HID Xenon globes

[Probes]

Hey all, just chasing a direct answer

Today i got a set of HID Xenon globes (4.3k, 55 watt) as a christmas present. Basically wanting to know what will happen when i install these in my sv6 ute, will they be too bright and look like high beam on low beam? And be a nuisance at night time.

And if so, is there a way around that problem? Projector lamps etc

Cheers for any constructive input in advance

Inb4; illegal and dont be a ****head

Thanks guys

[wraith]

Are they actually HID's or just globes?

[DAKSTER]

To make them legal you need 1. projector lamps 2. self levelling suspension 3. headlight washers.

To fit them to your existing lights without getting defected, you need to aim them more to the left than usual, and slightly lower than usual. This will reduce the glare in oncoming drivers eyes, but will also reduce the effectiveness of the light they throw since they are obviously no longer pointing in the right direction.

4.3K is just right colour wise, they will be a very bright white without producing that blue tinge. The blue may look good but its a dead giveaway for a start, and actually throws a less usable light than the warmer 4.3K.

55W is ridiculous, 35W are very bright. This is going to make bothering other people even harder to avoid.

You havent mentioned whether you have a dual or single, and dummy me has no idea what light combo your VE might have. If the HID set suits a 'high only' light then you could get away with simply installing them in your high beam and changing nothing. This will give you evil highway lights, but they will be unusable except for long lonely roads.

If they are combo high/low beam, I think I would be getting rid of them altogether. 55W is just too much to try and compensate for, that is one mean light source. Pretty much unusable around town.

[DAKSTER]

Are they actually HID's or just globes?

Good point. Are they just globes or are there little electronic boxes (ballasts) with them in a kit?

[Probes]

Its a whole HID kit, globes, ballast etc.

I havent had a look at the inner workings of the headlights yet. If anything would grabing a set of ssv projectors make this work any easier?

Cheers

[one_and_only2004]

Ssv headlights would be a better choice, but an even better idea is ditching them and getting a good set of halogen lamps - I just threw out my HID's as you can't see anything in the fog or rain.

[Troy711]

HIDs in reflector lenses makes you a muppet.

[BigBoss]

IMO 35w HIDs are no better than stock for high beam, I was running them for a while and was not impressed. However 35w in low beam and projectors are a really good setup. I also have 55w in my high beams but this is only because i'm doing a lot of night time country road driving. However saying that I was driving in heavy rain a while back and the 55w high beams were crap, they just seemed to illuminate the rain ahead of me and not penetrate it. In that situation my projector lows were much better.

[DAKSTER]

Its a whole HID kit, globes, ballast etc.

I havent had a look at the inner workings of the headlights yet. If anything would grabing a set of ssv projectors make this work any easier?

Cheers

Definitely a better option than no projectors. Still not legal, but a whole bunch better.

You havent said whether your HID kit is high/low or just high?

I have reflector headlights on my VS. They're a better design than the originals, but still just reflectors. I have Phillips H4 Extreme Visions in the main lights, and HID 55W 4300k in the high beam.

This is the best set of lights I have ever had, and since I dont have HID in the main lights, I am bothering no-one.

With the lights correctly adjusted again, because I dont have to worry about blinding people with the main lights now.. the HID high beam is like a set of good spotlights. They work great on the highway but of course you have to dip them early.. just like spotlights.

I dont have a problem with reflection from rain or fog either. Perhaps those that did were using cooler (bluer) lamps? 55W 4300K make awesome spotlights, but are dangerous around town.

[BigBoss]

I had problems with 5000k HID in the rain

[StoneX]

I have 35W 4,300K lows and 55W 4,300K highs and haven't noticed an issue in the rain or fog... It's pretty obvious that you don't use high beam in fog and the lows cuts through the low fog.

[Johnsy]

Not sure what HID lights are on my R8 but when i flick on the high beam ( those plus my normal highbeam light up ) on a real dark road fu*k they are bright !! I would want those as normal headlights... like the previous poster said add them to your higbeam switch and you will have great vision on dangerous roads at night. I also flick on my fog lights with this combo to light up the sides and lower parts of the road...