HID Xenon Upgrade

[Harvey1512]

The crunch with the aftermarket HID's is not whether there is glare, no worse than many "bright" lights, will you be stopped, highly unlikely, will it pass an MOT, very probably, but what happens if you are in an accident and an insurance assessor sees them.

I work on the basis that insurance companies will do whatever they can to avoid paying a claim. This gives them a chance to get out of that claim in a legitimate way. We may not like that but that seems to be the reality.

Would any of us drive without having insurance? No is the likely answer but by having these fitted is likely to mean that is what is actually happening if you have these on your car without the necessary adjustments. None of us are moralising here about HID's, we are just pointing out and warning of the dangers of fitting them. That is what the forum is about.

[fenton_jd]

You're more likely to crash with the standard S40 headlight setup, than someone crash into you because of your HID's.

I took my HID's out the other night, and went for a drive down a country lane I knew very well, and the difference was staggering. Honestly cannot believe these standard headlamps classify adequate.


Can anyone find an example of HID's causing an accident, and the HID owner being stumped by the insurance company?


Given the fact that as standard, the headlights on the S40 point about 1 meter infront of the car i honestly have NO possible senario i can think of, where HID's in the S40 will cause an accident.

[Welton]

Fenton - how's your HID kit ruinning now you've had it for a while? no flickering or error messages?

I noticed the other night that my standard headlights dim a bit when the power steering pump kicks in and wondered if this would make HID kits flicker?

[fenton_jd]

They are still running fine although i wish now I went for 4300k than 6000k

6000k a little too blue

[Gapples]

The main head lights on my 06 S40 are pretty decent I have to say, but the dipped lights are pathetic, so dim as to be dangerous.
There surely has to be an improved bulb set up available ?...I find myself leaning forward peering into the darkness, i like the car but considering how often we have to rely on dipped headlights at this time of year especialy I'm quite supprised Volvo can get away with poor standard of lamp !

[b1nuzz]

I had 6000k on my old car, and I have to say, i never used the main beam. The HIDs were more than good enough for any driving.

Now i have the V50 i have to remember to use my main beam, as i find myself peering into the road trying to see whats ahead of me. And im rubbish at remembering to turn them off!

HIDs are great!

[Harvey1512]

Originally Posted by fenton_jd

You're more likely to crash with the standard S40 headlight setup, than someone crash into you because of your HID's.

I took my HID's out the other night, and went for a drive down a country lane I knew very well, and the difference was staggering. Honestly cannot believe these standard headlamps classify adequate.


Can anyone find an example of HID's causing an accident, and the HID owner being stumped by the insurance company?


Given the fact that as standard, the headlights on the S40 point about 1 meter infront of the car i honestly have NO possible senario i can think of, where HID's in the S40 will cause an accident.

I absolutely agree on the above, the pathetic nature of the current S40 lights is utterly dangerous and I have never had an issue of being blinded by HID lights. I think the issue on the insurance front is not that an accident would be caused by HID's but that in the event of any type of accident and an inspector checks out your car and finds this alteration without the rest of the gubbins required then this will give them the excuse to avoid paying out. The chance of them seeing this and realising the issue is highly remote but it is there.

I am struggling on my way home at the moment as I can rarely use full beam due to on coming traffic but the country lanes I use are not lit up. It really is quite dangerous and would put me off another Volvo when I change in 7 months time. At the moment an Octavia and Seat Exeo are looming large and I know from a colleague at work the Octavia has excellent lights.

[Kizzer]

Just fit the HID's. Virtual Daylight ones i recommend.

Simples.

[b1nuzz]

Originally Posted by Kizzer

Just fit the HID's. Virtual Daylight ones i recommend.

Simples.

Agreed!

[quinno]

Originally Posted by Harvey1512

I absolutely agree on the above, the pathetic nature of the current S40 lights is utterly dangerous and I have never had an issue of being blinded by HID lights. I think the issue on the insurance front is not that an accident would be caused by HID's but that in the event of any type of accident and an inspector checks out your car and finds this alteration without the rest of the gubbins required then this will give them the excuse to avoid paying out. The chance of them seeing this and realising the issue is highly remote but it is there.

I am struggling on my way home at the moment as I can rarely use full beam due to on coming traffic but the country lanes I use are not lit up. It really is quite dangerous and would put me off another Volvo when I change in 7 months time. At the moment an Octavia and Seat Exeo are looming large and I know from a colleague at work the Octavia has excellent lights.

I have a 54 plate V50 2.0d and have driven the same route to work a number of times with an 54plate Octavia Estate. The Skodas lights were far superior and lit up far more of the road ahead. Where I had to use full beam on the Volvo, I did not have to on the Octavia, indeed i could not as the road was a single carriage way with long straights so full beam would have dazzled oncoming traffic.
The problem was the dipped beam on on the offside of our Volvo lit up only a few metres in front. I mentioned this when it went in for a service and the beam was adjusted upwards slightly, throwing the beam much further up the road which has made the world of difference without dazzling the on coming traffic.
Before you change marque I would suggest that you 'tweak' the beams so that their throw is much further ahead of the car. Worth a try?