Which HID Conversion Kit for Passat?

[spako]

I'm still very keen on fitting HID kit but this time I thought I'll go for a kit that has been tried in Passat without causing any faults.

I was thinking of getting this one:

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/VW-PASSAT-07-ULTRA-XENON-HID-CONVERSION-KIT-H7-35w-/220477175144?pt=UK_CarsParts_Vehicles_CarParts_SM&hash=item335576b568

I think ToMBoY_C got one from Hids-Direct but I'm not sure if this is the same one or not.

Which other HID kits have you installed in your Passats that didn't blow anything.

Please save your comments about legal stuff etc, it's not the point in this post.

Any info greatly appreciated.

[andrewturner]

Tonight I fitted a HID kit bought on eBay from seller allgoods99, otherwise known as HIDs4you. It was slightly more expensive than some of the other H7 kits but it was a 'matched' kit for a B6 so I felt it was worth paying a bit extra if it a) fitted and b) didn't throw up lamp failure warnings.

The kit includes a pair of pressed steel retaining clips to secure the xenon bulbs in the headlamp assembly. The reason you need these is because the originals (mine were Hella) don't have the required cutout through which you pass the permanently attached wires to the xenon lamp.

These clips were my nemesis and I spent 1.5 hours fitting the 1st xenon but once I'd figured out a workaround the 2nd took 10mins! The problem was the repro clips being a slightly different (inferior) design to the Hella originals (copyright reasons perhaps?). What was happening was the two tabs on the repro clips which secure them were too proud to fit underneath the metal tabs on the headlamp assembly. With a bit of force I could twist the clip into place but, because of the cutout for the xenon wire, the assembly was 'crushing' together and not seating at all. Now that I'm sat here writing this I wish I'd taken a few pictures!
The solution is simple - a) slightly bend the tabs inwards on the headlamp assembly and b) form a lead-in on each side of the repro clip with pliers. Sounds confusing? Well, you'll readily grasp this after a few minutes fighting to fit them!

After all that, the rest of the job was a breeze. Rather than drill holes for the ballast and capacitor module brackets, I just wrapped them in bubble wrap to prevent them rattling around and stashed them away fairly securely. I purposefully didn't enclose them so ensure moisture has a way of escaping.

If you don't have a test meter handy, when connecting the spade connectors into the OEM H7 connector plug remember that the yellow wire is +'ve.


Although this sounds like a bit of a saga I'm very happy with the outcome. No lamp warnings on the dashboard and they worked first time. Rather than butchering the OEM H7 clip I'm really happy I bought a HID kit with its own clips - I am keeping the old halogen H7 bulbs in the spare wheel well in case the HIDs fail and I recon I could have them fitted back in under 10mins. Without the clips I'd have had to make a cutout in the OEM ones, no biggie but it's nice to not have had to butcher them! I have been running what appears to be an almost identical kit in a Vectra for over 4 years without a hitch and that was another reason why I chose this one.

One last point about installation... rather than cutting a hole in the OEM Hella rubber covers on the back of the headlamp, I was able to form the HID wiring to exit at the bottom of the opening and I managed to get the rubber cover back on okay. Not perfect but I did the same on the Vectra and it has lasted 4 years and counting!

Definitely worthwhile performance-wise I'd say. The beam pattern didn't appear to change at all with the HIDs, I guess that's down to the projector-like lenses. I didn't want blue lights so specified a 4300K colour temperature when buying. I'd describe the light output as 'daylight' with no noticeable blue from behind the steering wheel. That 'said', they do make the sidelights look positively yellow by comparison!

[ToMBoY_C]

Hey mate, these are mine:

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/H7-50w-Digital-Xenon-HID-Conversion-kit-All-Colours-/280395055207?pt=UK_CarsParts_Vehicles_CarParts_SM&hash=item4148d90067

They've been fine, only had one drama with them but it was my fault as I cut the hole in the rubber seal to big and water was getting in, dried it all out and now it's fine again!

This is what they look like, mine are 8000k, next time I'd go for 6000k just to keep 5-0 happy, not that I've been pulled however it sounds like they are getting mardy with people fitting these units!

http://i38.photobucket.com/albums/e114/ToMBoY_C/th_2fd5f916.jpg (http://s38.photobucket.com/albums/e114/ToMBoY_C/?action=view&current=2fd5f916.mp4)

Use a 5p to cut the rubber seal and not a £2 coin!! lol

[andrewturner]

I wasn't brave enough to go for 50w lights! :) I'm hoping mine will slip through the MOT without any hassles but it's not a big job to remove them. Out of interest, did you have to use your existing retaining clips, I checked that eBay listing and it didn't mention them being supplied?

[Zeb]

Mines passed it's mot with the HID 6000K. No need to worry about that :)


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[andrewturner]

Sorry, I wasn't at all clear on where I was coming from re. HIDs and MOTs...
There's a lot of talk on the web that in 2012 the test will include headlamp washers and automatic levellers on HID-equipped cars. I can't find an 'official' link but here's an example of user discussions: http://www.vwt4forum.co.uk/showthread.php?t=102121
The problem I envisage for us who have fitted aftermarket kits is we probably won't have washers or levellers. So, getting to my point - while a tester would have to be pretty distracted not to notice HIDs were fitted, part of my aim was not to draw attention to the fact! ;)

[Zeb]

Every Passat B6 comes with auto levelling. Even if they plan this S**T out next year, I will put on the crappy bulbs for a day ;)


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[andrewturner]

Every Passat B6 comes with auto levelling.

Thanks, I didn't know that.


Even if they plan this S**T out next year, I will put on the crappy bulbs for a day ;)
I can't find a link right now but I read a forum post earlier this year where some guy posted link(s) to .gov.uk websites which were fairly clear about aftermarket HIDs mostly being non-compliant. This was 2010/2011 not 2012. Perhaps this is a good sign or perhaps VOSA are peeved and are planning on getting their vengeance in 2012!

Me? Well, I'm going to take mine "as is", HIDs-an-all. My MOT tester 'tests to pass' (tm) but he's neither sloppy nor a fool... if he fails the car then I'll remove them for the re-test! ;)