Thread: Headlights - keeps blowing globes

One vital component of HID lights is levelling of the head-lights or the vehicle to keep them pointing where they should.

All air suspension rangerovers do this already.

Hey guys thanks for all the good comments.

I guess its just personal taste but HID's are not for me. I don't wish to get into the various debates about legality, lamp housings self leveling etc.

One thing I have noticed in my plug cleaning frenzy is how thin the wiring is inside the headlamp assembly itself, the last foot of cable. I have put in a new globe, if it gloes again soon I might look at swapping this bit of cable out for something meatier.

I have measured 12.7 volts at the lamp as opposed to 13.6 at the LCM, this might be due to the transistors in the LCM though which do the switching, I might check them out and see if they have a regulator in them. I had to swap out some of these mosfet's in my P38's BECM a few times - not the funnest of jobs.

Also I don't know that pinging a voltage accross the globe for 1ms every 32seconds is good for the globe in the long run, then again none of the other globes or the high beams are blowing and they get the same treatment.

Mine has always done the same thing, so always carried a spare globe. Changed to some cheapy Chinese HID's and All's been well for a year now.

Originally Posted by donrover0

Strange? Aren't RR L322's with factory HID fitted with this on low/dipped beam? I think so.
we previously had a Citroen C5 and a Peugeot 407; both had original HID on low beam. AND this was stated on insurance company "features" list(s).
are you saying that these car companies were selling illegal cars in Australia?
I believe that ( at least in Qld) it is only illegal to fit HID to cars/models that did NOT come with HID as standard or an option.

....

Once again, if you are going to encourage fitting of these at least have your facts correct.

In ALL states the law is simple – the light must be ADR approved and have the globe it was approved for fitted - a different globe no longer makes it ADR approved.

The ADR is simple - If the globe is more than 2000lm (does not specifically say HID as some other globe types are also >2000) then it must have
* a projector lens - the most important point - it is a completely different lens and reflector.
* self leveling of the light - the light leveling operates a lot faster than the air suspension, responding to acceleration changes which suspension doesn't. plant the foot at the lights, the car leans back, the lights do not move up.
* washer system for the lens - apparently to prevent the lens refractive properties from changing with dirt/dust on it.

The halogen mirror light was not approved with a HID globe. In all states, it is illegal to fit HIDs to a halogen mirror housing. It is perfectly legal to fit HIDs if you fit the whole system.

All cars sold in AUS with factory HIDs (bi xenon) have the above list. There are many cars sold that have the projector lens fitted with a H7 halogen globe for the dipped beam so they look like bi xenon or HID but they’re not (early base model RRS, Mazda 6 for example). our head light rules are virtually a copy of EU.

The HID globe has a completely different focal point to the halogen globe, like comparing a compact fluro to an incandescent, this is why ALL hid replacements have over glare above the cut off and why factory HID lights have a completely different mirror and lens.

What really amazes me is that with this last response, you have demonstrated a complete lack of knowledge and understanding of not only the law but also demonstrated a complete lack of knowledge of headlight technology, and you are still advising us on headlights and the law. Do you honestly not notice any difference in the lens between factory bi xenons and your halogen lights....

As I originally stated, If you are encouraging people to do this modification (in multiple threads) at least advise of the facts around performing such modifications. Then plp can at least make an informed decision.

IMO, if you are going to change the dipped beam to HID, buy the bi xenon lights. At least you satisfy the most important point and control the light output. They are available ex UK for bugger all (if you try, not much more than a chinese H7 kit). They produce much much better light than the standard light with cheap HID H7 insert, they also produce a much better high beam as the outer light changes for high beam. They don't attract attention and shine in peoples eyeballs. However it still does not satisfy that law.

Originally Posted by Dougal

One vital component of HID lights is levelling of the head-lights or the vehicle to keep them pointing where they should.

All air suspension rangerovers do this already.

No, it is leveling of the head light - the headlight must have it's own self leveling system. This statement is made often in other sections (like D2) and SLS suspension does not satisfy requirements. As an example the L322 with factory bi xenons has an ECU for leveling headlights which reacts to movement that the suspension doesn't and can't.

Agree with Harlie here - although I have converted mine, and the bi xenon a were an option for my vehicle, they are not technically legal. I'm sure the bi xenon headlamps would give better light control, but the standard ones aren't bad - a lot better than some I've seen, and they don't dazzle oncoming traffic - there is a nice tight cut off line on the low beams, and once I adjusted them properly, they are good to see with and don't cause any concern to other road users.

Still not legal though....

Originally Posted by bacicat

Agree with Harlie here - although I have converted mine, and the bi xenon a were an option for my vehicle, they are not technically legal. I'm sure the bi xenon headlamps would give better light control, but the standard ones aren't bad - a lot better than some I've seen, and they don't dazzle oncoming traffic - there is a nice tight cut off line on the low beams, and once I adjusted them properly, they are good to see with and don't cause any concern to other road users.

Still not legal though....

I'm with you on this one (as far as the L322 is concerned anyway).
I know they aren't legal, but mine have a perfect cut off pattern, and the globes themselves have a reflective hood covering them, so no light directly from the globe can shine straight out.
In the 3(ish) years I've owned it I have never been flashed at, and I've done a fair bit of country night driving. By the same token, I've been blinded by some absolute shockers, including modern cars legal HID's.
The high beams are just amazing too!

Fraser

Agree with Fraser on this: sharp cutoff and no light above it. Similarly never been flashed by other drivers.

I suppose then that our previous factory fitted/dealer supplied Citroen and Peugeot must have been illegal ?
Citroen C5 had HID on low beam, yes had self levelling but NO projector lens and NO washer/wipe system. Car itself also self- levelling.
Peugeot had HID on low beam, yes had projector lens but NO self levelling and NO wash/wipe. Car was coil springs/no self levelling!

Ok, so a quick search returns details on the washer system and the self levelling system for the early Peugeot 407 with factory HID. The washer is the same as the new 405 rangie, tiny square in the bumper that extends to reveal a squirter, lovely design – washer system does not mean wiper is needed. Most wouldn’t know it’s there, also several asking how to operate it. Picture attached shows a 2006 C5 with bi xenon option, clearly able to see the projector lens, if it didn’t have projectors it was not factory HID.

So no, the C5 and 407 with factory bi xenons are not illegal, you just have no understanding of headlight technologies – you don’t know it there so it mustn’t be! Bit like factory bi xenons are the same as standard L322 light, except for the globe right? Some people will convince themselves of anything to support their argument.

You can convince yourself that it doesn't affect others, but stop trying to convince us it is legal.

As for the flash test being the standard for it not shining in everyones eyes. Have you guys thought that maybe people don’t bother? I figure if you are ignorant enough to spent time and money fitting lights that shine in my eye, you are not going to get any message by flashing, so I never flash anyone. It would probably just make the driver proud – Look my lights are SO good there’s another driver that can’t see, I’m so cool! There is a white L322 running around my area, he illuminates my roof lining when he's following me - how good are those mirrors that dim for us.