E30 Zone

I've a thing about keeping a old car, kinda original looking and this has been playing on my mind for a while.

Do HID headlights suit an E30?

I'm more then used to the dim lit glow produced by the candles in my E30, and I'd be lying if I said that's the worse light dispersal (even when covered with Lamin-X Gunsmoke tint) I've had in any car. Although since removing it I can add that my visibility has greatly improved!

I know a few, if not a lot of Zoners have them fitted and at any point after fitting them have you looked at your car and thought that maybe that it doesn't seem right?

Maybe it's me being silly but when I see HIDs on an old camper, capri, mini etc I can't help but feel it's just wrong

Well unless your fitting blue bulbs I dont see what the problem is, 4300k and below is the ideal temp for HID's to give maximum projection

Hid's ftw. Facelift though. I drive a lot of night driving so appreciate the decent light. E30's give far better light than 306 pugs!

Was amazed the Mot tester didn't have a moan about them with the recent Mot

Edited to add: Mine are 4300k too

i don't mind hids, as long as the headlights supports them properly (which facelift e30 ones do) i will admit the light colour can look a bit odd for an old car, so i've been thinking about changing my 6000k bulbs for some lower temperature ones.

i'll agree that hids look silly on old minis, vws etc, but they also look crap on much more recent cars with normal reflector headlights.

First point is that the standard E30 dipped beams aren't bad at all IF they are adjusted correctly. They have a VERY sharp cut off, and if they are set too low will give the impression of being very poor.
However, when fitted with HID burners, which suit the optics perfectly, they are transformed from adequate to excellent!
HIDs on the Mini, Capri and Camper are wrong though, as the optics on these are totally unsuitable for use with HIDs.
Don't forget that the three examples you were given were fitted with 60/45W tungsten headlamp bulbs as standard, and an upgrade to a halogen bulb was a massive improvement.
I was one of the first to have a Mini with halogen lamps, complete with an alternator to run them, several decades ago, when these things had only just begun appearing on top marque cars.
A two week old written off Merc. provided the alternator, and the headlamp units were intended for a Volvo truck, IIRC.

Andy325i wrote:
Was amazed the Mot tester didn't have a moan about them with the recent Mot

Nothing for him to comment on if they are installed and adjusted correctly.

If they are of a sensible wattage and temperature then there wont be a huge give away for the mot tester anyway.

Brianmoooore wrote:

Andy325i wrote: Was amazed the Mot tester didn't have a moan about them with the recent Mot

Nothing for him to comment on if they are installed and adjusted correctly.

You haven't met Mr grumpy

Grumpy or not, he's there to do the test as laid out in the tester's manual, and, subject to what I said above, there's nothing he can fail them on.
They are still technically illegal, as are many other things that can successfully pass an MOT test.

Agreed

yeah but the current mot rules that have come out in the last few months state that if any xenon headlights etc should be fitted with a Headlight washing system be it washers or wiper arms and should work for the mot, if it doesnt is an RFR...pretty sure HID's fall in to this catergory....just be nice to your MOT testers...im a non-grumpy mot tester

Andy325i wrote:You haven't met Mr grumpy

haha, that made me laugh..

Well, I'm with Brian.. The halfords ultra brilliance in the 'dipped' units are suuperb.. I bouight these on a slight whim and they most certainly were ultra brilliant.

HID's may well have a margin on performance, but I cba with the ballasts, faff etc.. Halfords UB are expensive! £22 each iirc but they sometimes have 50% off, and are WELL worth it..

I do a lot of night C road driving and nothing in the plug and play category comes close.

Any links to decent 4300k kits? I'm not sure about the cheap ones on eBay

Also, the kits aren't suitable for the main beams are they?

Cheap ebay kits are fine. 4300k for me too. I wouldn't pay much more for 50W over 35W, the extra light isn't really needed for dip beams imo.

jmc330i wrote:Any links to decent 4300k kits? I'm not sure about the cheap ones on eBay

Also, the kits aren't suitable for the main beams are they?

Much of a muchness ime. All comes out the same factory tbh.

Wouldn't use for main beam as HIDs need time to 'warm up' as such would not be suitable for quick flashes.

George wrote:

jmc330i wrote:Any links to decent 4300k kits? I'm not sure about the cheap ones on eBay

Also, the kits aren't suitable for the main beams are they?

Much of a muchness ime. All comes out the same factory tbh.

Wouldn't use for main beam as HIDs need time to 'warm up' as such would not be suitable for quick flashes.

I'll get on the bay and have another look

I didn't think they were suitable for the main beams, cheers.

DanThe wrote:Well unless your fitting blue bulbs I dont see what the problem is, 4300k and below is the ideal temp for HID's to give maximum projection

What are mine mate? Also, did you ever find that missing lead...