Xenon lights

damnlol

Does anyone know the exact xenon lights that are used on highclass cars like the new mercedes, bmw's, rangerovers, etc? Want to install Xenon lights on my e46 but the ones ud get look rubbish, they are just like blue and dont look well at all. Was thinking of getting the ones they use on upmarket cars, or would anyone know what would be the best ones to get?

sean1141

damnlol wrote: »

Does anyone know the exact xenon lights that are used on highclass cars like the new mercedes, bmw's, rangerovers, etc? Want to install Xenon lights on my e46 but the ones ud get look rubbish, they are just like blue and dont look well at all. Was thinking of getting the ones they use on upmarket cars, or would anyone know what would be the best ones to get?

You would need to get complete headlight units to have a factory zenon look. Most use 4300k bulbs in these units. Xenon headlights will have projector units for the xenon bulbs. Reflector lights will never have the same look when fitted with a hid kit. Also be aware new NCT rules state that aftermarket hid kits need headlight washers and must be able to be adjusted from the cabin

nogoodnamesleft

sean1141 wrote: »

You would need to get complete headlight units to have a factory zenon look. Most use 4300k bulbs in these units. Xenon headlights will have projector units for the xenon bulbs. Reflector lights will never have the same look when fitted with a hid kit. Also be aware new NCT rules state that aftermarket hid kits need headlight washers and must be able to be adjusted from the cabin

OEM xenon retrofit is cost prohibitive I looked into it. For the auto levelling system some cars require sensors on the front shocks as well as washers to be installed.

Dunno about the NCT regulations but I fitted a HID kit to my Passat 3 years ago using 5000k bulbs and it passed the NCT in April this year.

Nothing was mentioned about it. The car had to go through the NCT twice in fact as it failed due to imbalance on the front axel (due to worn shocks - everything else lights included passed). Shocks were replaced them but by the time I and the car were back from the UK I had to do the whole test again as it was outside the retest period.

sean1141

I have passed in the past with a hid kit fitted too. I think its only a recent thing

from the nct manual P46 http://www.ncts.ie/pdf/NCT%20Manual%20Revise%20May%202012.pdf


NOTES
1. Headlamps should consist of either two or four lamps, or one lamp in the case of an electric vehicle incapable of exceeding 40km/h (24mph).
2. Headlamps are not required to be e-marked.
3. Where a dipped beam is so far out of focus that it cannot be picked up by the headlamp tester, then it should be failed.
4. HID headlamps must be installed as a complete type-approved system. The system will include automatic cleaning. HID headlamps can be recognised by:
a) the light having a bluish tinge,
b) the light taking a few seconds to reach full intensity,
c) the headlamp having an igniter module/inverter behind the headlamp,
d) the headlamp having ”DC” (for HID dipped beam), “DR” (for HID main beam), or “DCR” (if both are HID) marked on the lens. This marking should be visible from the exterior of the vehicle but in some cases the markings may be hidden under the bonnet and this may need opening to obtain a clear view.

Tropheus

I fitted an after market kit to my father-in-law's 2001 B5.5 Passat and it has come through 3 NCTs without a problem. The most recent one was last month.

damnlol

So what exactly would i be needing to buy for e46 coupe, can anyone find me an example on ebay or something?

dredg

damnlol wrote: »

Does anyone know the exact xenon lights that are used on highclass cars like the new mercedes, bmw's, rangerovers, etc? Want to install Xenon lights on my e46 but the ones ud get look rubbish, they are just like blue and dont look well at all. Was thinking of getting the ones they use on upmarket cars, or would anyone know what would be the best ones to get?

The colour is dictated by the Kelvin rating of the bulb. Lower kelvin = more yellow, higher kelvin = more blue. Hit around 4000-5000k for white. The ones you're looking at are probably 6300K.
See http://www.delonixradar.com.au/images/HID_poster.jpg

nogoodnamesleft

dredg wrote: »

The colour is dictated by the Kelvin rating of the bulb. Lower kelvin = more yellow, higher kelvin = more blue. Hit around 4000-5000k for white. The ones you're looking at are probably 6300K.
See http://www.delonixradar.com.au/images/HID_poster.jpg

6300k is too blue in my opinion. Most OEM bulbs are 4300k. I have 5000k and i find it produces a decent white light.

sean1141

depends on the power out put of the kit and the type of light the are fitted in. a 35w 6000k kit will be more blue than a 55w 6000k kit.

as said most factory fitted xenons are 4300k. op if your car dose not have projector lights you will need to source some that have. xenons look crap in reflector lights and they blind the cars you are meeting. projectors are so much better and they give a lot better light on the road

damnlol

sean1141 wrote: »

depends on the power out put of the kit and the type of light the are fitted in. a 35w 6000k kit will be more blue than a 55w 6000k kit.

as said most factory fitted xenons are 4300k. op if your car dose not have projector lights you will need to source some that have. xenons look crap in reflector lights and they blind the cars you are meeting. projectors are so much better and they give a lot better light on the road

I agree, projectors look so much better and produce a much more quality light