Not kit related but assuming I bought a pair of xenon headlights to replace the standard ones on a tintop, are they just fit and forget or is there something else required?

I'm crap when it comes to electrickery.

Phil

Xenon could refer to two things - xenon filled conventional bulbs which are standard fit and cost a fiver, or high intensity discharge (HID) which are a completely different kettle of fish and will need a whole new headlight and reflector assembly.

I specced HIDs on my clio - they make bugger all difference. Arguably they use less leccy but you'd never notice the difference in your mpg. Also I find HIDs are a bit more blinding in the rear view mirror, but that's opinion of course!

There is the chav (and illegal) option of fitting HID bulb kit from ebay to your existing headlight and then blinding every other road user you pass.

i've fitted upgraded xenon mix filled conventional bulbs and they give an improved and whiter light. not staggering but noticbly better imho.

kits are available for hid conversion's but they are illegal and technically shouldn't pass mot but often do. hid's should have self levelling and washers to be correctly type approved for a car iirc and conversion kits don't and might not be correctly aligned in terms of beam pattern.

Ned.

quote:

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Originally posted by ned
hid's should have self levelling and washers to be correctly type approved for a car iirc

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I'm talking about complete headlight units, not just the bulbs and not the HID kits.

Phil

replacement hid headlamp units will still not be oem for the car so as I understand it still won't be correctly type approved for the vehicle.

why would you replace standard lights with conventional xenon bulb units when you could just replace the bulbs? bit confused, can you post a link to an example of what you mean?

Ned.

[Edited on 19/3/08 by ned]

I know they need a transformer, but from what I've seen on my clio it's all in one. My guess is you could swap them very simply. It makes sense that the manufacturer would make up one loom which will take any option that gets ticked on the sales sheet, hence the amount of wire ends on my tintop that've simply been taped off.

What i've done in situations like this is nip down the dealers at lunch time, wander over to the workshop and you'll usually find the blokes are sat about eating their sandwiches out front. Pop a couple of questions and voila!

It would be interesting to try a set of conversion kits on the SVA as, if they are set up to give the correct pattern there is no reason for them not to pass then they would be legal on that car only. Some of the kits are "E" marked so presumably have passed in one European country, if they carry a legit mark then it is a bit more difficult for SVA , or MOT for that matter to say no as you could if you reallywant to take it to the European Court as limitation on trade!
Caber

quote:

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Originally posted by caber
if they carry a legit mark then it is a bit more difficult for SVA , or MOT for that matter to say no as you could if you reallywant to take it to the European Court as limitation on trade!
Caber

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These are the headlights I'm talking about.

Xenons

Phil

My ZT had Xenon fitted and I was quite pleased with their lighting, but then I hadn't driven a non Xenon Zt.

I bought a Xenon bulb for my FJ1200 many years ago and it was crap, so replaced that with a 130/90 and two 55w spots (on main beam switch), which improved things no end

ATB

Simon

I have HIDs fitted as standard on my polo.....driving at night is AMAZING!....I seriously dont want to own a car without them again...provided you keep them clean they are the dogs danglies!

I assumed the starting current required was quite high, so perhaps the standard car wiring wont be up to it? Some people have been known to add an extra supply from the battery just to feed the hungry HID ignitors



Edited to say...if you want to retrofit those lights to your car you are going to need the HID ignitor modules that feed into the bulbs....they are not cheap!

[Edited on 19/3/08 by tegwin]

Best mod that I ever did - 3 times the light for two thirds the power consumption

The dual beam H4 is not good as it creates dazzle but my H7 conversion beam is every bit as accurate as the oem stuff .... with no dazzle at all

As long as you have the washer & levelling system I see no reason why Mr SVA shouldn't like it.

Just phoned Renaults technical department and it isn't as straightforward as it seems. He reckoned it would take a lot to convert to Xenon and would require, amongst other things, a new front loom, new computer, some resistor thingies and a shed load of other bits and bobs and would proabably end up costing a few grand

Forget that then......................

Phil