HID's which ones?

well after 5 years of ownership one of my headlight bulbs has just blown, and seeing as its a J-spec and the whole bulb issue I might as well take the opurtunity to go to HID's so, what can you rekomend peep's?

I have these to fit in the very near future.

 

http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/HID-XENON-CONVERSION-KIT-BULBS-BALLASTS-9005-6000K-NEW_W0QQitemZ300200879456QQihZ020QQcategoryZ9895QQtcZphotoQQcmdZViewItemQQ_trksidZp1742.m153.l1262

I have these to fit in the very near future.

 

http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/HID-XENON-CONVERSION-KIT-BULBS-BALLASTS-9005-6000K-NEW_W0QQitemZ300200879456QQihZ020QQcategoryZ9895QQtcZphotoQQcmdZViewItemQQ_trksidZp1742.m153.l1262

 

 

For £24?! Do you only get dipped beam for that? I've also heard that 4200k is the best colour temp, as its closest to pure white light?

For £24?!

plus £22 delivery

plus £22 delivery

 

 

Ah, but still a good price. I'd like to know how Maverik gets on with those, as I'd like some too at some stage

well I only want dipped anyway, as I've heard that they take a while to switch on, so not much good for flashing really.

 

can someone confirm the best colour temp to get, as Andrew says?

4200K is the whitest and brightest but 6000k and above is more fashionable with the kiddies.

I got the information on the 4200k from reading one of Jake's posts, so I'll take that as read really. Then if Maverik gets a good result from his, I may have to get some if there's a choice of 'colours'.

 

EDIT: As above

6000k is ment to be the best but you can go up and down depending on what colour you are after, the link i posted has a chart on it showing the colours available.

 

Its dipped only but they are supposed to be so bright that you dont need main beam but that could be a fib!

i have the 6000 and they are very good, the hid are very bright i would not say you would not need full beam though:blink: the hids in main beam do flash, but then why would you want to i have not seen that in the highway code:D

now you see, now I'm confused, lol.

 

let us know how you get on with yours mate, when do you think you will be fitting them?

weather permitting doing the glass lenses and HID's next weekend

weather permitting doing the glass lenses and HID's next weekend

 

 

You'll have to let us know how you get on (quality of everything too etc)

Have posted this before, but beware when fitting HIDs as you may fail the MOT and if you get stopped by the 'boys in blue' on a roadside check you may get a ticket/(read fine) as you are supposed to have automatic self leveling and a wash system by law which is why all the new cars you see fitted have these as standard.

 

BMW had a problem some years back when they introduced the CSL version of the E46 M3 and they forgot to fit the washers and self leveling to UK cars fitted with HIDs' and the DoT banned the sales till they were retro fitted by BMW UK at their expense!!

 

HIDs' are very good but if the lenses are dirty or the car is carrying weight in the boot or driving on uneven surfaces the light from them 'scatters' and is a danger to oncoming traffic.

 

UK spec Supras have headlamp washers but not automatic self leveling so could still get caught out!

 

Also you may notice that HIDs' are only fitted to dip beams and not main beam due to the 'fire-up' time and they don't like to be flashed hence normal Halogen bulbs are usually used.

you are supposed to have automatic self leveling and a wash system by law

 

Where did you get that from? I'm sure it's incorrect.

Where did you get that from? I'm sure it's incorrect.

 

Construction and use regulations and the MOT testers handbook

hmmm, thats a bugger, anyone with HID's had any problems with this?

Just found this:-

QUOTE

Under the Road Traffic Act 1988 it is an offence to supply, fit or use vehicle parts which would cause a vehicle to fail to comply with the construction and use standards. A headlamp which has been approved to European Regulations for use with a HID light source is fine, provided the installation criteria are met. 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 cars have "self-levelling suspension" and that is adequate). These items are not checked at the MoT. However, failure to comply may lead to enforcement action by the police and may invalidate your insurance. Also the dipped beam must stay on with the main beam. The headlamp must be maintained in good working order, kept clean and aligned/adjusted correctly like any other headlamp.

 

Fitting HID light sources adapted for fitment to headlamps originally designed for use with filament light sources is not permitted and it is not possible to obtain EC type approval for such "modified" HID light sources. Even if the vehicle does pass the MoT exam this only proves that the light produces a beam pattern which is clear enough for aiming. It does not show whether the light distribution within that pattern is sufficient to prevent glare and puts light on the correct part of the road surface.

 

The same requirements apply regarding fitting an HID light source to a motorcycle. Only a headlamp approved for use with HID light sources may be fitted. Unlike with passenger vehicles, there are no European Regulations on the installation of approved HID headlamps to motorcycles. This is partly because no agreement has been reached on how to implement automatic headlamp levelling and washers on motorcycles. Potentially this could allow an HID headlamp to be fitted to a motorcycle without automatic leveling or washers and we are aware of one manufacturer who has taken advantage of this and fitted an approved HID headlamp to a motorcycle. The user must still ensure, however, that the use of these lamps does not cause glare to other road users, which may be difficult to achieve if the lamps are not kept clean and if there is significant movement of the suspension during use.

 

Yours sincerely,

 

 

 

DfT - Transport Technology and Standards

And this from the Phillips Bulb site:-

Note “Please note that Xenon light can only be fitted by a professional car dealer. To comply with European legal requirements Xenon light can only be fitted to your car in combination with an “automatic leveling device” and a headlamp windshield cleaning system”. To find out more, please consult our FAQ section.”

Just found this:-

QUOTE

Under the Road Traffic Act 1988 it is an offence to supply, fit or use vehicle parts which would cause a vehicle to fail to comply with the construction and use standards. A headlamp which has been approved to European Regulations for use with a HID light source is fine, provided the installation criteria are met. 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 cars have "self-levelling suspension" and that is adequate). These items are not checked at the MoT. However, failure to comply may lead to enforcement action by the police and may invalidate your insurance. Also the dipped beam must stay on with the main beam. The headlamp must be maintained in good working order, kept clean and aligned/adjusted correctly like any other headlamp.

 

Fitting HID light sources adapted for fitment to headlamps originally designed for use with filament light sources is not permitted and it is not possible to obtain EC type approval for such "modified" HID light sources. Even if the vehicle does pass the MoT exam this only proves that the light produces a beam pattern which is clear enough for aiming. It does not show whether the light distribution within that pattern is sufficient to prevent glare and puts light on the correct part of the road surface.

 

The same requirements apply regarding fitting an HID light source to a motorcycle. Only a headlamp approved for use with HID light sources may be fitted. Unlike with passenger vehicles, there are no European Regulations on the installation of approved HID headlamps to motorcycles. This is partly because no agreement has been reached on how to implement automatic headlamp levelling and washers on motorcycles. Potentially this could allow an HID headlamp to be fitted to a motorcycle without automatic leveling or washers and we are aware of one manufacturer who has taken advantage of this and fitted an approved HID headlamp to a motorcycle. The user must still ensure, however, that the use of these lamps does not cause glare to other road users, which may be difficult to achieve if the lamps are not kept clean and if there is significant movement of the suspension during use.

 

Yours sincerely,

 

 

 

DfT - Transport Technology and Standards

Who wrote that? It's not an official DFT document, is it? At first glance it looks like a quote from the Road traffic Act but it's actually not at all.

Is it not just a post or email somebody wrote?

I was always lead to believe that to have HID's (legally) you needed self-levelling headlights. Never heard about needing headlight cleaning though!

Jake, found that on the net as a quote in someone else's post on another forum

Tee is correct about cars with xenons legally needing both self-levelling headlamps or suspension along with headlamp washers, the latter being down to the fact that xenon light scatters vey easily when dirt is present on the headlight glass, as he mentioned. However, as long as the light emitted is not blue and blatantly not standard and the beam pattern is good, which it will be with projector headlamps such as those on a Supra, you will have no problems with the police or come MoT time. I have never had problems with either and I have never heard of anyone getting in trouble for having aftermarket xenons. It's only when people start fitting xenons in cars with reflector or fresnel optic based headlights, which just don't go together at all, or fit stupid blue bulbs that there's a good chance of getting pulled over.

had no problems with mine, 6000k from visionbulbs. Just keep your headlights clean and you shouldn't have a problem, it's not like your going to have a boot full of stuff with people in the back, there's not enough bloody room...

HIDs do not need self levelling or headlamp washers if they are retro fitted. They are an EU regulation for manufacturers to comply with and so any new cars fitted with HID lamps must comply but not retro fits.