Well, as the thread says, I have managed to fit original Xenon Headlights with the projector lense to our VRS fitted with Halogens.

After about 2 hours the job was completed on my drive – well nearly, as when I did my checks, I noticed that putting on main beam killed the dipped HID’s – Not Good :eek:

So another hour on the drive and job completed

Parts I needed were:-

2x new xenon headlights

2x Headlight covers that included the bulb wiring

2x adjuster motors

2x HID kit

2x H1 bulbs for the separate high beam

Took me a while to work out all the wiring, as the new headlights have a separate High Beam, so had to take a feed directly from the headlight switch in the cabin to work the dipped beam so that they did not switch off when high beam was on, due to the old headlights having a twin H4 bulb.

I also managed to switch the old plug from the headlights to fit the new ones, to save a lot of re-wiring, so they were almost plug and play.

Was it worth it – damn right – the light output is far better (I went for 6000K temp), and I found it hard coming from cars with HID back to halogen.

As for the price – a little over £200.00 all in and fitted, as I got a complete bargain with the headlights - £25.00 each for brand new ones :eek: – can’t go wrong with that! The adjuster motors cost more than the actual headlights!

And yes, they are not completely correct as a factory fitted version, as no headlight washers yet, but as the law states, this is only compulsory with factory fitted Xenons and not aftermarket, and to be honest, having had them on previous cars – they are pretty crap! Nothing beats a cloth!

And also, they are a lot better than trying to fit a H4 HID conversion to the standard headlights (although with that you do get Bi-Xenon – my next mod together with the Fogs, if I ever get round to doing it) – nothing disrespectful to those who have already done this, but the light pattern is far better from optical lenses than from a halogen that scatters the pattern a little….

So for all those people who thought about it – it is possible with a little magical re-wiring here and there, and if sourced properly not that more expensive than a H4 HID kit….

Will get some pics up showing the before and afters when I get chance to go through and sort the camera, as too many xmas pics to sort through first!

If anyone wants any specific help in this conversion then give me a shout, and will try and help as much as I can.

Edited 27 December, 200817 yr by StuRox

Well done for being sensible and using lamps actually designed for it!

have you got any pics of the wiring and that, and were did you get your motors from as i was going to do it but i lost my job at fords, i have the headlamps and the backs with the wiring and i have a kit from an audi tt ect ballasts, bulbs ds2,and starters and they work with the adaptar plug i got from ebay. but i have no motors or the wiring for them and im also missing the screws for the backs? could you supply some close up pics of your wiring plz, i also have the 6000k bulbs just havent got the dollar to finish the project. plus all the stuff i got from the audi tt fit the original skoda backs.if you could help ma that would be great

Good job!!

have you got any pics of the wiring and that, and were did you get your motors from as i was going to do it but i lost my job at fords, i have the headlamps and the backs with the wiring and i have a kit from an audi tt ect ballasts, bulbs ds2,and starters and they work with the adaptar plug i got from ebay. but i have no motors or the wiring for them and im also missing the screws for the backs? could you supply some close up pics of your wiring plz, i also have the 6000k bulbs just havent got the dollar to finish the project. plus all the stuff i got from the audi tt fit the original skoda backs.if you could help ma that would be great

No worries, will try and get some pics sorted.

As for the motors, got them direct from my local Skoda garage - I think the part numbers are all at my works, so will have a look when I am back in January and post them up for you - but try the garage first - from memory they were about £35-40 each, but I again managed to get discount - if ya don't ask and all that....

The screws - I just picked up a pack from my local halfrauds

Good job!

If only I could find two projector headlamps for a fabia. The dealers want £400 each side! All I want is the light unit on its own.... ah well.

What about the load/level sensors on the front and rear suspension,to stop you blinding other drivers when you put something in the boot etc???

What about the load/level sensors on the front and rear suspension,to stop you blinding other drivers when you put something in the boot etc???

I re-wried the motors to work with the adjustor inside the cabin, so I can do this manually. And to be honest, not much goes in the back, apart from the 2 springers - the 5 series touring is the load lugger

£25 each!

Wow. How did you pull that one? They're around £600 each IIRC

Just found this link in the Mk2 octavia section,looks like your hard work may have been in vain,and your modification illegal.

Department for Transport - Aftermarket HID (Xenon) headlamps

That is mainly for the people that put in HID kist to standard lights - I have changed the lights to proper HID headlights

But having said that, I know of people with HID conversions in halogen lights, that have sailed through the MOT's......

There will always be arguments about HID conversions, but in my view - I have completed the task as best as possible, and taken time in how I did it. Also having travelled a fair few miles over Christmas, to say the least, there are fair worse offenders out there, that dazzle with normal lights - as never saw one HID conversion, or Xenon that dazzled me - always the hologen type

and what about the washers?

To be honest - they are pretty useless.

I fitted washers to the last car I did this to, and nothing beat a cloth!

The day they stopped using wipers was a sad day for headlights......

I might look at doing it some day, just for completeness, but not for necessity.....

The law according to the Department of Transport also says that the Only legal conversion is a factory fitted one complete with headlamp washers and automatic leveling. You do have the headlamp conformity covered, having got the factory headlights in there. Without the auto leveling and the headlamp wash, it doesn't meet the DOT requirements. If/how they are enforced is another matter. Did your insurance have any issues with it? (insurance is void without full disclosure).

If happy to live without the auto leveling & the headlamp wash (the latter easier to fit) then one of these @ sub £200 will give HID on the dip as well as main beams on stock headlamps:

Universal Hid Bi-xenon Projector Halo Light Conversion on eBay, also Bulbs Lenses, Lights Lighting Accessories, Car Tuning Styling, Cars, Parts Vehicles (end time 02-Jan-09 21:15:19 GMT)

Greg.

And yes, they are not completely correct as a factory fitted version, as no headlight washers yet, but as the law states, this is only compulsory with factory fitted Xenons and not aftermarket, and to be honest, having had them on previous cars – they are pretty crap! Nothing beats a cloth!

im just waiting for when VOSA and police actually start to do a purge on HID kits or will they just hope MOT stations will remove the vehicles by failing them!?!?

Greg, this area of Law is in great debate, as I also have some legislation somewhere that states that with aftermarket HID conversions, the self levelling and washers are not required - these are only requirements of factory fit. Unfortunately, I cannot remember the link to it. The internet is a wonderful tool if used correctly.

And I am sure that you travel at the exact speed limits at 100% of the time too, although I am not implying anything with this statement, just mealy stating that everyone maybe not perfect in everyway - but at least I am trying to do the best I possibly can and not some botch job you see driving around. I am not wanting to get into a cat fight here, I am just saying that I managed to convert the headlights. The ones you refer to are what causes this hole 'HID conversions are bad' argument, as these ones probably do dazzle on coming cars if not set up correctly, but since you know nothing of what I have actually done, bar the few posts above, then unfortunately, you are not qualified to jump in on your soap box claiming various things. And yes, you may quote me, which again mealy states that what I have done is not exactly the same as factory fit cars - but not many modifications are true to the manufacture, due to using your own parts to modify your car to suit the new parts.

Rant over.

What's with the soap box comment? Or being upset I quoted you? Speed limits, or what I do have nothing to do with this thread either, unless I'm missing something. I certainly didn't imply, or state, that I don't break laws - if I do or not really has nothing to do with headlights

I never said you did a bad job, I happen to think it's excelent. Well done!

As for jumping in, yes I am qualified on the basis that the 'law' debate is not a debate to the Department of Transport, they have published their view and it does not meet with your conversion. That has ABSOLUTELY NOTHING to do with my view, my view being that you did a very good job. I run factory Xenon's and LOVE them. Also, I do not have to see your work to make the point I did - you already posted that you did not use auto leveling or headlight washers and that's enough to case my point re the DOT view.

I love HID's. But lets be clear, there is no 'debate' about it with the DOT. Debates belong to guys in forums/on the road, the DOT is in no debate with anyone and has published it's 'HID conversions are illigal other than for OE spec' stance some time ago.

Now IF that is the law or if it's enforced is another matter, I for one can't comment - I await a test case.

Great job on the lights,

Greg.

Greg, this area of Law is in great debate, as I also have some legislation somewhere that states that with aftermarket HID conversions, the self levelling and washers are not required - these are only requirements of factory fit. Unfortunately, I cannot remember the link to it. The internet is a wonderful tool if used correctly.

And I am sure that you travel at the exact speed limits at 100% of the time too, although I am not implying anything with this statement, just mealy stating that everyone maybe not perfect in everyway - but at least I am trying to do the best I possibly can and not some botch job you see driving around. I am not wanting to get into a cat fight here, I am just saying that I managed to convert the headlights. The ones you refer to are what causes this hole 'HID conversions are bad' argument, as these ones probably do dazzle on coming cars if not set up correctly, but since you know nothing of what I have actually done, bar the few posts above, then unfortunately, you are not qualified to jump in on your soap box claiming various things. And yes, you may quote me, which again mealy states that what I have done is not exactly the same as factory fit cars - but not many modifications are true to the manufacture, due to using your own parts to modify your car to suit the new parts.

Rant over.

:munch:

No worries Greg, maybe I just read your post wrong

As for the law - there is something somewhere on fitting kits to cars, where this is not a requirement, and will do my best to dig it out, but have a look at the new mini's - no headlight washers on their xenon headlights

Sorry but new Mini's do have headlight washers fitted to xenon equiped cars,as they have to by EU reg 98.

YouTube - MINI Cooper S xenon washer

Thanks for the olive branch ;-)

Would be great if you dig that bit of info out re the law. I have a feeling it refers to no requirement listed for HID as an aftermarket fit, only for type aproval on new vehicles. Problem being that there is no approval full stop in vehicle lighting regs for HID's, not just that there is no leveling/washing requirement in there. Much like there is no requirement for a wind sheild for candles if retro fitting candles as lights, because candles are not an approved light (bit of a silly example) so saying hey they don't have to have wind deflectors there is no requirement, may be missing the point if there is no approal for candles in the first place. As I understand it this is where the DOT is coming from.

What I have never been able to fully establish is if it is actually illigal to use something that isn't approved in vehicle lighting regulation. EG the DOT say becaue your name (hid) isn't on the list, you are not allowed in the party. Or is it the case that because your name ISNT on the list, this is a presumtion by DOT.

However it would make sense, or you could go around with torches strapped to the bonnet and say 'but led torches as a retrofit are not covered in lighting regulation, therefore there is nothing written down to say they are illigal'.

Anyhow if you have more info that would be good.

Also I digress and don't want to hijack the thread with legal musings. Maybe we can pm about it if you find anything.

Great job again and a good guide. If you get the washers very unlikely that at a cursory glance anything will appear 'non standard' too.

Greg.

No worries Greg, maybe I just read your post wrong

As for the law - there is something somewhere on fitting kits to cars, where this is not a requirement, and will do my best to dig it out, but have a look at the new mini's - no headlight washers on their xenon headlights

Without re-treading the whole conversation, the DoT statement includes a lot of "should" type words, so what it actually is a statement of "best practice", which does not have any force of law behind it!

Yeah, that is what I have noticed too, and also 'guides' and 'guidelines'.

Also, there is a lot of dabate to what the MOT stations can do - ie they are only alowed to check what they are told to check, which at present is the beam alignment, not HID conversions etc.....

I think, that as long as you have them aligned properly, then you should not come into much trouble

I haven't stumbled upon the law I found before, but have found this response on another Forum...

I have just fitted a HID kit and I also worried about the lgailty of this before doing so. The response I got, from DOT/VOSA/POlice was "The fitment of HID headlights to new cars required auto-headlight levelling and washers. This was not applicable to after market kits and the only legal requirement was them one of correct alignment.

Does anyone know if the headlight washers on the Octavia have a separate washer bottle, or does it feed from the windscreen bottle via an additional motor?

Single bottle, and a big one; at least 1 imperial gallon, and may be 5 or 5.5l.