Freelander HID Kits. Any feedback?

rainady · Nov 13, 2008

Its been a while since a couple of guys fitted HID Kits to their Freelanders. Any feedback? Problems, reliability etc.

Also as I remember the HID kits replaced the normal dipped beam, what about the main beam, is that not overshadowed (pun intended) by the brighter dipped beam.

Any info would be appreciated.

Norbet · Nov 13, 2008

rainady said:
Its been a while since a couple of guys fitted HID Kits to their Freelanders. Any feedback? Problems, reliability etc.

Also as I remember the HID kits replaced the normal dipped beam, what about the main beam, is that not overshadowed (pun intended) by the brighter dipped beam.

Any info would be appreciated.

I'm sure I've read somewhere about these aftermarket kits being illegal and that cars fitted with may not pass the MOT - shame really as I travel down many a dark country road and would love to have better visibility.

On the matter of whether they're ok to fit as main beam - I'm not sure - surely this wouldn't have to pass beam pattern requirements for the MOT (as the dipped would) - but I'm not sure if HID lights would be suitable for switching on/off frequently as main beams need to. (I think they suffer a minor delay when lighting up - a bit like fluorescent lights - although I could be wrong.
I guess perhaps front fog lamps could be a candidate for these - don't think they're tested at MOT - but would HID bulbs offer much of an improvement?

I'd be interested to know about experiences with these kits - as I say nice idea but I wouldn't want to find myself in trouble with the plod over blinding other drivers.

N0rbet

Optimus Prime · Nov 13, 2008

stownrow did it and was happy with the results

Tomo1971 · Nov 14, 2008

Often the drivers of aftermarket HIDS are happy with the results but any driver of oncoming traffic will be well annoyed with the result. Aftermarket HIDS are NOT designed for halogen reflector type headlamp units and produce too much light scatter where it shouldnt be.

They are illegal, 100% FACT.

I have had them before in reflector headlamps and did persivere with them but eventually took them out as way too much scatter and annoyance to other drivers.

They could be potentially an insurance voider too, have an accident and car gets inspected, non approved bulb will mean MOT failure will mean insurance voided there and then.

Steve

rainady · Nov 14, 2008

Heck, I will give it a miss then.

Ironically, as I m writing this there is a sponsored link to Xenon HID kits at the bottom of this page.

Norbet · Nov 14, 2008

Tomo1971 said:
Often the drivers of aftermarket HIDS are happy with the results but any driver of oncoming traffic will be well annoyed with the result. Aftermarket HIDS are NOT designed for halogen reflector type headlamp units and produce too much light scatter where it shouldnt be.

They are illegal, 100% FACT.

I have had them before in reflector headlamps and did persivere with them but eventually took them out as way too much scatter and annoyance to other drivers.

They could be potentially an insurance voider too, have an accident and car gets inspected, non approved bulb will mean MOT failure will mean insurance voided there and then.

Steve

Yup think I'll be avoiding them as the dipped beam - however - any thoughts on whether HID's could be suitable for main beam or fogs? I mean main beam is gonna dazzle oncoming drivers whether it's halogen or HID - so is there any harm in having full beam HID's? I did mention before about start up times and whether they're suitable for turning on/off quickly. Would a HID front fog be out of the question?
Anyone any experience of this?

Norbet

Tomo1971 · Nov 14, 2008

As mentioned, HIDS bulbs fire up with a surge of power and then drop below there normal light output then increase to normal. This is done in maybe a second or so.

So, you will get instant light from them for a "flash" but Im not sure that long term use of them to "flash" people would do them any good.

Im not sure on there use as fog lights, one major issue may be getting the "bulb" into the foglight enclosure as they do tend to be slightly bigger than halogens. They will probably scatter light same as in a headlight. This would then cause the scattered and un-aimed light just to bounce back of the fog and annoy you.

HIDS in projector type lights, although strictly illegal still would give better results than HIDS in halogen type units.

Steve

rainady · Nov 15, 2008

I seem to remember (from my night mountain biking sessions) that HIDS have a finite life based on the number of times they are turned on. A friend had a HID light and he was always saying that once he turned the light on, it was better to stay on thay turn the light off an on as required since the battery life was considerably better than the halogen lights I had which I turned off as oftenn as possible because the lights only has a burn time of a couple of hrs.
So unless I have got it all wrong, its probably not worth messing with the HIDs at all.

Optimus Prime · Nov 15, 2008

'tis the same for all electrical equipment. any bulb will last longer turned permanently on than one that's turned on and off. it's the heating a cooling cycle of the filament / electrodes that causes eventual failure. (assuming no other external influence)

rustymark · Nov 17, 2008

And whatever else HID kits are not road legal in the uk for retro fit - whatever the car / make / model / year.

Freelander HID Kits. Any feedback?

rainady

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