HIDs are not for me. I'm getting a refund.

[ChrisMansell]

Basically, they're way too bright with our standard reflector lenses, and I now disagree with having them.

I agree, on country roads, AMAZING, like daylight. but then when someone comes the other way, there eyes will ache.

the only way to not blind people is have them fully dipped all the time which I have been doing, but then you can hardly see anyway.

I was gonna change them for anti-glare, but then you're just getting stupidly bright, illegal bulbs that only light up half of the light . . .

bollocks.

I'm goin back to standard.

 

[SpursMadDave]

My thoughts exactly and hopefully there will be a crackdown on people with badly fitted HIDs and also those who drive around with fog lights on dazzling people too.

I have quite bad Diabetes and the glare a lot of the time is very painful so maybe the cocks who think its brilliant will have a thought for other drivers.... but I doubt it.

There is nothing wrong with nice bright lights properly fitted and used when the visibility is bad, but driving down the A20 at 7pm when it is brightly lit and the weather is fine with Fog lights on and HID's fitted almost horizontal is just stupid, makes me want to put my full beam on but thats just lowering myself to their level!

 

[1L19]

Did you go to a garage and get them to test the headlight levels?

I heard this helps a lot

 

[ChrisMansell]

no.

there is no need for the headlight levels to be adjusted because they give off the exact same pattern as the standard lights.

you can clearly see the beam pattern on the road, and where it ends . . . the beam is never actually aiming at any passing drivers.

so to clear my point up, it's not the fact that they're aimed wrongly, or too high . . it's just when you look at the headlights from ANY angle they almost blind you because they are 300% brighter than H7s.

This issue of them being blinding just to look at, is the reason that if you opt for HIDs factory fitted from SEAT, you get projector headlights which are not blinding to look at from any other angle . . . just if you're directly in the beam.

our reflector headlights reflect the light pretty much everywhere. .

if you drive down a country lane, it's not just the road that's bright, the trees directly above you and to the side are lit up LOADS (ie things that are not directly in the beam) just from the sheer brightness that the headlights give off.

pretty much all standard HIDs are projector headlights, I have been told that Renault laugunas and Mini coopers as have HID as standard in reflector lenses by the guy at Car-Mod-Shop but they use bulbs SIMILAR to the anti-glare ones and the reflectors will be specifically designed to handle HIDs.

 

[Rob66]

I tend to agree. I was driving down the A27 tonight from Portsmouth to Worthing and there was a Red Leon coming the other way with aftermarket HIDS. Yes they looked blue/white but they seemed way toooo bright and totally dazzling.

Stick to 'normal' aftermarket bulbs much safer for you and others IMO

 

[leviathan18]

retro fit hid oem headlamps as i did lol

 

[knight]

retro fit hid oem headlamps as i did lol

sounds expenisve

 

[Bainie]

I found this even with the nightbreakers, so bright they threw a lot of shadows on the road from the reflector and headlight glass ..

 

[leviathan18]

sounds expenisve

well for 300 euros for both headlamps with d1s bulbs and ballast and 20 euros for connectors and cables and a friend with vag com i think its a pretty nice deal

 

[Moley RUFC]

I must admit i'm very happy with my HID's. The anti-glare bulbs work a treat and by only relflecting on one side help to keep a good solid light. I looked at my car from quite a distance at night and was pleased that the oncoming light was so 'small' compared to some HID kits that fill the entire head lamp with dazzling light

 

[Xe]

All this talk of dazzling on coming cars is bollocks tbh. I have tested this on my own car out and I'm not blinded in anyway when approaching my car. Plus I have the full HIDs not the half light anti-glare nonsense.
Using nightbreakers and philips +80-90% xenon bulbs, are ok, but imo not good enough. Almost had a very bad accident down in Cornwall because they were just not throwing enough light and only the full beam at the last second saved me.

With the HIDs that is not an issue no longer and I feel the car is far safer to drive for me and other drivers on the road. Although I agree HIDs are not going to be for everybody. You pay your money and makes your choice.

Obviously OEM Xenon lights from the start (factory order) is the way to go. My next car will 100% have them.

 

[ChrisMansell]

well, that's your opinion. but you saying that "All this talk of dazzling on coming cars is bollocks tbh" is BOLLOCKS. that's my opinion

your 'tests' are obviously flawed.

out of interest what colour temperature are you HIDs?

 

[leonfr170]

Got to say, the amount of times i've been dazzled by crap HIDs is enough to say i hate them with a passion.
End of story...

 

[Jace]

Give you £10 for them

 

[ChrisMansell]

for mine? lol. I paid £70 for them and I'm getting a full refund so I'll have to pass on that offer.

 

[seremotors]

for mine? lol. I paid £70 for them and I'm getting a full refund so I'll have to pass on that offer.

£70? Any chance the problem is down to poor quality units? My HID's were considerably more expensive and I have seen them head-on when I had to swap cars with the mrs - definitely no issues on getting blinded. Just a thought . . .

 

[Chan_P1_TDi_FR]

i've got a japanese MTec kit without the anti-glare shroud. they cost me £160. i've don't several tests and mine only dazzles on the main beam of light. it took me about half an hr to really get the best out of my HID's with minor adjustments. i get a great amount of light on the roads and don't seem to dazzle other drivers. My friends and brother say mine are fine when i drive towards them. I think it depends on the quality of the kit more than anything else.

i was drving from newcastle back to edinburgh on tuesday which is unlit most of the way and it was great with the HIDs. Not a single driver coming the opposite direction flashed me. So i can probably say i wasn't dazzling anyone.

also driving towards police (traffic division and ordinary) in mine and no problems.

 

[ChrisMansell]

OK maybe drivers don't get LITERALLY blinded. but certainly dazzled if they look at the headlights.

just because you didn't get 'flashed' it doesn't mean that they're not on top. I get dazzled all the time and have stopped flashing people now cos there really is no point. . . infact you're probably likely to get flashed by them with their HID full beam, then you'd be gutted so you should rely on people flashing you to realise your lights look too bright and illegal.

and the police aren't gonna pull over everyone with bright lights but I assure you they are not legal.

even with the lights perfectly aligned by a garage, the headlights light up bright as fook. it's not the direct beam, it's the fecking super bright light being reflected in every direction. it's especially worse if your headlights are dirty, and super blinding if you get condensation in them.


in my opinion, it has NOTHING to do with quality of the units. The HID bulbs are just going to give off really bright light. If you paid more then it's likely yours are brighter or clearer, but DEFINITELY not 'less dazzling' because they're more expensive!!! how can you possibly justify that comment?

the reflectors are designed for H7 bulbs which give out light all round. ALL ROUND. so how can the design of any bulb make them appear too bright?

jeez.

 

[SpursMadDave]

Nobody is saying that all HIDs are dangerous, or that all drivers with them are idiots....

But...

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.

Under the Road Traffic Act 1988 it is an offence to supply, fit or use vehicle parts which are not legal.

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.

In the new year I think things like having a non legal number plate or HIDs can mean points on your license (maybe wrong) so I guess you pay your money and take your chance like with anything...

Lastly I think saying that your fantastically bright lights only just saved you when they were on full beam probably means you were driving too fast....

 

[ChrisMansell]

i'm gonna try to not comment again cos I'm getting frustrated.

the fact is if you put one normal bulb in and one HID bulb in, the H7 looks normal, then the HID is at least 3 times brighter. therefore dazzling. i'm not saying you can't see. they're just a dangerous distraction.

i'll post a pic later. I took the pic when I was in favour of them when I first got them. on the pic the H7 looks like a light and the HID looks like a football stadium flood light.