Calis, thanks a lot I PM'd them in disco3uk but never got a reply so thanks for your link
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Calis, thanks a lot I PM'd them in disco3uk but never got a reply so thanks for your link
Have had the new D4 for about two weeks, it's a fantastic car. It's a pity that I hadn't opted for original HID's. The standard halogen's are ok, but not amazing. Considering an HID upgrade. From what I've been reading, in order to be legal, HID's need to meet the following requirements:
1. they need to be self leveling
2. they need to have a washer system in place
So, it's clear that point two is met by the D4 as it has washers. Just a couple of quick queries though - sorry if this has been answered to death.
Firstly, does the fact that the D4 has leveling suspension negate the need for the lights themselves to be self leveling? I've read this in a few places, but has anyone actually had this confirmed? When HID's are original fitment, do they have self leveling included or do they rely on the suspension doing the work for them?
Secondly, is the standard projector light housing suitable for HID's?
Cheers,
D3/D4 bi-xenons rely on the self-levelling suspension for levelling. The optional adaptive lighting has a levelling mechanism that is activated under hard acceleration and hard braking only, at all other times relying on the suspension for levelling.
Thanks for the speedy reply Graeme. Given what you've said, do you think that means that a retrofitted HID kit in a D4 is ADR compliant?Quote:
Originally Posted by Graeme
I have no idea if the light pattern would be ADR compliant but if it produced a similar low beam cut-off then that would be a good start.
The problem of putting HIDs in is Hi Beam.
In the Bi Xenons Hi/Lo beam is done via a single H7 HID globe fitted to the outer light (the one with the projector). Hi/Lo beam is achieved via a shutter in the headlight housing that changes the light pattern from hi to lo and vice versa.
The inner light that most think is the hi beam has a Halogen H7 lamp in it that is also a hi beam but its primary purpose is to act as a filler light to fill in dark spots in the Bi Zenon light pattern.
On Halogen fitted cars there is a single H7 Halogen globe in the projectors that provide low beam only (no shutter to change the shape of the beam from Hi to lo and vice versa like the Bi Zenons). In the Halogens Hi beam is solely provided by the inner hi beam light that is also fitted with a H7 Halogen - this light is exactly the same in both Halogen and Bi Zenon cars.
When you retrofit HIDS to the halogen projector (low beam) the light pattern is shaped via the projector so with good HID globes the light pattern should be the same - certainly is with my car - the cutoffs are very pronounced.
The problem is with Hi Beam - noting on Bi Zenon cars hi beam is provided through the projector. You can either leave the H7 halogen and have halogen Hi beam or put in a HID globe in there. Light coverage is OK with a HID but HIDS can take up to 10 secs to get to full brilliance from cold so if you need Hi beam from cold you are not going to get it. I am considering taking my HIDs out of hi beam and putting higher performing Halogens back.
On the ADR front - at the moment it is arguable that retrofitted HIDs are legal (the argument mainly shows that they are probably not legal). Yes things like washers etc can/are fitted but part of the ruling is that the lights must be ADR compliant for HID use - clearly the Bi-Xenons are and I believe the lights are the same except for the Bi Xenon shutter but the Halogen lights do not have this shutter so are technically a different housing so therefore possibly illegal for HIDs under the ADRs.
If you do go HIDs I recommend no whiter than 4300K which is just a little whiter than the original Halogens. I have had 5000K in and they are just too white and some clowns put in well over 6000K which is what causes all the issues.
Garry
Not for the D4 bi-xenons where they're only good for spotting possums.Quote:
Originally Posted by garrycol
thanks for the detailed post Garry hm nots sure maybe I stick with my oem for time being
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I have the bi-xenon for hi/ low and played around with different colors for the infill hi's. the original halogens were noticeably yellow compared to the bi-xenon. Initially I tried 5,000k but a little too blue plus the blue coating on the bulb was very obvious in the reflector when looking at the headlight assembly with the lights off. I settled for 4300k as it matches the bi-x nicely and isn't to blue in the assembly but still noticeable.
Hmm... Thanks for the replies everyone. It makes me think, if a car was in an accident, the headlight assembly of the HID's must be available. I wonder what the cost would be to replace the assembly part that has the shutter so that the bi-xenons are used as per the original fitment. I might sound out a dealer when I get some time.