HID conversion & breaking seal on headlamps

[dwl99]

I'm thinking about doing an HID dipped beam conversion and wondered about replacing the halogen DRL bulbs with LED ones at the same time. It looks as if you need to break a silicone seal around the headlamps to access the DRL and indicator bulbs. Does anyone have any experience of doing this?

Also, the Audi B8 headlamp wiring looks a bit different to other cars - there's a single connector that goes into the back of the headlamp housing & this powers the main & dipped beams, indicator & DRL bulbs. Can anyone comment on how feasible it is to connect the wiring for an HID kit?

[Bratty]

Why not just upgrade to Bi-Xenon?

Strangely enough!!, I have a set of spare UK Bi-Xenon Adaptive lights that are cluttering up my loft:Blush::Blush:.

Dunk

[dwl99]

the wiring & VAG on my car is for halogen, I don't think it's just a matter of swapping the headlamp units round. Unless anyone knows better......

[Bratty]

To change your DRLs or Low beam is definetely feasible (after all AUDI must have a way of changing the DRL bulbs), but you would have to think that rather than swim against the current just go with the flow! Your resale value when it comes time would be better (but less imaginitive) if you stick with the original system, but you have to also think Washers and self-levelling sussies to get through an MOT (same as a conversion), but you could always keep your original units to pass the test :Blush2:.

Dunk

[dwl99]

Hmmm, I've gone iff the idea...

http://www.autoexpress.co.uk/videos/featuresvideos/204742/xenon_test.html

[Kojak]

It's a shame isn't it?

There always seems to be a very fine line on which to tread and remain legal.

On one hand you have the authorities making it difficult to change things. As I get older I accept more readily that this is well intended (despite leaving whacking great flaws in it's credibility).
Then on the other hand you have people who take modification to the extreme without any regard to other motorists and pedestrians (and probably themselves as well).

In this particular case, I.M.O any bulb that wont pass an MOT should not be allowed to be sold. I guess thats harder to uphold than it is to lay down.

Don't get me wrong,
I love an individual touch and have had a few wrestles with the law myself over bike modifications and tinted crash helmet visors etc in the past and I do think lots of laws are too strict, tinting front side windows on cars for example.

I wonder how difficult it would be to actually manufacture bulbs as shown in the video link above that would pass an MOT? Surely it's possible?

[Bratty]

Found this on wykepedia, for REF:-

(Interestingly it does not mention fog lights)

"Vehicles equipped with HID headlamps are required by ECE regulation 48 (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/World_Forum_for_Harmonization_of_Vehicle_Regulatio ns) also to be equipped with headlamp lens cleaning systems and automatic beam levelling control. Both of these measures are intended to reduce the tendency for high-output headlamps to cause high levels of glare to other road users. In North America, ECE R48 does not apply and while lens cleaners and beam levellers are permitted, they are not required;[33] (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Headlamp#cite_note-32) HID headlamps are markedly less prevalent in the US, where they have produced significant glare complaints.[34] (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Headlamp#cite_note-NHTSA_8885-33) Scientific study of headlamp glare has shown that for any given intensity level, the light from HID headlamps is 40% more glaring than the light from tungsten-halogen headlamps.[35] (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Headlamp#cite_note-Vanderlofske-34)"

Dunk

[dwl99]

Thanks for that. I guess there's also the issue of notifying your insurance company as it's a modification.