Thread: HID headlight conversion kits?

I put an eBay HID kit in my Freelander without too much difficulty. The FL has electronic height adjustable headlights so I've adjusted the lights so that for city driving I can have the setting at about 50% and it won't dazzle oncoming traffic.

If I'm on a more remote road I can roll the adjustment up and let the lights aim higher up so they throw a bit further down the road.

I didn't make any changes to the reflector or lens so I don't believe the beam of light changed all that much after I made the change except for being 'whiter' and somewhat brighter. I don't get flashed by oncoming traffic at night so I assume they don't dazzle to much. When I installed the kit I parked the car on some level ground and set-up a ladder 15-20m away and marked the height of the beam before installing the new bulbs and using the mark as a guide while adjusting.

The only time I've had another driver bring to my attention that my lights were annoying him (i.e. he flipped me the bird) was when I pulled up behind a lowered Imprezza and my lights shone above the level of his back windscreen. It didn't help that the Imprezza was extremely lowered and I was sitting on a slightly higher part of road.

The Daniel Stern document may have been around for years but it still contains relevant and thought provoking questions and as hoadie72 says first and formost the legality of the conversions.

I don't think I have seen one supplier who has stated that the kit they supply is 100% compliant with Australian rules and standards. But I stand corrected if this is the case and would confidently go ahead and fit one.

It is up to each individual to make their choice and weigh the risk.

Interesting subject.

How much are the LR OE prices Howard ?

I might as well throw in my 2 cents worth

Before doing anything read the ADR's especially ADR's 78/00, 77/00 which deal exclusively with Gas Discharge Lamps and headlights.

Things to note: ONLY colour temperatures (CIE chromacity coordinates) between 3600K and 5000K are legal in Australia. 6000K is illegal for on road use.

Any prospective HID converter should also read ADR's 46/00 , 45/00 and 51/00. and 75/00

Supplimentary to the above is ADR 13/00 which addresses driving lights.

What you do with then is up to you, at least you've made a fully informed decision!

Originally Posted by hoadie72

Daniel Stern raises a number of issues though, first and foremost the legality of the conversion.

I've done a lot of research into HIDs before and I'm really unimpressed with the cutoff and the fact they dazzle oncoming traffic.

As stated I have used HID for around four years. Not once have I been flashed by oncoming traffic and being stopped by police at breath testing stations at night caused no comment at all. If people want to use old technology because they are scared of some imaginary problem then it is up to them I suppose. If you buy a quality product you usually do not have problems.