High Intensity Discharge light kit fitted to my car:Pics

Draeger · 5 Nov 2005 at 20:24

Ev0 said:
What colour/temp did you go for, 6000k?

Very tempting, easy to install? My only worry would be my inteptitude in fitting it in to the existing wiring so they can actually be used

If you can change your standard headlight bulbs, you can fit one of these kits m8. It's as easy as that.

I put up a guide on how to do it on the auld Calibra here:-

Thread on ClubCalibra.net

Yep, I went for a 6000k kit. This was after a lot of digging around on the internet to try and decide. I was going to go for an 8000k kit first, but it turns out that the 6000k is actually brighter in performance than the 8000k one and this is what I was most concerned about. Wasn't interested in "looks", i just wanted the best headlights I could get.

The 6000k kit still looks great and as I said earlier, still has a wee edge tint of "ice blue". Looks identical to the lights you see on Mercs etc.

The 8000k kit is a bit too blue for my liking, and doesn't throw as much light out.

I've spoken to 3 guys who have carried out this conversion, all of which went straight away for the 8000k kit. Every one of them said if they could go back and buy again, they would have went for the 6000k kit. :cool:

They take at least 50 hours burn time to "bed in". The 6000k kits progressively increase in performance as they charge up when first switched on, takes a minute or two, you can see them getting brighter as they warm up.

Sin_Chase · 5 Nov 2005 at 20:29

Sin_Chase said:
Would you have to buy 2 kits to do both high/low and sidelights ?

Draeger · 5 Nov 2005 at 20:39

Sin_Chase said:
The 8000k kit looks really tempting.

Would you have to buy 2 kits to do both high/low and sidelights ?

Ok, the LED sidelights, I already had installed. They are available pretty much anywhere online if you have a dig around m8.

As far as I am aware, there are two main types of retro-fit HID kits available.

The one I purchased and another type, which is referred to a lot of the time as a "Bi-Xenon" HID kit.

This means it operates both the dipped and high beam bulbs/circuits. As far as I know, its only available at the moment for H4 bulbs, though I might be wrong.

There are a few people online who can supply these, but in my honest opinion, they aren't worth the additional cost, since after fitting a kit like the one i have, there's no real need to use high beam at all......you just dont need it to see the road ahead!!.

Obviously, a high beam/ Bi-Xenon set up would allow your high beam circuit to perform in proportion to your dipped HID's, i.e. even better than your conventional high beam bulbs in conjunction with your already improved dipped ones. But I dont see the need for it when the dipped HID is as good as it is.

If you are keen on going for a Bi-Xenon set up, then be prepared to pay at least double the price, if not more for a complete kit.

These fellas do Bi-Xenon retro-fit kits, but as I said, they are quite expensive:-

http://www.hids4u.co.uk/products.asp

http://www.xenonvalot.com/newh4bixenon.html

pinkaardvark · 5 Nov 2005 at 21:25

You said you went for the 6000k bulbs because you wanted more light and less chaviness. So why not go for the 4700k?

And damn you I have spent enough on my car lately but now I want a set too

Draeger · 5 Nov 2005 at 22:36

After muchos research online, the 6000k kit seemed to be the most common one to go for m8. There are very few suppliers doing 4700k kits, but granted, it may well give out more light than a 6000k one.

I have quite a few web url's in my IE favorites that I used to decide to go for the 6000k one, I can post 'em if ya want to have a wee look-see!! :cool:

pinkaardvark · 5 Nov 2005 at 22:37

Yeah I'd like to see those links.

You say there are very few suppliers but the one you got yours from do 4700k or am I getting confused here :S

ah I c.. some of his auctions include 4700k in the advert, others don't ie this one does

http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/ws/eBayISAPI....PageName=MERC_VIC_ReBay_Pr4_PcY_BIN_Stores_IT

Draeger · 5 Nov 2005 at 22:52

Just depends m8. A lot of sellers of these kits only start off at 6000k, very few that I contacted said they had 4700k in stock.

6000k seems the most popular one to go for and I'm perfectly happy with it.

Here's a few links from my favorites that I used to plough through for info on these things, there's a lot of reading there in various forums, took a while but I managed to get there and make my mind up in the end!!:-

http://www.audiworld.com/tech/ext52.shtml

http://www.bbesound.com/bmw/HIDinstall/

http://www.geocities.com/jvxdriver/crx_mod.htm

http://www.brightheadlights-hid.com/hid_lights_faq.htm

http://www.vagparts.com/pages/HID_install.htm

http://www.autolamps-online.com/gasdischarge/fittinginsthalogen.htm

http://www.autolamps-online.com/gasdischarge/fittinginsthalogen.htm

http://www.h-i-d.co.uk/products1.shtml

http://www.vagparts.com/pages/GtiHID.htm

http://honda-tech.com/zerothread?id=1224207&page=4

http://www.honda-acura.net/forums/showthread.php?t=190926

pinkaardvark · 5 Nov 2005 at 23:50

Thanks for that.

One question : The ebay link you give shows a kit with seperate igniter and ballast yet yours is combined? Is the ebay info incorrect then or did you specifically ask for this?

s0ck · 6 Nov 2005 at 00:05

Think they look pretty good on your cally.
Those newish Punto's absolutely blind me though when they come around the corner, there's about 3 different colours of HID on the front or something, or is that me just seeing stars

Draeger · 6 Nov 2005 at 00:12

pinkaardvark said:
Thanks for that.

One question : The ebay link you give shows a kit with seperate igniter and ballast yet yours is combined? Is the ebay info incorrect then or did you specifically ask for this?

Although that seller shows a seperate ballast and igniter, it ships with a combined set up. I guess he just hasn't updated the pics in his listing there.

@s0ck, yeah, thats because the Punto headlight units are fitted with projector beam lights or as the FIAT sales bods put it "ellipsoidal" headlight units....hence the *flashy* effect you somtimes see from them. Its all to do with the lens of the headlight unit and the coating on it.

Lopéz · 6 Nov 2005 at 09:13

If I went for them I think I'd go 4700k, I want as much light as possible.

Snaggle · 6 Nov 2005 at 21:08

Draeger .

My hornet has a H4 bulb so looking good .Let me know if yer interested in fitting HID to yer bike ..

Regards

Persil

Lopéz · 7 Nov 2005 at 00:46

Hmmmm. I've spoken to a few people and apparently lots of the H4 kits only use one filament in HID form, the other in normal halogen.

http://bbs.scoobynet.co.uk/showthread.php?t=460460

These are Bi-Xenon H4 HID's

http://www.hids4u.co.uk/product_details.asp?id=44

I wonder if the eBay kits are the latter? Unfortunately I doubt it

pinkaardvark · 7 Nov 2005 at 01:05

Yep if you want Bi-Xenon you need a Bi-Xenon kit not just a H4 Kit.

After having read some more I wavering towards the 6000k myself.

pinkaardvark · 7 Nov 2005 at 03:12

Just enquired about a H7 6k kit and was told that they do ones with seperate igniters as well as a newer kit with the built into the ballast. Seller also states that the majority of orders will be shipped from china albeit he did offer to mark a shipment as gift to avoid customs.

ShakenNstirred · 7 Nov 2005 at 08:30

Stonedofmoo said:
My mate did this to his Calibra too and there was a MASSIVE improvement

I cheated and just fitted blue 90/100w bulbs to mine and they are just as good, but only cost £20 lol. Just passed the MOT with them on too, result!

same here mate
i got 2 sets of blue H1 100w Xenon (5100k temp) bulbs of ebay
£8.99 a set.
they made a hell of a difference to my rover 600

Draeger · 7 Nov 2005 at 20:49

Persil said:
Draeger .

My hornet has a H4 bulb so looking good .Let me know if yer interested in fitting HID to yer bike ..

Regards

Persil

I'll get back to you on it m8, I'll try not to take too long.

The only problem I can see with buying and splitting a kit is one of a warranty issue. If say, a component of your fails, we would probably need to send the complete kit back for a replacement.

You can purchase single HID kits that are specifically for bikes from this fella:-

http://www.hids4u.co.uk/product_details.asp?id=12

£119 the price, altough for another £30-£40 you could have a full kit of two units which would cost two people @£80.

Snaggle · 7 Nov 2005 at 20:54

Have a look at this link mate see what you think .

Here

Persil

Draeger · 7 Nov 2005 at 21:12

Interesting link there m8, cheers.

I think that reinforces the reasoning behind fitting one to a bike. Then the "Sorry m8, I didn't see you" brigade would have no excuse!!

I take onboard what is being said in that links content, but to be honest, I dont think there's a "glare" problem, but thats just my opinion. Certainly not when fitted to most vehicles. The only time I find the HID's are really noticable, is when the latest shape Range Rovers are behind you and the lights are in your rear view mirrors. When either a Range Rover or any other vehicle fitted with these is coming towards me, I dont have any issues with it.

pinkaardvark · 7 Nov 2005 at 21:54

Just ordered a kit. Hoping I won't get stuffed by customs.