HID's on a 205....where from?

Freefaller · 3 Oct 2006 at 15:03

Firestar_3x said:
Now i get a chance to ask you questions to which you know the answers, which kit, how much, how do i buy, it is it easy to fit, did you fit it?

It took me 40mins to fit (I do most things on my car/bike - ecu tuning ain't my thing though

). I got them off hids4u.co.uk - you want ones which can do 2 beams - I only have 1 main bulb so unless you have a mk2.5 which has a seperate bubl for dipped and full beams - you'll need a bulb which can flick from low to high beam.

One thing i need to get is a better set of side lights - it lets the looks down a bit now the HIDs are fitted - I've had them a year now.

I archived Draeger's thread a while back:

http://forums.overclockers.co.uk/showthread.php?t=17492883

Firestar_3x · 3 Oct 2006 at 15:06

Freefaller said:
It took me 40mins to fit (I do most things on my car/bike - ecu tuning ain't my thing though ). I got them off hids4u.co.uk - you want ones which can do 2 beams - I only have 1 main bulb so unless you have a mk2.5 which has a seperate bubl for dipped and full beams - you'll need a bulb which can flick from low to high beam.

One thing i need to get is a better set of side lights - it lets the looks down a bit now the HIDs are fitted - I've had them a year now.

Cheers matey, i think its the H4 bulb we use, will check this out tonight, gonna order a set with the dark nights closing in i would like to get a better system up and running

(Been putting it off for ages!)

I've changed my sidelights for some Ultra Bright White LED ones, they really do look great, about £10 for both

Freefaller · 3 Oct 2006 at 15:22

Yeah I need to get myself some of those. I have to say everyone that has seen the HID conversion (and my neat installation

) said it was pretty cool, and it does make a nice difference. Plus it looks kinda awesome too

eidolon · 3 Oct 2006 at 15:29

I'm trying not to spend any more money this month but a set of HIDs are really testing my resolve.

Hate · 3 Oct 2006 at 15:31

what exactly is the legality of them? I really want a set but not if its naughty

Luke · 3 Oct 2006 at 15:35

I bought a set off ebay and have fitted them myself. The difference is amazing, and they were easy to fit. I only had to fit H1's so didn't need to worry about the ones that can switch.
I'd recommend it to anyone.

Firestar_3x · 3 Oct 2006 at 15:35

Totally legal

Confused · 3 Oct 2006 at 15:36

Most of the time it's not the bulbs themselves that are the problem.

It's normally the reflectors/light housings themselves.

If you put standard lights in good reflectors, they'll perform better than good bulbs in bad reflectors.

If you've got good reflectors already, then better bulbs can of course help - but don't expect miracles if your lights are terrible already due to the reflectors.

Luke · 3 Oct 2006 at 15:36

Hate said:
what exactly is the legality of them? I really want a set but not if its naughty

Legal to retro fit on most cars. Some people think you need to have auto levelling lamps, but this is only a requirement where HIDs are fitted at factory.

Freefaller · 3 Oct 2006 at 15:46

ConfusedTA said:
Most of the time it's not the bulbs themselves that are the problem.

It's normally the reflectors/light housings themselves.

If you put standard lights in good reflectors, they'll perform better than good bulbs in bad reflectors.

If you've got good reflectors already, then better bulbs can of course help - but don't expect miracles if your lights are terrible already due to the reflectors.

Good point well made. The MX5 has pretty good reflectors, but the HID bulbs do flatter them well IMO. The 205 has pretty poor reflectors AFAIK but a decent set of bulbs will help and so will the HID kit.

emailiscrap said:
Legal to retro fit on most cars. Some people think you need to have auto levelling lamps, but this is only a requirement where HIDs are fitted at factory.

Spot on.

Phil W · 3 Oct 2006 at 15:46

In all honesty i was more interested in how much more i could see on the road, hence me opting for the 6000k as they give the most light on the road, where as my friend has purchased 10,000k, because they look 'cool' :rolleyes:

Hate · 3 Oct 2006 at 15:47

my question is about patterend glass, my celica has patterned glass at the front - I heard its only legal to have these HID kids behind flat, plain glass.

I just don't want to cause an accident by blinding some poor guy coming the other way.

On a scale of 1-10, where 1 is regular bulbs and 10 are HIDs - where would decent philips silvervision bulbs be ?

Phil W · 3 Oct 2006 at 15:48

2 maybe 3

Firestar_3x · 3 Oct 2006 at 15:49

I currently have the most expensive legal halfords bulbs in my, i would rate them about 5 vs HID they are very similar to the philips so i hear!

Freefaller · 3 Oct 2006 at 15:49

I'd say a 6- they are pretty damned good, especially with a decent reflector - not sure how good they are on the Toyota...

Phil - I agree, I actually went for a slightly "warmer colour" I think they are 5600K as they throw more light out on the road rather than just looking purple/blue and "cool"...

Phil W · 3 Oct 2006 at 15:49

Firestar_3x said:
I currently have the most expensive legal halfords bulbs in my, i would rate them about 5 vs HID they are very similar to the philips so i hear!

Really? since having the HID's, i did a pic part way through installation with blue 'xenon' bulbs, and they look yellow, i suppose they would though !

Firestar_3x · 3 Oct 2006 at 15:52

Its hard to call, my lights still look a little yellow but they are quite bright white on the road, good 50% light increase from the stock bulbs, i think the HID's will improve the throw of the light and also the brightness and due to the colour make it less stressfull on the eyes at night, i hate dim / yellow light!

Phil W · 3 Oct 2006 at 15:54

Freefaller said:
Phil - I agree, I actually went for a slightly "warmer colour" I think they are 5600K as they throw more light out on the road rather than just looking purple/blue and "cool"...

Anywhere about 8,000k all look "cool" however they just light up white things (signs, road markings) blue, and dont actually light much dark stuff up, which isn't what i would be aiming for!

Freefaller · 3 Oct 2006 at 15:55

It's not only just the "more candle power" that is true, the contrast and light level is more even with HIDs generally. They maintain a better luminance for a longer distance.

Freefaller · 3 Oct 2006 at 15:56

Phil W said:
Anywhere about 8,000k all look "cool" however they just light up white things (signs, road markings) blue, and dont actually light much dark stuff up, which isn't what i would be aiming for!

You mean you want to see where you're going and not look KOOL?!! :confused: