Finally fitted the HID kit :)

[S2central.net]

I got round to it eventually and the initial results are quite impressive. Definitely much better than standard dipped H1's.

Total time to fit was probably about 4 hours cos I spent ages looking thru the garage for suitable screws and bolts to secure the ballast/igniter modules behind the left headlamp. Then I spent a fair bit of time cutting down the low voltage loom and sleeving it with heat-shrink insulation (from Maplin) to give more physical protection. Then a trip to the hateful DIY superstores in search of a 25mm drill bit for the grommet.

Hope to get a proper run out on some pitch black B-roads tonite for a proper test.

The only downside of the kit is that the side lights and main beams look rubbish with their yellow tinge. Will have to get those sorted. HIDs on the main beam would be cool when funds permit... but finding space for the igniters may not be so easy.


Paul

[S2central.net]

Things are bad... I'm talkingto myself again...

Just looked up the DT catalog for a price check on PIAA 'Extreme White' bulbs which give more light than normal and are a good colour match for HIDs. Almost fell over when I saw the prices below :

H-222 Pair of sidelights (5W load) at £12
H-214 Pair of H1 (55W load) at £67

Then add P&P and VAT. Anybody got cheaper alternatives. I'm all for nice lights and all but the little amount of night driving I do now makes it hard to justify spending 100 notes on trinkety bulbs. But then the HID kit was a freebie so I'm tortured really as it would still be a bargain price for an upgrade on all lights ;-)

Paul

[Alistair C]

does this mean you've moved over to elipsoids paul.... ?

[S2central.net]

Always had them ellipsoids - its a 94 Coupe !


Paul

[Martynf]

4 Hours??!!:eek2: come on Paul... I can do them in 1 hour 15 minutes tops!! you should have millions of nuts and bolts!!

The side lights, well yes, they look like indicators by comparison!! I just bit the bullet and paid £12 for a apair of the PIAA's, it's worth doing those for sure. The main beam? nah... not really worth doing, stick a set down on your Christmas list as a present you'd like!! I'm still running H1 high beam, not too bothered by doing those.

Glad you like them

Martyn

[Graham]

Halfords now do a set of super brilliance bulbs which are really bright white and no tinge of yellow, the old brilliance bulbs were 30% brighter and these are 50% brighter, about 15 quid each inc.vat
Graham

[audiman]

Bloddy hell Paul, you were up early fitting them!! You posted at 6am and it took you four hours!! Sod that, i like my s2 but not that much.

Dads well chuffed with the results of his kit. They are amazing at night, you hardly need to use main beam anymore, dipped is just so bright.

[jameswkr]

Beware. A guy in our office just had new (brighter) bulbs fitted by H*LF***S. He came in moaning that they were not v good. Anyway he took his S70 back to Volvo who found the bulbs were fitted upside down !

[Greg_S]

Originally posted by S2central.net
Things are bad... I'm talkingto myself again...

Just looked up the DT catalog for a price check on PIAA 'Extreme White' bulbs which give more light than normal and are a good colour match for HIDs. Almost fell over when I saw the prices below :

H-222 Pair of sidelights (5W load) at £12
H-214 Pair of H1 (55W load) at £67

Paul,

Ive got some of the sidelight bulbs to put intoday, same as martin had but i wouldnt bother with the H1's tried a set of those and they were crap, far too blue to be any use they just didnt chuck out enough of the right light and found could see far better with the normal bulbs that got the 30% brighter on them.

Greg

[Graham]

Jameswkr said:

Beware. A guy in our office just had new (brighter) bulbs fitted by H*LF***S. He came in moaning that they were not v good. Anyway he took his S70 back to Volvo who found the bulbs were fitted upside down

HAHAHA what a pack of lemons how the hell did they get them in, theyre only supposed to go in 1 way
Graham

[dan_b]

These are those accursed things that seriously dazzle on-coming traffic aren't they? You have to drive with a pair of at night to avoid going blind these days coz of all these frickin' laser beam-type lights :eek2:

Just teasing/jealous. Would be nice to see where I'm going in the dark, although the lights on my 91 S2 are a miraculous improvement over the "lights" on my two 80Sports, they were like candles they were so gloomy.

[audiman]

I too would love some HiD lights for my pre-elipsoids. Just have to put up with the 160w/130w H4's!!!! I used relays dont worry. They make things a bit brighter!!

[Martynf]

Hey Tom, careful what you wish for! I've got two sets of H4 hi / lo beam kits right next to me!!!

[S2central.net]

@Martyn - its the quality of the job, not the completion rate !

No but seriously, I wasted feckin ages looking for suitable nuts & screws.

Paul

[audiman]

Originally posted by Martynf
Hey Tom, careful what you wish for! I've got two sets of H4 hi / lo beam kits right next to me!!!

Dont even think about putting them on my account (yet)!!

Bastid, howz about a freebie??