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Author Topic: Guide: Upgrading your headlights (:HID)  (Read 104168 times)

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Offline Dajanitor

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Re: Guide: Upgrading your headlights (:HID)
« Reply #45 on: January 03, 2011, 14:53:46 PM »
Quote from: angus346 on January 03, 2011, 14:50:44 PM
Can you fit HID's to the high beam though. I read that because HID's need that couple of seconds to warm up, you couldn't flash your lights at someone etc. I have seen Hi/Lo conversion kits on ebay though but your looking around £100

Interesting, what would this make the high beam dip down too? or just work at a low brightness to keep them on?

And my hids flash once when i first turn them on so u could still flash?
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Offline Mr V

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Re: Guide: Upgrading your headlights (:HID)
« Reply #46 on: January 03, 2011, 17:19:39 PM »
Quote from: angus346 on January 03, 2011, 14:50:44 PM
Can you fit HID's to the high beam though. I read that because HID's need that couple of seconds to warm up, you couldn't flash your lights at someone etc. I have seen Hi/Lo conversion kits on ebay though but your looking around £100

Pointless as high beam is hardly ever used and as you say then need to be on and warmed up before you can flash someone, better off sticking to standard bulbs for high beam.

Quote from: Dajanitor on January 03, 2011, 14:53:46 PM
Interesting, what would this make the high beam dip down too? or just work at a low brightness to keep them on?

And my hids flash once when i first turn them on so u could still flash?

Again pointless, stick to HIDS for dipped and standard bulbs for high beam.
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angus346

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Re: Guide: Upgrading your headlights (:HID)
« Reply #47 on: January 03, 2011, 17:23:54 PM »
Quote from: Mr V on January 03, 2011, 17:19:39 PM
Pointless as high beam is hardly ever used and as you say then need to be on and warmed up before you can flash someone, better off sticking to standard bulbs for high beam.
Fully agreed mate. I very rarely have my full beam on though it would be nice to get around the yellow light although practicality wins over aesthetics in this case
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Offline RodOGW

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Re: Guide: Upgrading your headlights (:HID)
« Reply #48 on: January 04, 2011, 03:24:53 AM »
Just found this on web during my investigations - www.dft.gov.uk › ... › Road safety › Driver and rider safety - Cached - SimilarHID Dipped Headlights :
Here's just the start of it - 'In the Department's view it is not legal to sell or use after market HID lighting kits, for converting conventional Halogen headlamps to HID Xenon. If a customer wants to convert his vehicle to Xenon HID he must purchase completely new Xenon HID headlamps. The reason for this is that the existing lens and reflector are designed around a Halogen filament bulb, working to very precise tolerances. If one places a HID "burner" (bulb) in the headlamp, the beam pattern will not be correct, there will be glare in some places and not enough light in other places within the beam pattern.'

The following is the legal rationale:


The Road Vehicle Lighting Regulations 1989 regulate the situation in the UK.
Under these Regulations, HID/Gas Discharge/Xenon headlamps are not mentioned and therefore they are not permitted according to the strict letter of the law.'

It goes on with further why's and wherefores - any views on it?

Basically if you want HIDs your headlight casings must be approved and stamped as suitable for such use by the manufacturer.
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Offline Dajanitor

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Re: Guide: Upgrading your headlights (:HID)
« Reply #49 on: January 04, 2011, 11:58:26 AM »
Quote from: RodOGW on January 04, 2011, 03:24:53 AM
Just found this on web during my investigations - www.dft.gov.uk › ... › Road safety › Driver and rider safety - Cached - SimilarHID Dipped Headlights :
Here's just the start of it - 'In the Department's view it is not legal to sell or use after market HID lighting kits, for converting conventional Halogen headlamps to HID Xenon. If a customer wants to convert his vehicle to Xenon HID he must purchase completely new Xenon HID headlamps. The reason for this is that the existing lens and reflector are designed around a Halogen filament bulb, working to very precise tolerances. If one places a HID "burner" (bulb) in the headlamp, the beam pattern will not be correct, there will be glare in some places and not enough light in other places within the beam pattern.'

The following is the legal rationale:


The Road Vehicle Lighting Regulations 1989 regulate the situation in the UK.
Under these Regulations, HID/Gas Discharge/Xenon headlamps are not mentioned and therefore they are not permitted according to the strict letter of the law.'

It goes on with further why's and wherefores - any views on it?

Basically if you want HIDs your headlight casings must be approved and stamped as suitable for such use by the manufacturer.

Aint been stopped yet my friend. They dont put too much glare on other road users TBH, perhaps its because they are projector?

And wow you are seriously close to me.
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Offline ALZ1307

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Re: Guide: Upgrading your headlights (:HID)
« Reply #50 on: January 04, 2011, 12:13:33 PM »
Mine have been on for years, always passes MOT and I don't get 'flashed' either, just buy and fit, best money anyone can spend on their Cally IMO.
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Offline Butcher

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Re: Guide: Upgrading your headlights (:HID)
« Reply #51 on: January 04, 2011, 13:40:10 PM »
Quote from: ALZ1307 on January 04, 2011, 12:13:33 PM
Mine have been on for years, always passes MOT and I don't get 'flashed' either, just buy and fit, best money anyone can spend on their Cally IMO.

No no no the best money you can spend on a cally is the little nylon washers to stop your doors clicking :P
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Offline Gav

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Re: Guide: Upgrading your headlights (:HID)
« Reply #52 on: January 04, 2011, 13:43:25 PM »
Technically yes it is illegal to fit them retrospectively.

However, the Calibra gets away with it because they have projector headlights.
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Offline ALZ1307

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Re: Guide: Upgrading your headlights (:HID)
« Reply #53 on: January 04, 2011, 13:49:05 PM »
Quote from: Butcher on January 04, 2011, 13:40:10 PM
No no no the best money you can spend on a cally is the little nylon washers to stop your doors clicking :P

That does come a very close second ;D
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angus346

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Re: Guide: Upgrading your headlights (:HID)
« Reply #54 on: January 04, 2011, 13:49:54 PM »
Never been stopped with mine and the MOT man never even commented on them
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Offline RodOGW

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Re: Guide: Upgrading your headlights (:HID)
« Reply #55 on: January 04, 2011, 20:35:57 PM »
Quote from: Dajanitor on January 04, 2011, 11:58:26 AM
And wow you are seriously close to me.

You are about 60 miles due west of me - in the rural and unspoilt as opposed to the dog-crap and amusement arcades around me.

Thanks for everyones input - I'll order up a set of HIDs tonight
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Offline Dajanitor

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Re: Guide: Upgrading your headlights (:HID)
« Reply #56 on: January 04, 2011, 22:20:36 PM »
Quote from: RodOGW on January 04, 2011, 20:35:57 PM
You are about 60 miles due west of me - in the rural and unspoilt as opposed to the dog-crap and amusement arcades around me.

Thanks for everyones input - I'll order up a set of HIDs tonight

Compared to everyone else, very close :P

Ive never been to yarmouth, is it really that crap?

Stick with slimline ones, and suggestion stay away from chinese crap.
Mine flicker terribly, and i think its because the ballasts are w*nk.
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Offline ALZ1307

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Re: Guide: Upgrading your headlights (:HID)
« Reply #57 on: January 04, 2011, 22:25:18 PM »
Mine were from Hong Kong, mind you there as cheap here now!
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Offline RodOGW

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Re: Guide: Upgrading your headlights (:HID)
« Reply #58 on: January 04, 2011, 22:34:37 PM »
Quote from: Dajanitor on January 04, 2011, 22:20:36 PM
Compared to everyone else, very close :P

Ive never been to yarmouth, is it really that crap?

Stick with slimline ones, and suggestion stay away from chinese crap.
Mine flicker terribly, and i think its because the ballasts are w*nk.

The trouble is that just about everything you buy and in whatever country - has Made in China on it.

Actually Yarmouth isn't too bad - it's just a typical seaside town with all that goes with it - turn it over and it's probably got Made in China on the bottom. I live over the river in Gorleston and find it easier to go to Norwich which is a pretty decent city 
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Offline Dajanitor

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Re: Guide: Upgrading your headlights (:HID)
« Reply #59 on: January 04, 2011, 23:50:18 PM »
Quote from: RodOGW on January 04, 2011, 22:34:37 PM
The trouble is that just about everything you buy and in whatever country - has Made in China on it.

Actually Yarmouth isn't too bad - it's just a typical seaside town with all that goes with it - turn it over and it's probably got Made in China on the bottom. I live over the river in Gorleston and find it easier to go to Norwich which is a pretty decent city 

Norwich is quite nice yeah, i dont go there often mind you, but it is a nice city to shop in :P
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