HID bulb installation

[Chris_a_73]

Hey guys,

Installed my HIDs (35W 5000lk H7R) a few days ago and am disappointed with them. They don't fit well (neither do normal halogens), and were a bitch to try and get in the right position. Am I missing something obvious to fit them easily, as they always seem to be off at an angle?

The light output is quite poor and the light doesn't cover much area (even with headlights on highest setting and altered to the highest point). I also have one stray area of light, and don't know if I'm just missing something or not..

Is there a correct way to install the bulbs (diode facing up/down etc), and should I try and remove the "metal cap" from one of my headlights (only one has one due to headlight being replaced)?

Cheers guys

P.S If anyone could upload a picture of the light output of their's (on a road not against a wall) I would appreciate it... My dad's abarth with halogens seemed to give much better light compared to my HIDs...

 

[Neo]

Hi mate, did you get them from hids4u? Because if you did you will need to adjust them upward a fair bit once fitted.

If you look at your lights from the front, are the bulbs in properly? I mean they should be protruding from the hole straight out if you know what I mean.

Here`s mine anyway, I had to take them up a few turns when fitted:

The diffuser (metal cap) in front of the bulb should`nt affect it really and you don`t have to remove it.
I don`t know what you mean by diode facing up/down? But there is a "tang" on the base of each bulb... which sits slightly off vertical on the twin headlight mk4, you can see this in pic 2.

 

[Chris_a_73]

Cheers for the reply, my light output is nothing like yours!

The diode, I mean the wire that protrudes from the bulb and goes down the side.

You removes your headlight to do it? Perhaps I need to as well....

The ballasts are an absolute bitch to fit, because the sticky pads don't work and don't want to cable tie them, as they're bound to flap about. Aghh

 

[Blanco92]

Neo, were they H7Rs that you fitted?

I'm just wondering is it due to them being H7Rs. Has anyone else fitted H7Rs and not had this problem?

 

[mick-fr]

Ive got H7R's and mine are like Neos. I fitted mine inside the light unit without removing the bumper etc too.

 

[Neo]

Cheers for the reply, my light output is nothing like yours!

The diode, I mean the wire that protrudes from the bulb and goes down the side.

You removes your headlight to do it? Perhaps I need to as well....

The ballasts are an absolute bitch to fit, because the sticky pads don't work and don't want to cable tie them, as they're bound to flap about. Aghh

Ah I see, I think that`s the starter on the wire to the bulb... on the bigger ballasts it`s incorporated inside, but there is`nt the room for them in the slim ballasts so you always find them on the positive wire leading to the bulb. And it should`nt matter where you put it mate.

I removed my lights partly because I was changing one anyway (broken), and partly because no-one had fitted the entire kit inside before so I was`nt sure if it would fit!
Mick has done it since with them on the car but he must have girly hands

Perhaps it would be a good idea to remove the lights as it does sound like you`re having trouble fitting the bulbs properly?

Neo, were they H7Rs that you fitted?

I'm just wondering is it due to them being H7Rs. Has anyone else fitted H7Rs and not had this problem?

They were H7R`s mate yes, from hids4u. This is the first problem I`ve heard of with them (or hids in general) not performing well and as I said it sounds like they are not in right in Chris` case.

 

[Fusion405]

I fitted h7 hids 6000k to my old car (bmw e46) and they were cheap nasty ones for about £35 from ebay but they were awesome! Matched the ccfl angel eyes and also made the road much lighter and roadsigns glow from miles away, they gave a huge improvement.
I take it if i fit the same sort to an ibiza they will need a lot of adjusting? My o/s headlight looks slightly higher than n/s at the minute but havent had time to fiddle with it!

 

[Neo]

I take it if i fit the same sort to an ibiza they will need a lot of adjusting? My o/s headlight looks slightly higher than n/s at the minute but havent had time to fiddle with it!

They don`t usually need too much adjustment, just park facing a wall and make sure they are even and not too high.
To do it properly you set them to the inclination marked on the headlights, this thread shows how... this might help Chris too: clicky

 

[Chris_a_73]

AHA! Just fixed it!

Firstly I removed the odd diffuser as I didn't like only one headlight having one. Then I realised the bulbs were the wrong way up (nothing mentioned in the installation manual, however I guess I just lack common sense )

The beam is much better now and illuminates everything properly. Will take a picture of the light output on the road tomorrow, as it's frankly too cold for me to spend any more time outside.

Before;

Here's some of the shots after;

 

[Neo]

AHA! Just fixed it!

Much better mate, I thought you had them in wrong!

They don`t look too far out of alignment either, have you adjusted them since fitting the hids?

 

[DEAN0]

They don`t usually need too much adjustment, just park facing a wall and make sure they are even and not too high.
To do it properly you set them to the inclination marked on the headlights, this thread shows how... this might help Chris too: clicky

If you know your current bulbs are set correctly you can copy the setting against a wall.

park facing a wall and mark the standard light beam height on the wall.

Don't move the car.

Fit the HID's and match the beam to the marks on the wall.

 

[Chris_a_73]

Yep, adjusted them after, however not much was needed. Set them slightly high, but using the in-cabin lighting controls is easier to move them down. Happy

 

[Neo]

If you know your current bulbs are set correctly you can copy the setting against a wall.

park facing a wall and mark the standard light beam height on the wall.

Don't move the car.

Fit the HID's and match the beam to the marks on the wall.

Yes this is easier and for most will suffice, however it assumes they are correct to start with.

 

[Neo]

Yep, adjusted them after, however not much was needed. Set them slightly high, but using the in-cabin lighting controls is easier to move them down. Happy

Cool, you been for a spin yet?

 

[mick-fr]

Mick has done it since with them on the car but he must have girly hands

I'll girly hands you

I fitted both sides and sidelights in around 45 mins, without removing the light unit.
I unplugged the adjuster motors to give more (albeit very slight) room and slid the ballasts underneath. Then fitted the rest of the wiring and starter like Neo's picture above (thats the actual picture I used to do it) and reconnected the adjuster motor.

The sidelights however, lets just say there was alot of this

 

[Neo]

I'll girly hands you

I fitted both sides and sidelights in around 45 mins, without removing the light unit.
I unplugged the adjuster motors to give more (albeit very slight) room and slid the ballasts underneath. Then fitted the rest of the wiring and starter like Neo's picture above (thats the actual picture I used to do it) and reconnected the adjuster motor.

The sidelights however, lets just say there was alot of this

ha ha!

Yeah the motors move just enough without disconnecting them from the mechanism.
And I`m glad my sidelights are lasting, done loads now but they still me off!

 

[mick-fr]

ha ha!

Yeah the motors move just enough without disconnecting them from the mechanism.
And I`m glad my sidelights are lasting, done loads now but they still me off!

Yeah I just unplugged them so the wire was out the way, but I suppose you could do it with the wire still in place

Thats the thing though, they dont get any easier the more you do
Mine seem to be lasting pretty long too, not flickered yet, unlike the old ones which started after about a month

 

[Chris_a_73]

Hah sidelights are easy to install... especially on a 1.2! And I have fat sausage fingers!

Still waiting upon my "warm white" sidelights recommended by Neo. Been about a week so far; expecting 1-2 more. 1 month later my LED in-cabin reading light panel still hasn't arrived. In this modern world, HOW does a small package take over a month to reach the UK from China...?!

 

[mick-fr]

Hah sidelights are easy to install... especially on a 1.2! And I have fat sausage fingers!

Still waiting upon my "warm white" sidelights recommended by Neo. Been about a week so far; expecting 1-2 more. 1 month later my LED in-cabin reading light panel still hasn't arrived. In this modern world, HOW does a small package take over a month to reach the UK from China...?!

Maybe in a 1.2 it would be easy, but have you seen the space, or lack of, in the bay of a 1.9tdi?

 

[Fusion405]

Is h7r the only size to fit ibiza? I have reflector style headlights not projector. Thinking of fitting some hids soon, loved them before.
Cheers