HID Lights in the NCT

He had a good poke around at them but they're very discrete. I recon he spotted the fact the ballasts say Volvo on them and left it at that.

thats not gone well wrote: »

I'm in a similar situation being that, I wanted xenon lights the most legitimate way I could.

They were offered as an option on my car as xenon reflectors.
I bought two complete xenon units, installed and aligned them.
There's no distinguishable difference from the outside with the lights off that they are totally different from standard halogens.

Now, when they were factory fitted, washers and self levelling were fitted also.
But being a Volvo, not all cars that have headlamp washers have xenons

From my understanding the NCT manual says manual adjusters are adequate as long as they work.


They washers are a different story however.
I could install a separate washer pump and jets in the bumper if required.

If there are early 00's cars that never had washers or self levelling will that mean that my set-up is equally legitimate and legal?

visual wrote: »

That beam cut off doesn't look like projector cut off is it halogen reflector housing ?

no, OEM HID reflector units

Bulb types are listed on the sticker as D2R, H7 and W5W

Have you an aftermarket kit? Just plug it all out and remove the ballasts and replace with normal halogens. Have you reflector lights or projectors?

ShaunieVW wrote: »

Have you an aftermarket kit? Just plug it all out and remove the ballasts and replace with normal halogens. Have you reflector lights or projectors?

Yep - I'm pretty sure its after market. It was fitted before I bought the car. Here is 2 pics. Will a H7 bulb fit in there properly. Not sure if they are reflectors or projectors.
http://www.bimmerforums.co.uk/forum/f18/downgrade-xenon-headlight-system-stock-t263898/

I had a quick look under the bonnet and noticed only one light is hid (I think). Could that be right? Also it looks as if the original bulb wires were cut off.

This is a right PITA. Kinda hate these white lights on other cars anyway so am not going to give out too much.

Tropheus wrote: »

My father-in-law's B5.5 Passat has had a HID kit in the projector housings for several years at this stage and had no problem with the NCT in the past. However, it was failed last month in Drogheda where it had been tested previously. They just said it was new rules and that if there was no washers and auto-levelling, the car was failed. I just left the ballasts in situ and replaced the HID bulbs with halogens and it passed.

I think failing for HIDs in reflector lenses makes sense. Failing them in well aligned projector housings is overkill.

Cheers Tropheus. I will just put in halogens and run it through so. Was your existing halogen bulb holder there and did it fit in ok into the projector headlamp. I think mine was actually cut off. Anyone know where to buy them?

Hogzy wrote: »

I disagree. Auto-leveling is very important. Otherwise any slight bump in the road will blind other drivers. You might be good at maintaining good headlight alignment but there are a lot of people out there who are not.

Auto leveling doesn't react to bumps in the road it's not that quick, auto leveling is to adjust the headlights based on the load in the car.

Its not that simple that; reflector means halogen and projector means HID, for example my car has reflector housing designed to work only with HIDS which all Chaser Tourer V cars are equipped with from factory, there is not a "normal bulb" option and no connection for a halogen bulb.

Failed today, 08 accord (old model). Projector lenses, washers, manual adjustment and aftermarket HID's.

Saw them having a discussion about them, lots of pointing etc going on. They didn't test the alignment, just failed it...Have passed the last two times with the same setup...

Gryzor wrote: »

Failed today, 08 accord (old model). Projector lenses, washers, manual adjustment and aftermarket HID's.

Saw them having a discussion about them, lots of pointing etc going on. They didn't test the alignment, just failed it...Have passed the last two times with the same setup...

Headlight condition and headlight aim are two separate tests in the NCT:
http://www.ncts.ie/pdf/NCT%20Manual%20July%202014.pdf

As mentioned in the PDF, the requirements for HID headlamps changed in April 2012. If your car has aftermarket or factory fitted HID lights, the key thing seems to be whether HID headlamps have been installed as a "complete type-approved system".

It sounds as though your lights do not meet that requirement. If your car passed the NCT in 2012 and 2013 with those lights, you might have grounds for appeal.

However, if the lights were fitted by you or a previous owner as aftermarket you might forced to change them.

Gryzor wrote: »

I don't believe that mine behave in the same way, so tbh they'll be going back in after I get the cert.

Whilst I have no reason to doubt you, have you ever driven against or in front of your own car in pitch darkness? I've rarely seen an aftermarket HID set up that was any improvement on a true set up and even more so, I've been dazzled by nearly every single one. Lights, especially HID's are non trivial, and I really wish people would either spend the proper money or not bother. Just because the road looks a little more white/blue doesn't actually mean you are seeing further. Placebo effect and all that.

ironclaw wrote: »

Whilst I have no reason to doubt you, have you ever driven against or in front of your own car in pitch darkness? I've rarely seen an aftermarket HID set up that was any improvement on a true set up and even more so, I've been dazzled by nearly every single one. Lights, especially HID's are non trivial, and I really wish people would either spend the proper money or not bother. Just because the road looks a little more white/blue doesn't actually mean you are seeing further. Placebo effect and all that.

Knew that comment would get a reply . I did get the misses to drive towards me, and while I thought it was brighter it didn't dazzle at all. Also never been flashed etc..

I disagree on the brightness. For me, they definitely put more light on the road. Can especially notice it on a dark two lane road with oncoming traffic.

ironclaw wrote: »

Whilst I have no reason to doubt you, have you ever driven against or in front of your own car in pitch darkness? I've rarely seen an aftermarket HID set up that was any improvement on a true set up and even more so, I've been dazzled by nearly every single one. Lights, especially HID's are non trivial, and I really wish people would either spend the proper money or not bother. Just because the road looks a little more white/blue doesn't actually mean you are seeing further. Placebo effect and all that.

I have to disagree with you there.

My past 3 cars ( all the same models ) have had Projector lamps and halogen bulbs.

I fitted HID kits to them all.
First I use 5k bulbs,
Second car I use 4300 bulbs.
current car I reverted back to the 5k bulbs again as for me they were certainly better at lighting up the road ahead of me,

This is since 2010 and have yet to have one driver flash at me.

I also took note of the cut off line before and after the HID upgrade and can most definitely say the cut off line is much sharper with the hid that with halogen bulbs.


As for lighting up the road for distance?
Can't say I did notice any improvement in "How far I could see"
But for what I could see was an immense improvement which made me feel more comfortable and safer.

Aftermarket hids are a pet hate of mine.

Badly setup, blinding everybody.

And dont get me going about hid fog lights

vectra wrote: »

I wonder do they pass the nct?

They're not checked. There's an Impreza around my area that drives around with HID fogs. A 747 will land on it one of these days.

vectra wrote: »

Stupid really isn't it.

There is a section on the test result form for fog lights though??

Mine is blank, cause they just failed me on basic inspection...