Xenon Bulbs vs HIDs

roop27 · Post by **roop27** » Tue Mar 22, 2011 6:23 pm

Simples...which is better value for money/lasts longer/ looks better?

JamieG172 · Post by **JamieG172** » Tue Apr 12, 2011 12:20 am

HIDs if you can afford, everytime. For a cheap upgrade xenon bulbs are great, muchhh brighter lights and crisper/whiter lights, but the HIDs offer a very slight blue tinge to look like the classy Mercs/beemers etc. One thing to be careful of is that if your planning on putting HIDs in standard lenses (assuming you havent bought projectors/angel eyes) then get the H7R fitment to fit reflector lenses (reflector lenses are what the Polo 9n/9n3 have as standard) to reduce glare to oncoming drivers!

Post by **alexperkins** » Tue Apr 12, 2011 11:37 am

Plus its also important to note that as of Jan 2012, HID bulbs fitted into a headlight designed for a halogen bulb will fail at MOT

New regulations stipulate you must use a headlamp designed to take an HID bulb, and where necessary, fit auto levelling and headlight washers.

Joz · Post by **Joz** » Tue Apr 12, 2011 10:28 pm

Yes, HID is obviously better, but Xenon's ( Actually HID are Xenon. You are thinking about Xenon-injected ones with only 28% Xenon I guess..) are pretty good as well!

Xenons are simple plug and play, give you about 100% more light compared to standards, and you get that blue hue.

I personally prefer Xenons, simply because they are less hazel, and much cheaper.

http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?Vi ... K:MEWNX:IT

Tim_GTi · Post by **Tim_GTi** » Tue Apr 12, 2011 11:27 pm

HIDs are in my top 3 mods. Must have for any car!

JamieG172 · Post by **JamieG172** » Tue Apr 12, 2011 11:30 pm

alexperkins wrote:Plus its also important to note that as of Jan 2012, HID bulbs fitted into a headlight designed for a halogen bulb will fail at MOT

New regulations stipulate you must use a headlamp designed to take an HID bulb, and where necessary, fit auto levelling and headlight washers.

Very interesting point Alex thanks for this! So would this apply even if you had h7Rs in a 9n with reflectors for example? If so i think that makes my decision for me, angel eye projectors or stick with just bulb replacements! thanks!

iian · Post by **iian** » Wed Apr 13, 2011 2:01 am

HID's all day long.

They may well be an MOT failure, but the price of swapping standards back in once a year is well worth the looks and light improvement!

Joz · Post by **Joz** » Wed Apr 13, 2011 9:36 am

They WILL blind others.

Post by **alexperkins** » Wed Apr 13, 2011 11:28 am

JamieG172 wrote:
alexperkins wrote:Plus its also important to note that as of Jan 2012, HID bulbs fitted into a headlight designed for a halogen bulb will fail at MOT

New regulations stipulate you must use a headlamp designed to take an HID bulb, and where necessary, fit auto levelling and headlight washers.
Very interesting point Alex thanks for this! So would this apply even if you had h7Rs in a 9n with reflectors for example? If so i think that makes my decision for me, angel eye projectors or stick with just bulb replacements! thanks!

Yes it will apply for a H7R bulb, or even angel eyes that are designed to take halogen bulbs, though you have more chance of passing

The police are also cracking down on retrofitted HID kits that blind other road users, and can take the car off the road and deem it illegal to drive until MOT tested with the correct headlight bulbs.

iian · Post by **iian** » Wed Apr 13, 2011 3:41 pm

Joz wrote:They WILL blind others.

Only if you don't put them in properly. You'll be fine with them

K.I.T.T. · Post by **K.I.T.T.** » Wed Apr 13, 2011 4:09 pm

iian wrote:
Joz wrote:They WILL blind others.
Only if you don't put them in properly. You'll be fine with them

I beg to differ. 9n and 9n3 refelectors are notoriously bad with HIDs.

And how can you "not put them in properly"?

Ash

Post by **alexperkins** » Wed Apr 13, 2011 4:11 pm

End of the day, all headlights designed to take a halogen bulb that are fitted with a HID bulb will create glare and you cant avoid this. Even the R bulbs only have a heat resistant square printed onto the bulb to attempt to reduce it, but it cant get rid of it

Projectors are the way forward.

roop27 · Post by **roop27** » Wed Apr 13, 2011 8:33 pm

alexperkins wrote:End of the day, all headlights designed to take a halogen bulb that are fitted with a HID bulb will create glare and you cant avoid this. Even the R bulbs only have a heat resistant square printed onto the bulb to attempt to reduce it, but it cant get rid of it

Projectors are the way forward.

hmm i think i will just go for xenon bulbs rather than HIDs if they're going to become an MOT failure. even if i can change them at MOT time, it doesnt stop police from pulling me over and giving me a spanking

Joz · Post by **Joz** » Thu Apr 14, 2011 9:03 am

Look, my opinion on the matter;

If you want HID, you must buy new projectors. Which means, HID will be MUCH more expensive.

Xenons give you more light, and I really like them!

I got some on my polo, super happy. Look for HQ auto lightning UK on ebay or their homepage. Absolutely love them!

Anyways, if you go with the HID's (and you got a 9N3;
http://cgi.ebay.com/VW-POLO-MK4F-9N3-Ch ... 35a9ab2030

In my opinion this is he better option if you have the money and time to instal it all.
However, I did not, and fitted Xenon's. And I'm more than happy!

chris meardon · Post by **chris meardon** » Thu Apr 14, 2011 1:52 pm

Worth a quick watch to fill you in on the law

https://www.youtube*.com/watch?v=yVuSSdZN ... re=related

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