Upgrading Healight Bulbs

[AshleyWilliams]

Hi Guys

I would like to upgrade my headlight bulbs on my 6n2. Has anyone got any reccomendations???

Ashley

[f6had]

HID's

[d_austin974]

These are amazing. Bought myself a set last week and all my mates wanted them. Not as cheap as some of the sets from Hong Kong but the description explains why they are more expensive. And they come with a 2 year warranty.

http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/ws/eBayISAPI.dll? ... K:MEWNX:IT

[f6had]

Save the money and get the ones from China - there's no need for digital ballasts in the Polo and there's plenty of room to install a standard size ballasts.

Also a lot of people don't consider this but the slimline ballasts actually tend to have slightly more heat and reliability issues as you are effectively packing more technology into a smaller form factor.

Not sure what benefit the metal bases on the bulbs will give you - they run cooler than Halogen bulbs anyway.

I've installed HID's in everything from an Accord, Golf MK4, BMW Mini Cooper, 2006 5 series BMW, new Hyundai I20 and even the Polo.

Not had any issues yet. The kit in my Accord was installed in June 2008 and I've now covered over 50k miles since that time. I had to replace the bulbs in January this year as one cracked (I suspect from the extreme cold - it was -20 degrees one night in Bradford) apart from that, they are still as good new.

If you're going to spend close to £60 - then just buy two kits from China so you have spares.

[d_austin974]

I dont know much about them to be honest f6had, thanks for enlightening me. Do u know if theres any way of getting them through MOT, I've been told the beam pattern is usually pretty wonky in them withjout a projector headlight. Its not really a big problem, the MOT on mine isnt up until april and they're easy to take out. Just wondering if you know any tricks?

[f6had]

Well I've put a few cars with HID's through MoT that have reflector lenses (including the 6N2 only a few weeks back).

The tester can set the beam alignment and as long it is in line, they can't fail it.

The legalities of HID are a whole different topic but most MoT testers won't fail them...

[d_austin974]

so is it just a matter of aligning the headlights correctly?
Sorrry to Ashley for Hi-Jacking your thread!

[f6had]

Yes mate, but if the beam scatter is really bad and the light isn't being dispersed correctly even after alignment then the tester can use their discretion and fail them.

[Bepe]

they also need headlight washers iirc for xenons

[f6had]

That's a different point entirely. MoT tester won't fail them if they don't have washers - that's why I didn't mention that, it confuses the issue.

The legalities are that if you are retro fitting HID to a car that didn't come with them from the factory then you need to have self levelling headlights and headlight washers.

The MoT however doesn't check for this, it simply checks for headlight aim and beam scatter.