angel eyes, HID conversion

[jammac]

has anyone got angel eye headlights? or a HID conversion? or both?

I want to fit both to my golf. ive just bought some angel eyes on ebay from ze germans. theres loadsa HID kits on there but im abit suspicious of the quality as most of them are from hong kong!!!!

 so can anyone recommend a decent HID kit?

[Nibbzy_GTI]

http://cambridge.gumtree.com/cambridge/65/9213365.html

i ordered a set of these fella dunno if they any good tho till they come

[JMallows]

You could read your PM's

[barkstar]

so can anyone recommend a decent HID kit?

Don't bin the old stuff as you'll have to refit it for the MOT and blind the cops with them at your peril

Barkstar 

[Thom89]

My brother inlaw had them fitted to his car, only took three weeks before he got nicked and fined!! be prepared to make enemys of fellow drivers.. they dont like em!
Tom

[jammac]

Oh how annoying! why cant you get away with HID lights on ya MOT then when so many new cars these days have em?? and how come the OB can fine you for the same reason?

I get as pissed as the next person when someone with HID lights is driving towards me. so i want my own!!!

maybe ill just leave it as they are if this is true.

i take it the angel eyes would be ok for the MOT though? oh and they are smoked? is that a problem???

[takethefifth]

Oh how annoying! why cant you get away with HID lights on ya MOT then when so many new cars these days have em?? and how come the OB can fine you for the same reason?

There is a lot of confusion about what should and should not be allowed. I found this 'factsheet' purporting to be from a government source that gives an idea. Its to do with the headlight not being designed for a HID beam pattern.

December 2006

Aftermarket HID headlamps


In the Department's view it is not legal to sell or use after market HID lighting kits, for converting conventional Halogen headlamps to HID Xenon. If a customer wants to convert his vehicle to Xenon HID he must purchase completely new Xenon HID headlamps. The reason for this is that the existing lens and reflector are designed around a Halogen filament bulb, working to very precise tolerances. If one places a HID "burner" (bulb) in the headlamp, the beam pattern will not be correct, there will be glare in some places and not enough light in other places within the beam pattern.

The following is the legal rationale:

The Road Vehicle Lighting Regulations 1989 regulate the situation in the UK.
Under these Regulations, HID/Gas Discharge/Xenon headlamps are not mentioned and therefore they are not permitted according to the strict letter of the law.

However new vehicles have HID headlamps. This is because they comply to European type approval Regulations. The UK cannot refuse to register a vehicle with a European type approval. These are to ECE Regulation 98 (for the HID headlamps which are tested on a rig in a laboratory) and ECE Regulation 48 (Lighting Installation on the vehicle).

For the after market, a used vehicle cannot obtain type approval because it is only applicable for new vehicles. However we feel that saying "HID is banned in the after market" would not be reasonable. Instead we should make analogies with new vehicles. It would be reasonable to require HID in the after market to meet the same safety standards as on new vehicles. The same level of safety should apply.

Therefore a HID headlamp unit sold in the after market should:

1. be type approved to ECE Regulation 98 as a component.

2. when fitted to the vehicle should enable ECE Regulation 48 to be complied with (although no government inspection will take place).

3. Comply with RVLR as far as "use" is concerned.
In practice this means:

1. The headlamp unit (outer lens, reflector, bulb) shall be type approved to ECE 98 and be "e-marked" to demonstrate this. That can only be done by the headlamp supplier - Hella, Valeo etc. who must test the headlamp in an independent laboratory.

2. Once fitted to the vehicle it must have headlamp cleaning and self-levelling (which can be for the headlamp or can be in the vehicle suspension - some expensive estate cars have "self-levelling suspension" and that is adequate). Also the dipped beam must stay on with the main beam.

3. The headlamp must be maintained in good working order, kept clean, and aligned/adjusted correctly like any other headlamp.

Under the Road Traffic Act 1988 it is an offence to supply, fit or use vehicle parts which are not legal.

In summary it is not permitted to convert an existing halogen headlamp unit for use with HID bulbs. The entire headlamp unit must be replaced with one designed and approved for use with HID bulbs and it must be installed in accordance with the rules stated above.


If you require any further information regarding the regulations covered by this fact sheet, please contact the DfT at the address below:

Transport Technology and Standards 6
Department for Transport
Zone 2/04
Great Minster House
76 Marsham Street Telephone: 020 7944 2078
London Fax: 020 7944 2196
SW1P 4DR Email: TTS.enquiries@dft.gsi.gov.uk

[jammac]

kool thanks for clearing that one up! i wont waste my money on a HID conversion then! 

How about smoked angeleyes though? with that bit of gumf above they would seem to be ok? but has anyone actually gone through and passed an MOT with smoked headlights fitted?

Ive bought them now so im still gonna fit them but it would be nice to know huh 

[barkstar]

Nice one takethefifth. I guess the beam pattern could be got round, but then the bit about self-levelling and cleaning will get you.
What's just stupid is that Demon Tweeks et al are allowed to sell the thing, with a little line about 'not for road use'. They sell plenty of tat that you can leave switched off on the road but headlights, who are they trying to kid.

Barkstar 

[Thom89]

Anyone had a new Range Rover pull behind them at night! f**king lights need banning!
Tom