cheap HID kit

fenton_jd · Oct 3rd, 2009, 03:36

So I took the risk, and bought a cheap one from ebay - best use of £50 in a long time.

No flickering in DRL position, build quality of the kit seems very good. Excellent light output.

Given that I spent £30 on Philips Extreme Power bulbs, I'd say you're better off putting the money towards a HID kit.

If you want the absolute best/brightest light out put, select one with a colour temp of 4300K.

I went for 6000K for the slight blue effect and even those are brilliant, but maybe I would have preferred 4300k for maxium light on the road.

Installation is easy, and with the benefit that the S40 lights slide straight out, you can install them in the warmth of the house and actually see what you're doing.

S40 fits the bill for HID's, there isnt any "glare" that you get from a HID kit installed in a corsa etc. My car just looks like it came with HIDs from the factory, obviously bar the headlamp washers.

The standard S40 headlights are rubbish. HID kit has made them really good now.

Philips Extreme Power 80% plus bulbs ARE still VERY good though, if you dont fancy a HID kit. I've had two sets of the phillips bulbs on two different cars and the light output has been very good on both.

s40_kid · Oct 3rd, 2009, 18:54

have you got a link to the HID product fenton? Ive been thinking of upgrading for a while but have been using philips exteme bulbs in the interim

fenton_jd · Oct 3rd, 2009, 19:37

Quote:

Originally Posted by s40_kid

have you got a link to the HID product fenton? Ive been thinking of upgrading for a while but have been using philips exteme bulbs in the interim

http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/ws/eBayISAPI.d...EOIBSA:GB:1123

This is the one I used.

s40_kid · Oct 4th, 2009, 09:18

Quote:

Originally Posted by fenton_jd

http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/ws/eBayISAPI.d...EOIBSA:GB:1123

This is the one I used.

Thanks for the link Fenton. Is it an easy job to do? They state plug and play which is what I want but somebody else'e P&P may not be the same as mine

fenton_jd · Oct 4th, 2009, 15:56

They are plug and play. The only "work" involved is drilling a hole in both back covers of the headlamp unit:

alfiembra · Oct 4th, 2009, 18:06

I need to get something like this for the winter, but always thought you couldn't fit them unless you had headlight washers, or is that just an urban myth.

Alan

fenton_jd · Oct 4th, 2009, 23:38

The principle of having to have "autoleveling" and headlamp washers is imho very pointless.

the only visibile difference between my HID's and my Extreme Plus bulbs is the colour and the HID's being a bit brighter.

The beam pattern is identical, so logically wouldnt I need headlamp washers and autolevellers on the normal projectors anyway?

Welton · Oct 5th, 2009, 08:01

Factory fitted HID's have to have the self levelling and the washer jets to stop glare to other people. Fitting HID's in normal 'reflector' lenses is a bad idea and I've been dazzled by plenty of these. The S40 has projector lenses which are used with HID's anyway.

Fenton, I'm shocked at the price for that kit and may buy one myself now. They say the balasts are digital - does that mean they won't flag a fault being digital?

The left hand balast looks a bit awkward there, was there no other room anywhere?

Really interested in these now

FaKaWi · Oct 5th, 2009, 08:47

Quote:

Originally Posted by Welton

The left hand balast looks a bit awkward there, was there no other room anywhere?

Really interested in these now

Not sure if you can do the same on the S40, but I placed the ballasts on my C70 inside the bumper, there was a nice handy hole when I removed my headlamps giving access to this void. I even went one step further and drilled the cable holes in the underside of the headlamp casing so the cables come up from underneath and there is no wiring etc in the engine bay, much neater job.

catch22 · Oct 5th, 2009, 17:13

Quote:

Originally Posted by fenton_jd

So I took the risk, and bought a cheap one from ebay - best use of £50 in a long time.

they look great.

Quote:

Philips Extreme Power 80% plus bulbs ARE still VERY good though, if you dont fancy a HID kit. I've had two sets of the phillips bulbs on two different cars and the light output has been very good on both.

must admit when I bought this S40 back in Jan, my first Volvo, I realised the headlamps were pizz poor. So spent £25 on the Phillips Extreme, doing the job fine. But it they don't last long I may opt for a HID kit.

Oct 3rd, 2009, 03:36	#1
fenton_jd turkeyspace.com Last Online: Nov 5th, 2016 16:41 Join Date: Apr 2009 Location: Gloucester	cheap HID kit So I took the risk, and bought a cheap one from ebay - best use of £50 in a long time. No flickering in DRL position, build quality of the kit seems very good. Excellent light output. Given that I spent £30 on Philips Extreme Power bulbs, I'd say you're better off putting the money towards a HID kit. If you want the absolute best/brightest light out put, select one with a colour temp of 4300K. I went for 6000K for the slight blue effect and even those are brilliant, but maybe I would have preferred 4300k for maxium light on the road. Installation is easy, and with the benefit that the S40 lights slide straight out, you can install them in the warmth of the house and actually see what you're doing. S40 fits the bill for HID's, there isnt any "glare" that you get from a HID kit installed in a corsa etc. My car just looks like it came with HIDs from the factory, obviously bar the headlamp washers. The standard S40 headlights are rubbish. HID kit has made them really good now. Philips Extreme Power 80% plus bulbs ARE still VERY good though, if you dont fancy a HID kit. I've had two sets of the phillips bulbs on two different cars and the light output has been very good on both. Last edited by fenton_jd; Oct 3rd, 2009 at 03:38.

Oct 5th, 2009, 08:01	#8
Welton Premier Member Last Online: Sep 14th, 2021 17:03 Join Date: Feb 2009 Location: Market Harborough	Factory fitted HID's have to have the self levelling and the washer jets to stop glare to other people. Fitting HID's in normal 'reflector' lenses is a bad idea and I've been dazzled by plenty of these. The S40 has projector lenses which are used with HID's anyway. Fenton, I'm shocked at the price for that kit and may buy one myself now. They say the balasts are digital - does that mean they won't flag a fault being digital? The left hand balast looks a bit awkward there, was there no other room anywhere? Really interested in these now __________________ 2005 S40 T5 SE - Manual. Bilstein B4's. (For Sale) 2010 Citroen C4 1.6 HDi (bizarre Gearbox model). 2010 Renault Twingo (refreshingly simple) 2018 Infiniti Q30 1.6T Business Executive (what's this button do?)

Oct 3rd, 2009, 18:54	#2
s40_kid Member Last Online: Jan 26th, 2013 14:59 Join Date: Aug 2008 Location: Preston	have you got a link to the HID product fenton? Ive been thinking of upgrading for a while but have been using philips exteme bulbs in the interim

Oct 4th, 2009, 15:56	#5
fenton_jd turkeyspace.com Last Online: Nov 5th, 2016 16:41 Join Date: Apr 2009 Location: Gloucester	They are plug and play. The only "work" involved is drilling a hole in both back covers of the headlamp unit:

Oct 4th, 2009, 18:06	#6
alfiembra Member Last Online: Sep 3rd, 2010 15:02 Join Date: Aug 2008 Location: Edinburgh	I need to get something like this for the winter, but always thought you couldn't fit them unless you had headlight washers, or is that just an urban myth. Alan

Oct 4th, 2009, 23:38	#7
fenton_jd turkeyspace.com Last Online: Nov 5th, 2016 16:41 Join Date: Apr 2009 Location: Gloucester	The principle of having to have "autoleveling" and headlamp washers is imho very pointless. the only visibile difference between my HID's and my Extreme Plus bulbs is the colour and the HID's being a bit brighter. The beam pattern is identical, so logically wouldnt I need headlamp washers and autolevellers on the normal projectors anyway?

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