How to get Xenon Look on car?

[katta]

Hi guys, I have recently bought a MK5 golf gti and wanted to give it a Xenon look, my question is do I have to change the standard Halogen bulbs to Xenon bulbs to get the Xenon look or do I have to change my Headlamps to Xenon? Please advise if you have any knowledge on this, much appreciated. thanks

[jedi-knight83]

you could just get a HID kit for about £100 to swap the bulbs to 'xenon' ones which will give you that crisp white / blue tinge light but it will still be using the oem reflector headlights.

For a proper upgrade you want to get some OEM projector headlamps with the fisheye lens and use the OEM bulbs and igniters etc... cira £500 for the parts.

[ali6n2]

the appearance of xenon headlamps transforms the car totally mate, even when they are switched off. the beam is way better aswell. IF you do dcecide for the cheaper option of bulbs, go for h7r which are anti-glare and give the headlamp crisp look, not the dazzling one normal hids do.

[vRS_Pagey]

A HID kit fitted in a standard reflector imo will look pants as the beam will be scattered all over the place.  The better choices are to either source and fit a pair of OE xenon headlamps, or go for a set of Hella projector xenon look headligts and fit upgraded bulbs or a HID kit.  Please bear in mind though if you are in the UK any type of HID kit will fail an MOT and even the OE lamps will need headlight washers and a self leveling kit to ensure they are road legal.  Obviously that could prove extremely costly.  I have a 5000k HID kit fitted in my vRS and the difference between those and halogens is literally night and day (if you'll pardon the pun) but they are going to have to come out...... 

[katta]

Thanks for the info guys, it has got me thinking now lol. where can I purchase HID Xenon kit? can you send me link please, i want the clear white ones

[katta]

Has anyone purchased this sort of HID kit? i wanted to know if it is any good and if i will get any error messages on my dash when installing. thanks

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/370297475638?ssPageName=STRK:MEWAX:IT&_trksid=p3984.m1423.l2649

[john87]

Before someone comes on and starts going on.about illegal hid kits, no washers or self.levelling installed, etc etc, I'll assume you know all.this already   

It's hard to tell from the description, but you need to make sure whatever kit you buy is canbus safe or it will flag up a blown bulb light on dash. Personal preference here, but if it were me, I'd go with a 5000k kit or at a push, 6000k. The higher the number, the less useful they are for actually seeing what's in front of you   

[jedi-knight83]

A HID kit fitted in a standard reflector imo will look pants as the beam will be scattered all over the place.  The better choices are to either source and fit a pair of OE xenon headlamps, or go for a set of Hella projector xenon look headligts and fit upgraded bulbs or a HID kit.  Please bear in mind though if you are in the UK any type of HID kit will fail an MOT and even the OE lamps will need headlight washers and a self leveling kit to ensure they are road legal.  Obviously that could prove extremely costly.  I have a 5000k HID kit fitted in my vRS and the difference between those and halogens is literally night and day (if you'll pardon the pun) but they are going to have to come out...... 

Not sure that is true... I've had a couple of cars with retro fit HID and they have been fine without the washers or self levelers.

[katta]

What is the best HID kit someone would reccomend? currently have standard headlamps, want something which will connect straight and easy to install,

[vRS_Pagey]

A HID kit fitted in a standard reflector imo will look pants as the beam will be scattered all over the place.  The better choices are to either source and fit a pair of OE xenon headlamps, or go for a set of Hella projector xenon look headligts and fit upgraded bulbs or a HID kit.  Please bear in mind though if you are in the UK any type of HID kit will fail an MOT and even the OE lamps will need headlight washers and a self leveling kit to ensure they are road legal.  Obviously that could prove extremely costly.  I have a 5000k HID kit fitted in my vRS and the difference between those and halogens is literally night and day (if you'll pardon the pun) but they are going to have to come out...... 

Not sure that is true... I've had a couple of cars with retro fit HID and they have been fine without the washers or self levelers.

Unfortunately it is mate, below is a DVLA fact sheet on fitting HID's.

Fact sheet: Aftermarket HID headlamps
December 2006

In the Department's view it is not legal to sell or use after market HID lighting kits, for converting conventional Halogen headlamps to HID Xenon. If a customer wants to convert his vehicle to Xenon HID he must purchase completely new Xenon HID headlamps. The reason for this is that the existing lens and reflector are designed around a Halogen filament bulb, working to very precise tolerances. If one places a HID "burner" (bulb) in the headlamp, the beam pattern will not be correct, there will be glare in some places and not enough light in other places within the beam pattern.

The following is the legal rationale:

The Road Vehicle Lighting Regulations 1989 regulate the situation in the UK.
Under these Regulations, HID/Gas Discharge/Xenon headlamps are not mentioned and therefore they are not permitted according to the strict letter of the law.

However new vehicles have HID headlamps. This is because they comply to European type approval Regulations. The UK cannot refuse to register a vehicle with a European type approval. These are to ECE Regulation 98 (for the HID headlamps which are tested on a rig in a laboratory) and ECE Regulation 48 (Lighting Installation on the vehicle).

For the after market, a used vehicle cannot obtain type approval because it is only applicable for new vehicles. However we feel that saying "HID is banned in the after market" would not be reasonable. Instead we should make analogies with new vehicles. It would be reasonable to require HID in the after market to meet the same safety standards as on new vehicles. The same level of safety should apply.

Therefore a HID headlamp unit sold in the after market should:

1. be type approved to ECE Regulation 98 as a component.

2. when fitted to the vehicle should enable ECE Regulation 48 to be complied with (although no government inspection will take place).

3. Comply with RVLR as far as "use" is concerned.

In practice this means:

1. The headlamp unit (outer lens, reflector, bulb) shall be type approved to ECE 98 and be "e-marked" to demonstrate this. That can only be done by the headlamp supplier - Hella, Valeo etc. who must test the headlamp in an independent laboratory.

2. Once fitted to the vehicle it must have headlamp cleaning and self-levelling (which can be for the headlamp or can be in the vehicle suspension - some expensive estate cars have "self-levelling suspension" and that is adequate). Also the dipped beam must stay on with the main beam.

3. The headlamp must be maintained in good working order, kept clean, and aligned/adjusted correctly like any other headlamp.

Under the Road Traffic Act 1988 it is an offence to supply, fit or use vehicle parts which are not legal.

In summary it is not permitted to convert an existing halogen headlamp unit for use with HID bulbs. The entire headlamp unit must be replaced with one designed and approved for use with HID bulbs and it must be installed in accordance with the rules stated above.

Pretty pants if you ask me, if HID's are fitted correctly they can't cause any problems, in fact they will increase road safety imo.  But the law is the law, and as of January next year MOTer's are going to be hot on it.   

[vRS_Pagey]

What is the best HID kit someone would reccomend? currently have standard headlamps, want something which will connect straight and easy to install,

If you are still keen to go down the HID route, these are the ones I would fit! 

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/220477174920?ssPageName=STRK:MEWAX:IT&_trksid=p3984.m1423.l2649#ht_2597wt_1270

OE is 4300k, but I would go for 5000k for the whitest light. 

[jedi-knight83]

I guess not all stations enforce it then as like I say I've had 2 vehicles sale through... one with HID on proper projector lenses but with no auto level and one on my van with them on reflector lenses and no washers or levelers

[vRS_Pagey]

I guess not all stations enforce it then as like I say I've had 2 vehicles sale through... one with HID on proper projector lenses but with no auto level and one on my van with them on reflector lenses and no washers or levelers

Absolutely, my HIDs have been on for 2 MOT's and have passed, and I will be chancing my arm when it goes in next week for an MOT, however I think test is due to become far more strict in Jan next year, having said that my neighbour is a traffic cop and she doesn't even know what a HID kit is.......

I presume you had them in the Caddy?  What was the beam pattern like fitted in reflector lamps, and did you get flashed very often?

Lee.

[Geoffcarragh]

I just bought a set of Hella xenon look lights. This thread will tell you all about them.

http://www.mk5golfgti.co.uk/forum/index.php/topic,12771.0/topicseen.html

They look exactly like OEM xenons but use halogen bulbs. Will work out alot cheaper than upgrading to proper xenons and will pass an MOT. I should be installing them in a few weeks. I can send you pics if your interested.

[perky85]

HID's will be coming into MOT Tests Jan 2012.

If you have HID's Fitted without wash function & self levelling, it will be a fail.