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NCT vs HID (Xenon headlights)

  • 07-09-2015 10:14AM
    #1
    oneoneeight
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 20 ✭


    Hi folks, what is the current situation with HID lights in terms of NCT ... I was told a year ago they're banned, but then again I see all these people in new cars driving with their pure white headlights, that I presume have to be HIDs ... They hardly swap them for normal bulbs just for the test, do they? Are they using something different? Is there an alternative to HIDs that you can get thorugh NCT with, while still keeping pure white light (and not yellowish)?


Comments

  • #2
    colm_mcm
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 73,328 ✭✭✭✭colm_mcm


    chances are that you're seeing LED DRLs rather than HIDs.

    HIDs aren't a fail, but aftermarket ones pretty much are

    you can get bulbs that are white.


  • #3
    [Deleted User]
    Posts: 0 ✭✭✭ [Deleted User]


    They have factory xenons with self levelling lights and headlight washers. Which are perfectly legal for the NCT. the problem lies with people putting HID's into halogen housing and blinding every poor soul they meet.


  • #4
    biko
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 81,060 ✭✭✭✭biko


    Some info in this thread
    http://www.boards.ie/vbulletin/showthread.php?t=2057223573


  • #5
    Pov06
    Closed Accounts Posts: 1,487 ✭✭✭Pov06


    Or just halogen bulbs with a blue layer of tint over them which makes them look white, like OSRAM Night Breaker bulbs.


  • #6
    mullingar
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 5,338 ✭✭✭mullingar


    No change to the NCT.

    Bottom line is you cannot use a HID bulb in a headlight that's designed for halogen bulbs.

    All those new cars you see could have HIDs from factory.

    The only option for cars with standard halogen headlights is to replace the complete headlights with a HID approved lamp but you must also install headlight washer jets too. Technically you need to install auto-levelling system, but NCT dont test for this.


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  • #7
    oneoneeight
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 20 ✭oneoneeight


    Pov06 wrote: »
    Or just halogen bulbs with a blue layer of tint over them which makes them look white, like OSRAM Night Breaker bulbs.

    Thanks for replies guys, thread notifications went into the old email address hence I never knew there were any answers.

    I actually did get the Night Breakers only two weeks ago, but I'm disappointed with them - they are still yellowish bulbs ... Bit more white than standard bulbs alright but far away from HID white. Is there any other alternative? Is there any LED bulbs that would fit into halogen lamps and be road legal?


  • #8
    L1011
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 75,483 ✭✭✭✭L1011


    oneoneeight wrote: »
    Bit more white than standard bulbs alright but far away from HID white. Is there any other alternative?

    Philips Xtremevision.

    These, and Nightbreakers, have a fairly pathetic lifespan unfortunately.


  • #9
    slimjimmc
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 7,783 ✭✭✭slimjimmc


    mullingar wrote: »
    No change to the NCT.

    Bottom line is you cannot use a HID bulb in a headlight that's designed for halogen bulbs.

    All those new cars you see could have HIDs from factory.

    The only option for cars with standard halogen headlights is to replace the complete headlights with a HID approved lamp but you must also install headlight washer jets too. Technically you need to install auto-levelling system, but NCT dont test for this.

    You may not need washer jets or headlamp wipers or auto-levelling, that depends on whether type-approval was obtained with or without them.
    http://www.boards.ie/vbulletin/showpost.php?p=89073031&postcount=36
    http://www.boards.ie/vbulletin/showpost.php?p=89092973&postcount=74
    http://www.boards.ie/vbulletin/showpost.php?p=89119269&postcount=79


    If washers/wipers or auto-levelling are not mandatory for your car then the NCT cannot fail you for not having them.


  • #10
    BMJD
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 2,637 ✭✭✭BMJD


    L1011 wrote: »
    Philips Xtremevision.

    These, and Nightbreakers, have a fairly pathetic lifespan unfortunately.

    I find the Halfords own brand version to be better than Osrams, and have much better lifespan.


  • #11
    oneoneeight
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 20 ✭oneoneeight


    BMJD wrote: »
    I find the Halfords own brand version to be better than Osrams, and have much better lifespan.
    Better as in more white? How far away are they from HIDs in terms of the color temperature?


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  • #12
    bazz26
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 51,877 ✭✭✭✭bazz26


    Your not going to get proper HID light from halogen bulbs no matter what colour or how bright they are.


  • #13
    ironclaw
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 7,994 ✭✭✭ironclaw


    oneoneeight wrote: »
    Is there any other alternative? Is there any LED bulbs that would fit into halogen lamps and be road legal?

    You can get LED H9's etc. I'm actually waiting on a set to arrive. They are however pretty costly ~€50+ a pair, and they require balancers and are actively cooled as they get very hot. Light wise, you have the same lumen value as Nightbreakers at ~1800lm I don't actually see them as being a viable alternative at this point.

    I'm going to put them in when the car is going to be pre-NCT to see what type of focusing they can achieve and the road legality of them.


  • #14
    slimjimmc
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 7,783 ✭✭✭slimjimmc


    ironclaw wrote: »
    You can get LED H9's etc. I'm actually waiting on a set to arrive. They are however pretty costly ~€50+ a pair, and they require balancers and are actively cooled as they get very hot. Light wise, you have the same lumen value as Nightbreakers at ~1800lm I don't actually see them as being a viable alternative at this point.

    I'm going to put them in when the car is going to be pre-NCT to see what type of focusing they can achieve and the road legality of them.
    I don't think retrofit LEDs are road legal yet. If they were I would expect the likes of OSRAM to have them in their product range but they don't seem to.


  • #15
    kirving
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 6,368 ✭✭✭kirving


    slimjimmc wrote: »
    I don't think retrofit LEDs are road legal yet. If they were I would expect the likes of OSRAM to have them in their product range but they don't seem to.

    Some cars come with them as standard though. The Leaf being an example. Another case of having to be 'from factory' fit to be legal?


  • #16
    slimjimmc
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 7,783 ✭✭✭slimjimmc


    Kevin Irving wrote: »
    Some cars come with them as standard though. The Leaf being an example. Another cash of having to be 'from factory' fit to be legal?
    Yep, factory fit with EU type-approval unlike retro-fit bulbs which, from what I've read on various sites, are not approved. It's the same principle as with HIDs, if the headlamp wasn't approved for LEDs then LEDs can't be legally fitted.


  • #17
    OldmanMondeo
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 3,008 ✭✭✭OldmanMondeo


    Nightbreakers and the Philips Xtremevision put more light on the road. You would need Philips Whitevision to get the Xenon effect, not sure of the Osram versions name.


  • #18
    Special Circumstances
    Closed Accounts Posts: 7,540 ✭✭✭Special Circumstances


    OSI wrote: »
    There's a considerable difference between LED headlamps that have been designed from the factory to produce exactly the right light in the right places and LED bulbs that have been shoehorned into a reflector headlamp designed for regular halogen bulbs.

    Go way outta da shur the corn on the cob smd bulb is the state of the art, a triumph of engineering. Shur it says cree there in the eBay listing, must be good!;-)


  • #19
    vectra
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 15,674 ✭✭✭✭vectra


    mullingar wrote: »
    No change to the NCT.

    Bottom line is you cannot use a HID bulb in a headlight that's designed for halogen bulbs.

    All those new cars you see could have HIDs from factory.

    The only option for cars with standard halogen headlights is to replace the complete headlights with a HID approved lamp but you must also install headlight washer jets too. Technically you need to install auto-levelling system, but NCT dont test for this.


    Not too sure
    My old 2010 Octavia vRS had halogen bulbs from factory.
    No washers
    No Levellers
    I put a H7 HID kit into it and they guy that bought it from me put it through the test last year and it flew through.


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