HID headlight Conversertion- Your Thoughts

[Mr Whippy]

I'd just save up for the bits and do the proper upgrade for ~ £500 (after old parts sold), than fart around with all that other stuff. Sounds like a good kit is £200, and even then it's not ideal due to bulb positioning)
At least then you add to it's resale potential a bit, rather than possibly hurt it (they do look tattier than OEM, and a bit odd when the LCM still looks halogen etc)

Dave, my kit - I proper quality one - was "only" £75, and has s the correct bulb positioning. That isn't that much more than a pair of uprated halogen bulbs (~£25) or from another POV, a LOT cheaper than a xenon retrofit. I do have a niggling worry about resale time, but as I said earlier it's completely reversible to remove the kit (plus I don't intend selling for years, I love this car ).

You have a linky?

Worth trying at that kind of price perhaps

Dave

 

[a11y]

Posted earlier :wink:

I bought a HID kit from a reputable company (see link below)......

I bought a 50w HID converion kit from HIDs Direct. Extremely easy to fit, excellent quality of manufacture, even spread of light with no dark spots, and reassuringly expensive compared to a lot of ebay kits (£75 posted). I chose the 4300k colour bulbs as they're brightest but are also the same colour as OEM BMW xenons.

 

[g14ash]

This appears to be the kit I bought. I got the 5000k one. it was £79.99 a year ago i believe.

The kit seemed very good quality and durable and has lasted a year so far without problems.

http://www.hids-direct.co.uk/hid-conversion-kits-35w/bmw-hid-kits/bmw-ultra-35w-hid-kits-p-263.html

 

[PawnSacrifice]

I was tempted to completely blank this thread as previous threads on HIDs haven't been great for discussion, but I too feel this thread has been good

+ 1... this topic can lead to total carnage, but actually, as you and CJ said, it's a been very useful! Thanks to the HIDers for speaking up in the face of potential adversity

Have to agree on the side lights... A-B roads, occasional traffic stopping me using full beam are a pain and sometimes leave me having to slow right down :x

 

[g14ash]

RustyZ4 - Where abouts in kent are you? If you are anywhere near Sidcup you are welcome to come and have a look at the kit in mine and compare between the Halogen/HID.

ash

 

[a11y]

The kit seemed very good quality and durable and has lasted a year so far without problems.

http://www.hids-direct.co.uk/hid-conversion-kits-35w/bmw-hid-kits/bmw-ultra-35w-hid-kits-p-263.html

That's good to hear because my kit is basically the 50w version of that

 

[daveg]

This thread has covered most details but thought I'd add my experiences.

I had an aftermarket HID kit on my Mazda 3 for the dipped beam which had projector lenses. Night driving was greatly improved and I can't ever remember being flashed for having blinding lights. I took the time to level them correctly and check with a mate on the road, as well as make sure the lenses were always clean. As long as you follow these steps I think the plig and play kits are great

 

[RustyZ4]

RustyZ4 - Where abouts in kent are you? If you are anywhere near Sidcup you are welcome to come and have a look at the kit in mine and compare between the Halogen/HID.

ash

Im in Maidstone so not far away, Thanks for the offer Ash really appreciate it, but I know the difference is going to be impressive,


again, big thanks everyone for all the input, its really is informative,

 

[Mr Whippy]

Posted earlier :wink:

I bought a HID kit from a reputable company (see link below)......

I bought a 50w HID converion kit from HIDs Direct. Extremely easy to fit, excellent quality of manufacture, even spread of light with no dark spots, and reassuringly expensive compared to a lot of ebay kits (£75 posted). I chose the 4300k colour bulbs as they're brightest but are also the same colour as OEM BMW xenons.

£75 is worth a punt

Erm, how hard is it to fit? Headlights off job, or is it quite easy?

Dave

 

[a11y]

Posted earlier :wink:

I bought a HID kit from a reputable company (see link below)......

I bought a 50w HID converion kit from HIDs Direct. Extremely easy to fit, excellent quality of manufacture, even spread of light with no dark spots, and reassuringly expensive compared to a lot of ebay kits (£75 posted). I chose the 4300k colour bulbs as they're brightest but are also the same colour as OEM BMW xenons.

£75 is worth a punt

Erm, how hard is it to fit? Headlights off job, or is it quite easy?

Dave

Nah, all done through the access hatch inside the wheelarch. I didn't even both removing the wheels, probably wou've made things easier to be honest, but it was possibly without.

Remove rear light hatch panel
Drill hole (think it was 20mm but it tells you in the instructions they give you)
Remove existing bulb and cut the existing bulb holder off
Attach the new bulb holder (solder or connectors, up to you)
Install bulb plus bulb holder like you would a normal bulb
Feed the wire out through the hole in the cover using the grommet they supply
Wire up the ballast and mount somewhere under the bonnet - one for each side
Job done!

They give you a fairly good set of instructions with them

 

[Mr Whippy]

Ah so the holes are simply there for the ballasts to remote wire to...

Hmmm, I wonder if there is room behind the arch hatch panel... or is that not a good place?

Where did you puts yours? Any pics

Dave

 

[a11y]

Yep, the extra hole is for the wire going to the ballast. They also give you a couple of units (capacitors IIRC) to overcome any problems with tripping warning lights on the dash. Mine have been fitted for about 8 weeks now and no probs.

I hadn't bothered with photos so far as I hadn't any intention of showing them off lol. But I took the camera out to the garage today when I was doing some work on my van, but only just finished and it's too cold out there and I'm tired! I'll take some over the weekend. My ballast units are both within the engine bay utilising some spare fixing points to secure them (I didn't fancy drilling any new holes to mount them).

 

[DanSprag]

Just placed my order with HID's Direct for 4500k Xenons....
hopefully they should be with me this weekend so I will post up some before and after pics ASAP...

D

 

[AlanJ]

It's not something I'd do, just because I couldn't be arsed to, but as far as wether it brakes the law or not? Loads of people have done it already and it's just one of those laws most people couldn't give a monkeys about.

I bet there's not a person on here who hasn't broken a law eveynow and then. Driving over the speed limit anyone? So soap boxes are not needed

An unwise move to judge others by the standards you set yourself.

 

[a11y]

And I still have no photos of mine

Word of advice: when fitting the rubber grommets in the holes you have to drill in the lamp covers, cut them a bit smaller than advised in the instructions and seal them completely with waterproof silicone sealant. I didn't and ended up with some water sloshing around the bottom of my lamp clusters asfter it leaked in! I dried them out completely, sealed it all up with waterproof bathroom sealant, and all perfect now

 

[no fit state]

It's not something I'd do, just because I couldn't be arsed to, but as far as wether it brakes the law or not? Loads of people have done it already and it's just one of those laws most people couldn't give a monkeys about.

I bet there's not a person on here who hasn't broken a law eveynow and then. Driving over the speed limit anyone? So soap boxes are not needed

An unwise move to judge others by the standards you set yourself.

To assume I have standards at all is an unwise move

 

[AlanJ]

It's not something I'd do, just because I couldn't be arsed to, but as far as wether it brakes the law or not? Loads of people have done it already and it's just one of those laws most people couldn't give a monkeys about.

I bet there's not a person on here who hasn't broken a law eveynow and then. Driving over the speed limit anyone? So soap boxes are not needed

An unwise move to judge others by the standards you set yourself.

To assume I have standards at all is an unwise move

Always dangerous to assume as it makes an ASS of U ad ME.... :evil:

 

[DanSprag]

HELP! - my HID's have arrived from HID-Direct but there dont appear to be any instructions.....

if anyone has purchased these could they post up a picture of the wiring diagram?! pretty please... really wanted to get this done this weekend.

many thanks
Danny

 

[yg54sg]

Just to add guys - I did this to my 1995 316i compact in 2000 11 years ago in my younger days!! cost me £400 for the kit, 2 custom bulbs and ballasts that plug straight in on the same plug as the halogens so very easy install.

They are still working in the 9005/9006 housing to this day - Police have never once bothered me the light is white however and not blue at all... For the first 5 years I used to swap the bulbs back to stock for the MOT and the difference between them and the HID is like night and day, if you drive with HID for a year then for one night after the MOT you drive with the halogen its like you have no lights on. If you try to MOT with them in they will likely pass but the guy doing the MOT will put a note about beam pattern as they dont have a uniform pattern like the halogens do.... I have since got to know them there so now they pass it without me messing with the bulbs. They tend to spread light upwards more than they should do so illuminate road signs and speed camera better than my stock HID in the Z4, while there is no self leveling or washers on them they are certainly not as annoying to the car in front or oncoming traffic as the new range rovers or trucks, buses with high up HID lights. I have never been flashed by traffic on country lanes and thats a good test as people will think you have your high beam on if the lights are not acceptable.

Thanks

 

[TH3R4POR]

They tend to spread light upwards more than they should do so illuminate road signs and speed camera

... and peoples eyes :lol: