Technical HID Headlight Conversion……….

[LittleRedB]

I had a very enjoyable blast through the Sussex and Surrey countryside this Wednesday evening from dusk through until darkness, it’s the first time I have been in the car myself through twisty roads with little/no traffic on the road and I have to say I had a LOT of fun!!!

The only thing that detracted from the sense of fun was squinting through the half light to avoid planting myself in a bush or tree at the side of the road as the headlights on the B are ‘adequate’ - eventually I resorted to turning on the fog lights for some low level illumination.

:idea: I decided to replace the stock bulbs with some PIAA high intensity bulbs but while looking around for a decently priced pair I stumbled across a number of HID conversion kits. My question is; has anyone installed one of these kits to their B? According to the various manufacturers of these kits they will fit any car but I am a little concerned that the headlights on the B are not that of ‘any car’………..

Anyone have any thoughts or experience of this……………?

 

[docorangepeel]

Are the HID conversion kits road legal ?

Web link

"Our H.I.D systems are most suitable for use on dipped beam applications but we are also one of very few manufacturers to offer dual beam H4 fitment (Xenon lighting for both high and low beams) Many H4 H.I.D kits only offer single beam, which are NOT road legal. APS kits have a huge range of connectors and bulbs to fit almost any 12 volt system."

 

[BILL33]

Are the HID conversion kits road legal ?

Web link

"Our H.I.D systems are most suitable for use on dipped beam applications but we are also one of very few manufacturers to offer dual beam H4 fitment (Xenon lighting for both high and low beams) Many H4 H.I.D kits only offer single beam, which are NOT road legal. APS kits have a huge range of connectors and bulbs to fit almost any 12 volt system."

We (our cars that means) use H1 bulbs for both low and high beam.
There was a topic about HID recently.

 

[dave]

they not legal on uk roads, you have to have self levelers and washer jets. but ive not been told off for mine. get the 6000k above that an they too blue

 

[Rustbucket]

Don't know about the B but I had similar problems with poor lights on the Fiat Coupe. Got a set of 6K HID's and problem solved. They work fine in the sidelight projectors but completely useless in the mainbeams..very bright but no focus. Not sure about the legality issue but I see new cars with them all the time fitted in sidelights with good ole halogens in the mainbeam. The coupe passed its NCT (Irish MOT) with them fitted no problem. Another and legal option is something like Osram silver star bulbs, advertised as 30% brighter than standard blubs.

The illegal option would be 100W halogen in the mains.

I think the lamp internals on the B and the coupe are identical.

 

[sjladopoulos]

When fitting an HID kit, does the lamp go directly in the headlight in the same slot as the original? The B uses H1 lamps, but all the kits I have seen have the lamp mount included? why is that? do you break the original mount and place the HID one in its place?

 

[Rustbucket]

HID kits come as a bulb unit/holder combined which fits straight into the existing H1 mounting on the car. There is also a chunky step up transformer (HID's need 20Kv to burn) which sits between the existing car wiring and the lamp unit.

Very easy to wire. The kit is powered from the existing 12v cables to the transformer. The hard bit is finding a place to bolt the transformers and fiddling assembly. On the coupe I took the lights off the car and fitted it all together on the bench, much easier. Don't know how the B's lamp units dismount.

When you find out let me know as I have a spare HID kit which I'll fit to my B.

 

[LittleRedB]

Will do - this is high on my 'to-do' list before Autumn as my B is a daily drive - don't fancy squinting through the unlit country lanes near my house!

 

[LittleRedB]

OK, after a few beers I threw caution to the wind and ordered a HID conversion kit for my B. Dangerous thing beer , only 3 or 4 hours before having a couple of tinnies I decided that I could not afford the kit this month - couple of beers later and I am a rich man!!!

Anyhow, I will let you know how I get on fitting the kit.......the dipped/main beam should not be an issue as they are different units and I will only be replacing the dipped......

 

[BILL33]

Dont drink beer.Its bad for your pocket!

 

[docorangepeel]

Dont forget 2 get pics LRB !

 

[LittleRedB]

Dont forget 2 get pics LRB !

Will do, if it turns up in time I hope to have them on by next Sunday!!

 

[beau]

how much did you pay?

 

[LittleRedB]

how much did you pay?

£45.00 on eBay - checked out the guy's feedback and seemed good - most purchasers also rated the kit as good and easy to fit.........

http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/HID-XENON-CON...oryZ9895QQssPageNameZWDVWQQrdZ1QQcmdZViewItem

We will see, I have bought lots stuff from Hong Kong in the past (including an expensive Nikon camera) and have only ever had good experiences, hopefully this one won't be any different.

 

[beau]

good was checking you got it cheap off ebay, i paid over £100 for mine this was in december though, when the kits where 'newish' and prices high didnt think they would drop to under 50 lol

 

[LittleRedB]

I'll let you know what its like - never know I might end up paying £100 in the end if its not good!

 

[docorangepeel]

welcome 2 my world Someone has to give it a go first, just nice its not me 4 a change ehehehe

 

[LittleRedB]

My HID kit arrived and I spent a couple of hours this morning fitting it to the B - I have to say the difference is light night and day.........

Top picture shows the OEM lights on the left and the HID replacement on the right - taken in the sunlight its a bit difficult to see the difference however you can tell that the HID runs at a much higher frequency. Bottom photo is taken standing next to the passengers door and shows just how bright the HID's are...........I would say that for £45.00 and a couple of hours to fit this is an investment that every B owner who drives in the dark should make........

I have taken step by step photos, if anyone is interested in doing this I am happy to post more.............

 

[docorangepeel]

Post pics m8, it looks like a mod that will now be on my list Not that the car every comes out in the wet or the dark hehehe. But you know me heheh

 

[superspotter]

Is it me or in the bottom pic, it looks like you have LHD headlights installed??
And in the top pic, why have you been coating your underside in cuprinol