Hid's

[John]

Something i know fark all about tbf before thread start.

My polo (h4 bulbs) headlights are crap. Realising this driving it in the dark for the first time this winter. It currently has 100w bulbs, but on dip beam they light is poor. (I have checked the the levels on the beam setter at work and they're fine)
Sooo i'm thinking about hids, what do i need? Are they worth the outlay? i don't want to dazzle other drivers, i just want to be able to drive through the lanes home on dipped beam more safely. :)

[Jack]

Look for others who have tried it - and pics of the beam pattern. If you can't find pics, it usually means its awful so should be avoided lol

If you want a decent usable light, go for around 5000K. The higher the temperature, the bluer the light, and the darker the output. I've also found cheaper chinese kits to be more greeny/blue and generally pretty crap.

I took them out of the cav as they didn't really work even with the internal deflectors in the lens. The Nova they work Ok (using BMW E30 headlamps) and in the Celica they work perfectly. [edit] the celica has uk-branded 6000K HIDs and although they were expensive (to be fair, it was a good few years ago) they are good, no dazzle and the light is a crisp white without any of the crap blue/green you get in cheap kits

[Asa-James]

i've always been dubious of these where the light is focused through the headlamp glass (rather than the "projector" prisms of newer cars and OEM HID fitment)

i know mk2 golfs were pathetic on dipped beam until you beefed up the wiring (headlamp loom mod, worth a google search?)

failing that, fit an extra pair of driving lamps and aim them down a tad so they don't dazzle


(the Vag hater in me wants to say just get a proper car, but i wont ;) x)

[John]

i've always been dubious of these where the light is focused through the headlamp glass (rather than the "projector" prisms of newer cars and OEM HID fitment)

i know mk2 golfs were pathetic on dipped beam until you beefed up the wiring (headlamp loom mod, worth a google search?)

failing that, fit an extra pair of driving lamps and aim them down a tad so they don't dazzle


(the Vag hater in me wants to say just get a proper car, but i wont ;) x)

They're the older style glass lenses Asa, With no kind of projector or pism covering the bulb. I don't wanna fit any kind of other lamps, just want better dip beam. Nowt wrong with the olop!

[John]

something like this then?

http://www.xenonsonline.com/xenon-hid-conversion-kits/h4-xenon-hid-conversion-kits/h5-bi-xenon/h4m-35w-5000k-xenon-hid-conversion-kit.html#.UIcQ09uF-hs

[Novasport]

If they are not an ellipsoid lens then you should not fit Xenons IMO, you will just dazzle everyone. I pass some muppet every morning that has a Xenon conversion in standard lamps on his Saxo and it dazzles me every time.
Just get some proper uprated bulbs. I have fitted some Philips X-Treme 100% uprated bulbs to the wifes car and they have made a big difference. They won the Auto Express best uprated bulb. Make sure the lens is in good condition aswell, if not get it polished if you can

[16v Nova Kev]

I was told that retro fitting hids was illegal

[waggygsi]

there illegal down heer bud lol

[Jack]

The legality is a grey area. There is a criteria, and it is possible for retrofit HIDs to meet that criteria, but meh. As said, if the beam pattern isn't right I wouldn't use them.

John, if its H4, don't bother as I've yet to see a good H4 kit. I think the reason why the Celica and Nova are Ok is because they're single filament replacements so more compact.

[brainsnova]

I love a m.o.t guys face when he looks in headlight alignment box and the beams scattered

[16v Nova Kev]

Well not a gray area up here 3 points instantly

[brainsnova]

I wouldn't bother fitting hid to any of my vehicles as I have never thought my lights were ****

[John]

Mot not an issue lol but i dont wanna be dazzling other road users. so then what sort of money were your bulbs Rich?

[Andy]

While we are on the subject of these,my mk5 astra's lights are truly abysmal until full beam.
Any recommendations of either good bulbs or hiv's that wont be like lighthouse brightness??

[Jack]

I've heard in Scotland they fine for HIDs - not sure under what regulation though, as theoretically its no different to fitting aftermarket tyres (as long as the HIDs conform to requirements that is). Has anyone challenged it?

PIAA xtreme force are good, but pricey.

[Andy]

are they bulbs jack?

[Novasport]

Mot not an issue lol but i dont wanna be dazzling other road users. so then what sort of money were your bulbs Rich?

They were about £20-22 the pair off Ebay. They have made a big difference.

As above Andy, try Philips X-Treme 100% brighter bulbs, they have won the Auto Express award for best uprated bulb last year iirc.

[Andy]

Thanks rich i'll give them a try.

[Spudly]

I run halfords extreme brilliance bulbs in the nova Andy, as i thought the HIV kit i had was far too modern for it so sold them and remembered the cav SRi had gotten a set of the halfords ones when they were on bogof, not cheap, theyre about £18 each :eek:

[Jack]

are they bulbs jack?
Yeah, but if spud thinks £18 is expensive, don't even bother looking up the price of the PIAA ones lol

[raf24]

Yeah, but if spud thinks £18 is expensive, don't even bother looking up the price of the PIAA ones lol

Thats true,i once seen a pair of PIAA sidelight bulbs for nearly £50 :eek: