H.I.D. Conversion Kits.

Chuck_Norris

How do all. Just a quick question to throw out there. Should possibly be posting this in the modified section, but just wanted to get as much info/ reaction as possible. Contemplating putting a H.I.D. conversion kit into my 06 Octavia. Reason being, cant get OE bulbs for it, and any of the others I've tried have been total sh1te!! Had used those Osram Nightbreaker ones, but was literally putting in a set every 2 weeks. I know that's ppossibly due to the fact I spend 12 hours a day behind the wheel, with lights on.

Anyway, what are peoples thoughts on the kits? Or does anybody know of the legality of them, or is it a grey area?

Sorry, that should read every 2 months, not 2 weeks!!!

Big Nasty

Decent kits are about €40 on ebay and pretty easy to fit. 6k HID is about right - the higher ones are too bright and look terrible IMO. Make sure you're getting a proper conversion kit though and not just blue bulbs that are also being sold for like €25 and would cost less than €10 in Halfords!

MarkR

I have one of the 6k sets for the last few months. You'll spot that some people's look **** and blind you. Some look fine. Usually because of focus.

Does the octavia have projector or reflector headlights? They scatter and look crap with reflectors.

colm_mcm

Octavia Mk1 has projectors which should be fine. don't think the newer shape does though.

Come to think of it, I think the projectors on the Mk1 Octavia were fog lights.

Don't get HIDs unless you have projector type dipped beams.

L-M

I've a set of HID's in my car. Cost me about sixty quid, they were a bit of a pain to fit, but they're worth it. Make sure to get your lights focused asap after you get them done though, they're very bright and if out of focus can annoy alot of people!

Lex Luthor

this is my first car with them and only started driving at night last few nights...they have seriously good light from them..really spreads out the light to the sides

colm_mcm

Did you buy the Scooby?

Chuck_Norris

Cheers lads. Have a mark 2 Ocatvia, and it has projector dips. The mark one had reflector dips, and projector fogs alright. I know the light is absolutely savage from them, and of course the lights would be roperly alligned after fitting them. Was curious more from the point of the law. AS in, is it legal? NCT afterwards? Would love some input from a member of An Garda Shickeloney if possible. And was gonna be fitting a set with 6000k.

L-M

I asked a very strict Garda were they illegal. Absolutely not was his response.

Gumbo

Chuck_Norris wrote: »

Cheers lads. Have a mark 2 Ocatvia, and it has projector dips. The mark one had reflector dips, and projector fogs alright. I know the light is absolutely savage from them, and of course the lights would be roperly alligned after fitting them. Was curious more from the point of the law. AS in, is it legal? NCT afterwards? Would love some input from a member of An Garda Shickeloney if possible. And was gonna be fitting a set with 6000k.

you will be fine, as in the eyes of the law they are just a different bulb and will walk through the NCT no problem. over in the UK they are bringing out laws to govern hid conversions, but they havent hit here yet.

in regards to getting them aligned, you wont have to as the standatd projectors are aligned perfectly so the xenon light will be spot on. all you have to do is fit them. i would go for 6000k HID's but do some research before you commit to a bulb temp/colour.

www.hidirl.com comes with 1 year warranty too.

Chuck_Norris

Limerick man wrote: »

I asked a very strict Garda were they illegal. Absolutely not was his response.

I see... I know the factory fit ones have an auto leveling system on them, so you don't end up blinding on- coming traffic if you hit a pot- hole, or going over speed bumps. So I can understand their illegality from that point of view.

L-M

Chuck_Norris wrote: »

I see... I know the factory fit ones have an auto leveling system on them, so you don't end up blinding on- coming traffic if you hit a pot- hole, or going over speed bumps. So I can understand their illegality from that point of view.

Very true, more of a nuisance and tbh I get the odd flash from people. One older woman actually pulled flashed me a few times and then pulled in until I passed, so they have their ups and downs!

JHMEG

6000k is noticeably blue and therefore actually contains less white light! I have a set of 4300k which I haven't fitted as (among other things) they're a bit too blue for my taste. If doing again I'd opt for a bit less.

Chuck_Norris

So JHMEG, would you go for the 4300? Or are you saying that ther're still a bit too blue? Didn't think you could get any lower than 4300.

Tropheus

I have them in my wife's Audi A2 and they work well and don't appear to annoy oncoming drivers. The car also came through the NCT with them. I find that some car headlamps suit them and some definitely don't.

I find 6,000k a little too blue. 5,000k is much better. The OEM bulbs are 4,300k.

The main issue that makes them "illegal" is that the car you're fitting them to most likely doesn't have auto headlight light levelling. This is necessary as oncoming traffic can be blinded if you're carrying a couple of adults in the back or a heavy load in the boot. Not pleasant with ordinary lights, but far more of an issue with HIDs.

OEM HID headlamp units also have special reflectors designed for HID, aftermarket fitting doesn't meet this requirement which means far more chance of blinding oncoming traffic.

Headlight washers are also mandatory where they are fitted OEM. This is because snow lying on the headlamp lenses can scatter the light. Not really an issue in Ireland.

Illegal probably, but definitely not enforced as yet.

Hal1

Seen a car with green lights on it not sure if there where HID's or just coloured blubs, the luminance wasn't great though. Too many crappy HID kits on ebay and the light pattern is usually sh/t and blinding driver's due to incorrect fitting. Spend the money for better quality ones instead of the crappy €60 ones from hong kong etc.

Chuck_Norris

ksimpson wrote: »

I have them in my wife's Audi A2 and they work well and don't appear to annoy oncoming drivers. The car also came through the NCT with them. I find that some car headlamps suit them and some definitely don't.

I find 6,000k a little too blue. 5,000k is much better. The OEM bulbs are 4,300k.

The main issue that makes them "illegal" is that the car you're fitting them to most likely doesn't have auto headlight light levelling. This is necessary as oncoming traffic can be blinded if you're carrying a couple of adults in the back or a heavy load in the boot. Not pleasant with ordinary lights, but far more of an issue with HIDs.

OEM HID headlamp units also have special reflectors designed for HID, aftermarket fitting doesn't meet this requirement which means far more chance of blinding oncoming traffic.

Headlight washers are also mandatory where they are fitted OEM. This is because snow lying on the headlamp lenses can scatter the light. Not really an issue in Ireland.

Illegal probably, but definitely not enforced as yet.

Cheers mate. Was very curious as to why they also needed the headlamp washers. The snow thing makes sense. Ya learn something new every day.

Chuck_Norris

And there's a guy I know who said he can get the Ultra brand H.I.D.'s for 90 snots. Anybody heard of them?

colm_mcm

went for the 6k on mine and they're pretty white,


Got 8k on my last one though.

Lex Luthor

colm_mcm wrote: »

Did you buy the Scooby?

ya have it about 4 weeks...

slimjimmc

Chuck_Norris wrote: »

How do all. Just a quick question to throw out there. Should possibly be posting this in the modified section, but just wanted to get as much info/ reaction as possible. Contemplating putting a H.I.D. conversion kit into my 06 Octavia. Reason being, cant get OE bulbs for it, and any of the others I've tried have been total sh1te!! Had used those Osram Nightbreaker ones, but was literally putting in a set every 2 weeks. I know that's ppossibly due to the fact I spend 12 hours a day behind the wheel, with lights on.

Anyway, what are peoples thoughts on the kits? Or does anybody know of the legality of them, or is it a grey area?

Sorry, that should read every 2 months, not 2 weeks!!!

This is what Hella had to say on the conversion kits back in 2002. They were illegal back then so I doubt things have changed.

http://www.hella-press.de/search_detail.php?text_id=189&language=e&newdir=eng

colm_mcm

must keep an eye out for it, Did you get the grey in the end?

Chuck_Norris

Last stupid question, and I feel really stupid in asking it. But, can bi- xenon H.I.D.'s be fitted to a headlight with H7 bulbs? Or is that just for H4's? Cheers.

Tropheus

Yes you can get bi-xenon kits. Bi-xenon uses the one bulb (dip) but has a solenoid that moves a small reflector giving full beam. The original full beam headlights will come on with the high beam HID and will also be used for flashing. You can't use a HID for flashing as it takes a few seconds to warm up. It's the same principle on the OEM installs.

I haven't any experience of the bi-xenon kits or know anyone who has installed one.

Chuck_Norris

ksimpson wrote: »

Yes you can get bi-xenon kits. Bi-xenon uses the one bulb (dip) but has a solenoid that moves a small reflector giving full beam. The original full beam headlights will come on with the high beam HID and will also be used for flashing. You can't use a HID for flashing as it takes a few seconds to warm up. It's the same principle on the OEM installs.

I haven't any experience of the bi-xenon kits or know anyone who has installed one.

Nice one. Thanks very much for replying. Answered that question rather nicely. I bow to your superior knowledge.

JHMEG

Chuck_Norris wrote: »

So JHMEG, would you go for the 4300? Or are you saying that ther're still a bit too blue? Didn't think you could get any lower than 4300.

I've seen colm's in the flesh and they're too blue for my taste. A mate has 3000k and they're almost identical in colour to the original bulbs.

HungryJoey

I have 6000K mysself. They are a very bright white with a slight blue tint. A mate of mine got the same kit but 4300K recently and I much prefer that its perfectly white the light and I am convinced it lights up the road alot better.

4300K all the way.

Anything beyond 6000k is just silly looking, I am yet to see 1 car with 8000K that actually looks decent. Projectors or not..

Lex Luthor

colm_mcm wrote: »

must keep an eye out for it, Did you get the grey in the end?

ya

Cmar-Ireland

I had a set of 4300k bulbs in an E34 I had. The colour looked perfect. Nice crisp white with a very slight blue tint at the cut-offs. The E34 has projector lenses though. On any car without projectors they just look terrible.

--Kaiser--

4300K is the perfect colour temp for driving night, any higher and it's just blue/purple light which isn't as bright and dazzles peoples eyes more

Chuck_Norris

--Kaiser-- wrote: »

4300K is the perfect colour temp for driving night, any higher and it's just blue/purple light which isn't as bright and dazzles peoples eyes more

Yeah, I'm kinda leaning towards 4300k myseld now after having done a bit more research. Main reason for wanting the kit is that I work as a rep, and alot of driving on dodgy back-roads is required.

Cheers for all replies folks.

Gumbo

Chuck_Norris wrote: »

Last stupid question, and I feel really stupid in asking it. But, can bi- xenon H.I.D.'s be fitted to a headlight with H7 bulbs? Or is that just for H4's? Cheers.

ksimpson wrote: »

Yes you can get bi-xenon kits. Bi-xenon uses the one bulb (dip) but has a solenoid that moves a small reflector giving full beam. The original full beam headlights will come on with the high beam HID and will also be used for flashing. You can't use a HID for flashing as it takes a few seconds to warm up. It's the same principle on the OEM installs.

I haven't any experience of the bi-xenon kits or know anyone who has installed one.

you cant get Bi-Xenon in H7 fitment. H7 by its properties is a single bulb, H4 is a double useage bulb, ie. high and low beams..
your car has a separate light and a separate bulb for the high beam, so putting a bi-xenon bulb in the single bulb holder (your H7) will have no effect, you will still only get your head light on.

bi-xenons work by the fact that the bulb is always on, and a little mechanical cover slides over the bulb partially blocking the light output, so when you hit the fhifh beam switch, the little cover moves, allowing more light out. my old X5 had bi-xenon as standard but for flashing somebody, ie. saying hello to somebody you know, there was a separate bulb and lens for that.

Cmcgr06

Hey all, im sorry for the length of this,

I dont know if this is relevent or not but you can get a bulb that is 10000k and diamond white( i do not recommend them though)
The above is quite rare but they can be got, also for those who are debating between 4300 and 6000 i personally would go with 6000k and to make sure theres no blue when your inspecting the bulb their is a long wire running the length of the bulb, this is commonely coloured a light blue, therefore a blue tint will be visible, obv the higher kelvins seem to bring it out more,
If your buying from a shop inspect the bulb and get a white wire bulb,( wont work on ebay so dont bother)

Media999

Xenons.ie do good quality 6000k Xenon lights for most cars. Cant fault them at all.

_Kaiser_

I had a cheap set from eBay on my Passat before and had a few issues to be honest with one side not always igniting first time. The output was great though.

Anyway, when one of the bulbs died I looked into a better set from a UK site and checked around for fitting as it's a pain in the B6 Passat (literally - I have a little scar from trying to wedge my hand in behind the driver-side headlight unit and the water bottle directly behind it)

I was told by several different places that the ECU on the car didn't like these aftermarket HID kits and they were against installing it. So instead I went for a set of Osram Nightbreaker Plus which are pretty good for a standard bulb.

But I would like to get a set of decent HIDs as like someone above I tend to go through bulbs at a fair rate with driving around with them always on - the alternative would be some sort of LED DRL strip but the color wouldn't match the lights - and wouldn't help on dark roads at night

So, does the B6 Passat support HIDs properly or not is my question?

TestTransmission

Please don't drag up old threads