UltraXenon Bulbs - any good?

[Platinum_mike]

thanks guys,

5. Why should they have washer jets?

I would expect the reason you need washers is to keep them clean. (Obviously )

This is because any dirt on the lens will disperse the light all over the place, and as the HIDs are that much more powerful than standard lights it can dazzle oncoming drivers due to more light being dispersed into their direction than with standard lights.

That's what I'd reckon anyway - not sure if that is the case!

 

[NeilC]

Is there a promotional code for any discounts at www.hids4u.co.uk?

Your photo has sold it to me
I take it we need the H7 kit?

It's the second post down in the discounts section...

I went for the pilot kit a couple months back by the same link, it's now a little cheaper than it says in the first post.

http://www.seatcupra.net/forums/showthread.php?t=74881

 

[Nathanio]

Just to add my pics from my car with HIDs

This is with HIDs dipped and Osram Silverstars in the mains! See the difference!

Lovely aren't they

Having driven in this disgusting weather tonight I am so glad for them. I was able to see the standing water sooner and see through the crap easier!

Best 120 squid I have spent so far on my car! Combined with floppy wiper blades its a perfect car for shitty weather like today

As people have said you don't really need to use main beams and if you do they don't make a vast difference

 

[DamoR]

Nath I take you have upgraded your sidelights as well so there's no mismatch between the two? Which kit did you buy also please? Mike I think you're not too far from the truth with your reasoning....

 

[Nathanio]

Right mate,

Side lights are LED sidelights from autobulbsdirect when I got my Osram SilverStars. They came free they are a blueish colour.

My bulbs are from Hids4u but are second hand from someone on here. They were the pilot kit which has been superseeded now by this -> http://www.hids4u.co.uk/product_details.asp?id=433

I would get the 6000k kit as gives a lovely colour (as you can see) but doesn't sacrifice performance.

They are dead easy to fit.

• Drill 25mm hole in light cover
• pull cables through, mount the bulb in the holder (I had to unclip the clip and put over the top of it and reclip it in at the bottom)
• put spades into light terminal
• Put cover on and pull grommit through to seal hole
• clip in ballast to connectors
• Test!

I checked my bulbs before I did anything though just to check they worked.

I would get these side lights -> http://www.hids4u.co.uk/product_details.asp?id=4

There is a slight mismatch between side lights and HIDs but not got the money to change em at the mo and not that bothered. I don't really use my side lights much anyway.

 

[DamoR]

There the sidelights I put on this thread earlier. Think they will match well. Thanks for the fitment guide Pat went through it with me on here earlier. They seem an easy enough mod. I think I will order mine from hids4u as well. They give 2year guarantee and have been hearing stories of some of the cheaper kits failing and you do get what you pay for. When you say you don't use your sidelights much do you mean on their own I take it. As they are obviously on all the time with your mains unless you remove the bulbs! I'll post somepics when I've fitted them.I took heed of your advice and will try them out first prior to installing them.

 

[Nathanio]

Yeah as on their own. Generally just switch from nothing straight to dips. They are obviously on but I generally don't use them as just sidelights. I'd rather someone see me than not really and hit me cos i've only got small sidelights on.

Does that make sense? Hope it does!

Look forward to the pics!

 

[DamoR]

P.s The thread you have added is for the extra short HIDs are the standard sized H7 HIDs not ok??

 

[Nathanio]

Well theres no difference in performance and just that added piece of mind that they won't touch the glare protector

 

[DamoR]

Nath all makes sense the extra 10 pounds for the shorter ones might be a worthwhile purchase. If it doesn't matter it's only an extra tenner isn't it! Yeah makes sense about the sidelights. I used to wonder why so many people drove with their lights on during the day but the amount of idiots I have to steer clear of on a daily basis best to have the lights on!

 

[Nathanio]

Well more the case of number of idiots driving round with sides and fogs in the dark or one head light out...****wits!

 

[CH1]

i got a set of HID's from unikarl,not sure if was a GB on SCC but they cost £130,they don't need cooling,are easy to fit and why HID's need washer jets i just dont know mate.
you cant compare them to normal bulbs at all,i rarely use my main beam at all now!
thats not to say i'm blinding everyone,have never been told to 'dip my beam' if u know what i mean lol

I ordered some from this guy too -the day that site went down, its been almost 10 days; hope I get them soon, then I'll be able to let you know what they're like.

What kind of bulbs are people with HIDs using for side/parking lights? i.e. any of those Philips Vision Plus or is any bulb non HID not worth fitting next to HID and leaving with standard bulb.

I reckon we should have a HID/ replacment Bulb sticky section as this gets asked each year and theres lots of scattered threads on this subject.

 

[UncleFester]

Avoid anything LED based as they melt when the dipped beam is on for any degree of time. I am using phillips 'blue' sidelights in mine but they're still not a good colour match for the HID lights.

 

[JAFFA]

hid's all the way on the motorway at night most people move out of the way cause they think ur a copper it's great. I'd never go back to standard bulbs i think all cars should come with them as standard.

 

[m.r.davies]

yep they are h7's

http://www.hids4u.co.uk/product_details.asp?id=332

£209

 

[Deleted member 7659]

Its a bit of a grey area tbh and has been discussed numerous times. Several people on here have contacted the DfT and been told conflicting information about if their ok or not.

You'll probably find that 'conflicting' will depend on the way the question is asked. Here's a copy of a letter sent by the DfT which I lifted from a thread on another forum:

Dear Sir,

The situation for Gas Discharge (HID High Intensity Discharge) (commonly known as Xenon) headlamps is complex.

I attach links to the Road Vehicle Lighting Regulations 1989 which regulate the situation in the UK.
Under these Regulations Xenon headlamps are not mentioned and therefore they are not permitted according to the strict letter of the law.

However you will be well aware that new vehicles have Xenon headlamps. This is because they comply to European type approval Regulations. The UK cannot refuse to register a vehicle with a European type approval. These are to ECE Regulation 98 (for the Xenon headlamps which are tested on a rig in a laboratory) and ECE Regulation 48 (Lighting Installation on the vehicle).

For the aftermarket, a used vehicle cannot obtain type approval because it is only applicable for new vehicles. However we feel that saying "Xenon is banned in the aftermarket" would not be reasonable. Instead we should make analogies with new vehicles. It would be reasonable to require Xenon in the aftermarket to meet the same safety standards as on new vehicles. The same level of safety should apply.

Therefore a Xenon headlamp sold in the aftermarket should:

1. be type approved to ECE Regulation 98 as a component.
2. when fitted to the vehicle should enable ECE Regulation 48 to be complied with (although no government inspection will take place).
3, Comply with RVLR as far as "use" is concerned.

In practice this means:

1. The headlamp unit (outer lens, reflector, bulb) shall be type approved to ECE 98 and be "e-marked" to demonstrate this. That can only be done by the headlamp supplier - Hella, Valeo etc. who must test the headlamp in an independent laboratory.
2. Once fitted to the vehicle it must have headlamp cleaning and self-levelling (which can be for the headlamp or can be in the vehicle suspension - some expensive estate cars have "self-levelling suspension" and that is adequate). Also the dipped beam must stay on with the main beam.
3. The headlamp must be maintained in good working order, kept clean, and aligned/adjusted correctly like any other headlamp.

Hope that helps.

***

We are aware of kit available in the aftermarket where a Xenon "burner" or bulb is fitted inside a headlamp designed for use with conventional Halogen filament bulbs. The burner is fitted with a "bayonet" type fitting so it fits where the Halogen bulb should fit. This is not legal and the vendor, the person who mounts it on the vehicle and the person who drives the vehicle are all committing an offence. (Which also means that he is invalidating the insurance.)
The reason for this is that headlamps and bulbs are made to tight tolerances and the wrong type of bulb will cause an incorrect beam pattern to be emitted, which could cause dazzle and discomfort to other drivers.

I work for the DfT and when I found this quoted on a forum had a dig through our electronic filing and found the original reply. Most people that contact us have already decided they're going to do something, so ignore the advice if it doesn't agree with what they want. usually an offence isn't committed until the lights are installed and then used - selling them isn't illegal, so there's your grey area!

You're unlikely to get done, but the whole point of having the headlight washers, and particularly the self levelling, when you have HIDs from the factory is to stop the beam pattern from dazzling oncoming traffic.

As said above, the only reason they're legal is because the German industry started fitting them to cars and getting them approved over there a few years back, and because of the way legislation works you have to recognise the approval in the UK. Over time other manufacturers started to fit them as well.

Since we have bugger all traffic policing, and a check on anything much other than lights working and adjusted low enough as part of the MOT, you're unlikely to get caught out.

Here endeth the lesson......

Adrian

 

[Nathanio]

Cheers adrian - added to FAQ

 

[tedvagas]

after seeing that pic i want some! ,group buy anyone??

 

[Nathanio]

Which pic my pic?

Hids4U offer forum discount anyway ahve a look in the GB section

 

[tedvagas]

yes they look great ,i will check that out cheers