HID AfterMarket Xenon/HID Kits?

[czechplastik]

Originally Posted by MC Hammer

I know but some don't listen, I'd love to have an array of KC's to dazzle any oncoming cars with such conversions (not legal either and rather childish ).
Just to prove the point the pics from Danko are quite dazzling.

Its the garage door that gets me, look how the light splits.

[DanKo]

The camera makes the glare abit gay, in reality they're mint. They're about the same as our E-class which came with Bi-Xenon as standard.

[DanKo]

Originally Posted by czechplastik

Its the garage door that gets me, look how the light splits.

Remember there is the windscreen... and the camera lense etc.. will give some glare..

[czechplastik]

Sorry Dank, not having a go, just a pet hate, damn blinding headlights. How do you find them?

[DanKo]

I admire them everytime I see some, I hate the yellow lights, they anoy me

[IWANTACIVIC]

As i said on another topic , yes the lights WERE crap then remberd having to adjust the 307 lights to get them good , so started to play with the setup of the lights with good effect , lot better now i adjusted me lights up in the end 1,5 turns each side but dont go to much at once .

[czechplastik]

Originally Posted by IWANTACIVIC

As i said on another topic , yes the lights WERE crap then remberd having to adjust the 307 lights to get them good , so started to play with the setup of the lights with good effect , lot better now i adjusted me lights up in the end 1,5 turns each side but dont go to much at once .

Hey wanta, hows life? was it hard to get at them to adjust?

[IWANTACIVIC]

yo czech hows life mate? things here sweet at the mowents mate , very easy all you need is a 6 mm allon key its easyer to use the screw driver handle ones because it a bit tight in there but all you do is turn a bolt each side of engine bay its even marked to show you which way is up and down ,5 mins job to do , makes 200-300% impovement , i started by marking a line on the wall were my lights were then adjusted then 0.5 turns took quick test ride , then went back and adjusted then a bit more , until you happy without annoying pepole your following or meeting , not had anyone flash me yet since i raised lights and use full beam lot less now . Do we need a how to get good lights on your civic giude

[czechplastik]

Originally Posted by IWANTACIVIC

Do we need a how to get good lights on your civic giude

Would be helpful!

[IWANTACIVIC]

cool ill get on it
tips on setting your headlights up has been added in how to section

[Nick7]

To give proper verdict, next time stand in front of wall (or garage door), but at approx 10m distance and than take a picture.
Here's a pic of retrofit I did on my old Civic, and how sharp cutoff should look like (or at least close to it) - as you can see there is no glare above cutoff, so no blinding of oncoming traffic:

[Hartside]

Interesting video on Autoexpress web site. Here's the link:

http://www.autoexpress.co.uk/videos/...enon_test.html

[Dream Weaver]

I have a conversion kit for my 205 that I haven't fitted as yet, but plenty of the 205 forum lads have them fitted and have no problems with the law or passing an MOT.

My kit is £300 worth of proper gear though, with completely shielded HID Bi-xenon bulbs, so they have no dazzling effect at all.

[Hartside]

Does the kit come with the necessary levelling device and headlamp washers, to comply with the law?

[Dream Weaver]

No, thats only needed for new cars from the factory, not when you retro fit an aftermarket kit to a car.

[Hartside]

I'm not sure you're right Dream Weaver. This is a reply from the Department of Transport to a member of another forum. It would pay to check with the DoT yourself:

Have received the following guidance from The Department of Transport.........

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.

[czechplastik]

Its nearly worth running all after market kits past the DFT or some authority. Many are illegal and don't be fooled into thinking that just because you can buy it from a shop who claim it's legal that this is the case.

[AubreyS]

This is the video that MC Hammer was talking about.

http://www.autoexpress.co.uk/videos/...enon_test.html


Just noticed Hartside beat me to it.

[TTDegs]

seems pretty clear to me

[czechplastik]

Hope that clears it up for everyone!