only advice i would give you is to get them aligned at a proper mot station and you should be fine. Not been flashed with mine yet.
05 February 2008, 07:29 AM
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what i think will happen "eventually"
one major crash when somebody mentions they were blinded by a retrofit kit, police investigate, papers get hold of the story, police then start cracking down on them (its not hard to spot them anyway!!)
one major crash when somebody mentions they were blinded by a retrofit kit, police investigate, papers get hold of the story, police then start cracking down on them (its not hard to spot them anyway!!)
05 February 2008, 03:31 PM
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I have a set of 6000K on my 53 wrx sti and Ive never been flashed, visibility is excellent, esp on motorway.
I think 6000K are perfect as they are not blinding and also look good and have excellent visibilty...
What more can you ask for...I got my boyfriend a pair from "autobulbs direct"
for his 200sx and he loves them. No probs with them for over a year now.
I think 6000K are perfect as they are not blinding and also look good and have excellent visibilty...
What more can you ask for...I got my boyfriend a pair from "autobulbs direct"
for his 200sx and he loves them. No probs with them for over a year now.
09 February 2008, 05:56 PM
#27
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All this talk of classics....
Posts 1 & 3....
The cars are new-age, and absolutely fine with HID's.
I did main and dip, the ONLY advice I would have is try 4300 K main beam as the blue 6000 K scatters a fair bit in "murky" conditions....
DunxC
Posts 1 & 3....
The cars are new-age, and absolutely fine with HID's.
I did main and dip, the ONLY advice I would have is try 4300 K main beam as the blue 6000 K scatters a fair bit in "murky" conditions....
DunxC
10 February 2008, 09:10 PM
#30
4300K are the brightest bulbs; however, they aren't "blinding" - most manufacturers fit 4300K as far as I know because they provide the best visibility; plus technically, blue light emitted from the front of a vehicle in the UK constitutes an MOT failure if your testing station is particularly strict about meeting regulations (it must be white or yellow).
I have 4300K, and am totally happy with them - they've been on the car for over a month now and I haven't had a single person flash me or complain about them which I think says everything you need to know!
- most manufacturers fit 4300K as far as I know because they provide the best visibility; plus technically, blue light emitted from the front of a vehicle in the UK constitutes an MOT failure if your testing station is particularly strict about meeting regulations (it must be white or yellow).I have 4300K, and am totally happy with them - they've been on the car for over a month now and I haven't had a single person flash me or complain about them which I think says everything you need to know!