night time driving

[jack taylor]

At the risk of incurring everyone`s wrath I have an entry level HID kit fitted to my 1998 V70. My original headlights gave up so I purchased a new pair of Van Wezel for €90.00 for the pair. I also purchased a certified set of HID`s and had the beams aligned by my local garage. I then lowered the beams with the levelling motor and not once have I been flashed by oncoming drivers.
Over here the ITV [MOT] testers check alignment but not the light intensity yet should lights be dim due to oxidation them it is an ITV failure. My Wife `s car has plastic lenses and due to out temps I have to polish the lenses every 8 to 9 months. The last ITV a couple of months ago got an advisory about her lights yet I thought the light output was fine.
I don't see a problem with fitting an HID kit provided it is good quality and carries an EU certificate .It comes down to a matter of being responsible and considering other road users.
I await rotten tomatoes being thrown at me. jack.

[MDS40]

Anyone else find it difficult to see indicators that are installed inside the headlight unit and blinded out by the light.

[60041]

Originally Posted by MDS40

Anyone else find it difficult to see indicators that are installed inside the headlight unit and blinded out by the light.

Yes.
Also, a lot of modern indicators only seem to be visible when the car is facing directly towards you; when it is at an angle, such as going around a mini roundabout, they are almost impossible to see - that is if the other driver has actually bothered to use them in the first place.

[S60RDesign]

The worst thing about night time driving is most drivers forgetting there’s such a thing as main beam. It’s frustrating getting stuck behind these people on dark country lanes, they drive exceptionally slowly because they can’t see yet refuse to flick a simple stalk. When the roads are clear night driving is the most enjoyable though

[Whippy]

My HID's have a levelling system, it's mainly da Youf trying to fit HID or LED bulbs into inappropriate systems that cause the problems. Oh, and ****s in beemers.

[dingov70]

Originally Posted by Whippy

My HID's have a levelling system, it's mainly da Youf trying to fit HID or LED bulbs into inappropriate systems that cause the problems. Oh, and ****s in beemers.

Oh I love the jaunty hat brigade & their fitting HID's into light designed for incandescent bulbs . OOOH the rude naughty words they use when I issue a fail certificate & tell them why
Please just R.T.F.M. ( Read The F%$£"NG manual ) It's what I use every day
https://www.mot-testing.service.gov....als/class3457/

Direct copy & paste from manual
Existing halogen headlamp units shouldn’t be converted to be used with HID bulbs. If such a conversion has been done, you must fail the headlamp.

[andy_d]

Originally Posted by dingov70

Oh I love the jaunty hat brigade & their fitting HID's into light designed for incandescent bulbs . OOOH the rude naughty words they use when I issue a fail certificate & tell them why
Please just R.T.F.M. ( Read The F%$£"NG manual ) It's what I use every day
https://www.mot-testing.service.gov....als/class3457/

Direct copy & paste from manual
Existing halogen headlamp units shouldn’t be converted to be used with HID bulbs. If such a conversion has been done, you must fail the headlamp.

shame you cant "educate" the tw*t fitting it "ah but...." with a nice 4foot breaker bar to the kneecaps...

[KerPLoD]

Originally Posted by dingov70

Oh I love the jaunty hat brigade & their fitting HID's into light designed for incandescent bulbs . OOOH the rude naughty words they use when I issue a fail certificate & tell them why
Please just R.T.F.M. ( Read The F%$£"NG manual ) It's what I use every day
https://www.mot-testing.service.gov....als/class3457/

Direct copy & paste from manual
Existing halogen headlamp units shouldn’t be converted to be used with HID bulbs. If such a conversion has been done, you must fail the headlamp.

Oh how satisfying that must be to take one of these pillars of society down a peg or two...

[Welton]

The new LED headlamps seem to have taken over from HID light sources but when you try to look closely a typical LED headlamp appears to be made up of at least 2 LED bulbs working together to form the light beam.

This morning I had some modern SUV thing behind me on a dark country lane and I could see this 'double bulb' effect in my excellent auto-dimmed rear view mirror the effect was almost a car with 4 x headlamps on! and in the case of some SEAT's the 'headlamp' appears to be a row of at least 5 x LED's all pointing in the same direction.

They should perfect LED light sources before bundling a few together to make one!

I can just about tolerate a properly housed HID light source of around 5000K (white) but these LED's are definitely blueish with a sharp beam, I read on another forum where a guy went to an automotive exhibition and spoke to Hella (or similar) and they said it was possible to 'soften' the sharp cut-off line produced by LED's but Premium Brand Customers wanted it! almost like "my headlights are brighter than yours" so therefore I'm better than you...

[john.wigley]

Originally Posted by Welton

.... possible to 'soften' the sharp cut-off line produced by LED's but Premium Brand Customers wanted it! almost like "my headlights are brighter than yours" so therefore I'm better than you...

And therein lies the problem, 'Welton'! People chasing the 'Holy Grail' and leaving those of us with twenty year old technology quite literally in the dark! It is difficult to see how this perpetual cycle might be broken.

Regards, John.