Yes, I know if I search up HID there are loads of results but a lot of them have failed photobucket photos that don't work or eBay links that have expired.

 

Which kit is best for the projector headlights in the MK2 Fabia (Black headlights if that matters):
https://www.hids-direct.co.uk/categories/hid-kits/hid-kits-by-bulb-type/h7

 

Obviously, I'm ignoring the ones that are over £100 but do I need 55w, 42w? 

 

Thanks

Get OSRAM Nightbreakers. You'll get more useful light on the road compared to standard halogen, without blinding everyone else on the road.

....Or go with half-way decent LED's. I believe MOT testers can fail you, if they spot retro fitted HID kits (Or indeed, LED's). They might not but can.

 

Motordepot report that ..“The changes made in May 2018 to UK MOT law banned HID conversion for halogen headlamp reflectors and this was extended to include LED conversions in January 2021,” 

Edited 1 October, 20214 yr by mrgf

2 minutes ago, mrgf said:

....Or go with half-way decent LED's. I believe MOT testers can fail you, if they spot retro fitted HID kits. They might not but can.

LEDs have the same problems as HIDs when used in a lamp designed for halogen bulbs. The light source is the wrong shape and in tge wrong place so it'll scatter light and dazzle other drivers.

I was not endorsing them, just offering an alternative to HID's, as the OP had issues finding some. Lets face it, most modern lights burn out your optic nerves these days, especially with all the speed bumps, etc. 

10 minutes ago, mrgf said:

....Or go with half-way decent LED's. I believe MOT testers can fail you, if they spot retro fitted HID kits (Or indeed, LED's). They might not but can.

 

Motordepot report that ..“The changes made in May 2018 to UK MOT law banned HID conversion for halogen headlamp reflectors and this was extended to include LED conversions in January 2021,” 

My original plan was LEDs but most people were saying it’s **** and we might as well go for the HID kit, as for MOTs, I can simply swap them round if my tester isn’t friendly which he will be

46 minutes ago, chimaera said:

Get OSRAM Nightbreakers. You'll get more useful light on the road compared to standard halogen, without blinding everyone else on the road.

I used to run nightbreakers in my old car, I was buying them like 3 times a year so wanted to stay away and I doubt they’ll make much difference in the black head lights as they’re crap to begin with 

3 minutes ago, mrgf said:

I was not endorsing them, just offering an alternative to HID's, as the OP had issues finding some. Lets face it, most modern lights burn out your optic nerves these days, especially with all the speed bumps, etc. 

Using the wrong bulbs is a different sort wrong than misaligned headlights. Misalignment will only cause dazzle directly in front of the vehicle and is easily corrected.

 

LEDs and HIDs will scatter light in all directions (I've seen overhead signs on the motorway lit up by HIDs as they were right under it) which is a lot worse for drivers around you. All that scattered light is wasted too so at the end of the day you're probably not gaining much compared to good quality high output halogens.

45 minutes ago, ruida_silva said:

I used to run nightbreakers in my old car, I was buying them like 3 times a year so wanted to stay away and I doubt they’ll make much difference in the black head lights as they’re crap to begin with 

this is where you need to understand the difference....................the black headlights play no part, thats not the lens, they are projector headlights, the circular lens is the reflective part / whats produces the light

 

Put some decent bulbs in, take it to an MOT garage and get the headlights set correctly (not just legal, but set well) and all will be good....................and legal.............................and not annoy everyone else on the road.

 

I use the philips extreme bulbs, been in for over 4 years + to date (will probably blow next week now !! )

Edited 1 October, 20214 yr by UrbanPanzer

7 minutes ago, UrbanPanzer said:

this is where you need to understand the difference....................the black headlights play no part, thats not the lens, they are projector headlights, the circular lens is the reflective part / whats produces the light

 

Put some decent bulbs in, take it to an MOT garage and get the headlights set correctly (not just legal, but set well) and all will be good....................and legal.............................and not annoy everyone else on the road.

 

I use the philips extreme bulbs, been in for over 4 years + to date (will probably blow next week now !! )

No I understand that lol, but the Monte Carlo headlights are already crap or is it the full beams that people complain about. Anyway the only option to actually see clearly from many other owners is a HID kit

I agree that the headlights are not on par with modern ones, LED or HID, but your comparing old tech, I to felt something had to be done.......so

 

As i have already mentioned and will try once more, some decent bulbs, headlights set properly and you WILL see a massive difference to the point your most likely be happy and don't need to waste money on cheap chinese HID kits that will most likely not even fit the headlamps properly, throw up dash errors and be a pain at MOT time.

 

Choice is yours in the end, but you have already mentioned you want a sub £100 kit, remember buy cheap buy twice.

 

And the "other" owners are saying their comments from the drivers point of view, it's easy to throw a **** load of light onto the road, great but what about everyone else coming towards you !! looking at your un-focused search lights!!

18 minutes ago, UrbanPanzer said:

I agree that the headlights are not on par with modern ones, LED or HID, but your comparing old tech, I to felt something had to be done.......so

 

As i have already mentioned and will try once more, some decent bulbs, headlights set properly and you WILL see a massive difference to the point your most likely be happy and don't need to waste money on cheap chinese HID kits that will most likely not even fit the headlamps properly, throw up dash errors and be a pain at MOT time.

 

Choice is yours in the end, but you have already mentioned you want a sub £100 kit, remember buy cheap buy twice.

 

And the "other" owners are saying their comments from the drivers point of view, it's easy to throw a **** load of light onto the road, great but what about everyone else coming towards you !! looking at your un-focused search lights!!

Okay then, I’ll take your advice and get some nighttbreakers. How much is the average cost to get headlights set correctly?

You say you have had nightbreakers before but had to keep changing them ? I personally cannot comment on them for performance or reliability as I have never used them.

 

This is what I use in my Fabia vRS and also had them in my Land Rover (used to be called extreme power)

 

https://www.philips.co.uk/c-p/12972XVB1/x-tremevision-car-headlight-bulb

 

Cost to set headlights ?, no idea to be fair, your headlights "should" be set as to be legal and not affect other road users "now" hence you have an MOT. The problem stems from the fact there is a large "window" as to where the headlights can be set that will

pass an MOT......BUT thats not always the best setting for being legal and having better performance. Headlight range can be from 0.5 to 2.75% below the horizontal, mine where at 1.5, brought them up to the max of 0.5% and the difference at night was to be fair

like I had spotlights on as well.

I set these myself as I have access to an MOT garage and equipment, but any MOT station should allow you to check them for small fee I would hope and may even help adjust, it will be certainly cheaper than a cheap HID kit thats for sure.

 

If you decide to fit "better" bulbs, you may find the improvement of just the new bulbs is enough to satisfy you for now and then at your next MOT have a word when it's time to get on the beam setter and have a go then.

 

Attached is the "window" of where your lights can be, you will see a headlight set at 2.75% will be so much closer to the car and not give very good distant vision, compound that with a standard old halogen bulb and the performance will be

 quite poor.

 

 

Edited 1 October, 20214 yr by UrbanPanzer