HID Conversion Kits - Thoughts?

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Chris_C
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Post by Chris_C » 25 Jan 2008 05:05 pm

SteveP wrote:Don't need more lights as I'm perfectly happy with full beam, its just dipped that's the problem.
+1, on rallys going into quiet zones is like switching off the lights. I do need to put some more powerful bulbs in my grill though, got to the stage that I'm limited as my stopping distance could be longer than the main beam, but I won't drive so it is, I like seeing things and being able to stop for them....
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Jason B
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Post by Jason B » 25 Jan 2008 05:16 pm

yup, chris what you need is some bigger spots for rallies :D - like my wildlife blinders, stop a deer from 1/2 a mile :D
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Ronnie
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Post by Ronnie » 25 Jan 2008 06:12 pm

filthyjohn wrote:Where'd you get them osrams at?
ebay, £17.50 inc P&P!
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Ronnie
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Post by Ronnie » 25 Jan 2008 06:19 pm

SteveP wrote:I currently have Osram Silverstar's fitted with new reflectors and clean glass - and it made a nice difference.
My reflectors are flaking fast - anyone got a source for new ones, or know people who can resilver them?
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classicswede
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Post by classicswede » 26 Jan 2008 06:20 pm

If you need new lamps I think I still have a new set about. I was going to put them on the drift car but as it can get knocked about I don't want to risk damaging them.
Dai

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Ronnie
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Post by Ronnie » 26 Jan 2008 07:40 pm

Nice one Dai - very interested
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trabitom99
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Post by trabitom99 » 26 Jan 2008 08:13 pm

There's also a NOS headlamp on the bay at the moment. I originally put a bid in, forgetting that my car's LHD :? I was outbid pretty quickly though ...

Tom
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MJ
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Post by MJ » 27 Jan 2008 12:21 am

Wow, that's a nice set of lights on the last page!

Why have extra lights gone out of fashion recently? On old Astra's and Escort's all boy racers had spotlights, nower days you never see them :/

What's the legal situation with different types of lights (positioning, aim, times they can be used)? Obviously fog lights can only be used with less than 100 yards viability, and I believe there's a minimum distance from the edge of the car.

What about spotlights, other than only being used with full beam?

And how about driving lights that could be used all the time, and could aid dip beam?

Anyway, I must get a set of those ultra bright bulbs, I noticed over the Christmas period how poor the standard ones are. They could still be the original ones, as my grandad would hardly ever have driven at night, and we don't that often.
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foggyjames
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Post by foggyjames » 27 Jan 2008 03:43 am

You really don't like HIDs, do you Dai? :D

It's not the fact that they're HIDs which is the problem you're facing, it's how the optics are designed. The bottom line is that gas discharge lamps are typically 2.5-3.5x brighter per watt than incandescent lamps. That's a LOT of extra lumens. How you use those lumens isn't the lamps fault.

Where it goes horribly wrong is when people stick badly designed H4 replacements in reflectors designed for halogens...or when the self levelling systems on projectors break, because that's a LOT of light to get in your eyes.

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jtbo
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Post by jtbo » 27 Jan 2008 04:17 am

faded glass and reflectors + HID set is much worse than good glass and reflectors with Philips +75% halogens.

I have new reflectors + glass in 240, can't say much bad word about those, but I still have extra spot set, Bosch Rallye 225 sitting on bumper, there is no way anything could surprise me closer than 350-400 meters range.

There was bit of fog that was not helping testing at all, in reality that hill is pretty well lit:
http://jtbo.pp.fi/images/240/valot/bosch/Bosch225.JPG

This is without extra spots, high beam, still pretty good
http://jtbo.pp.fi/images/240/valot/bosc ... tk%E4t.JPG

I don't think that I have pics from old lights, anyway I could not see much further than low beam with current lights, with exception that low beam shows lot more to sides now than high beam with old lights.

This is current low beam:
http://jtbo.pp.fi/images/240/valot/bosch/lyhyet.JPG

Still I could use two more spots to light sides and corners bit better, however it is illegal to see well in here, with 225s I can't use even car's own high beam, only those spots are allowed, pretty stupid laws really as high beam is always dimmed when encountering another car.

Also I have switch where I can change to car's own high beam from spots if needed, for example snow fall is such event where is needed, also in dense traffic I don't use 225s as there is quite high contrast between low beam and full high beam, however quite lot of travels are to up north where there is almost no other cars to encounter so it can be full beam on for 100km.

Had Hella Jumbo 320FF before, has wider beam but lot shorter and offers less surrounding light than 225s, which seem to be best value for money, I did pay around 80€ from pair of 225s ;)
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Chris_C
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Post by Chris_C » 27 Jan 2008 01:16 pm

Those 225's look awesome Jani, thats a lot further than I get with my grill, but that does have dirty lenses and only 50W bulbs!
'89(G) 340 GLE B172k
'03 S60 D5 SE, '91 (J) MX5, 1954 Cyclemaster
Ex:
'89(F) 340 GL F7R (ex B172k) - Fake -> SBKV 300 Runner Up 08, 12; '91(H) 340 GL B14.4E - Kar; '88(F) 360 GLT B200E - Jet -> BKV 300 Runner Up 09; '89(G) 360 GLT B200E - Beast

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jtbo
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Post by jtbo » 27 Jan 2008 03:04 pm

Chris_C wrote:Those 225's look awesome Jani, thats a lot further than I get with my grill, but that does have dirty lenses and only 50W bulbs!
Those of mine are also with 50w bulbs, I have heard that 225s do work best with 100w bulbs, but law does not permit and it is too easy to check by police so I keep them with 50w bulbs only.

Here you can see bit of size of those:
http://jtbo.pp.fi/images/240/valot/bosch/DSC_0320.JPG

Also there is those Hella 320FF Jumbo's seen, those are not very small either. I don't know how those might fit to 360, also attachment might come bit of problem.
In 240 there is very solid metal bar inside bumper, maybe 3-4mm thick, so those don't need additional support, but with 360 those would be needed.

Oh yes, 25€ was rent of that garage time, we have that do it yourself garage here, but pricing is bit steep, however much nicer to install lamps when you can rise car up and so ;)

With good new lenses and reflectors + re-wiring with relays you can do a lot for lights really, additional spots are then finishing touch to that, can get light bit further :)
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jtbo
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Post by jtbo » 27 Jan 2008 05:51 pm

I made little comparison pic from images I managed to find out from net:
Image

That is from those old 320FF jumbos, HID kit is only 149 euros, so it puzzles me a bit if range is increased enough that it would be near par with 225s, then those would be better as beam is wider.

I guess that I have to test and see, if not good then I can always sell them with profit I guess :D
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Volvo 240 Diesel -83 -undecided-
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