hid conversion

has anyone fitted a hid conversion kit to their mk1?,  Im thinking of getting one but wondered if anyone has and if they any good

thanks

Just asked sluttysmurf about it. As he bought one. Im thinking of getting one but waiting for reply. 

post up mate, they going for around £30 on fleebay inc postage

This is not a subject I know a great deal about, nor for that matter have much interest in so what I'm about to say may be flawed… Don't shoot the messenger, it's just food for thought.

Northern Ireland's vehicle test / MOT differs from that on the Mainland in many ways.

I believe one current difference relates to the official interpretation of legislation requiring vehicles with HID lights to also be fitted with an accompanying self levelling / washer system.

This is obviously an over simplification but the point is there are persons on forums over here claiming to have been refused test certificates on these grounds.

If true, it may be that NI will eventually fall into line with the rest of the UK, then again the UK may come to adopt the view taken by NI inspectors?

The upshot is I'd be careful fitting a lighting system that can't easily be made to comply / revert back to standard if required to do so sometime in the future.

They are good and bad, fitted one myself about this time last year just to see if they were any good and it does make a big difference for seeing into the distance but the light is sent off in all directions, MOT however was not a problem… must have been one of the lucky ones.  Though they did stick some black tape over the headlights… Worked well enough for the past year and I was pretty happy with them but they decided not to play ball last night, drivers side would not come on then one worked then it flickered and flashed and then did naff all, then came on again.   Went out today to investigate and it was working but both lights were out of sync (delay) when switching on and then it went again.  I have now taken the whole lot out and went back to standard and stuck in a pair of Philips Extreme vision lamps… I'll be knocking up a loom upgrade hopefully tomorrow or during the week which should boost the standard. All in all they are worth fitting…

I believe that it is illegal unless you also fit self levelling and headlight washers.
I'm not entirely sure on this but believe it to be correct. however don take my word for it.

VOSA

HID lamps that have an output of less than 2000 Lumens do not need headlamplevelling or washing.  LED lamps under 2000 Lumens must have selflevelling, but do not need washing.It is not possible for an MOT tester to determine whether or not aparticular lamp is more than 2000 Lumens or not. The MOT test thereforeuses the lowest criteria that can realistically be applied; so if aparticular vehicle is fitted with a headlamp levelling or washing system,then we consider it logical to assume that it requires it by law andtherefore it must work ; conversely, if a vehicle is not fitted with these systems, it would be logical to assume that they are not legally required.

At the end of the day it all depends on whether you go for a sensible mid range HID light that no-one will pick you up on or one of these crazy 12,000 jobs that you will be getting repeatedly stopped for and the positioning of your headlights after installing to ensure that as much of the light is directed onto the road… 

thanks for advice guys, i was thinking of going for the 10k version but upon your advice think it will be the 8k ones, the beauty of these kits is that you use the original wiring and nothing but the old bulbs have to be removed so easy to put back for mot if required

thanks again

personally i wouldnt use them on older cars like mk1's as due to the headlight design as you will never get a decent beam pattern from them.

saying that if you are going to go for them i would use 6000k kit or lower as anything higher than that will look to blue and arnt as bright as you would expect

Seen a few mk1's with them on and they look a bit wierd IMO. Bright lights like that are best left on modern cars IMO.    

smudger1980 said

Seen a few mk1's with them on and they look a bit wierd IMO. Bright lights like that are best left on modern cars IMO.    

I agree pal, I've got some nightbreaker bulbs on the van and they're brighter with out been too modern?
I like the existing bulbs, far more 'period'. . 

Ok so if I dont go for a 6000 hid conversion. Whats your recommendation on some good bulbs. :-)

For what it's worth unless your going to fit a headlight upgrade loom with 2-4 relays fitted then it's pretty much pointless fitting either expensive or high wattage bulbs as you will see little or no difference with the lower wattage bulbs and will through time damage the old loom with the higher wattage bulbs, maybe even eventually the light switch.

It's either go the plug and play 6K HID route or fit an upgraded loom and decent bulbs which again if done right is just plug and play the same as the HID.  Either way it's £30 plus for the HID kit and circa £20 plus for the standard loom upgrade with another £25 for decent standard bulbs to go with it.

Decent bulbs would be Philips & Osram who each have a good reputation…

Cheers,

Brian.

So around the same price really. will have a look around and see what tickles my fancy. Cheers. :-)

personaly i would go for an upgraded light loom 1st instead of going down the hid route, then if still needed i would upgrade the bulbs.

Ok. Good suggestion.  Good place for that?

buildit yourself they are not that hard to make

Sounds like a plan…

I'm sure someone on here will be along selling them or look at making one yourself, easy enough to do if you have access to decent wire, crimps etc… otherwise you should be able to get one on ebay, they should be ok but check feedback from others these need to be crimped/soldered correctly or you will have problems.    

and if you buy or make go down the 3 relay route

Ok. Wires and electrics are my thing. :-) is there a guide you know of that I could follow or copy?