Changing to HID's

[marlin758]

I am looking to change out my Headlamps and foglamps to HID but don't know enough about them .

I think that the standard headlamps are pretty abysmal ( my wife's Honda Jazz has brighter lamps )

I have fitted 100 Watt bulbs    but apart  from a much whiter light they don't seem a lot better - it has passed 2 MOT's with them fitted so  no problem there  )

However there is a bewildering array of kits / bulbs/ ballasts available.

1)  What do I need ?  I have found some affordable ones locally which come with ballasts ( I am going to need 3  sets ) ! but they are not Canbus error free ( says they will need a Canbus decoder ) but I am sure that I have seen the facility in BMWScan 1.4 to tell the car that HID's are fitted. Do I need decoders if I do this ?

2)  What colour temperature would anyone recommend ? Is it the higher the better for a bright white light or can you go too far ? The ones I have seen are 8000k.



Thanks in advance for any advice.

[X5Sport]

Lots of folks here have changed their lamps to HIDs and basically you need a kit with Ballasts, bulbs and wiring.  Some adapting of the lamp unit may be needed.  55W kits seem to be the most popular (standard being 35W).

Decent kits will not upset the Canbus.

Standard HIDs are between 4,300 and 5,000K.  8,000K is sensibly the highest.  The higher the number, the more 'blue' the colour goes, and the less sensitive your eyes become to the light.  The maximum I have seen are 30,000K and they were purple and dimmer even at 100W simply because the human eye is centred on green.  Still they would have been good in a sunlamp due to the UV output!!

Richard

[X5LeMans]

4300K is oem, and is a fairly true white, very very slight hint of yellow, but compared to halogen its crisp white.

By 6000 its already slightly blue, and by 12000 it will turn purple. Personally I prefer the 4300k's to my eyes at least they are the brightest, and they are still pretty clean/white.

As your eyes are less sensitive to blue, the higher the K the the bluer the colour and the lower the light output will be.

HID need projectors, so don't try putting them in the fog lights, you'll just blind everyone on the road.

To be "Legal" you shouldn't  just drop HID bulbs into a Halogen Projector. The entire headlight unit must be approved. There are after market kits which replace the entire light cluster, for a HID variant, as long as these are approved (and not just a cheap Chinese copy) that's fine.

You'll probably pass MOT with HID's in halogen projectors, but you'll either have to aim them low to avoid dazzle, or you might get picked up on it. I'm sure many people "get away" with having the wrong headlights, so that's a matter of personal choice.

MOT tests are now supposed to include checks of the HID self levelling, and cleaning systems now. Although you are permitted to have self levelling suspension and then no levelling on the headlights.  Just having a manual control to aim the lights is not the same though. (There is still some confusion as apparently some early HID cars were type approved with HIDs yet had no self levelling at all, but are OEM specced. I believe this affects some models of Subaru). BMW OEM HID's have always included self levelling.

Whatever you do... make sure you get pictures up!

[marlin758]

Thanks guys - a lot of good advice there and at least I know what  I am looking for now .

I think 4300k are the way to go . I'm not trying to make a fashion statement , just want to see where I'm going 

I am now looking at hids-direct on ebay . I think I have seen them mentioned a few times.

[Rusty]

I have 5K 55w HID's in mine, and they produce a good, slightly whiter than OE light.

Being 60% more powerful they are brighter but the light output is really good.

New kits are only about £60 on HIDSdirect or whatever they are called.


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[Sanj]

[quote="Rusty"]
New kits are only about £60 on HIDSdirect or whatever they are called.
[/quote]

I've been meaning to ask you about these Rusty - are they a direct replacement or lots of work? Ballast is on the bottom of the headlight so assuming, bumper forward to get the light unit out and then replace and reverse??? Does that sound about right?

And would you be able to point me to a link buddy?

[Rusty]

Hi Sanj.

I was unsure as to how much work it would be also having not even removed the front bumper before.

Basically, after releasing the bumper from it's locators, disconnecting the fog lights and front PDC plugs I rested it on a couple of suitable height boxes which eliminates the need to disconnect the headlamp washer feed or to remove the bumper fully.

Drop the headlight out (I placed the light unit lens down on the bench on a towel to prevent any movement or risk any scratching).  Remove the assembly back cover & locate the two thick ballast feed wires [yellow & brown] which come from the headlight power & control connector on the back running to the ballast plug underneath.  I made this easier by bending the loom retaining clip within the back back, freeing the cables to work on more easily, then putting it all back afterwards.

I cut the two cables about half way making sure there was plenty of slack left should I wish to revert to OE.  Make safe the ends from the ballast, then solder and heat shrink the feed from the plug to the supply of the new ballast.  I kept the OE ballast in place as it isn't in the way and it also prevents and moisture etc from getting near the connector.

I found there was enough room within the healight assy to allow the new ballast unit to fit in without hindering the level movement. The 'old' HT lead I moved out of the way securing with a cable tie. The new lamp fitted straight in once the old lamp and igniter with retaining clip was removed (keeping safe just in case). Screw the back back on, refit light unit and repeat for the other side.

I reckon it took me about 1hr to take off the bumper for the first time and then refit it, and about 5 minuets per side to change the lamp etc. A man of your talents will be able to do it all in about half that time

Can't find 55w d2S kit on HIDS direct  but I'm sure if you gave them a ring they would sort you out.

Hope that helps,

Russ


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[Sanj]

Thanks buddy,

So are you VERY happy with them or will they do? I want to do it but only if it's worth it.

I have a habit of breaking the clips on that plastic holder each side of the bumper (holding the bumper to the wing tip).

[Rusty]

I would say VERY happy.  Wish I had done it ages ago.  Do it, you know you want too.


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[Raj]

I have to say I did what Rusty has done and gone 55w D2S from hids direct (they do do them but not listed). I'm still a little unsure on the effective extra light output but then I need to get them re-aligned properly me thinks.

[marlin758]

Just out of interest I have now received and fitted the HID kits - I fitted 50 watt in headlamp and dipped beam - excellent  , much brighter light .

I then purchased a 35 watt set from a 'cheaper ' site on ebay - half the price of the 'good' ones but when they arrived they had the same brand of bulb , almost identical ballast and identically worded instructions !
Make of that what you will  ::)

I fitted them in the foglamps just to test them and they give a very flat topped beam with no scatter that I can see which looks like it will be excellent in fog - time will tell !