HID Legality

jamieh

Hi all,

Got HID lights installed in my car over the weekend?

Have been told that they are road legal, etc.

Can someone confirm that they are road legal?

I'm after spending ~€300 on them so I really hope they are!

milltown

Sounds like something you might have checked before getting them, no?

Once they're properly aimed they should be fine.

unkel

If they are not self-levelling, they are illegal afaik

Anan1

I think they need both self-levelling and a cleaning system.

Col200sx

jamieh wrote: »

I'm after spending ~€300 on them so I really hope they are!

How much:eek:

Why did it cost that much? Are they gold plated or something?

Hogzy

Anan1 wrote: »

I think they need both self-levelling and a cleaning system.

Yup and AFAIK they a under all circumstances must be fitted in projector headlights and not the regular kind

Anan1

Hogzy wrote: »

Yup and AFAIK they a under all circumstances must be fitted in projector headlights and not the regular kind

I thought this too, but my current car came from the factory with HIDs but not projector lenses. Only time i've ever seen it, but it is possible.

Victor_M

If they are correctly focused and levelled they will pass an NCT (whether this defines the legality or not I don't know).
Factory fitted need to be self levelling and have washers on them, but retrofit kits don't.

Hogzy

Anan1 wrote: »

I thought this too, but my current car came from the factory with HIDs but not projector lenses. Only time i've ever seen it, but it is possible.

Volvo? they are the only ones i know that are factory fitted that dont have projectors. IMO 95% of the HID's that are not fitted into projector headlights are extremely blinding for other traffic. Projectors have smaller light emitters so they dont come across as blinding!

Atomic Pineapple

Retro fitted HID's have blinded me more times than I care to remember, for best results in a retro kit make sure they have projector headlamps and are aligned properly and the lenses are not scattering the light all over the place

Anan1

Hogzy wrote: »

Volvo? they are the only ones i know that are factory fitted that dont have projectors. IMO 95% of the HID's that are not fitted into projector headlights are extremely blinding for other traffic. Projectors have smaller light emitters so they dont come across as blinding!

It's a 2008 Subaru Forester. I've found the same with aftermarket HIDs, I can only assume that Subaru designed the lenses to suit HIDs but didn't bother making them projectors.

E39MSport

I think you need self levellig lights and/or self levelling suspension.

Some of the better hid kits have excellent spread patterns and can be used with non projector set up.

Got a set from hids4u last week. Will be installing on the weekend.

Bonito

Anan1 wrote: »

It's a 2008 Subaru Forester. I've found the same with aftermarket HIDs, I can only assume that Subaru designed the lenses to suit HIDs but didn't bother making them projectors.

I think subaru are doing that with all new models maybe? My friends dad bought a 08 legacy last year and it came with HID's and i seen a 09 estate legacy the other night with HID's.

Anan1

Bonito wrote: »

I think subaru are doing that with all new models maybe? My friends dad bought a 08 legacy last year and it came with HID's and i seen a 09 estate legacy the other night with HID's.

But the Legacy has HIDs with projector lenses, my Forester has HIDs without.

Bonito

Anan1 wrote: »

But the Legacy has HIDs with projector lenses, my Forester has HIDs without.

TBH i havent seen a forester with HID's let alone projector lense HID's :S confusing one this one

jamieh

Hi all,

I brought the car to garage after installation and they verified they are leveled and focused correctly, my car also has projector lenses.

What do ye mean when ye say self levelling? There's a control in the car that allows me to adjust the level of the bulbs (higher or lower), will that do?

Anan1

jamieh wrote: »

What do ye mean when ye say self levelling? There's a control in the car that allows me to adjust the level of the bulbs (higher or lower), will that do?

That's manual levelling, cars with factory HIDs have no such control as levelling is performed automatically.

milltown

Victor_M wrote: »

If they are correctly focused and levelled they will pass an NCT (whether this defines the legality or not I don't know).
Factory fitted need to be self levelling and have washers on them, but retrofit kits don't.

Sorry, Victor put it more specifically than I did. NCT=OK, Law=?
Judging by the number of cars on the road with front and rear lights either gone or malfunctioning I think the Gardaí are happy to let the NCT manage the situation. Unless your car is of the ricer/modded/baseball cap variety then you'd want to be really unlucky for a Gard to notice your lights, much less ticket you for them.

Berty

Laguna estate's have HID systems with no washer system and are not self leveling. They are also NOT projectors.

mantaraver

People, I don't see what the big deal is with retro-fitted hid kits. I fitted them in my car ('77 manta) cos the standard lights were sh1te, bordering on dangerous. HID's make a huge differance to my safety, I can see where i'm going now So, some peeps reckon the're blinding for other drivers and fair enough, they should be properly adjusted after fitment.
Around the late sixties, when halogen bulbs were first introduced to europe, many people complained that they were too bright and dazzleing - sound familiar anyone
??

Anan1

mantaraver wrote: »

People, I don't see what the big deal is with retro-fitted hid kits. I fitted them in my car ('77 manta) cos the standard lights were sh1te, bordering on dangerous. HID's make a huge differance to my safety, I can see where i'm going now So, some peeps reckon the're blinding for other drivers and fair enough, they should be properly adjusted after fitment.
Around the late sixties, when halogen bulbs were first introduced to europe, many people complained that they were too bright and dazzleing - sound familiar anyone
??

It depends on the kit/car/headlights, some are fine but some aren't.

JHMEG

mantaraver wrote: »

I fitted them in my car ('77 manta) cos the standard lights were sh1te, bordering on dangerous. HID's make a huge differance to my safety, I can see where i'm going now

The people coming against you probably can't. I've yet to see an older car that takes well to HIDs.

Top Dog

Berty wrote: »

Laguna estate's have HID systems with no washer system and are not self leveling. They are also NOT projectors.

Which model?

Only ask as I have a '02 Laguna II which has both the self-levelling and the washer system - has a low level warning light for the washer fluid too which I think is another requirement for factory-fit Xenon's

Rev. BlueJeans

I have factory HIDs in a C5.

Self levelling, with washers and self levelling. I thought that was the requirement tbh.

Hogzy

Rev. BlueJeans wrote: »

I have factory HIDs in a C5.

Self levelling, with washers and self levelling. I thought that was the requirement tbh.

are they self leveling?:D

Theta

Hogzy wrote: »

are they self leveling?:D

They could be he didnt mention in his post.