Aftermarket HID Lights

Honest John Back Room » Motoring discussion
View Threaded
Sun 20 Feb 2005 19:50
Aftermarket HID Lights - jlo
Hi,

I noticed at www.autobulbsdirect.co.uk/HID/hid.htm they are selling after market HID lights. No not xenon bulbs but actual kits to convert you halogen lights (Dipped) in to Xenon (HID) lights.

Quite pricey at £315 but includes wiring harness etc.

My question is though about the legalities of doing this conversion. I believe that any car sold in the EC with Xenon's has to have headlight washers and be self levelling to avoid dazzle but fitting an after market system would not have this?

What do you think?


Cheers

Jlo
Reply | Report as offensive | Link
Mon 21 Feb 2005 08:53
Aftermarket HID Lights - mountainkat
unless your existing lights are dreadful I'd just spend the £20 (ish) & fit the bulbs - just fitted Osram Silverstars to mine (dipped only so far) & there is a noticeable improvement
Reply | Report as offensive | Link
Mon 21 Feb 2005 18:53
Aftermarket HID Lights - martint123
That is very cheap. Considering one user of this board was quoted somewhere round 400 quid just for an ignitor for one of his faulty lights.
Me, I hate the things.
Reply | Report as offensive | Link
Mon 21 Feb 2005 21:51
Aftermarket HID Lights - NeilB
I am looking to stick some Silverstars in my 106 from PowerBulbs (along with the free Philips blue vision LED sidelights) As I work nights, night vision is a high priority for me.
Reply | Report as offensive | Link
Mon 21 Feb 2005 22:29
Aftermarket HID Lights - mountainkat
Neil,

If you buy them from ebulbshop.com they work out slightly cheaper & delivery is excellent - don't get philips sidelights but IMHO they're a waste of time anyway
Reply | Report as offensive | Link
Mon 21 Feb 2005 22:40
Aftermarket HID Lights - NeilB
Would the halogen sidelights look out of place with the silverstars?
Reply | Report as offensive | Link
Mon 21 Feb 2005 23:15
Aftermarket HID Lights - henry k
don't get philips sidelights but IMHO they're a waste of time anyway

>>
I have upgraded my Mondeo main and dip with Silver Stars and think it was well worth it.
I have used the free W5W Philips Blue vision Ultra sidelight bulbs and think they are a big improvement and NOT a waste of time. They are much brighter and whiter. Having seen the effect I would have bought them at full price. The bulbs do not appear blue as my lamp covers are not clear. It is a different decision if you have clear lenses. In the event of a dip beam failing I will still have a much better side light as a back up until I can swop a spare from my onboard kit.

For anyone concerned about image, all my lights appear white rather than having dim orange tinged side lights.
Reply | Report as offensive | Link
Mon 21 Feb 2005 23:53
Aftermarket HID Lights - trancer
Read a review/test somewhere and was quite suprised to see that Halfords own brand Super Brilliance rated quite high. I currently have Osram Silverstars and they were brighter than whatever was in the car before. When the wife's Astra needed bulbs I got the Halfords Super Brilliance (buy one get one free deal) and was very impressed with them, so much so that I went right back to Halfords and bought a spare set for my car.
Reply | Report as offensive | Link
Tue 22 Feb 2005 17:18
Aftermarket HID Lights - jlo
Hi,

I e mailed autobulbs direct to ask them about the legalities of fitting HID kit and had a very quick response back from them.


Here is there reply.

Cheers

Jlo


'You are quite right, to be legal you need to have a self levelling system
and headlight washers. However although technically these aren't road legal
they usually still go through an MOT as the light pattern is correct. Also
if need be these can be removed in no more than 5 minutes (literally) and
you can put your standard bulbs back in.

It isn't road legal but we have not heard of anyone having any problems with
them. Hope this helps.'
Reply | Report as offensive | Link