Hids, fitted pictures

[944Scott]

So after finding unknown wiring issues and repairing them I now have working hid lights.

I mounted the slim ballast to the rear of the headlight frame, in the right hand picture you can see the small additional control box is mounted on the side of the headlight bar bracket and the wiring to the other side runs under the nose panel with the rest of the wiring tucked inside the headlight pod.

In the end I took power from the fuse box using a fuse tap.

And the final result! Im pretty pleased with how they look so far although I have not driven with them yet due to a possible fuel leak but I can already see there is more light with these 6000k hids than my nightbreakers.

 

[robwright]

Don't the lenses need to also be changed in order to make them legal?

 

[golfprorich]

I think you'll find the beam pattern poor using HIDs with reflector lenses designed for halogen bulbs.

 

[Fred Hindle]

I think HIDs without self leveling headlights are a possible MOT failure.

Cheers,

 

[944Scott]

Yep fully aware of all of the above. I have used them in various cars over the past ten years some with projectors and some with reflectors (like my old mondeo) and they have been consistently better than standard bulbs.

 

[T3rra]

Maybe Better for you but not the on coming traffic, indicators/ running lights look good

 

[Mike_Pollock]

The filaments are not in the correct place and you WILL be dazzling on coming traffic. There is a reason why we have British Standards etc.

 

[944Scott]

Hmmm the pictures are not the best representation as the running lights are 12w and appear the same brightness as the headlights in the picture so maybe not so dazzling in reality.

As I said earlier I have run them for ten years, some cars have been passed come mot time with them fitted and I have never been stopped by police for using them, not even two nights ago whilst following a police in the mondeo.

 

[944 man]

Must rubbish posted in this thread.

 

[golfprorich]

Check the beam pattern against your garage door, it will look like this.......

You'll be wasting all that extra light and blinding oncoming traffic.

HID bulbs should project a beam pattern with a sharp cut-off as seen here.....

That extra light is directed onto the road surface and the cut-off means oncoming drivers won't get an eyeful on high powered light.

You won't get this beam pattern putting HID bulbs in reflector lenses.

 

[944 man]

Unless theyre masked correctly... A random American forum photo does not a convincing argument make.

 

[white944]

To clarify the MoT issue....

The only things relevant are...

The headlamp aim and beam pattern must be correct, and this is the same for incandescent, HiD or LED headlamps, standard or aftermarket.

With HiD or LED, If automatic levelling is fitted (as opposed to the manual adjustment with a knob on the dash) it must work, but as it can be difficult to determine, the benefit of the doubt can be given just so long as the system is intact.

With HiD or LED, If headlamp washers are fitted, they must work.

This differs from construction and use, where headlamps must be type approved for the type of bulb fitted, and HiD and LED headlamps must have washers and automatic levelling, effectively outlawing aftermarket HIDs unless you can fit a complete OE style setup.

 

[ChasR]

At yes, the 'HID' debate. It is amazing how one letter "In the Opinion of..." can cause so much controversy.

From the MOT manual...

http://www.motinfo.gov.uk/htdocs/

Vehicles equipped with High Intensity Discharge (HID) or LED dipped beam headlamps may be fitted with headlamp washers and a suspension or headlamp self levelling system. Where such systems are fitted, they must work; however, it is accepted that it may not be possible to readily determine the functioning of self levelling systems. In such cases, the benefit of the doubt must be given. Headlamp washers may work in conjunction with the windscreen washers (when the dipped beam headlamps are switched on) or by a separate switch.

Reason for Rejection

headlamp levelling or cleaning device inoperative or otherwise obviously defective

As for aim...

The type of headlamp will determine whether the aim must be checked on main or dipped beam. See diagrams 1, 2 and 3, which include details appropriate to each headlamp type. A flat top or other alternative headlamp dipped beam pattern (not being one of the examples) is acceptable providing all of the beam upper edge, including any "peak" is contained within the appropriate tolerance band. These methods of inspection involve the use of beam checking equipment with a collecting lens

Reason for Rejection

A headlamp which does not conform to diagrams 1, 2 or 3 that has a beam image which is aimed so that it dazzles other road users.
b. Projected beam image obviously incorrect, e.g. where the headlamp bulb is incorrectly fitted or the reflector is seriously corroded.
c. headlamp aim unable to be tested

In a nutshell I would say the above says that:

-If HIDs are fitted the dipped beam pattern must be correct as with any other lamp
-If washers and levelling systems are fitted they must work but the latter can be tricky to fit
-There appears to be no mention of HIDs having to have levelling systems or washer jets.

FWIW, my Clio comes with OEM HIDs with washer jets. Mine have been removed and had the Clio Cup/Trophy blanking plates installed by a PO, since the original jets can leak like on many cars. It passed without an issue last month

My Escort however failed due to the lights not giving out a beam pattern on dipped beam! It was down to the fact that the lamps are base spec lamps with the wrong bulbs fitted ; H4s and not 410s. Some 410 mounted H4s later and the car had a good beam pattern again and me being able to see where I was driving!

However, I do admit that aftermarket HIDs can dazzle road users but then even OEM ones do to a degree! A misfitted, misaligned or incorrect bulb will also do the same! Regarding the OP I would be tempted to park the car facing a wall or garage door on a horizontal surface to check the alignment and headlamp aim to see if any spills out. If all is good, drive the car back a couple of feet and see that the dipped beam is not raising up the wall .

 

[golfprorich]

They have headlights just like us....

Show us how you 'mask them up' and post a picture of your beam pattern and that way you will prove the doubters wrong that HID bulbs are perfectly acceptable in halogen reflectors.


If it all looks good I might even for them to mine as my daily driver has OE ones which are bloody brilliant at night.

 

[944Scott]

Some useful information there thank you, them, the alignment looks good on the garage wall but I have not measured anything. As the car has been lowered and the headlights not adjusted up I doubt they will be dazzling (despite how they look in the pictures) but I will take it for a drive and see how I get on.

 

[944 man]

ORIGINAL: golfprorich

They have headlights just like us....

Show us how you 'mask them up' and post a picture of your beam pattern and that way you will prove the doubters wrong that HID bulbs are perfectly acceptable in halogen reflectors.


If it all looks good I might even for them to mine as my daily driver has OE ones which are bloody brilliant at night.

Rich, the fact that you have failed to understand my remark demonstrates that you shouldn't be commenting here.

 

[golfprorich]

ORIGINAL: 944 man

ORIGINAL: golfprorich

They have headlights just like us....

Show us how you 'mask them up' and post a picture of your beam pattern and that way you will prove the doubters wrong that HID bulbs are perfectly acceptable in halogen reflectors.


If it all looks good I might even for them to mine as my daily driver has OE ones which are bloody brilliant at night.

Rich, the fact that you have failed to understand my remark demonstrates that you shouldn't be commenting here.

You've lost me. I'm interested in how you can make it work so the beam pattern is acceptable?

 

[944Scott]

If you look at the two pictures in the early days bulbs looked like the ones on the left (some still do) however many these days in universal kits look like the bulb on the right (as mine do) I assume this is the masking has the shield includes a cut out shape and obviously the bulbs only fit in one way.

Also early in early hid bulbs the capsule in the bulb used to differ in height to the original bulbs, nowadays you tend to find they are the same as standard bulbs.

 

[golfprorich]

ORIGINAL: 944Scott

If you look at the two pictures in the early days bulbs looked like the ones on the left (some still do) however many these days in universal kits look like the bulb on the right (as mine do) I assume this is the masking has the shield includes a cut out shape and obviously the bulbs only fit in one way.

Also early in early hid bulbs the capsule in the bulb used to differ in height to the original bulbs, nowadays you tend to find they are the same as standard bulbs.

I was getting your username confused with the other chap. Tired and been up all night.

Be good if you could post up a pic of the beam pattern on a wall, I would genuinely be interested in changing mine if an acceptable beam pattern can be had with the newer type bulbs in the 944 lenses

 

[944 man]

Of course, I accept that reflector lenses and H4 bulbs in particular are far from ideal. A projector lamp which incorporates its own mask will be superior, but basic H4 lamps need not be as bad as forum-lore would have you believe.