HID and LED headlights.

Dave Plowman (News) · 2019-11-13T16:15:21+00:00

The original 55w halogen dips on my car were pathetic. It has projector lights (the type with a bulls eye in front of the bulb) so more tolerant of bulb types than plain reflectors. So somewhere over a year ago, I fitted an HID conversion set from HIDS4U. Excellent beam pattern when viewed on a white wall with near zero scatter and the sharp cut off typical of projector units. (You can normally change these from RHD to LHD by simply moving the french flag that provides the cut off) Kit included a Canbus fooling device, so no warning lights. Ignored the rather odd regs covering vehicle lighting which seemed to have been written by a mad scientist on speed. It passed the MOT so equipped. One thing spoiled the HIDs. The wire running to the top of the bulb cast a shadow. So two black lines running away from the car, when looking at the beam on the road. LEDs have improved recently, so fitted the latest Philips X-treme Ultinon Gen2. Nothing like as bright at the HID, but no annoying black line, and just as good a beam pattern. Passed the MOT today too. About 50% more than the HID, though, and not sure how long something with a cooling fan will last. Think the ideal may be HID for dip and LED for main beam.

Nov 13, 2019 25 Replies

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Dave Plowman (News) 6 years ago

I'm sure there will be plenty who don't care. But I do. And bought from a supplier who sells individual kits for your car. And don't list ones for unsuitable headlights.

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Nick Finnigan 6 years ago

You are closer than me, I just noticed it on a journey there. So I've no idea whether it helps other drivers.

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Kellerman 6 years ago

I had that shadow on an old x-reg Vectra CDX. The HID lamp was fitted upside-down. Took out the bulb fitted it with the wire pointing the other way (up or down cant remember now) -- shadow disappeared.

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Dave Plowman (News) 6 years ago

Not possible on an H7. It has a single tang, so will only fit one way. Unless the bulb is made wrongly. But thanks for the info - no such shadow on my other car, also fitted with aftermarket HID.

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critcher 6 years ago

and what about cars parked facing the wrong way on an incline with their headlights still lit, there's a pain in the arse for you.

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Dave Plowman (News) 6 years ago

Quite. It's what happens when the lights dip to the nearside. A polite driver would switch them off. Fat chance.

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