Hi all apparently my wife's fabi 2 has xenon headlights, it seems one bulb for both main and dip as only one lens visible so I assume is flips some kind of reflector to aim the beam to cover a greater area/height... MY question is whats the difference between say a high spec H7 bulb and a xenon bulb... can I fit HID's to the vehicle as the lights are pretty dismal as do most Skoda lights to be honest, (my Octavia has poor headlights on dip but fine on main beam)

 

Any advise gratefully received and particularly the right HID kit to buy if I need them, I assume most peeps on here use I think london something on ebay for their HID kits...

 

thanks

You can fit them. They will work, but should be aligned ideally. And aren't 'legal'

Your wife's car will have washers for the headlamps as that's a requirement for xenons.

The difference is how the light is projected. Xenons throw further at a higher intensity, yet the beam doesn't attenuate and can be regulated to cut sharp edges on the beam pattern through their design.

Halogens have a tendency to scatter light as their projection is dictated by the receptacle they're fitted to.

Thanks for the quick reply, so basically the difference between a standard halogen lamp and a xenon lamp is it just a name for two different types of lamp, ie, they are an identical lamp jsut one has different gas filling inside ??? cos a halogen lamp will have nice sharp edges... (not sure its got washers but the xenons were factory fit I believe).

 

Thanks

Edited 3 February, 201511 yr by andybristol

By 'xenon' headlights, what exactly do you mean? Whos told you that? No mk2 fabias have xenons (hids) fitted as standard as it isnt an option. The halogen bulbs that claim to be xenon look are just a sales tactic, its a normal bulb with a blue costing which actually produces less light than a normal halogen, or philips extreme/osram nightbreakers

Many people have fitted hids on here.

I've got some in mine and theres no difference in beam cut off or scatter to the halogens, theyre just brighter.

Headlight washers and self levelling isnt a requirement as such, but must work if fitted to the vehicle during an MOT.

And yeah. The blackpack lights have a shutter. When high beam is selected the shutter raised and extends the length of the beam.

The difference between a halogen and hid is this.

A halogen has a filament and is gas filled. The filament provides the light.

A HID has an arc providing the light.

They work on a completely different principle. The hids also require a ballast, they arent just a straight swap like a halogen. But are provided in kits so are pretty much plug and play.

I'll get you some pictures. Hang on.

http://www.briskoda.net/forums/index.php?/topic/332672-Fitting-hids

Have a look at this thread. It's a good read and lots of questions answered.

You don't need washers to make HID legal but that's for another day.

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Edited 3 February, 201511 yr by jonro2009

THANK YOU.... that's the details I wanted, the reason I said it came with Xenon lights...it was a feature listed in the sales blurb when we bought it. Ok so maybe I'll try a set of osram nightbreakers or something, I know we changed our previous cars lamps to them and it was a noticeable difference in light output so maybe worth a shot in the first instance, failing that it'll be a set of 35w HID's, anyone recommend any particular brand model type etc... seems londoncolour is a popular seller from what I have seen in other listings... I guess its just a set of H7 fitment be it HID or whatever I go for first.

 

Thanks again for all input.

Osram nightbreakers are the best halogens IMO.

Hids direct or londoncolour seem to be the 2 most popular hid suppliers on here

Get a car with real Xenon headlights and try to say thet are poor. My last two Octavias have had Xenons and everyone comments on how good they are.

 

I mean REAL Xenons, don't be one of the plonkers driving around with a mod dazzling people. In my opinion having 100W 'offroad' bulbs and Xenon conversion kits should be a 3 point and a remove the car from the road until it is suitable to drive offence. By lay Xenon headlights should be auto leveling to stop dazzling oncoming traffic and have washers to stop the beam being deflected and dazzling oncoming traffic.

 

This to me is the same level of ignorant driving as driving with fog lights on and claiming they are DRL's!

Best bulbs are these:

http://www.regalautobulbs.co.uk/product/111/H7_COBALT_II#.VNHc1YbfWnM

Never liked night breakers as they were yellow and quite honestly weren't better than the £3 ones off of eBay. Got these after they won an auto express award. Brilliant, got a real defining white light to them and throw quite far with a fair intensity. Had them in my Octavia for 2 years without incident.

Get a car with real Xenon headlights and try to say thet are poor. My last two Octavias have had Xenons and everyone comments on how good they are.

I mean REAL Xenons, don't be one of the plonkers driving around with a mod dazzling people. In my opinion having 100W 'offroad' bulbs and Xenon conversion kits should be a 3 point and a remove the car from the road until it is suitable to drive offence. By lay Xenon headlights should be auto leveling to stop dazzling oncoming traffic and have washers to stop the beam being deflected and dazzling oncoming traffic.

This to me is the same level of ignorant driving as driving with fog lights on and claiming they are DRL's!

Sorry mate. But thats just not true.

Headlight washers and self levelling must work IF fitted.

Hids are only dazzling when put into a reflector lens.

When you put them into a projector set up like the fabia has (blackpack or silver) all you get is a brighter light in the same places as it was with halogen. They arent dazzling at all. The beam has a sharp cut off and dips to the left as it should.

Tbh. I've been asked a few times by mechanics, car enthusiasts and all sorts if theyre factory fit, cos they look like it.

When I've said to others i fitted them, theyre often surprised and just assumed they were factory fit.

I don't see what part i said wasn't true. Xenons, if fitted, must have working headlight washers and auto leveling see below, if you don't have auto leveling or washers it is a fine-able offence and should fail the MOT.

 

"A HID headlamp unit sold in the after market should:

1. be type approved to ECE Regulation 98 as a component.
2. when fitted to the vehicle should enable ECE Regulation 48 to be complied with (although no government inspection will take place).
3. Comply with RVLR as far as "use" is concerned.

In practice this means:

1. The headlamp unit (outer lens, reflector, bulb) shall be type approved to ECE 98 and be "e-marked" to demonstrate this. That can only be done by the headlamp supplier - Hella, Valeo etc. who must test the headlamp in an independent laboratory.
2. Once fitted to the vehicle it must have headlamp cleaning and self-levelling (which can be for the headlamp or can be in the vehicle suspension - some expensive estate cars have "self-levelling suspension" and that is adequate). Also the dipped beam must stay on with the main beam.
3. The headlamp must be maintained in good working order, kept clean, and aligned/adjusted correctly like any other headlamp.
Under the Road Traffic Act 1988 it is an offence to supply, fit or use vehicle parts which are not legal.
In summary it is not permitted to convert an existing halogen headlamp unit for use with HID bulbs. The entire headlamp unit must be replaced with one designed and approved for use with HID bulbs and it must be installed in accordance with the rules stated above."

If you are found to be using lights which don't comply, in all likelihood, you may be reported to the Procurator Fiscal and may end up with a fine."

Edited 4 February, 201511 yr by whitep

I don't see what part i said wasn't true. Xenons, if fitted, must have working headlight washers and auto leveling see below, if you don't have auto leveling or washers it is a fine-able offence and should fail the MOT.

"A HID headlamp unit sold in the after market should:

1. be type approved to ECE Regulation 98 as a component.

2. when fitted to the vehicle should enable ECE Regulation 48 to be complied with (although no government inspection will take place).

3. Comply with RVLR as far as "use" is concerned.

In practice this means:

1. The headlamp unit (outer lens, reflector, bulb) shall be type approved to ECE 98 and be "e-marked" to demonstrate this. That can only be done by the headlamp supplier - Hella, Valeo etc. who must test the headlamp in an independent laboratory.

2. Once fitted to the vehicle it must have headlamp cleaning and self-levelling (which can be for the headlamp or can be in the vehicle suspension - some expensive estate cars have "self-levelling suspension" and that is adequate). Also the dipped beam must stay on with the main beam.

3. The headlamp must be maintained in good working order, kept clean, and aligned/adjusted correctly like any other headlamp.

Under the Road Traffic Act 1988 it is an offence to supply, fit or use vehicle parts which are not legal.

In summary it is not permitted to convert an existing halogen headlamp unit for use with HID bulbs. The entire headlamp unit must be replaced with one designed and approved for use with HID bulbs and it must be installed in accordance with the rules stated above."

If you are found to be using lights which don't comply, in all likelihood, you may be reported to the Procurator Fiscal and may end up with a fine."

Where did quote #2 come from, the one N bold. Is this documented somewhere or your own words/interpretation?

As far as I know the MOT test guidelines clearly state 'IF FITTED'

They will not fail MOT in my experience and you will not be reported to the fiscal.

This whole topic has been done to death on every HID thread and the guidelines are so ambiguous that no prosecution would stick.

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Its from the honest john website. Since 2012 its been illegal to have broken or no washers or auto leveling. I think auto leveling has been longer as someone mentions many MOT testers aren't aware of this, they also mention that projector headlights are not often checked for the aftermarket kits because they look standard whereas the reflector ones obviously dazzle.

 

To be honest after reading this I have started looking at fitting a kit to my wifes A3 because she has projectors and her lights are cr@p. Hypocritical I know.

 

But at the moment there are far too many people out there with dangerously bright headlights, there is no way a 52 plate zetec Fiesta has Xenons fitted.... especially when every single day i have to stop till he passes because his lights burn my eye sockets out. Yes when a Octavia VRS such as mine passes with real Xenons you can see the lights adjusting themselves constantly.

To be honest after reading this I have started looking at fitting a kit to my wifes A3 because she has projectors and her lights are cr@p. Hypocritical I know.

Cant believe youve just said that after saying everybody deserves 3 points n a smack bottom etc etc.

Honestly. If i was following you at night, you wouldn't give the headlights a second look.

I agree, HIDs in a reflector lens are dangerous and extremely dazzling due to the scatter of light. In the projector lenses they are much better.

The April 2013 MOT guidance below is, as far as I know, the most recent and there are more loopholes than my grandads Cardigan!

"Vehicles equipped with High Intensity Discharge (HID) or LED dipped beam headlamps MAY be fitted with headlamp washers and a suspension or headlamp self levelling system. Where such systems are fitted, they must work ....."

Note the word MAY!

It goes on to say: "Where HID or LED dipped beam headlamps are fitted, switch on the headlamps and check the operation of ANY headlamp levelling and cleaning devices fitted."

note the word ANY!

On the face of it these two together mean that if the systems are not fitted then they are not tested and their absence will not cause an MOT fail.

Of course it's all subjective and open to interpretation.

If you have projector lenses I would (and have on my Monte) get a decent HID kit and go for it, you will never look back

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I still think i will, even more so if they say MAY.... i can argue the case them. I have always not fitted them because I have always understood it to be a fail and in my experience consider them dangerous, but yes i can see why projectors are probably ok. There is a definite line at the top i agree with that.

 

OK guys, so I will be smacking my own bottom, and will hand over my license for 3 points but which kits have you all got.

Lots buy from here...

http://www.hids-direct.co.uk

I have this kit..

http://www.car-mod-shop.co.uk/35wslimh7-h7-xenon-hid-conversion-kit-slim-.html

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And the light output is better or just cosmetic?

And the light output is better or just cosmetic?

Better.

I've currently got a 35w kit in from hids direct, but keep getting recommended a 50w kit (by others and hids direct themselves) so in tempted to upgrade it.

Havent made my mind up yet haha

I'm thinking of going for a 55w kit, haven't bitten the bullet yet though. I'm also thinking of going down the K spectrum to 4300 from 6000k which have a little blue tinge. The 4300k have more usable light apparently.

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My Octavias have had 4300's, that is the OEM look. The bluer the light, the faster the light fades. 4300's are good, im thinking i might try 5000's on the wifes car now.

I'm thinking of going for a 55w kit, haven't bitten the bullet yet though. I'm also thinking of going down the K spectrum to 4300 from 6000k which have a little blue tinge. The 4300k have more usable light apparently.

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Sounds like you're in the same boat as me mate.

Im currently using 5k but gonna drop to 4300k for the extra bit of light.

I cant figure out why some kits are 55w and some are 50w. Surely 5w doesn't make any difference

Also. Im currently quizzing London colour about UV protection and what their kits are tested to. I dont wanna bugger my headlights or wiring with the extra power on start up, or the extra heat concentrated in one spot of the lamp.

Yeah fabiamk2se I reckon we ate going down the same lines with the same thought process. I'd be interested to hear your findings if you could keep me updated?

Whitep, I was told 4300k is OEM so I reckon I'll be getting that temperature even if I stick with 35w ballasts.

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Just rang hids direct.

The guy there says he'd go for the 55w kit. He cant promise it wont cause any problems with extra current draw, but it shouldn't do.

Also says heat build up wont be a problem because of how cool they run