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anyone considering an hid conversion...

Posted: Sun Apr 06, 2008 1:02 pm
by harry_p
go for it. £75 all in from the zone shop is a bargain considering the improvements they give.

billy bargain, just annoyed i didnt go for it earlier, and i now need to spend a few quid more on some white led sidelights as they look really yellow compared to the hids.

i've added to the guide in the tech section as i'm quite chuffed with my stealth install.

Re: anyone considering an hid conversion...

Posted: Sun Apr 06, 2008 1:10 pm
by Andy325i
2 sets on order, just waiting for them to arrive 8)

Re: anyone considering an hid conversion...

Posted: Sun Apr 06, 2008 1:12 pm
by harry_p
i'm so sceptical about all aftermarket and 'wonder' mods, that if i'm impressed by them then they must be good! :D

Re: anyone considering an hid conversion...

Posted: Sun Apr 06, 2008 6:44 pm
by Greeny
Just fitted a set myself, about 30 minutes to fit (literally plug 'n play) and the difference is awesome. Certainly one of the best mods i've fitted. I like them so much I've just ordered a kit for my bike.

Re: anyone considering an hid conversion...

Posted: Sun Apr 06, 2008 6:50 pm
by Rich_W
Harry

Do they have the correct light shape?

i.e a Horizontal line with a kick upwards to the left at about 45 degrees

Re: anyone considering an hid conversion...

Posted: Mon Apr 07, 2008 9:55 am
by Brianmoooore
Rich_W wrote:Harry

Do they have the correct light shape?

i.e a Horizontal line with a kick upwards to the left at about 45 degrees
The 'shape' is formed by a metal shield fitted to the front of the projector assembly, and these HIDs work fine with it. Can't see any degradation of beam pattern on the two sets I'm using.
I don't think these bulbs are suitable for non projector (pre facelift) headlamps, though.

Re: anyone considering an hid conversion...

Posted: Mon Apr 07, 2008 10:14 am
by jmc330i
Anyone got a link to these? I cant find them in the zone shop :roll: :x

Cheers

Re: anyone considering an hid conversion...

Posted: Mon Apr 07, 2008 10:24 am
by pony2

Re: anyone considering an hid conversion...

Posted: Mon Apr 07, 2008 10:28 am
by GDBN
Mine are waiting to be installed .. trouble is there's not much space on the left hand side.
After changing my headlamps from the old non projectors to smilies I have to remove the whole unit to change the bulb as the ABS gets in the way. It will be even worse when I fit the HIDs. I will also have to say goodbye to the plastic cover.
Anyone else had this problem ??

G

Re: anyone considering an hid conversion...

Posted: Mon Apr 07, 2008 11:34 am
by junkman
no, just attach the ballast in the rear middle of your projectors then the plastic will fit.

Re: anyone considering an hid conversion...

Posted: Mon Apr 07, 2008 2:45 pm
by harry_p
Rich_W wrote:Harry

Do they have the correct light shape?

i.e a Horizontal line with a kick upwards to the left at about 45 degrees
the beam pattern still looks exactly like the standard setup, just whiter and brighter 8)

Posted: Mon Apr 07, 2008 5:30 pm
by StuBeeDoo
I've been meaning to do this. As per usual, I've hesitated for too long. :roll:

Re: anyone considering an hid conversion...

Posted: Tue Apr 08, 2008 8:39 am
by Jeepster
Brianmoooore wrote:I don't think these bulbs are suitable for non projector (pre facelift) headlamps, though.
I would agree with that, I have a set on my e36, I was so impressed I immediately fitted them to my birds car. But if you don't have the projector type lense, they dazzle an blind everyone.

Re: anyone considering an hid conversion...

Posted: Wed Apr 09, 2008 11:25 am
by MickyDojoh
heh heh cool i might get a set of prefaclift lights then winkeye

Re: anyone considering an hid conversion...

Posted: Wed Apr 09, 2008 1:15 pm
by Onz
just out of interest would these fit in the smoked "hella style" headlamps?

Re: anyone considering an hid conversion...

Posted: Wed Apr 09, 2008 2:37 pm
by ItsAllAboutTheE30
I take it my 1988 tech-2 sport has projector-type lenses, my lights aren't particularly bright when driving at night so these might be a good idea. Also they look quite nice.

Dave.

Re: anyone considering an hid conversion...

Posted: Wed Apr 09, 2008 2:43 pm
by richard-the-nutter
so what temperature did you go for/recommend?

Re: anyone considering an hid conversion...

Posted: Wed Apr 09, 2008 2:45 pm
by Morat
4300k pure white niceness.
The higher numbers just increase your council rating :D

Posted: Wed Apr 09, 2008 2:46 pm
by bazcoupe
definately a job worth doing and in my opinion i would go with 6000k on the e30

my e30 with 6000k

Image

my e36 with 8000k

Image

Re: anyone considering an hid conversion...

Posted: Wed Apr 09, 2008 2:48 pm
by agreen
Harry what number did you got for mate ? .

Re: anyone considering an hid conversion...

Posted: Wed Apr 09, 2008 3:17 pm
by mattyb240
Onz wrote:just out of interest would these fit in the smoked "hella style" headlamps?
Yup as they sit in the bulbs original place! You just have to drill a hole in the back for the wires. I went 6000K for a slightly bluer look but on the road they look xenon white.

Re: anyone considering an hid conversion...

Posted: Wed Apr 09, 2008 3:23 pm
by harry_p
i went for 6000k, theyre pretty much a pure white lights, with just a slight hint of blueness at a distance, i wouldnt go any higher as they start to get obviously very blue and actually give less light output.

the photos in the tech section guide i took don't quite show them the colour they really are, they look slightly greeny in the pics

Re: anyone considering an hid conversion...

Posted: Wed Apr 09, 2008 6:43 pm
by Brianmoooore
harry_p wrote: the photos in the tech section guide i took don't quite show them the colour they really are, they look slightly greeny in the pics
The colours they look depend entirely on how your PC monitor is set up!

Re: anyone considering an hid conversion...

Posted: Wed Apr 09, 2008 6:47 pm
by gooner1
Sorry if ive misunderstood or misread parts of this but is there no way they will fit a pre-facelift?

Re: anyone considering an hid conversion...

Posted: Wed Apr 09, 2008 7:16 pm
by Brianmoooore
gooner1 wrote:Sorry if ive misunderstood or misread parts of this but is there no way they will fit a pre-facelift?
Simply by swapping the lights for post facelift ones, which shouldn't cost a lot second hand. The pre facelift lights must be relatively rare by now, so you could even end up in profit.

Re: anyone considering an hid conversion...

Posted: Wed Apr 09, 2008 10:42 pm
by oze30
I still have the issue of needing to hotwire my NS light as there's something amiss. Even if I replace it with normal bulbs, the NS light doesn't light up.

Re: anyone considering an hid conversion...

Posted: Wed Apr 09, 2008 11:29 pm
by Brianmoooore
All it can be is either the wire from fuse 13 to the light, fuse 13 itself, or the brown earth wire from the light to the earthing point on the front of the LH inner wing.

Re: anyone considering an hid conversion...

Posted: Thu Apr 10, 2008 4:10 pm
by harry_p
Brianmoooore wrote:
harry_p wrote: the photos in the tech section guide i took don't quite show them the colour they really are, they look slightly greeny in the pics
The colours they look depend entirely on how your PC monitor is set up!
more to do with the auto whitebalance setting on most digital cameras, a monitor is easily callibrated :P

Re: anyone considering an hid conversion...

Posted: Fri Apr 11, 2008 12:23 pm
by adam81
Brianmoooore wrote:The colours they look depend entirely on how your PC monitor is set up!
Uh huh, and the eye compensates for colour temperature very quickly too. It's like being on a digital photography forum, all this talk of colour temperature.

Posted: Sat Apr 12, 2008 10:37 am
by StuBeeDoo
I finally bit the bullet on Wednesday evening. £53 delivered off eBay and they arrived this morning. :D
I'm impressed already and I haven't even fitted them yet! :lol:

Re:

Posted: Sat Apr 12, 2008 12:32 pm
by benjy
Fitted mine the other day.....Ace. Well worth the dollar, makes a big difference to night driving. Well chuffed :D

Re:

Posted: Sat Apr 12, 2008 12:37 pm
by eko
benjy wrote:Fitted mine the other day.....Ace. Well worth the dollar, makes a big difference to night driving. Well chuffed :D
get those pics up off your phone :wink:

O/T...exhaust?
Ring me :D

Posted: Sat Apr 12, 2008 6:59 pm
by StuBeeDoo
I fitted mine this afternoon.
1st side (drivers because I knew it would be easier) was a doddle.
Passenger side was a bit of a 'mare..... I knew I'd have a problem locating the ballast box because of all the LPG gubbins close to the back of the lights - so close that I have to remove the grille and take the lights out to change the bulbs. :clin:
1) The bulb (is it properly known as a "burner"?) wouldn't fit through the hole in its holder. Luckily I've got a few spare headlamps and I tried another three before I found one the bulb would go through - it was tight though. :( Anyone else had this problem??
2) Located the ballast as close as possible to the lights - there's barely any slack in the cables. :(
3) For some reason, the main-beam bulb blew when I tested it all after fitting. Replaced it with another I knew for certain was good - that blew too! :( The third bulb is OK - at the moment. I think I'll need to get a pair of HID-look bulbs for the mains though - they look very yellow now.

Can't wait to get out at night and try them.
Oh, BTW - I opted for the 6000k flavour.

Posted: Sat Apr 12, 2008 7:04 pm
by Simon
Used halogen bulbs will normally break when disturbed.

Posted: Sat Apr 12, 2008 7:23 pm
by Brianmoooore
StuBeeDoo wrote: The bulb (is it properly known as a "burner"?) wouldn't fit through the hole in its holder( Anyone else had this problem??
Yes, and I found that the problem was with the headlamp rather than the bulb. Few seconds with a Dremel cured it for all time; just needed the corners taken off the hole where the lamp's envelope passes through.