Thinking of buying a 2010/11 VRS. Looking for one with factory HID but if not how easy is it to fit aftermarket units - do they need a canbus specific unit? I currently have a Seat Leon with aftermarket hid which I've had no problems with.

One option I donnot have ( have aftermarket HID)

Factory xenon is exacly the option I should of had made the sacrifice for.( €€€€€€)

Yes you need Canbus aware ones.

Yes they look rather meh

Yes they are a legal grey area

No I wouldn't personally install any

Yes I'd go and buy the brightest Halogen bulbs I could until I get another car in the future with Xenons fitted as standard

Yes I will attempt to blind you back if you're ever driving towards me - as nearly every single after-market HID owner does

No the blue really doesn't look good

Thinking of buying a 2010/11 VRS. Looking for one with factory HID but if not how easy is it to fit aftermarket units - do they need a canbus specific unit? I currently have a Seat Leon with aftermarket hid which I've had no problems with.

I see you've got the usual responses above so here's some proper advice...

Canbus ones can sometimes cause a problem with other elements of the cars control modules so the best way is probably to use non-Canbus ones and code them in VCDS for Xenon's without shutters.

Some have fitted 35w units and others 50w units and it may be that you can fit the 50w ones without coding. I have the latter but they have been re-coded.

The OE halogen light units in the UK are projectors with a clear cut off and when I fitted my HID's the beam pattern appeared no different between halogen and xenon (I taped the halogen beam pattern onto a garage door to confirm) However, I then removed the light unit to fit LED sidelights and after re fitting realised that my drivers side headlamp unit was in a slightly different position relative to the bodywork (it had been delivered badly fitted, albeit the beam was correctly aligned) so had to adjust the beam alignment back to what it was. I've had no flashes from oncoming vehicles and no other adverse comments. I have washers fitted as standard (it's a 4x4) but haven;t yet been through an MOT. The latter could be an issue as there is no self-levelling on my car but I understand that the wording of the 2012 MOT requierements doesn't mandate self-levelling. However, there is still a question over final legality from the construction and use regs.

The choice is yours!

Yes you need the Canbus aware ones unless you have VCDS to code them out.

No they wont look meh as the halogen units are projectors so will look OEM

No they aren't illegal

No they won't blind people anymore than halogens if adjusted correctly (refer to point about projectors)

Edited 7 February, 201214 yr by jrw

Yes you need the Canbus aware ones unless you have VCDS to code them out.

No they wont look meh as the halogen units are projectors so will look OEM

No they aren't illegal

No they won't blind people anymore than halogens if adjusted correctly (refer to point about projectors)

Cheers for the replies. I've had them on my Seat for two years and passed MOT without any problems. Also had them on an audi which had projector style headlamps and they looked oe without any glare. I know there note e approved but I've never had any issues. Yes I agree some cars are blinding with them...ie corsa brigade etc. What do you need to go into with vagcom as I've used vag com for a few years now

Cheers for the replies. I've had them on my Seat for two years and passed MOT without any problems. Also had them on an audi which had projector style headlamps and they looked oe without any glare. I know there note e approved but I've never had any issues. Yes I agree some cars are blinding with them...ie corsa brigade etc. What do you need to go into with vagcom as I've used vag com for a few years now

Controller 9 will need accessing to change the settings to 'xenons without shutters' I sure someone with VCDS (Vagcom) will post a pathway for you to follow.

I don't know about the after-market HIDS, obviously lots of open questions there but the factory ones are fantastic, .

Best to use a non canbus one, and code with vag-com,(basically it tells your car it has them, and if a bulb goes still comes uo with a warning light ) the others cause more electrical load on the system

For use on the public road they have to be ECE approved and marked. Without those markings, they're illegal, just like any other light-source (e.g 100w bulbs, E-Pray cheapie LEDs)

http://briskoda.net/forums/topic/219960-after-market-hid-kits/

...gives where the information comes from (UK government and the ECE approval schedules are in there.)

UK Govt: http://www2.dft.gov.uk/pgr/roadsafety/drs/hidheadlamps.html

Passing the MOT and The Law are two different things.

However, should you find a set of legal approved and marked HIDs, please share the knowledge....I know there are quite a few people who would love to do it, legally.

Edited 7 February, 201214 yr by RainbowFore

Mike can you post a link to the ones you got

or is it these

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/H7-HID-Xenon-Conversion-Kit-Skoda-Octavia-2004-/270668094922?pt=UK_CarsParts_Vehicles_CarParts_SM&hash=item3f05135dca

Mike can you post a link to the ones you got

or is it these

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/H7-HID-Xenon-Conversion-Kit-Skoda-Octavia-2004-/270668094922?pt=UK_CarsParts_Vehicles_CarParts_SM&hash=item3f05135dca

If it's of any use I have had these (35w 5000k) fitted for over 2 years and imo they are tip top, never been flashed passed 3 MOT's now (including one last month) I even spoke to my neighbour who is a traffic cop and they said that 99% of Police wouldn't bat an eyelid at them in my car, but as Mike mentioned 12000k in a mk2 Corsa would warrant attention.....

FYI, I fitted them in the morning and had them coded about a hour later, my advice would be to find a friendly VCDS owner, meet up and fit them then, only a 15 minute job.

I have access to a VAS machine i take it i can code them with that? Also which colour bulb would you recommend 4300k 5000k or 6000k?

I have access to a VAS machine i take it i can code them with that? Also which colour bulb would you recommend 4300k 5000k or 6000k?

4300k is OE, I have 5000k which imo give the whitest light with out losing light output, 6000k still look good, but tending toward the blue side of the spectrum so more noticeably after market.

Thanks for the fast reply. Dont suppose ya know if they can be coded in with the proper skoda VAS machine do ya?

I have 43k they start going blue after that