Hi there folks - a couple of queries please.

The first I know has probably been answered and hence I should use the search function but...

1) I've just fitted 55w 6000k HID's to the dipped beam and a set of Hauptmann's Canbus Friendly LED sidelights after having the car re-coded accordingly by Wardy. The +30% H1's I've got in the main beams now seem rather yellow and weak so I'm after some replacements. 6000k HID's in there would be the ideal match but they are probably not suited due to the warm up characteristics so any suggestions for a brighter and better matched bulb? I'm thinking maybe Osram Nightbreaker Plus?

2) When the coding for the HID's was done (Xenon without shutters and cold diagnostics on dipped turned off) I also had the Coming Home / Leaving Home function enabled and the headlight wash timing adjusted. However, recently I've noticed that I no longer got a headlights on warning beep if I open the door with the switch in the headlight position but do with it in the sidelight position. In the last week we've managed to leave my lights on twice without the warning (probably more). Also, with the ignition off when I turn the sidelights on the dash lights up but if I turn the switch further to headlights the dash lights go out. I never noticed this before the coding but I'm guessing this could be associated with the CH/LH function (which is enabled but not switched on at the moment).

3) I've also had a bulb out warning light up on the dash but no message on Maxi-dot as to which one and no bulbs out that I can spot (it usually says something like 'right rear brakelight out'). This one started after hitting the brakes and horn with the headlights on when I was cut-up on the M62 on Monday morning and before I fitted the HID's, LED's and +30%'s. I spent two hours last night checking all the bulbs and swapping the bulbs over and I eventually got a failed reversing light and a message to that effect but could this be related to the re-coding rather than a bulb failure?

Any answers / advice gratefully received as usually!

Thanks

More an observation rather than a real fix for you.

You were aware that come January 2012 what you have effectively done is created an MOT failure?

After-market HID's will also have to have a washer system and auto-levelling device installed.

These kits have been a "grey area" for a while, but become very black & white come January.

Just seems like you're going through an awful lot of hassle for four and a half months of legal driving.

Have you considered just fitting the best possible halogen bulbs all around?

Hi there folks - a couple of queries please.

The first I know has probably been answered and hence I should use the search function but...

1) I've just fitted 55w 6000k HID's to the dipped beam and a set of Hauptmann's Canbus Friendly LED sidelights after having the car re-coded accordingly by Wardy. The +30% H1's I've got in the main beams now seem rather yellow and weak so I'm after some replacements. 6000k HID's in there would be the ideal match but they are probably not suited due to the warm up characteristics so any suggestions for a brighter and better matched bulb? I'm thinking maybe Osram Nightbreaker Plus?

2) When the coding for the HID's was done (Xenon without shutters and cold diagnostics on dipped turned off) I also had the Coming Home / Leaving Home function enabled and the headlight wash timing adjusted. However, recently I've noticed that I no longer got a headlights on warning beep if I open the door with the switch in the headlight position but do with it in the sidelight position. In the last week we've managed to leave my lights on twice without the warning (probably more). Also, with the ignition off when I turn the sidelights on the dash lights up but if I turn the switch further to headlights the dash lights go out. I never noticed this before the coding but I'm guessing this could be associated with the CH/LH function (which is enabled but not switched on at the moment).

3) I've also had a bulb out warning light up on the dash but no message on Maxi-dot as to which one and no bulbs out that I can spot (it usually says something like 'right rear brakelight out'). This one started after hitting the brakes and horn with the headlights on when I was cut-up on the M62 on Monday morning and before I fitted the HID's, LED's and +30%'s. I spent two hours last night checking all the bulbs and swapping the bulbs over and I eventually got a failed reversing light and a message to that effect but could this be related to the re-coding rather than a bulb failure?

Any answers / advice gratefully received as usually!

Thanks

Not sure if this is relevant to 2), but my (December 2010) vRS has factory fit Xenons (CH lights not enabled). If i switch the ignition of and take the key out with the switch in the "headlamps on" position, everything goes off and i get out of the car without a warning beep. However, if i have the switch in the "sides only" position, with the key removed, the sides stay on and i get a warning with the door open.

So i can (and have !!) left the switch in the "headlamp on" and only realised the next day when I turn on the ignition and the lights come on.

(Actually having re-read your post that may be exactly the same as yours - i thought when i first read it that you meant the headlamps stayed on but with no warning beep)

More an observation rather than a real fix for you.

You were aware that come January 2012 what you have effectively done is created an MOT failure?

After-market HID's will also have to have a washer system and auto-levelling device installed.

These kits have been a "grey area" for a while, but become very black & white come January.

Just seems like you're going through an awful lot of hassle for four and a half months of legal driving.

Have you considered just fitting the best possible halogen bulbs all around?

Yep I was aware of the changed - people have been banging on about them on here for a while now. I have a 4x4 so it already has washers and the wording on the 2012 MOT requirement is such that I'm less worried about the lack of self levelling. The wording is "Where headlamp levelling or cleaning devices are missing or defective, but there is doubt as to whether they are required, the benefit of the doubt should be given and an advisory notice issued" I'll therefore wait for a few people to report back as to whether they have failed or not before I rip them out again prior to testing as my MOT isn't until March.

After fitting the HID kit to mine a couple of years ago, I upgraded the main beam headlight bulbs to Halfords Extreme Briliance halogen bulbs. This has made a tremendous difference and the bulbs have lasted really well, and I have never yet had to replace either of them. They are pricey now at £20 per bulb, but when I got mine they were going a buy one get one free offer.

Mike

Thans for the recommendation Mike!

Not sure if this is relevant to 2), but my (December 2010) vRS has factory fit Xenons (CH lights not enabled). If i switch the ignition of and take the key out with the switch in the "headlamps on" position, everything goes off and i get out of the car without a warning beep. However, if i have the switch in the "sides only" position, with the key removed, the sides stay on and i get a warning with the door open.

So i can (and have !!) left the switch in the "headlamp on" and only realised the next day when I turn on the ignition and the lights come on.

(Actually having re-read your post that may be exactly the same as yours - i thought when i first read it that you meant the headlamps stayed on but with no warning beep)

Aha! - OK so it does sound like that's how it is supposed to work with the HID's for some daft reason! - could really do with the warning but at least the whole lot turns itself off after a while regardless so it doesn't flatten the battery.

Aha! - OK so it does sound like that's how it is supposed to work with the HID's for some daft reason! - could really do with the warning but at least the whole lot turns itself off after a while regardless so it doesn't flatten the battery.

That's slightly different to mine - they go out immediately (in fact without checking, it's probably on turning the ignition off rather than withdrawing the key.

I'll try it later and let you know

That's slightly different to mine - they go out immediately (in fact without checking, it's probably on turning the ignition off rather than withdrawing the key.

I'll try it later and let you know

So, having just tried:

With keys out: Off, sidelights + dash(warning on door open), off (no door warning)

With keys in, ign on: Off, side + dash (no warning), side + dash + Xenon (no warning).

Turning key off when heads on, headlamps go off, but dash reamins lit until key removed (but then no warning)

Hope that helps

So, having just tried:

With keys out: Off, sidelights + dash(warning on door open), off (no door warning)

With keys in, ign on: Off, side + dash (no warning), side + dash + Xenon (no warning).

Turning key off when heads on, headlamps go off, but dash reamins lit until key removed (but then no warning)

Hope that helps

ta does sound very similar but need to double check

The reason you get the boing on the sidelights is because of the CH/LH function.

If you don't have auto lights then to have the CH/LH work you leave the headlight switch in the on position. You get no warning as the system knows that the lights will switch off after a preset time therefore not draining the battery.

However on sidelights they won't go out so it warns you so that you don't drain the battery.

HTH

Carl

Yep I was aware of the changed - people have been banging on about them on here for a while now. I have a 4x4 so it already has washers and the wording on the 2012 MOT requirement is such that I'm less worried about the lack of self levelling. The wording is "Where headlamp levelling or cleaning devices are missing or defective, but there is doubt as to whether they are required, the benefit of the doubt should be given and an advisory notice issued" I'll therefore wait for a few people to report back as to whether they have failed or not before I rip them out again prior to testing as my MOT isn't until March.

The MOT testing says "Auto-Levelling and washer system where required".

And, these are required on ALL HID setup's.

The only exception to this is early HID's that came as OEM without washer systems and/or self-levelling.

Obviously at the time they were fitted the two other systems were not required, so it will not be a requirement for them in the MOT.

You however have fitted HID's in 2011, a time when both washers and self-levellers are required.

Traffic police have also been circulated information on how to spot after-market HID's - any thought that your HID kit looks OEM......well just drive around twon for half an hour, the aftermarket kits stick out like a sore thumb.

This came up in a discussion over at Pistonheads where various traffic cops who post on the forums were discussing it all.

So it isn't just a matter of making your car legal for MOT time - you could be stopped anytime.

Then finally of course there is the whole issue that 99% of the time anyone is dazzled on the road these days it's those bloody after-market HID kits.

They are a menance and the sooner they are outlawed the better.

Seriously, this isn't an attack against you. However having been dazzled time and time again by people running obvious after-market HIDs I lothe the damn things with a vengance.

There are some good Halogen bulbs out there, use those and just make sure you get HIDs in the next vehicle you buy.

There are many things you can "save money" on by retro-fitting.

Devices that dazzle other drivers and make your car an MOT failure logically do not fit into that category.

The reason you get the boing on the sidelights is because of the CH/LH function.

If you don't have auto lights then to have the CH/LH work you leave the headlight switch in the on position. You get no warning as the system knows that the lights will switch off after a preset time therefore not draining the battery.

However on sidelights they won't go out so it warns you so that you don't drain the battery.

HTH

Carl

Very good point!

Makes perfect sense when you think about it

Very good point!

Makes perfect sense when you think about it

Yep now it's been said it's too obvious for words!

Many thanks VRS Carl - you've saved me a lot of ongoing head scratching.

The MOT testing says "Auto-Levelling and washer system where required".

And, these are required on ALL HID setup's.

The only exception to this is early HID's that came as OEM without washer systems and/or self-levelling.

Obviously at the time they were fitted the two other systems were not required, so it will not be a requirement for them in the MOT.

You however have fitted HID's in 2011, a time when both washers and self-levellers are required.

Traffic police have also been circulated information on how to spot after-market HID's - any thought that your HID kit looks OEM......well just drive around twon for half an hour, the aftermarket kits stick out like a sore thumb.

This came up in a discussion over at Pistonheads where various traffic cops who post on the forums were discussing it all.

So it isn't just a matter of making your car legal for MOT time - you could be stopped anytime.

Then finally of course there is the whole issue that 99% of the time anyone is dazzled on the road these days it's those bloody after-market HID kits.

They are a menance and the sooner they are outlawed the better.

Seriously, this isn't an attack against you. However having been dazzled time and time again by people running obvious after-market HIDs I lothe the damn things with a vengance.

There are some good Halogen bulbs out there, use those and just make sure you get HIDs in the next vehicle you buy.

There are many things you can "save money" on by retro-fitting.

Devices that dazzle other drivers and make your car an MOT failure logically do not fit into that category.

Thanks for that. As I said previously I'm aware of the situation.