JohnnyCrash
New Member
Yes, yes and yes
however - expect to get some slack off the guys on here as many hate them, but I wouldn't be without mine now
however - expect to get some slack off the guys on here as many hate them, but I wouldn't be without mine now
JohnnyCrash
New Member
mine was a gift so no idea on price - what you fitting them to?
My first kit was an H4 and the wiring was useless and I had to come up with my own using 5 pin relay for each ballast and bulb. The reason was that every time I switched to full beam the power to the ballast was cut so bulb went out and dash warning came on saying "bulb fail" anyway - below is how I managed to get it sorted.
then I bought an H1 kit for my full beam and finally an H3 kit for my fogs These were much easier, plug and play
My first kit was an H4 and the wiring was useless and I had to come up with my own using 5 pin relay for each ballast and bulb. The reason was that every time I switched to full beam the power to the ballast was cut so bulb went out and dash warning came on saying "bulb fail" anyway - below is how I managed to get it sorted.
then I bought an H1 kit for my full beam and finally an H3 kit for my fogs These were much easier, plug and play
Jongould
New Member
Be warned that HiD bulbs in standard headlamps may not be able to get a beam pattern, please check with an MOT center first as without a beam pattern you officially become one of those ****ish drivers who blind everyone going down the road. Some of the conversion kits will give you a pattern, many wont (unless you change to an HiD headlamp unit)
DTd5
Active Member
They are very likely to be illegal and either get you a fine/penalty points or problems at your next MOT, have a read of this:
http://webarchive.nationalarchives....ormation-sheets/aftermarket-hid-headlamps.pdf
Suffolkandgood
New Member
I have 8k hi/lo H4 kit in my Disco1, as said above i wouldnt be without them now....2mins to swap back to normal bulbs come MOT time too.
myths63
New Member
Hi,
thanks for all the replies......looked at a few set ups (before/after) on You Tube.....have to agree tho that if your headlights do not have a proper pattern set up for HIDs then you will face the wrath of the blinded beggars
Have seen a few drivers near me that seem to have them fitted & they do seem to spread the beam everywhere bar where you want them......
Ian
thanks for all the replies......looked at a few set ups (before/after) on You Tube.....have to agree tho that if your headlights do not have a proper pattern set up for HIDs then you will face the wrath of the blinded beggars
Have seen a few drivers near me that seem to have them fitted & they do seem to spread the beam everywhere bar where you want them......
Ian
wiltshire landyman
I’m back
martin1512
Well-Known Member
They are if not fitted correctly. You can't just stick HID bulbs into a normal headlight unit. However, if they are fitted in compliance with ECE 98 and ECE 48, and are "e" marked, then as you say, they are road legal.
tacr2man
Well-Known Member
You need to be very careful what you end up with , as it could just be a lot thinner wallet , and worse lighting!
also I try and help by using 640watts of halogen lights to advise those that have gone the same route that they are causing dazzle to other road users :smokin:
also I try and help by using 640watts of halogen lights to advise those that have gone the same route that they are causing dazzle to other road users :smokin:
Jongould
New Member
When it comes to HiD bulbs in H7/4 light units it is more about the beam pattern, the standard lights are designed to work with H7/4 bulbs, the reflectors and lenses are shaped so that the correct beam pattern is given out, by changing to HiD bulbs you often lose this pattern and instead of a nice low beam with a kick up you effectively get a massive, overpowered torch with no pattern at all, this is illegal and also rather irresponsible as it blinds other road users.
I am not saying all HiD bulb conversion kits are going to destroy the pattern but quite often it is the case, if you are replacing just bulbs and not the complete unit then go get the pattern tested, if you still have a pattern then they are legal (well, actually as you have fitted them since the law change in 2010 they are illegal however there is no way to prove that the conversion wasn't originally done pre-2010)
DTd5
Active Member
Jongould
New Member
As long as there is a beam pattern thats all thats needed...Correct, IF they comply
martin1512
Well-Known Member
Not quite, they also have to comply with ECE 98 and ECE 48 regarding the actual headlight fitting.
Jongould
New Member
In the case of hid lights it has already been stated that any conversions carried out before 2010 which comply to mot regulations will be considered Legal, any conversions after this date are not however unless solid proof can be gained that this conversion was done after that date (such as having a 2011 vehicle) then it will be assumed the conversion was done per 2010. The light itself has to be E marked but were talking about conversion bulbs here, I am assuming the lights themselves are legal already
martin1512
Well-Known Member
http://webarchive.nationalarchives....ormation-sheets/aftermarket-hid-headlamps.pdf Read paragraph 2. It is illegal to simply put in a HID bulb. According to the DfT, which is the body responsible for enforcing the law in this area, you have to replace the whole headlight unit. The information in this leaflet is quite clear that bulb only conversions are not legal.
Jongould
New Member
Brilliant, read this thread again and have a look at what I have been saying, if its just bulbs then you need to make sure you have got a beam pattern, there are very few headlights that will retain a pattern, if that's the case you need a complete unit, just like that link says, I'm not disagreeing, that's the way it is...
P.s. don't believe everything you read online, I have seen plenty of official links that are out of date, wrong or misinterpreted...
wiltshire landyman
I’m back
can we put this one to bed for about the 5th time now..
