Extreme HID's

[4WheelDrifter]

I'm not sure on the MOT situation on my headlight arrangement. Does anybody know the score?

[audiman]

As long as the light output is virtually the same and they line up then it should pass, for example if you had an HID in one and standard in the other lamp, then that would fail

[Sweeper]

martyn: what does kit include ? new lenses ?

[The Spanish]

Martyn,

I am glad everything is working on.

Let me know if you need any more AL pieces.

Looking great

Cheers

[S2 Ant]

Looks very impressive!!!!!

Will keep my eye on this one me thinks cos i have a HID kit and still would like something a bit brighter! as they still arent the best

[horvathg]

Looks very impressive!!!!!

Will keep my eye on this one me thinks cos i have a HID kit and still would like something a bit brighter! as they still arent the best

Can anyone sort out how "bi-xenon" would operate on our cars? AFAIK the new Sharan and A8 has a flap in front of the city light lens and it moves out of the way when you turn on hi-beam.

[dan_b]

Hi Sal,

yes mate, no trouble at all!

Dan, adjust your headlamps for sure, but.... make sure the bulbs you fitted are installed properly first! if they are not seated correctly then they could be throwing the light too high. The only other problem that can cause a higher beam is if the focal point of the HID arc is in a different position to where it should be. Bottom line, check the bulbs are seated correctly, then get them adjusted

I certainly had problems with cutting the hole to teh right size and location in the back of the lamp cover, so maybe that's rubbing on the back of the HID unit and pushing it out of alignment slightly? I'm sure I seated the bulbs ok though. I found it very difficult: the units stuck out the back quite a long way, and with the cables too jutting out at an angle, well, it was a nightmare anyway, unless I've totally fecked it up?

[S2 Ant]

Dan, did you remove the headlights totally to fit?

I found it easiest to just take them off the car, mount the bulbs are the rest as far as possible then put the headlamps back in again.

[Jamo]

Am i correct in what i'm reading that the current HID kits are road illegal?

What's the time scale for phase 3 and then phase 4?

[S2central.net]

No - the current HID kits are perfectly legal in UK as long as your dipped beam is within MOT limits.

The problem with the current HID kits is that whilst they are an improvement (in terms of light output) on the stock lamps, the optical design of the lenses and reflectors does not produce an impressive/intensive enough beam pattern for dipped driving...

The 10 year old lamp design is pre-historic in comparison to the optics on modern cars. I *hope* that is what MartynF is working on here....


Paul

[Jamo]

Hmm, i'm getting confused here as i was trying to read up on auto leveling and came across this http://www.seatcupra.net/guide_hid.htm which says HID are for off-road use only without auto-leveling.

Also this http://www.info.gov.hk/td/eng/services/hidheadlamp.pdf

Think i'll wait for phase 3

[dan_b]

@Ant - I installed the HIDs (and replaced the H1s and sidelights with PIAA Extremes as well) with both lamp units in situ...

[Pete_RS2]

Have you got any knuckles left dan ?

It's much easier if you remove the lamps - even to just change the sidelight bulbs.

[Alistair C]

Hmm, i'm getting confused here as i was trying to read up on auto leveling and came across this http://www.seatcupra.net/guide_hid.htm which says HID are for off-road use only without auto-leveling.

Also this http://www.info.gov.hk/td/eng/services/hidheadlamp.pdf

Think i'll wait for phase 3

hmm - you think S2s have bad lighting- you should try a corrado!
As such, I looked into HIDs. But the pesimistic few over there stated that this would be illegal..... blah blah...... insurance void ....blah .. cause fatal accidents blah blah ...... prison....... shame.

Most of this seems to be based on hear say and guidance documents and OEM requirements rather than specific motoring laws applicable to the UK.

But anyway, common quotes come from:
EC Directive for Lighting on motor vehicles (see 6.2.9 and 6.2.6.2)

and from CLICK THIS (hella).

So who do you believe - and who are you to make your own interpretation of these documents???? Those with a particularly retentive nature may say that retrofitting is carte blanche wrong. Others may say there is nothing specific forbidding retro fitting HIDs in UK based cars.

All I know is that I need some decent lights - pronto!



(link to corrado discussion )
(link to lexus discussion - they seemed to start the argument! )

[dan_b]

@Peter - my left hand and forearm look like I've been bare knuckle fighting against a rather well-clawed and angry Badger!

I wish I could get the aim on mine sorted: I've just spent a good 1/2 hour fiddling with them this lunchtime, took it for a quick spin round the block and I'm STILL getting grief from other "helpful" motorists I think I'll take it to Kwak Fat or something.