Ebay HID kits

[juzcymru]

I have been checking out the aftermarket HID kits and have read that a few people recommend some varieties and was wondering if anyone has had any experience of fitting and using any of the kits for sale on this ebay shop http://stores.ebay.co.uk/diane-shop_W0QQcolZ4QQdirZ1QQfsubZ0QQftidZ2QQpZ2QQtZkm

I understand the correct kit is a H7 for the headlamp bulb and i just wanted to hear if they were any good, they were decent quality and is it worth buying??

Cheers
Justin ;)

[Skipton01]

Ostensibly, the kit looks similar to the one I fitted for A2GoldenMiler last week.

However, whilst you may be saving £50 or so, if the ballasts go bang (which they might on something this cheap - I've had ballasts from Hong Kong go after 3 weeks!!) then you're faced with shipping and returns costs that will swallow up this saving straight away.

I'd recommend a UK based seller, preferably one with a shop you can go to if things get tricky.

Cheers,

Mike

[juzcymru]

Thanks Mike, YEah i get what your saying you get what you pay for! Can you recommend any uk sellers or kits which may cost a bit more but are better quality?

Maybe it's me being naive but the ballasts do look the same on kits that cost double this, and 'appear' the same design in terms of connections, shape etc..?

Anyones experiences with these would be appreciated

Justin.

[spike]

Hi Justin
Audi Driver magazine ran a feature on Novablue HID kits recently and they seemed to come out quite well - see link
http://hidxenon.net/upgrade-kits.html

Cheers Spike

[Skipton01]

Just bear in mind that their bulb finder chart is wrong: it says that the A2 has H7 main beams, but it doesn't, every A2 has H3 main beams, H7 dipped and H7 fogs (where fitted).

Oh, and don't confuse their claims for E11 approval with ministry of transport legality or approval - there is no such thing as an approved aftermarket HID kit.

Cheers,

mike

[A2 Golden Miler]

this page has some photos of "real" results not just their manufacturers claims

http://www.a2oc.net/forum/showthread.php?t=5140&highlight=photo&page=6

hope they help, we are delighted with the results (Thanks again Mike :D)
have used a lot and although they look bright from head on view not 1 person has flashed us :cool:

[vkx245l]

Thanks Mike, YEah i get what your saying you get what you pay for! Can you recommend any uk sellers or kits which may cost a bit more but are better quality?

Maybe it's me being naive but the ballasts do look the same on kits that cost double this, and 'appear' the same design in terms of connections, shape etc..?

Anyones experiences with these would be appreciated

Justin.

Things aren't always as they seem. There are some Bosch HID kits doing the rounds. They look Bosch as we know them and they use the same typeface but its a company called BoschHID and nothing to do with Robert Bosch GMBH. They don't hide this fact but its very easy just to assume. Lets be careful out there...

Cheers

Jonathan

[juzcymru]

Thanks for the advice it's good to get some first hand experience of the kits, the ones from Novablue (http://hidxenon.net/index.html) seem decent enough i have contacted the company and they have been very helpful. They offer a fitting service too, but i think i'll have a go on my own whichever kit i go for it doesn't seem too difficult as i have already taken the headlamps out to dry out after the previous owner didnt fit the back covers on properly!

I dont want to get some cheap kit that although they look like good value on paper and offer an 18mth warranty from the ebay shop (diane-shop) if they did go caput then i would have to foot the bill for postage to HK. The ones from Nova blue are £84 but possibly the extra cost is worth it for piece of mind.

I'll kep you posted. Im tempted for some LED sidelights now, are there any issues with them overheating and melting, or is that just the regular bulbs?

Cheers guys and gals
Justin. :cool:

[A2magic]

Hi All,

Glad to find this site! I've just bought some HIDs www.hids4u.co.uk for my TDI90. Then I came across an MOT requirement for self-leveling headlamps if HIDs are fitted. And stopped my installation plans.

Can anyone confirm if this is the case? DO HIDs have to be self-leveling to get through the MOT?

And if it IS the case, can one of the members that has fitted HIDs come online and describe how you arranged the self-leveling? Thanks ... I look forward to a productive conversation!

M

[Skipton01]

Hi All,

Glad to find this site! I've just bought some HIDs www.hids4u.co.uk for my TDI90. Then I came across an MOT requirement for self-leveling headlamps if HIDs are fitted. And stopped my installation plans.

Can anyone confirm if this is the case? DO HIDs have to be self-leveling to get through the MOT?

And if it IS the case, can one of the members that has fitted HIDs come online and describe how you arranged the self-leveling? Thanks ... I look forward to a productive conversation!

M

Going by the letter of the law, yes, you need both self-levelling and headlamp cleaning equipment in order for your car to comply with the MOT regulations, however, I have not heard of a car failing the test because of a lack of this, AS LONG AS the beams are well defined and preoperly adjusted.

I have gone to town and fitted bi-xenons, self levelling and headlamp washers to my TDi 90, mainly because I'm a perfectionist and also as a technical exercise, to see if it could be done.

The answer is yes, it can be done, but it is very tricky and costly. Tricky because the self levelling was never available for the A2, so all the mounting points had to be created and adapted from other Audi parts. The headlamp washers can be retrofitted as per standard A2 kit, but you'll need a new bumper, all the cover caps and plates, 2 pressure vessels, loads of tubing, a new washer bottle, with a second pump, a new relay and lots of wiring!

The self-levelling kit consists of a bit of welding to create 2 brackets for the linkages to the wishbones, 2 level position sensors, a central controller and loads of wiring. All the self-levelling kit was sourced from a Mk1 TT, as the wheelbases are pretty much the same as the A2.

You could put all this lot in and then just fit a retrofit kit, as per the one you mention, but I chose to go the whole hog and fit a pair of bi-xenons from a salvage RS4.

Total cost was approaching 4 figures and time to fit was about 4 months, on and off.

Cheers,

Mike

[chris_the_designer]

show us a pic of your handy work matey? Or better still a youyube?

[Skipton01]

There's loads of stuff littering these forums - a judicious use of the search function will reveal all!

Here's a couple of links to get you started:

http://www.a2oc.net/forum/showthread.php?t=5930&highlight=bi-xenon

http://www.a2oc.net/forum/showthread.php?t=6034&highlight=bi-xenon

Cheers,

Mike

[vkx245l]

Going by the letter of the law, yes, you need both self-levelling and headlamp cleaning equipment in order for your car to comply with the MOT regulations, however, I have not heard of a car failing the test because of a lack of this, AS LONG AS the beams are well defined and preoperly adjusted.


Where in the MOT regs does it say this? I can only find stuff directly relating to the beam spread and cut off.
The self-leveling and washers are definitley part of the contruction and use regulations where their presence is to ensure that the beam spread and cut off are not distorted in use by dirty lenses so as to cause a nuisance to other road users.

You can't fail the MOT beacause you haven't got self levelling or washers and you can't be had for construction and use reg infringements if you keep your lights clean and properly aligned. You CAN be had for not using E marked bulbs.


Cheers

Jonathan

[Skipton01]

Where in the MOT regs does it say this? I can only find stuff directly relating to the beam spread and cut off.
The self-leveling and washers are definitley part of the contruction and use regulations where their presence is to ensure that the beam spread and cut off are not distorted in use by dirty lenses so as to cause a nuisance to other road users.

You can't fail the MOT beacause you haven't got self levelling or washers and you can't be had for construction and use reg infringements if you keep your lights clean and properly aligned. You CAN be had for not using E marked bulbs.


Cheers

Jonathan

You are right, however, a tester could refuse to test a vehicle that, in his view, doesn't comply with current UK legislation, so you'd fall before the first hurdle!

For details on the regulations as they stand, see here:

http://www.dft.gov.uk/pgr/roadsafety/drs/hidheadlamps

What you say about 'E' marked bulbs is also true, so in that sense, NO aftermarket kit is legal, as none are supplied with compliant bulbs.

Cheers,

Mike