Is HID really only option?

[cro320]

This is the situation...
I cleaned my headlights, they are mint, tried Philips Vision Plus, Osram Nightbreaker...but light output is bad...
Can I do anything except HID install?

[daimlerman]

The difference between ordinary bulbs and HiD is,well,night and day.

[Simon]

Especially for the price of the kits these days, when they were still a new thing, kits to fit an E30 were 500gbp.

Sounds like you've tried the other options by cleaning the lights and using uprated halogens, HID's is the next step.

[polsta]

i have the philips x-treme bulbs, a nice improvement over standard, and still are ok, it gives a good use for the spot lamps on dark/quiet roads at night

ive contemplated hids, but concider it the dark side, people driving with hids piss me off comming up behind,and also look too bright

with hids, does that effectivly render the spot lamps useless ?

[rancido64]

HIDs shouldn't look too bright if the lights are properly aligned ;)
The difference really is amazing though, on my old Alfa 147 i'd used OsramNightbreakers+90% (i'll be fitting a set for my e30 full beams soon), and it was a massive improvement over standard bulbs. I was shocked at how much better again HIDs are

[charlE30]

As already stated correctly aligned HID's don't dazzle any more than normal.. once you try them you wont go back. Get the 55w if you do get any, I've gone from the 35w to the 55w and it's like you've just gone from standard lights again

@polsta, what do you mean by spotlights? E30's don't have them unless your referring to fog lights which?!?

The car's that are really bad are the brand new audi's and BMW that have the stupid retina burning lights that make it look like your lights are switched off, they take the pee pee.

[Morat]

I've been using HIDS for over three years and never had anyone flash me or locals complain about them. My dips are set correctly and that's it. If you have post facelift projector lights there's no difference in beam pattern to standard halogen bulbs. BMW were early adopters of projectors so we can get away with HIDs without having to change the headlights.

[agd931]

Before fitting 35W HID's, (6000k)I had the Osram +90% fitted, the difference over the standard H1's was very noticeable, in my opinion the difference between the Osram's & the HID's is very minor.

The HID's are night and day compared with the standard bulbs, but I still think that the range even with the HID's is inadequate (and yes they are correctly aligned), on dark roads (most roads in Athens have inadequate street lighting) and without oncoming traffic I use the main beam in order to gain range. I also have a Ford Puma which also has projectors and it has exactly the same problem.

Does anyone have a picture comparing 35w / 55w HID's, as I am seriously thinking on fitting 55w HID's, so that I can maybe finally see the light...

[Morat]

4300k are brighter than 6000 - not by a huge amount but it is noticeable. I hope to take a comparison photo between 35W and 55W this weekend
I'd agree on range - but I don't have an answer apart from winding the lights up on the adjusters and that would be an MOT fail....

[agd931]

Glad to see that others have the range issue too... (I must be the only car in Athens with correctly adjusted lights, I think it's the British mentality in me...) I'll look forward to the pics, I've read on here that 4300K are slightly brighter than 6K, but I could not find 4300K anywhere in Athens & through the trade owing to my job, I got the 6k's noticeably cheaper than they were on Ebay in 2008.

Judging by the comments throughout this site, I think that 55w will be the only option in the end...

[Brianmoooore]

I can't see 55W HIDs giving any greater 'range' than 35W ones. It's the sharp beam cut off that's the problem, not the level of light on the ground that's lit.

[ultralinear]

This is the situation...
I cleaned my headlights, they are mint, tried Philips Vision Plus, Osram Nightbreaker...but light output is bad...
Can I do anything except HID install?

I'm going for HIDs soon on dipped, mains and fogs (excessive! )

You don't have to worry about looking council (depending on who you ask) if you pick the correct colour temperature. You could even match the colour of your original bulbs if you wanted. So it would be barely detectable, just a hell of a lot brighter!

I'm only put off by the appearance of the ballast packs in the engine bay...

[agd931]

my ballast packs are mounted on the back of the headlight units, which means that they are hidden by the plastic covers.

[asmith88]

my ballast packs are mounted on the back of the headlight units, which means that they are hidden by the plastic covers.

same here you wouldnt know they where there

[jacko]

I know there are plenty of these sets on ebay but can you guys recommend a particular brand/supplier?

[daimlerman]

my ballast packs are mounted on the back of the headlight units, which means that they are hidden by the plastic covers.

I mounted my ballast units under the headlight units,so with the cover on,they cannot be seen.As the MoT man is currently unable to remove covers/protective coatings etc,if the lights are correctly aligned,they can be no possible reason for a fail.

[Morat]

The MOT tester who hates my HIDs knows they are there, but he still can't fail the car for them. Trust me, he would if he could.

Comparison shots delayed! Snow today
Let's see if tomorrow is better.

[jonesy318]

Hi guys, are the 'smiley' headlights on my 1990 2dr the projector lights,not sure how to tell as i also need toget hid's as the standard ones are poor!!!!!!!!!!

[Kemix]

I find my HID's a hell of a lot better than the standard bulbs and mine are only the 35w kit.

I have now mounted my ballasts behind the headlight covers

[Alex]

Ive found prefacelift lights millions better than crappy projector smiley lights

[Rav335uk]

Ive found prefacelift lights millions better than crappy projector smiley lights

You need your eyes tested!
Projectors are much much better in throwing light than preface lights

[Alex]

Ive found prefacelift lights millions better than crappy projector smiley lights

You need your eyes tested!
Projectors are much much better in throwing light than preface lights

ive had two of each now, i must of just had crap smileys then

[Rav335uk]

Dirty ones you mean

[Alex]

Dirty ones you mean

even when clean they were loads worse than my sport and my old 316

I might aswell of been driving with some torches on the front of my IS, my 316i was the same. the IS had 100w bulbs and all aligned properly on a light machine thingy

[Rav335uk]

Get some HID's then for the Sport

[e30topless]

early lights are fooking useless !

they look cool though !

[Rav335uk]

Steve you Northern Fairy coont, you didn't collect on the RS's

[Alex]

Get some HID's then for the Sport

But that would mean fitting some smileys

and that would be wrong.

more wrong that fitting a tech II steering wheel to a tech I

[e30topless]

bollox, I knew I forgot something,

[Rav335uk]

bollox, I knew I forgot something,

Lazy coooooont


Alex, correctomundo

[Morat]

Get some HID's then for the Sport

But that would mean fitting some smileys

and that would be wrong.

more wrong that fitting a tech II steering wheel to a tech I

You could fit bullseyes, they're a bit less conspicious.

[Alex]

Get some HID's then for the Sport

But that would mean fitting some smileys

and that would be wrong.

more wrong that fitting a tech II steering wheel to a tech I

You could fit bullseyes, they're a bit less conspicious.

Nah i like the look of the old school ones

[Rav335uk]

You mean you like driving in the dark

[Alex]

You mean you like driving in the dark

less dark than me smileys

[Morat]

http://www.e30zone.net/e30zonewiki/imag ... 55whid.JPG
Not a massive difference but it is there.