HID Lights fitted and working.

[PatrickDorrian]

Here's two pictures of the new lights, the comparison with main beam is quite funny. I'll get some pictures tonight when i'm out of how it looks in the dark.

Bear in mind those pictures were taken in very bright sunshine in an almost white car park.

[bing]

I like it. Very nice!
Bing

[PatrickDorrian]

Cheers Bing :) It's probably one of the most worthwhile mods i've done to date, a close call between that and the leather seats. I've just ordered a bonnet vent to provide a cold air source for the induction kit so we'll see how that goes, should be fitted sometime in the next couple of weeks, but unlike everything else, i'll be paying someone to do that for me to ensure a professional finish.

As for the Xenon HID stuff - anyone who's thinking about it but hasn't done it, i'd advise them to try a car that has it and then ask themselves again whether they think it's worthwhile doing or not :)

Sadly it looks like you guys can't fit this stuff anymore, seems some bueaurocratic pen pushing fools have outlawed the process on your side of the pond ..... or is it just the sale of them they've outlawed, i was reading something the other week about it.

[The Swedish guy]

It rather unlaw fullover here in the EU too...

Since none of these kits are E marked they are not type approved and its not just the xenon light you also need a automatic height adjustment to get it fully aproved to the EU regulation BUT the police seldom cares anyhow

[PatrickDorrian]

Thankfully the kit i have is E marked and i believe TUV approved also. I'm always wary of buying anything that's not legal and nearly above board ;)

In the UK the rules state that vehicles fitted with aftermarket xenon discharge lighting do not need automatic levelling or headlight washers, only new models sold with the xenon lights require that by law. Handy loophole which even if it's changed may only apply after a certain date and may not be applicable before that date.

From my own perspective, if you're going to fit these things, you have a responsibility to fit them correctly and then use them correctly. I always adjust the light level on the HRV according to where the light falls on the road depending on how much weight i'm carrying. 90% of the time, the lights are kept at their lowest setting to avoid dazzling other drivers.

As you say, the police don't usually care, and if you're not dazzling them they're not going to pull you for it. That;s another reason for sticking to the 4300k to 6000k spectrum - anything over that and you're heading into blue and purple colours which is guaranteed to attract the wrong sort of attention on the road

[The Swedish guy]

Where did you manage to find an E-marked retrofit HID??

On www.autobulbsdirect.co.uk (who sell retrofit HID) they say:

"Are these HID systems road legal?

According to EU legislation HID systems factory fitted from new require a self levelling system and a lens washer to be fitted. However this is not specified for aftermarket kits. Our kits have passed all safety and emmissions tests and produce the correct light pattern. We know they will pass an MOT (original bulbs can be reinstalled in minutes if required without uninstalling the HID system). We are not aware of any legality issues in terms of the police. However this issue is a grey one with lots of confusion so until we can obtain official written proof either way, we must sell these for off road and display systems only."

So according to that: no MOT for you.. *S*
But as you say the local rules superseeded EU rules "at home" but may cause trouble in another EU-land, for instance here in sweden its OK with Q-marked wintertyres ( max speed 160 km/h) but in certain other countries like germany its NEVER allowed with a tyre approved for a speed lower then the vehicle possible maximum speed..
(good luck finding studded wintertyres ZR marked...*LOL*)

[PatrickDorrian]

www.hids4u.co.uk is where i got mine from. E13 approved which i'm led to believe is the correct rating for UK use.

As for EU rules - couldn't give a stuff lol ... the EU is a joke anyway, a good excuse for crap politicians to get paid megabucks for doing nothing useful except interfere :-)

[The Swedish guy]

Well there is this issue with certain countries that keep on that old old tradition from the middleages to keep to the left side of the road so they can use the swordarm freely to kill the person the meet if needed...

One of these countries also use wineagar on there pommes frites ( even call them chips instead just to be diffrent) and then they use sugar on the popcorns och plumming on the outside of the houses ( then they wonder the water freeze at winter...) and they eat kidney pies and stuff...

say no more....
:lol:

Me, prejudiced?? no not at all...

[PatrickDorrian]

It's a bit like selling cars that pass the elk test in a country where there hasn't been anything larger than a medium sized roe deer for about 90 years, as you say ... nuff said ;)

road safety no matter how you care to see it or legislate for it is down largely to the driver of the vehicle. You can make the safest vehicle in the world, you can write all the legal legislation you want, but if you put a moron behind the wheel none of it matters.

Sadly, when said moron is driving a volvo, it's the other driver who's likely to come off worst - in that i can see zero justice.

Patrick

[Napoline]

I asked my dealer for HIDlights. He told me they didn't had such lights that fitted into a HR-V. They tried before, but the lights always exploded :?

I want those lights too :cry:

[PatrickDorrian]

Well i've had mine in for a good while now and they run cooler than the normal stuff. I reckon there's at least 30% more light too. Easy to fit as well :)

[Napoline]

Today, I go look for such lights (for HR-V) I hope it will fit :D I'll keep you informed

[PatrickDorrian]

Just be aware that Xenon and HID "Look" are not true HID, a true HID kit will set you back at least £200.

Interior bulbs are all the 501 type, i've got white leds in the courtesy lights in the front and they're a much better light than the original yellow stuff.

[Napoline]

ok, i'll see what i can find in store.

[Team GOOOSH]

Well there is this issue with certain countries that keep on that old old tradition from the middleages to keep to the left side of the road so they can use the swordarm freely to kill the person the meet if needed...

One of these countries also use wineagar on there pommes frites ( even call them chips instead just to be diffrent) and then they use sugar on the popcorns och plumming on the outside of the houses ( then they wonder the water freeze at winter...) and they eat kidney pies and stuff...

say no more....
:lol:

Me, prejudiced?? no not at all...
You wouldn't be talking about Australia now, would you? :lol:

Great lights Pat, :twisted: I have an adverse reaction to blue headlights. Thats why i go mental when a European car is behind me at night. Anyway, im just lucky to have any lights :( blew another set last night.

[mrphoo]

:( blew another set last night.

You really should try to get this fixed soon. If this, as I suspect, is caused by a faulty regulator then there's the permanent danger that it blows something more costly than just your headlight bulbs.

[PatrickDorrian]

ECU .. aircon pump, alternator, radio .. instrument panel ... all those things!

[Team GOOOSH]

Oh come on now........cant you see i have addopted Pat's attitude of FLOG IT TO DEATH :lol: :lol: :lol: Wont bother fixing it till she goes KABOOM. :twisted:

[PatrickDorrian]

Yeah but my problem is a known quantity as i've resigned myself to fixing most of the engine if it goes, you've no idea what might go on yours - get it fixed man :)

[Napoline]

I want HID lights too in my car. but my dealer told me they explode after a while.

Hrv styler also had the same problem.

So, PatrickDorrian, tell me, what type of lights did u put in there? And did u change something else expect changing the lights.

[PatrickDorrian]

Yes i changed a couple of things.


http://hr-v.co.uk/phpbb2/album_personal.php?user_id=22

You can see the new bulbs there. I've had them in for a while now and they've not blown up yet.

The HR-V in england anyway, has standard H1 lights but you need to remove the plastic wiring converter which means the replacement bulbs are too small for the clip to hold them in. You have to make up a backing plate to allow the clip to hold the new bulb in place.

The way mine are fitted now, i can remove the H.I.D bulb and wiring and refit the normal H1 bulb and everything fits back with no major modifications.

[Napoline]

It's H1 too here. Thx for the tip. I'll see what I can do with mine :roll:

[PatrickDorrian]

The H1 H.I.D bulbs fit in the light ok, they don't foul anything and the two round locating nipples on the front of the bulb mount sit correctly in the HRV light unit, it's just the silly plastic mount from the old bulbs that makes fitting a bit more of a pain. I ended up removing the bumper skin, loosening off the bumper bar and taking both lights out to fit the bulbs - first time you see and wanted a nice clear shot of what i was doing :)

[Napoline]

I already took out my original lights to see how they were in the car, and what type of lights they were. It's pretty small spot to work in :? I hope i can fix it :)

[PatrickDorrian]

If you look at the lights, you'll see a plastic converter on the back of the bulb itself .... to fit an H1 H.I.D kit, you need to remove that plastic converter and make a piece up to make the new H.I.D bulbs fit.

if you just use a brighter bulb ... you just reuse the converter :)

[Napoline]

I'll pay ur ticket to Belgium. Come and fix my car :p hehe ;-)

Ok, i'll try. The lights doesn't cost that much :roll:

[PatrickDorrian]

lol i've been to belgium a few times, i have family in Oostende :) As for the lights, when you take the bulbs into the shop to get new ones, take the whole mount in with you including the plastic converter. That way you'll get bulbs that fit ;)

[sleeksilver]

Great looking HID's!!! They make such a difference, its hard to get along with regular halogens now.... I have HID's from the factory on my Acura and they are fantastic, I've been looking for kit for my CRV for a while. Yours looks awesome, congrats! I like your HR-V as well!!! :)

[PatrickDorrian]

I might be wrong, but i thought i read somewhere that aftermarket H.I.D kits were frowned on Stateside? Hasn't some numpty doo gooder politician outlawed them? If they haven't and they're still legal, i can't see yours being any harder to retrofit than mine was.

Thanks for the compliment though, and yes, like you there is NO way i would go back to standard halogens - the lower level of light output is so poor by comparison :)

[Team GOOOSH]

Hey Pat, i just noticed something. What happened to the bonnet vent? :wink:

http://www.hondasuv.com/stg/viewtopic.php?t=11790

[PatrickDorrian]

Errr it's still on the car mate :)

[Napoline]

is it? didn't notice :P

[PatrickDorrian]

Must have been all the SNOW on it :D :D :D hehehe

[Napoline]

DAMMIT U, ARGH, i'm going to ignore u today












GRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRAAAA AAAAAUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUWWWWWWWWWWWWLLLLLLLLL

[PatrickDorrian]

hehe ... it's still snowing here too :)

[Team GOOOSH]

How come the photos you put up, to show us your HID's didnt have a bonnet vent? Or did you post that first?

[PatrickDorrian]

Bonnet vent was fitted after the H.I.D kit that's why, admittedly not by much, in fact i can't even remember myself :) I was smoking a bit more then hehe

[Team GOOOSH]

Im sure you posted the pics of the vents ages ago and only last week the HID pics (without the vent). You know i have very good detective skills :wink:

[PatrickDorrian]

You're starting to confuse even me now :) The vent i've had done for about 4 months or so, lights maybe a little longer. Neither are recent things that's for sure :) I reckon the pictures / fitting dates must be very close together. Hmm, i wonder if my paypal account will show the hid lights .... the reciept for the bonnet vent might be around somewhere too. I'll see if i can dig it out over the next few days.

Right, bonnet vent bought on the 31st of August 05 from Larkspeed - found the receipt.

HID lights purchased on or around the 27th of August 05.

I didn't realise it was that close together!

[Monchis]

Thankfully the kit i have is E marked and i believe TUV approved also. I'm always wary of buying anything that's not legal and nearly above board ;)

In the UK the rules state that vehicles fitted with aftermarket xenon discharge lighting do not need automatic levelling or headlight washers, only new models sold with the xenon lights require that by law. Handy loophole which even if it's changed may only apply after a certain date and may not be applicable before that date.

From my own perspective, if you're going to fit these things, you have a responsibility to fit them correctly and then use them correctly. I always adjust the light level on the HRV according to where the light falls on the road depending on how much weight i'm carrying. 90% of the time, the lights are kept at their lowest setting to avoid dazzling other drivers.

As you say, the police don't usually care, and if you're not dazzling them they're not going to pull you for it. That;s another reason for sticking to the 4300k to 6000k spectrum - anything over that and you're heading into blue and purple colours which is guaranteed to attract the wrong sort of attention on the road

How can I adjust the light level on my CRV, I cant seem to get it properly.

[Team GOOOSH]

Perhaps you can place this question in the CRV section not the HRV section. You will probably get a better/quicker responce.