mattk
Member
Registered: 27th Feb 06
Location: St. Helens
User status: Offline
|
nahh I wouldnt have thought so, plead ignorant, probably get told to change them back
I had them on a corsa then in my saxo for 10 months, never got a second glance from any coppers, Passed an MOT with them on too 
|
Willox
Member
Registered: 24th Mar 07
Location: Aberdeenshire
User status: Offline
|
yeah i guess you're probably right. That shall be gettin ordered once i have the money for my softstars. Any places you would recommend where to buy them from or any links mate?
|
Minty_Fresh
Member
Registered: 1st May 08
Location: westmidlands
User status: Offline
|
as said above..
dont want to buy any shite ones..
|
mattk
Member
Registered: 27th Feb 06
Location: St. Helens
User status: Offline
|
I got mine off a saxo forum when I was looking at saxos
im sure someone will reccomend some soon
|
tom_simes
Show Staff
Organiser: South Wales
Premium Member
Registered: 12th Jan 05
Location: Undy, Newport Drives: Skoda Octavia vRS estate
User status: Offline
|
My car just happens to have passed two separate MOT's with them fitted 
Any mates I have been following, my Dad etc, have never complained about them being dazzling at all, and the light given off is much better than standard.
Here I have 6000K in Depo's, not the best picture though:
Oh and Matt, if you can find me a law or piece of literature that states they are illegal in anything other than projector headlights, be my guest mate, I think you'll struggle!!
As far as I'm aware, there is not a problem with them - I personally think its just another internet rumour.
|
Willox
Member
Registered: 24th Mar 07
Location: Aberdeenshire
User status: Offline
|
Cheers tom,perfect! 
|
John
Member
Registered: 30th Jun 03
User status: Offline
|
It's not an internet rumour.
I've only had experience of one set of them behind me in a fabia with normal headlights.
Apart from the fact it was in broad daylight and there being no reason to have them switched on they were stupidly bright and annoying, just like having full beam on.
|
tom_simes
Show Staff
Organiser: South Wales
Premium Member
Registered: 12th Jan 05
Location: Undy, Newport Drives: Skoda Octavia vRS estate
User status: Offline
|
John, doesn't exactly the same thing happen with normal bulbs in cars wih poor alignment though?
As you have only had the one case, I would disagree with you tbh. I've seen a few HID conversions now, and not one has blinded me, unlike many other cars on the road with their headlights misaligned.
|
Terry12
Member
Registered: 24th Sep 07
Location: Manchester
User status: Offline
|
quote:
Originally posted by tom_simes
My car just happens to have passed two separate MOT's with them fitted
Any mates I have been following, my Dad etc, have never complained about them being dazzling at all, and the light given off is much better than standard.
Here I have 6000K in Depo's, not the best picture though:
Oh and Matt, if you can find me a law or piece of literature that states they are illegal in anything other than projector headlights, be my guest mate, I think you'll struggle!!
As far as I'm aware, there is not a problem with them - I personally think its just another internet rumour.
This good enough for you?
http://www.dft.gov.uk/pgr/roadsafety/drs/hidheadlamps
|
tom_simes
Show Staff
Organiser: South Wales
Premium Member
Registered: 12th Jan 05
Location: Undy, Newport Drives: Skoda Octavia vRS estate
User status: Offline
|
Ok fair enough Terry, thanks for finding that for me.
So effectively, even if the headlamp unit itself is marked to be safe, unless it is self levelling and has washers, its not legal.
I stand corrected, thank you.
|
mattk
Member
Registered: 27th Feb 06
Location: St. Helens
User status: Offline
|
but I see Lagunas and new style Civics with factory Xenons in non projector style lights
|
Terry12
Member
Registered: 24th Sep 07
Location: Manchester
User status: Offline
|
Basically any headlight designed to use halogen bulbs are illegal to use Xenon bulbs with. The only LEGAL way to fit Xenon (HID) bulbs to a with Halogen headlights is to fit a full Xenon headlight along with washer jets and make sure it has self levelling.
Any halogen headlight fitted with a retro fit Hid kit is illegal.
I should point out I have such a kit fitted to my car as we speak.
[Edited on 09-09-2008 by Terry12]
|
John
Member
Registered: 30th Jun 03
User status: Offline
|
Pics of lagunas or civics with xenons and no projectors.
|
tom_simes
Show Staff
Organiser: South Wales
Premium Member
Registered: 12th Jan 05
Location: Undy, Newport Drives: Skoda Octavia vRS estate
User status: Offline
|
Not quite true Terry, that article does say that they can be used in traditional style headlamps, aslong as the following is adhered to:
quote:
Originally quoted by the DFT
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.
|
Terry12
Member
Registered: 24th Sep 07
Location: Manchester
User status: Offline
|
quote:
Originally posted by mattk
but I see Lagunas and new style Civics with factory Xenons in non projector style lights
I think the xenon bulb projects the light whereas in a halogen headlight the light is scattered.
|
Terry12
Member
Registered: 24th Sep 07
Location: Manchester
User status: Offline
|
quote:
Originally posted by tom_simes
Not quite true Terry, that article does say that they can be used in traditional style headlamps, aslong as the following is adhered to:
quote:
Originally quoted by the DFT
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.
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.
[Edited on 09-09-2008 by Terry12]
|
Terry12
Member
Registered: 24th Sep 07
Location: Manchester
User status: Offline
|
Just to point out their closing statement on the matter.
In summary it is not permitted to convert an existing halogen headlamp unit for use with HID bulbs. The entire headlamp unit must be replaced with one designed and approved for use with HID bulbs and it must be installed in accordance with the rules stated above.
|
tom_simes
Show Staff
Organiser: South Wales
Premium Member
Registered: 12th Jan 05
Location: Undy, Newport Drives: Skoda Octavia vRS estate
User status: Offline
|
But then it goes on to say that it is not strictly illegal to use a HID conversion kit in a halogen headlamp, so those points I made above are the bare minimum to be legal.
|
Terry12
Member
Registered: 24th Sep 07
Location: Manchester
User status: Offline
|
What you pointed out where does it say a Halogen headlight can be used with a Xenon bulb?
It only states the headlamp must be of the correct type. Tell me a Halogen setup that is ready for a Xenon bulb?
A halogen headlamp is designed to scatter light so by nature is not the correct type to use a xenon bulb. Also the car must have self levelling and headlight washer jets.
|
Chris F
Show Staff
Organiser: East Anglia
Premium Member
Registered: 26th Dec 05
Location: Newmarket Drives: Escort Van 1.8
User status: Offline
|
:FAIL:
|
tom_simes
Show Staff
Organiser: South Wales
Premium Member
Registered: 12th Jan 05
Location: Undy, Newport Drives: Skoda Octavia vRS estate
User status: Offline
|
I cannot point out a case where a halogen lamp can be used as I obviously don't know all headlamps, but if it is E-marked as 'ECE 98' then it is legal - again, I don't know if this is possible with a halogen type light - it may be, it may not be.
I also covered the point about the levelling and washers in my three point minimum for legality.
|
Terry12
Member
Registered: 24th Sep 07
Location: Manchester
User status: Offline
|
If you read my points taken from the link it clearly states Halogen headlights CAN'T be used, A full Xenon headlight must be used.
I doubt there is a halogen headlight that is equiped to take xenon bulbs as they both need different setups.
|
tom_simes
Show Staff
Organiser: South Wales
Premium Member
Registered: 12th Jan 05
Location: Undy, Newport Drives: Skoda Octavia vRS estate
User status: Offline
|
I agree that it is doubtful, as you said the lense patterns are not at all similar.
Bedtime now though 
|
Terry12
Member
Registered: 24th Sep 07
Location: Manchester
User status: Offline
|
quote:
Originally posted by tom_simes
I agree that it is doubtful, as you said the lense patterns are not at all similar.
Bedtime now though
I can't see manufacturers wasting their time making a multi fit headlight tbh.
Night chap
[Edited on 09-09-2008 by Terry12]
|
Graham88
Member
Registered: 16th Apr 07
Location: South East Kent Drives: E46 M3
User status: Offline
|
Bollocks to the law, HID's look the tits, end of
I love mine on my Fiesta, best mod ever
|
