Fitting HID's and Sidelights!

[jordanogrady]

I just bought the kit that jordanogrady bought! hopefully be fitting them today,does anyone want me to do a guide?

I've done a guide somewhere, do a search, there is photo's and everything (just on my iPhone so can't find it)

 

[CupraR_Lad]

I've done a guide somewhere, do a search, there is photo's and everything (just on my iPhone so can't find it)

Ahh ok well i was going to do i guide on fitting them to the Mk1

 

[andychef1234]

Problems

Hi there guys just finished fitting my kit switched my engine on and lights on all work perfect but it has brought on three lights on my dash ( steering wheel light ESP and tyre pressure all these were not on before fitting thought I would ask see if these had happens to anyone else?

I don't think it's anything major?!??

Cheers guys

 

[andychef1234]

Hi there guys just finished fitting my kit switched my engine on and lights on all work perfect but it has brought on three lights on my dash ( steering wheel light ESP and tyre pressure all these were not on before fitting thought I would ask see if these had happens to anyone else?

I don't think it's anything major?!??

Cheers guys

Hi again guys I was being a pleb took the car for a spin there and all is good it's cause I disconnected the battery lol

love the hid.... Must have

 

[s15lvo]

DEAR ALL

These HID do look good and I have used HIDs in my past 2 cars, I have a few questions for the people who have been using them for 1 or 2 year.

1, I have always been told to disconnect your levelling motor in the lights as the mini emp plus that it given off from the ballests when you turn the lights on can fry the motor, has anyone experienced motor failure?

2, all HIDs I have used have had at least one bulbs either fail or flicker after about a year. How is your kit holding up and what make and model do you have?

3, how hot are these kits when running? Any melting of the headlights?

Thanks

 

[GainfulShrimp]

I've been using a '6000K Ultimate H7R' kit from hids4u for about a year now. I swapped the capsules for some 4300K (also H7R) ones I found on ebay though, as I found the 6000K ones a bit too blue for my taste.

Since I swapped over to the 4300K ones, every now and then (maybe once every six weeks), I'll get a bulb out warning when I switch them on. Switching off and on again sorts it out. I'm not sure if it's the cheapo 4300K capsules causing it (they were about 20% of the price of the hids4u version) or if it's just that the ballasts are starting to go dodgy.

To be honest, much as I like the extra light on the road, I don't think I'd fit another aftermarket HID kit. The combination of grey legality / MOT worries and slightly faffy installation - you need to drill a 25mm hole in the back cover of each headlight, and find somewhere to mount the ballast - puts me off really. The beam pattern you get with H7Rs in a reflector is OK but not perfect. And you will have no doubt been half-blinded by poor quality H7 aftermarket HIDs blazing towards you from the other direction. My car is still a long way off its first MOT, so I have no idea if they'd pass as-is. I'm hopefully going to swap the car before that point (see my separate tree-hugger thread). I've bought some replacement headlight covers for about £10 from my dealer, so I'll put the dipped lights (and LED sidelights) back to standard before I sell the car.

For my next car I'm just going to bite the bullet and get proper factory-fitted bi-xenons. That way there's no affect on warranty, no worries about MOT or being pulled over, and no faffy installation.

 

[S2TTB]

I've been using a '6000K Ultimate H7R' kit from hids4u for about a year now. I swapped the capsules for some 4300K (also H7R) ones I found on ebay though, as I found the 6000K ones a bit too blue for my taste.

Since I swapped over to the 4300K ones, every now and then (maybe once every six weeks), I'll get a bulb out warning when I switch them on. Switching off and on again sorts it out. I'm not sure if it's the cheapo 4300K capsules causing it (they were about 20% of the price of the hids4u version) or if it's just that the ballasts are starting to go dodgy.

To be honest, much as I like the extra light on the road, I don't think I'd fit another aftermarket HID kit. The combination of grey legality / MOT worries and slightly faffy installation - you need to drill a 25mm hole in the back cover of each headlight, and find somewhere to mount the ballast - puts me off really. The beam pattern you get with H7Rs in a reflector is OK but not perfect. And you will have no doubt been half-blinded by poor quality H7 aftermarket HIDs blazing towards you from the other direction. My car is still a long way off its first MOT, so I have no idea if they'd pass as-is. I'm hopefully going to swap the car before that point (see my separate tree-hugger thread). I've bought some replacement headlight covers for about £10 from my dealer, so I'll put the dipped lights (and LED sidelights) back to standard before I sell the car.

For my next car I'm just going to bite the bullet and get proper factory-fitted bi-xenons. That way there's no affect on warranty, no worries about MOT or being pulled over, and no faffy installation.

i've had my kit for around 18 months now from hids4u - originally ordered with 5000k H7R's but after a couple of months i switched to the 5000k normal H7's. I felt there wasnt enough "distance" given by the R versions and also over bumps and rumble strips, the beam flickering up an down on the road was more noticeable with these.

after approx a year, i had random bulb warning lights and the odd light cut out - a month later one of the ballasts went. hid4u replced under warranty with no probs.

4 months ago, i noticed one of the bulbs was going a more bluey green colour..then a few days later the bulb became stupidly bright then the next day it blew.

as i was happy with the colour given off by the hids4u bulbs and didnt wanna risk getting bluer ones from other suppliers, i just stumped up the cash and got replacement 5000k H7's.

Like the above poster, i probably wouldnt bother going down the route of retro fitting a set again to a car - mainly because most cars are coming out the factorys with them fitted.

as for everyong shiteing themselves over mot issues - my car went thru a mot around october last year and passed with no problems at all.

 

[Nath.]

as for everyong shiteing themselves over mot issues - my car went thru a mot around october last year and passed with no problems at all.

Agree, I've read a lot on here about MOT failures, auto leveling systems and washer systems. I've not read on here about an actual MOT failure. but if it did fail you could refit the original bulbs and then get a free retest.

 

[S2TTB]

Agree, I've read a lot on here about MOT failures, auto leveling systems and washer systems. I've not read on here about an actual MOT failure. but if it did fail you could refit the original bulbs and then get a free retest.

There is no reason they would fail though. The MOT test only really checks for the headlamps actually operating and (I think!?) they are aligned ok.

In real life, what copper or vosa is gonna drive down the road and go "oh look, that car does nothave headlamp washers fitted , lets get them"

if your hids are not of a stupid drawing attention to yourself blue colour, shining upto the skys blinding half the BA cabin crew then you'll be fine

 

[GainfulShrimp]

You could... I agree. But taking out your HIDs and replacing with normal bulbs before MOT time every year, and then replacing them afterwards seems like hassle.
And there is often rumblings in the press about discussions on tightening up MOT regulations as the very dazzling (poor quality and/or badly installed) HID kits are surely a safety hazard. So it's not impossible that we'll be hearing more about MOT failures.

Personally, I wouldn't bother with this mod on my next car as the improvements in aesthetic look and lighting up the road aren't worth the potential faff IMHO.

 

[Nath.]

I reckon it will only take minutes to change back to standard, no need to remove ballasts etc. Just remove the HID bulbs and plug back in the stock halogen ones.

I think that some of the poor quality HID bulbs cause a poor/fuzzy light cut off, this is the reason for a possible MOT failure as the height aim can be adjusted in seconds where as a poor cut off is a poor cut off regardless of it's height.

Most people find that an HID kit makes their beam aim seem a little high, they then adjust their motorised leveling knob and it's all fine.

 

[jordanogrady]

I have done this mod on the last 3 cars that I have owned, and never had MOT issues, IMHO if you want brighter bulbs at a lower price than replacing the whole unit, this is the best way!

There should be no reason to be taking the HID's out for the MOT. MAybe the anti glare HID's will help with the beam too.

Jordan

 

[weejim]

hi just looked at ur wiring etc and was wondering if u had 2 change the fuse/fuses 4 the headlights as the kit tells u that u need 2 change it 2 20amp if there is a fuse 4 each headlight,or there is just 1 fuse it needs 2 b 30amps, just wonding as a cant find the dam fuse 4 the lights

 

[nicklaus27]

hi guys just got a quick HID question and didn't want to start another thread up.....using the link jordan provided, and they're £65 off ebay, yet when i go his actual website, it say i need the canbus pro ballast and that's £15 extra!!! (http://www.car-mod-shop.co.uk/index.php?route=checkout/cart)

am i right to assume that he wont add the correct ballast needed if buy off him from ebay then? as i'd rather save myself £15 if he's going to add the correct ballasts in!

 

[FR_Flavoured]

For what its worth, I had an aftermarket HID Kit retrofitted into my previous car, a Mk4 SEAT Ibiza.
The kit worked well, plus the car went through MOT's without the HID's getting a mention.

With my current Leon FR, I won't go down the aftermarket HID route.
You know right away when you see a car approaching with retrofitted HID's - they look garish and tacky, and usually off white with blue tinge.
So for these reasons, I'm fine to leave my FR lights unmollested, yellow candle burners!

 

[S2TTB]

You could... I agree. But taking out your HIDs and replacing with normal bulbs before MOT time every year, and then replacing them afterwards seems like hassle.
And there is often rumblings in the press about discussions on tightening up MOT regulations as the very dazzling (poor quality and/or badly installed) HID kits are surely a safety hazard. So it's not impossible that we'll be hearing more about MOT failures.

Personally, I wouldn't bother with this mod on my next car as the improvements in aesthetic look and lighting up the road aren't worth the potential faff IMHO.

MY car has went through one MOT with aftermarket Hids fitted - no mention, full pass.

2nd mot just done last month, car went through with retro fitted factory xenons - minus the levellers, washer jets.. and still passed.

The test only checks the functionality and alignment of the lights.

 

[GainfulShrimp]

I could have sworn they check the beam pattern isn't way out too. Probably read it on a forum though so who knows if it's true?

 

[S2TTB]

I could have sworn they check the beam pattern isn't way out too. Probably read it on a forum though so who knows if it's true?

Well the beam pattern on my aftermarkets was horrific compared to the OEMs installed and this was not picked up on.

Considering i was advised my plates could fail due to not displaying the BS mark and place of manufacture post code etc. I think they would have picked up on something like the beam pattern of the headlights

 

[Deleted member 74601]

Sorry to dig up an old thread, but I found this useful.

I'm assuming that you don't actually have to change the headlight unit to fit HID kits?

I'm also confused about what you need to plug into the ballast from the car? and then how do the HID bulb sits in the unit once installed? Do you have to change anything in the unit itself?

Also, I have the 1.6TDI Ecomotive engine, is it safe to fit the ballasts in the same place as you, and do I need anything to secure them?

Thanks for any responses