Thread: - RANT - HID low beam conversions

I don't know how many of the black Bling bling soft-road machines and the mercs, beemers and audi in the Eastern and Southern suburbs are fully loaded causing their lights to dazzle.

But when you have a row of traffic coming towards you without causing any problems, then you have one of the machines with the ultra-white "glowing" all around them like they are centre field at the State of Origin and you can't see where you're going, there is a problem.

It never seems to be a Falcon of a Commodore, but always some status car or a black 4X4.

can someone point me in the direction of the legistation/regulations reguarding the use of xenon/HID/gas discharge lighting please.

ive just had a quick look at ADR67, 13 and 19, couldnt really find what im looking for, RTA website also zip for ''HID'' ''gas discharge'' or ''xenon''

cheers phil

Slightly different note, but this conversation reminds me of the ******* who drive around with their "driving/ fog" lights on - typically Subaru, XR6 or XR8 Falcons or similar and any "S" or similarly badged Holdens. Arrogant and selfish behaviour and even though it is illegal, the cops are too apathetic to bother enforcing the law. Our eyes haven't changed over the years but lights are definitely getting brighter and you're not likely to crash into the offending car but more likely to run off the road or crash into traffic following the offender. That's my 2 bobs worth

My understanding is that the HID relevant Australian Design Rules are ADR-77, ADR-78 and ADR-13.

Cheers
KarlB

I 'spose it is friday night so Ill keep this going!!!

You made some fair points BMKal, let me address them, but firstly Id be guessing your attention to detail regarding other drivers would be the exception not the rule...

1/ light source same location in reflector - your point makes perfect sense... Id say your average bloke wouldnt spend too much time with shims etc to get it right?

2. The lights should be kept clean ... maybe this is part of my problem, the vehicles that got on my goat were all in touring duty which equals dust and dirty lenses. This would also be the reason the ADR has the stipulation for cabin levelling or washer jets.

3. The lights should be adjusted slightly lower... good on you for getting it right, once again the average joe probably doesnt bother. Just whacks em in and then cruises around wanting everyone to look and admire.

4. I have found that you should probably not go for higher than about 3600k globes... I have no experience with buying HID lamps but the three fourbies in my rant all had very blue bright low beams. I also noted after flashing them and getting a blast back that all three had similar blue tinted high beams and spots. I guess the owners went with "as bright and blue as I can get"

5. You should definitely NOT use HID conversions if you load up the rear of your vehicle (heavy loads or towing)... once again the rant was about touring vehicles, maybe when punting around town the lights would be okay?

And as to comments about candles - as I said I like bright lights and try to optimise them for my safety... I have even contemplated running a small say 55W spot that is angled low and very wide nearside with the low beams such that when dipping for passing cars there is at least some light out into the grader grass?

Anyways... thatll do!
S

Now that we're out of town this bugs me too.

If your standard lights are not good enough and you need converted HID main beams, I'd say you're not driving to the conditions.

Don't get me started on the vanquer fog/driving lights.

Originally Posted by pirasea

Slightly different note, but this conversation reminds me of the ******* who drive around with their "driving/ fog" lights on - typically Subaru, XR6 or XR8 Falcons or similar and any "S" or similarly badged Holdens. Arrogant and selfish behaviour and even though it is illegal, the cops are too apathetic to bother enforcing the law. Our eyes haven't changed over the years but lights are definitely getting brighter and you're not likely to crash into the offending car but more likely to run off the road or crash into traffic following the offender. That's my 2 bobs worth

Just tonight I near as dammit had a prang at a roundabout.
Gave way to a little Jap noddy car approaching from my right with doof doof audible and every light going across the front of it.
I couldn't see anything but the imprint of 5 million candlepower of light images burnt into my retina. The car behind me was blasting his horn for me to go and I couldn't see that the next car on my right had no indicators on and was coming straight through, damn it was a close call.
I hate driving at night these days, I must be getting old....
Have to trade the Disco in on a Volvo.

We must remember that the issue is HID low beam lighting. You can legally fit HID spots or driving lights, as long as they are connected to the high beam circuit such that they extinguish when you turn off the high beam.