Retro fit Xenon's

[Teutonic_Tamer]

Although Teutonic_Tamer did come on a bit strong, it certainly made his informative post noticed, which in my opinion is a good thing.

We have a great community on here and all I say is, lets keep it civil!   

Oh damn it - I've missed my medication again                  - best go for my lie down.           

Rgds to you all 

[Ridg]

Do tell us again if you still think your fu*&ing mickey mouse korean $hit is legal.

the sticker actually say Mand in Korea !!

I'm with Teutonic _Tamer on this one as i'm pretty certain the law say that you have to have washer jets, and it now states auto levelling (i think this only became law a few years ago)

i've got 'real' as in factory fit xenon's in my MK4 and they beam they cast has a very defined horizontal cut off, i'll try and take a photo to show what it should look like

regarding MOT tests my mate retro fitted xenon's to his 3 series, and when that got tested the test centre picked up on it but turned a blind eye, so guess it depends where you take your car.

all in all quite an interesting thread which might help other avoid buying illegal HID kits in the future.

[Teutonic_Tamer]

Have to say, I think Sean's argument makes good sense, enough to convince me.

Thank you - is a cheque OK?     

How could he sell a full headlight kit at £250 when the bulbs are £120 each?

Still no answer from the OP, eh!

Also, why would VW bother with the likes of headlight washers if there was no valid need? Cost cutting would rule them out immendiately.

Don't forget the complicated self-leveling auto headlamp range control!

And why on earth would retro fit be subjected to lesser laws? Just does not make sense.

Egzakerly - they arn't exempt from OEM regs (unless the vehicle is "Q" plated and then subjected to Special Vehicle Approval).

Rgds

[Teutonic_Tamer]

Do tell us again if you still think your fu*&ing mickey mouse korean $hit is legal.

the sticker actually say Mand in Korea !!

I missed that! 

I'm with Teutonic _Tamer on this one as i'm pretty certain the law say that you have to have washer jets, and it now states auto levelling (i think this only became law a few years ago)

Cheque OK for you too        (this is gonna be an expensive thread  ).

i've got 'real' as in factory fit xenon's in my MK4 and they beam they cast has a very defined horizontal cut off, i'll try and take a photo to show what it should look like

The reason for the difference in the beam pattern is due to the focal length of the bulb in question.  A halogen headlamp assembly will have the integral reflector (and any projector lens) tuned to the correct focal length of the OEM halogen bulb to produce the required beam pattern.  The same can be said for the OEM Xenon headlamp assembly.  When you try and fit a HID Xenon capsule in a halogen designed headlamp, the beam pattern and alignment goes up the swanny.

regarding MOT tests my mate retro fitted xenon's to his 3 series, and when that got tested the test centre picked up on it but turned a blind eye, so guess it depends where you take your car.

Perhaps they felt sorry for him for owning a BM - afterall, not everyone can own a Golf        .  They are actually clamping down very hard now.  The DfT has issued specific instructions to Police forces, and updated guidance to MoT test stations via VOSA, so MoT testers are taking a big risk turning a blind eye to this issue - hang on, was that a pun, and I just fell for it! 

all in all quite an interesting thread which might help other avoid buying illegal HID kits in the future.

If we don't make a stance, what next, they'll try and peddle Charlie and Pot and H ! ! !

Thanks for your support, rgds

[wantmygti]

Not only is an abundance of blinding lights coming towards me on the roads not very appealing, after shelling out the hard earned for VW xenons, I'm a bit less than keen to see some Monkey devaluing my car by offering cheap alternatives, which to the unknowing buyer may not be detected.

[Teutonic_Tamer]

Not only is an abundance of blinding lights coming towards me on the roads not very appealing,

It's actually quite dangerous, and can cause arc-eye.

All sitting down for the next lesson    .  On a conventional tungsten filament, including halogens, a fine wire (the filament) has a current passed directly through the filament, heating it white hot, producing light.  On a High Intensity Discharge (HID) capsule, two separate electrodes, enclosed in a pocket of inert gas (Xenon), are charged with very high voltage.  This results in an arc between the two electrodes, producing the characteristic blue/white light.  This is exactly the same principle as electric arc welding, and you know what kind of mask you need to protect your eyes!

after shelling out the hard earned for VW xenons, I'm a bit less than keen to see some Monkey devaluing my car by offering cheap alternatives, which to the unknowing buyer may not be detected.

Fully agree, although anyone experiencing the mindblowing performance and accuracy of genuine HIDs, particularly the newer bi-Xenons, will not be fooled by these pathetic and illegal copies.

[Creepy Coupe]

Excuse my absence last night TiT, but I was out enjoying my new headlights at 7.18pm 

Well at the end of the day, you entitled to your opinion, but all I know is that I drove home last night, as I have done for the last couple of weeks, without anyone flashing me, or crashing as they approached me.
If your the “vehicle technician” you claim to be, you will have noticed the pattern on the headlight beam tester might have been less pronounced that a halogen, but in no way higher of more obtrusive.

IÂ’d bet with you if I hadnÂ’t said which car was mine of the video, you wouldnÂ’t have been able to guess, why canÂ’t you accept some work well as a retro fit.

Now IÂ’m in no way connected with the HID aftermarket industry, nor am I on commission from anyone, and am the first to understand that retro fit HIDÂ’s are not going to be a success on every vehicle

But as a Golf owner, and this being a Golf forum I thought IÂ’d share my findings with other members. IÂ’m sorry if this has in some way undermined your everyday high status on here, something you clearly have enjoyed so far.

But I have no respect for someone who can pass a judgment on a product they havnÂ’t seen for themselves. And can only put over their point of view by quotes like this.

“ Do tell us again if you still think your fu*&ing mickey mouse korean $hit is legal.”

[2007GTI]

I'd like to see the beam stay the same height after you load the car with something heavy in the boot, and as you havent got automatic levelling, they will blind people.
Teutonic_Tamer hasn't got any status on here, any more than I have.  Only the fact he knows the law and speaks his mind.

Have fun with your lights, but Teutonic_Tamer is right and you know it.

[wantmygti]

Sean, may i pose a question in the midst of the argument? Clearly the self levelling function which is enforced on the xenon's is to prevent blinding people (now known as arc-eye...!!).

BUT, why must you have headlight washers? Cannot see why this is obligatory when lower power headlights need not have them?

[Shrodinger's Cat]

 

Who would have thought that lights would have produced such a heated debate?  

More importantly, how can light be both a wave and a particle?