RazMan
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| posted on 7/11/07 at 11:07 AM |
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HID Headlight Conversion
I used to think my headlights were quite good until I bought this kit.
It is a Bosch kit consisting of a pair of HID bulbs, ballasts and wiring loom. The conversion took me less than half an hour and is easily reverseable
for MOT time if required.
The results are nothing short of amazing! My regular night time run from Kent to Essex takes me down lots of dark country lanes and now its like
driving in daylight! There is still the same excellent beam pattern of my original H7 lights with the same cutoff so I am not dazzling anyone, but I
can see for miles now.
The conversion actually give 300% more light for 60% of the current so its good for those with small alternators. The best part is that it only cost
£50 delivered from Beijing.
[Edited on 7-11-07 by RazMan]
Cheers,
Raz
When thinking outside the box doesn't work any more, it's time to build a new box
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Guinness
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| posted on 7/11/07 at 11:10 AM |
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Nice one.
Any linky?
Would the kit fit a normal 7 headlight?
Mike
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02GF74
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| posted on 7/11/07 at 11:10 AM |
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A most illuminating post but I see no linky to where to get these from - ebay?
is this conversion a direct replacement of H4 type bulbs and would the extra gubbins fit into a 7 inch lamp housing?
ooooohhhh, must learn to type faster 
[Edited on 7/11/07 by 02GF74]
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RazMan
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| posted on 7/11/07 at 11:20 AM |
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oops silly me
Link
You might have to search around for the correct bulb type and I think that the H4 might have beam pattern issues due to the fact that you need two
beams in one package - worth a look though.
The ballast pack is mounted near the headlamp so you can't really stick it inside the headlamp bowl.
*edit* fixed link now 
[Edited on 7-11-07 by RazMan]
Cheers,
Raz
When thinking outside the box doesn't work any more, it's time to build a new box
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Big Daz
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| posted on 7/11/07 at 11:39 AM |
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I am looking at this for my daily driver as it has the worst dipped beam I have ever experienced.
Linky no work for me though - need login & password?
Cheers
Daz
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RazMan
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| posted on 7/11/07 at 12:03 PM |
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You can fit it for either beam (with separate headlamps of course) and I chose to fit them as my dipped beam.
The only trouble is that it makes my main beam look pathetic now - and I thought it was excellent before the conversion 
I feel another eBay order coming on.
Cheers,
Raz
When thinking outside the box doesn't work any more, it's time to build a new box
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hobbsy
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| posted on 7/11/07 at 12:59 PM |
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Try this:
http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/HID-XENON-CONVERSION-KIT-BULBS-BALLAST-H7-6000K-NEW_W0QQitemZ110188969624
Damn it he's already fixed it, I should really refresh before doing this
[Edited on 7/11/07 by hobbsy]
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JohnN
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| posted on 7/11/07 at 01:01 PM |
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For H4 bulbs, there is a "special" version, where the lamp part is moved by a solenoid to mimic the two different filament locations of a
normal bulb. Some say this gives problems. For what seems more usual for a daily driver with separate main and dip beam bulbs, it should be a great
change.
I read somewhere that Bosh don't make HID lamps - their name has been "used" that's not to say that the Bejing product
isn't excellent in all respects, in which case other suppliers who claim better quality, longer life etc are overpriced?
There are shed-loads of them on ebay and the prices are dropping all the time.
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hobbsy
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| posted on 7/11/07 at 01:05 PM |
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Raz - are these on your tintop or kit?
I was considering fitting these on my BMW but you have to do quite a lot of drilling plus I also read that you will dazzle people to death unless they
are used in either a projector style housing or one that is definitely suited to HID use as some housing really don't work very well with them
(ok, you can probably see but the oncoming drivers can't!)
Considered it for the kit as I sometimes feel I'm not very visible even though its bright red and loud.
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RazMan
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| posted on 7/11/07 at 01:27 PM |
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Just to clarify - This is fitted on my kit car which is also my daily driver.
I would think that fitting is quite easy on the majority of cars that have single filament bulbs. As I said, it took me less than half an hour and I
didn't have to cut any wires in the process - the supplied loom goes between the original bulb holder and the new HID bulbs and the ballast is
attached with a simple bracket. I can still remove it if required (for MOT).
As far as dazzle is concerned, I haven't been flashed by oncoming drivers yet so I can only assume that beam alignment is ok. Looking at the
design of the new bulb, it fits in the holder precisely and is the same (dimensionally) as the H7 bulb. The beam pattern looks exactly the same to me
- just a LOT brighter.
I think the dazzle problems are probably attributed to the 'twin position' H4 which can't really emulate the halogen version and the
beam pattern gets distorted as a result.
Cheers,
Raz
When thinking outside the box doesn't work any more, it's time to build a new box
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RazMan
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| posted on 7/11/07 at 01:31 PM |
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quote:
Originally posted by JohnN
I read somewhere that Bosh don't make HID lamps - their name has been "used" that's not to say that the Bejing product
isn't excellent in all respects, in which case other suppliers who claim better quality, longer life etc are overpriced?
I suspected this was the case even though the Bosch logo was on the ballast, although it also said something like "designed in Germany, finished
in China". The units seem to be very well made, but I suppose the proof will become evident after a winter of wet roads. For £50 I am prepared
to experiment
Cheers,
Raz
When thinking outside the box doesn't work any more, it's time to build a new box
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andyharding
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| posted on 7/11/07 at 01:32 PM |
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Well done, you are now another one of those "chav" idiots driving round with an illegal headlamp conversion and causing a danger to other
road users.
These conversions are not legal for a good reason - they are dazzling to other road users not only risking causing an accident but also damaging
peoples eyes due to the amount of UV light given out by HID bulbs.
http://www.dft.gov.uk/pgr/roadsafety/drs/hidheadlamps
Are you a Mac user or a retard?
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speedyxjs
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| posted on 7/11/07 at 01:43 PM |
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quote:
Originally posted by andyharding
These conversions are not legal for a good reason - they are dazzling to other road users not only risking causing an accident but also damaging
peoples eyes due to the amount of UV light given out by HID bulbs.
If that is the case, why are some tin top manufacturers selling their cars with HID as standard (or option)
How long can i resist the temptation to drop a V8 in?
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Confused
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| posted on 7/11/07 at 02:02 PM |
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quote:
Originally posted by speedyxjs
quote:
Originally posted by andyharding
These conversions are not legal for a good reason - they are dazzling to other road users not only risking causing an accident but also damaging
peoples eyes due to the amount of UV light given out by HID bulbs.
If that is the case, why are some tin top manufacturers selling their cars with HID as standard (or option)
Completely different circumstances.
OEM kits are complete as a kit - bulbs, optics etc all made to work together ,plus they have self-levellers, and washers. Also, the optics are
designed for the only true type(s) of HID bulb - D2S and D2R fitment - and are only made for OEMs, by one or two companies.
Aftermarket kits simply use the existing reflector, and replace the bulbs. The reflector is *usually* the thing that gives you the rubbish light
output.
All Hx fitment HID bulbs are 3rd party knockoffs - the OEM suppliers do not sell HID bulbs to anyone else.
Because of this, and due to the differences in HID and halogen technology (how the bulbs actually generate the light) the positioning of the filament
is wrong compared to halogen bulbs - meaning the focal point in the reflector isn't in the correct place - so you get light going where it
shouldn't be.
Oh - the comment about UV output in the originally quoted message is not an issue!
[Edited on 7/11/07 by Confused]
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hobbsy
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| posted on 7/11/07 at 02:50 PM |
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Thats kinda what I was trying to say in my post about the reflector not being suited to aftermarket HID kits...
But you put it better
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SyKaTurbo
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| posted on 7/11/07 at 03:20 PM |
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I have one of these kits on my A3. The standard lights are shocking giving about 10ft visibilty and meaning I could drive round with my full beam on
with no one even flashing me to tell me to turn them off. It passed mot's and was legal even though they were very poor. I fitted a HID kit and
can now see at night which makes driving safer and I haven't had anyone flash me and don't dazzle or annoy anyone with them.
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speedyxjs
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| posted on 7/11/07 at 03:27 PM |
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Cheers Confused, i understand 
How long can i resist the temptation to drop a V8 in?
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RazMan
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| posted on 7/11/07 at 05:16 PM |
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quote:
Originally posted by andyharding
Well done, you are now another one of those "chav" idiots driving round with an illegal headlamp conversion and causing a danger to other
road users.
These conversions are not legal for a good reason - they are dazzling to other road users not only risking causing an accident but also damaging
peoples eyes due to the amount of UV light given out by HID bulbs.
First of all I resent being called a chav idiot I consider myself a careful and considerate driver and will never NEVER fit anything on my
car which knowingly endangers myself or other road users. I decided to try this conversion with an open mind - I am usually sceptical about
'new' technology but I always prefer to try things out for myself and not rely on the voice of an over keen salesman (or misinformed forum
member  )
I agree that some of these conversions are indeed unsuitable for conventional headlamp reflectors, but you will find that these are normally the H4
types which I mentioned very early in this thread. However the single filament headlights are much more suited to the conversion.
As I have already said, the HID bulb is so close to the halogen bulb that the beam pattern is UNCHANGED, at least this is the case with my BMW Mini
headlights. No adjustments were made and they do not create any more dazzle than the halogen lights - they are just brighter. I even got my friendly
local MOT inspector to check out the alignment this afternoon and only confessed that they were an 'illegal' conversion after he said they
were correctly adjusted. However he did say (rightly so) that without the self levelling and washer system they would have failed an MOT.
Coming home this evening along very busy (but dark) roads, I was not flashed once - doesn't that confirm anything to you? This conversion is one
of the safest things I have done to my car imo!
The best advice I can give anyone on this subject is try them out and use your own judgement and common sense. If they dazzle then refit your old
bulbs - its as simple as that.
Cheers,
Raz
When thinking outside the box doesn't work any more, it's time to build a new box
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MikeRJ
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| posted on 8/11/07 at 03:25 PM |
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The problem is that the lens of a normal halogen light is designed around the beam pattern produced by the filament. The shape the the HID light
source is somewhat different, so whilst MOST of the light goes in the right direction, you get a lot of scatter in the wrong directions.
Further, the in the H4 style HID conversions, a small solenoid powered shutter is used to block light coming out of one "side" of the bulb
in order to "dip" the lights. Again, a normal Halogen headlamp has the filament in a physically different location to the main beam
filament, which this shutter does not emulate.
OEM HID lights are always of the "projector" type because the beam pattern can be controlled with far greater accuracy than with a lens.
Projector style lights are not as efficient as reflector lights however, as they use a mask to define the beam cut off, so light is wasted.
http://www.autoexpress.co.uk/videos/featuresvideos/204742/xenon_test.html
Raz, does your MINI have projector lights as standard anyway? If so then the HIDs are probably fine. My fiat coupe has projectors, and lots of
people upgrade the lamps to HID (as standard ones are dangerously poor) and have no issues with beam pattern at MOT time.
[Edited on 8/11/07 by MikeRJ]
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RazMan
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| posted on 8/11/07 at 05:54 PM |
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My headlights are the vanilla flavoured ones fitted to the Mini One iirc. There is an HID version available but I needed to get through SVA and
didn't want to fit the required auto-levelling or washer systems (which are an MOT fail if not fitted)
The video link is very informative and states that these illegal conversions are dangerous due to beam scatter. I certainly agree that if the beam is
distorted or scattered in any way then they shouldn't be fitted. Luckily my lights still have the same beam pattern with a clearly defined cutoff
point and no dazzle.
 
Rescued attachment IMG_2356.jpg
Cheers,
Raz
When thinking outside the box doesn't work any more, it's time to build a new box
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2b_pablo
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| posted on 9/11/07 at 05:45 PM |
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looks like you have projector headlights in which case HIDs are fine if aimed correctly.
Ive a set on my A4 with projectors and they are spot on but Ive also a set of a mk4golf with no projectors and while Ive never been flashed they arent
ideal. So Ill be buying a set of R32 lamps with projectors to fit them to.
PS - that autoexpress video is usual journalist crap. The megane with the hids fitted is pointing right at the camera almost while the other car is
pointing to the side so it looks a lot worse. They arent projectors tho so will be a bit crappy looking.
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chriscook
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| posted on 9/11/07 at 07:57 PM |
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quote:
Originally posted by RazMan
Coming home this evening along very busy (but dark) roads, I was not flashed once - doesn't that confirm anything to you? This conversion is one
of the safest things I have done to my car imo!
Same post:
quote:
Originally posted by RazMan
However he did say (rightly so) that without the self levelling and washer system they would have failed an MOT.
Doesn't the fact they would fail an MOT say something???
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stevebubs
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| posted on 9/11/07 at 08:22 PM |
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quote:
Originally posted by chriscook
Doesn't the fact they would fail an MOT say something???
Once upon a time, yes. Nowadays I wouldn't be so sure...
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