HID lighting

[yorkie_chris]

Yup keep it quiet.

However, what I've heard is that HID during warm-up is still putting out as much light as halogens anyway

Hi all.

Looked into this in great depth and decided against a conversion. There is alot of up to date info' on the web so if you are considering HID, do your homework regarding safety and legality.

I eventually decided to ask some of the big names in lighting their opinions. Below is a reply from Bosch, sorry but deleted the others!

You pays your money.......

Dear Mr. Williams

Thank you for your inquiry on Bosch Original Automotive Equipment,
received on Wednesday, 20 June 2007.

In response to your inquiry:
Hi,
Can you advise me on a area which seems to have a great deal of mystery?
As automotive lighting experts, do you think the aftermarket HID bi Xenon
upgrades for replacing H4 Halogen bulbs are all they seem to be? There are
many kits which make some remarkable claims but I am dubious. Are these
units really direct replacements, will the beam pattern be affected and
will I really get a better light?
Have a machine running 2 x 60/55 H4 at present.
Thanks in advance,
Yours,
R. Williams

We would like to advise:
Bosch does not manufacture HID replacements for H4 globes. It is not
possible to control the lighting with H4 optics.
There have been many Chinese fakes being manufactured with our name and
the names of other Lighting manufacturers being sold on Ebay and the like.
Bosch has been sucessful in shutting down these fake parts manufacturers
in China.


Please do not hesitate to contact us again if we can be of further
assistance.

Regards

Bob Tait
Automotive Service Supervisor
Customer Service Representative
Robert Bosch (Australia) Pty Ltd
Visit our Website at http://www.bosch.com.au

[northwind]

Yep, it's kind of a shame they closed that down because it was a decent gauge of whether or not a kit was from a reputable seller- if it had Bosch on it, stay away

As far as the reading goes, you're absolutely right- but the thing to remember is that that's all just general information. You can often find people who've done the conversion in the vehicle you have- frinstance the kits work well in Mk1 Golfs but terribly in Mk3s, as a random example- but the proof of the pudding's always in the eating. When I did mine, it was as an experiement as much as anything else, I was quite prepared for a bad result. If you do it with this approach, it becomes a much better idea, but so many people go in with expectations and are less likely to accept if it's a bad result- and so will end up just doing it anyway.

Lots of terrible HID retrofits out there, don't be one of them, is the gist of it.

Amen to that Northy.

Like the pics you posted for comparison between HID and Halogen. Interesting.........

Now I'm a bit better off for cash I may just try it

Which ones you recommend?

You get the disc pics BTW?

Rich

[Luckypants]

Sorry to dredge up this thread, but I failed to find a more recent HID thread (although there are some). I found this link on the VFR site that pretty much will answer the question on the legality of after market HID units.

http://www.dft.gov.uk/pgr/roadsafety/drs/hidheadlamps

[Dave20046]

Originally Posted by Grinch

Cheers.... I take it then Northwind mate your going to swap it all off at MOT time?

Nah just take it to a backstreet MOT'r

Is that like that backstreet boys?

[yorkie_chris]

Just an MOT man who isn't some bellend jobsworth like found in main dealers

[Dave20046]

Originally Posted by yorkie_chris

Just an MOT man who isn't some bellend jobsworth like found in main dealers

exactly