Sorry if this has been asked a lot, but I really have no idea when it comes to lighting etc and I need some information so I can learn further :)

Anyway..I've been thinking about getting some HIDs but have no idea on them..

What do I need to replace on my existing set up?

Also how much am I looking at paying for a *decent* kit?

Thanks for the help people!

same boat as you mate, thinking about lobbing HID's in for main beam, fog lights if its possible lol but dunno where to start :)

It's one of those things I just have no idea on..and wouldn't even know where to start learning

as i under stand you get these kits that just retro fit in like a normal bulb then theres a balast pack you have to mount, not sure what it does?? and then there is a connection from the ballast pack that plugs into the socket your bulb would normally plug into

at least thats what i was lead to believe

what do you want to know exactly? you will basically need a full kit which consists of ballasts which convert to higher voltage and the actual bulbs which are mounted same way as a normal bulb would be. check out hids4u they do good kits with a 2year warranty if i remember correctly and with the 'ASTRA' coupon code you can them for £110 delivered

as i under stand you get these kits that just retro fit in like a normal bulb then theres a balast pack you have to mount, not sure what it does?? and then there is a connection from the ballast pack that plugs into the socket your bulb would normally plug into

at least thats what i was lead to believe

the balast pack is just upping the voltage from 12-14V to a few thousand volts. the kits are easy to fit, all you have to do is remove the old bulb and fit the new one, connect the hid wiring to the wires that connected to the back of the old bulb, drill a hole in the light cover for the new wires to pass through, plug them into the balast pack and screw it down. some kits have a larger rating fuse to replace the one in the fuse box.

job done. sporty lights.

cool, so it would be easy enough to stick HID's in the fog lights aswell? sounds quite easy.

i wouldnt have to cut the original clips/connectors off then would i? could just splice into them for if i ever wanted standard bulbs back in

and what the legalities of it, since its main beam does it have to conform to anything?

Also what bulb fitment are the main beam bulbs and fog light bulbs?

cheers :)

Edited 27 November, 200718 yr by chrisgti

cool, so it would be easy enough to stick HID's in the fog lights aswell? sounds quite easy.

i wouldnt have to cut the original clips/connectors off then would i? could just splice into them for if i ever wanted standard bulbs back in

and what the legalities of it, since its main beam does it have to conform to anything?

no wire cutting at all(well none with all the kits I've fitted) they just plug into the connectors. as far as i know they are perfectly legal.

Cheers guys

Do I have to get new headlight casing? I've heard about them melting? Or they fine?

cool, so it would be easy enough to stick HID's in the fog lights aswell? sounds quite easy.

i wouldnt have to cut the original clips/connectors off then would i? could just splice into them for if i ever wanted standard bulbs back in

and what the legalities of it, since its main beam does it have to conform to anything?

no wire cutting at all(well none with all the kits I've fitted) they just plug into the connectors. as far as i know they are perfectly legal.

cool even better, ill need to find a set and get them on :)

Cheers guys

Do I have to get new headlight casing? I've heard about them melting? Or they fine?

first I've heard.

Just to clear it up a bit more, my mk5 had standard headlights with xenons fitted and passed it's MOT no problems, and i haven't had any problems with melting anything yet. I'm sure for the mk4 you will need to get clear headlights, or preferably projectors since the beam pattern is much better with them. And it is really easy to revert back to standard as stated above just a case of unplugging them, although you will have a hole in your headlight casing

oh and on the mk5 dipped beam and foglights are both h7 fitment bulbs

and for the mk4 i'm sure it is h4 don't count on that though

Edited 27 November, 200718 yr by h4r1s

do they HID's really make a huge difference?

cheers chris

Edited 27 November, 200718 yr by chrisgti

May I direct your attention to the discussion labelled "Angel Eyes and HIDs" in this forum. There is a useful "official" statement regarding the reality of the legal situation with these lights and other people's experiences with them.

http://www.clubpolo.co.uk/forum/index.php?showtopic=66674

PoloD.

Most people in that thread are on about the 35w kits..was wondering if anyone has any experience with the 55w kits hids4u are offering?

Get them from www.hids4u.co.uk great service and great product.

You will want after market head lights tho. Well they need to be projector head lights or the light will scatter everywhere.

surely there arent any probs with the standard lights with respect to the legal side of things as the HID's will only be on for main beam as the xenons are the dipped beam? or have i got that wrong?

only time your lights will get checked is for MOT or if you are pulled over. The latter will usually be because of badly adjusted or too blue hids i'm guessing so i don't really see the problem with legality to be honest since it is not enforced and they pass MOT. Not exactly sure what you are trying to say in your last post mate?? The hids will be your dipped beam, which is what you would use normally

I'm gunna have to go and look at my lights, got myself all confused lol

surely there arent any probs with the standard lights with respect to the legal side of things as the HID's will only be on for main beam as the xenons are the dipped beam? or have i got that wrong?

Irrelevant as HIDs are illegal under UK law, only an EU directive forces their legality in the UK. They are also legal only when retrofitted to OEM standard using genuine parts, unless someone has taken the time and spent the money to make a kit that satisfies EU law. I've not seen anyone do this yet, so if the OEM didn't fit them, it's illegal for you to do so. Whether you will suffer at the hands of the law is a different matter.

I'm gunna have to go and look at my lights, got myself all confused lol

HID kits will replace both dipped and main unless you use a seperate bulb for each..this is my understanding anyway..

Just not sure whether 55w will be too powerful/ draw too much attention..since most companies use 35w.

What does everyone on here use?

Edited 28 November, 200718 yr by Dub James

I used to run a H4 HID kit with my standard Mk4 headlights, they looked great and lit up the road but didnt project very far!

Even with my headlight electric adjust pointed all the way down I still dazzeled every person on the road! come MOT time the tester who I know said they would fail the MOT if I left them in.

My mate has them on his Astra with projecter headlights and they are spot on! no dazzeling and pass an MOT fine. So I would say get some projector headlights and they will be fine.

I have now reverted back to normal xenon filled bulbs which project much furhter with my standard lights

I used to run a H4 HID kit with my standard Mk4 headlights, they looked great and lit up the road but didnt project very far!

Even with my headlight electric adjust pointed all the way down I still dazzeled every person on the road! come MOT time the tester who I know said they would fail the MOT if I left them in.

My mate has them on his Astra with projecter headlights and they are spot on! no dazzeling and pass an MOT fine. So I would say get some projector headlights and they will be fine.

I have now reverted back to normal xenon filled bulbs which project much furhter with my standard lights

Cheers

Been looking on hids4u and is it me or do they not do a conversion for H4 bulbs?

http://hids4u.co.uk/product_details.asp?id=44 h4 hid kits will replace both dipped and high beam, while h7 will only replace the dipped beam like in the mk5

remember to stick the 'astra' coupon code in mate £125 delivered for yours can't believe it still works, i got mine aages ago

hope that helps, Haris

Edited 28 November, 200718 yr by h4r1s

I used to run a H4 HID kit with my standard Mk4 headlights, they looked great and lit up the road but didnt project very far!

Even with my headlight electric adjust pointed all the way down I still dazzeled every person on the road! come MOT time the tester who I know said they would fail the MOT if I left them in.

My mate has them on his Astra with projecter headlights and they are spot on! no dazzeling and pass an MOT fine. So I would say get some projector headlights and they will be fine.

I have now reverted back to normal xenon filled bulbs which project much furhter with my standard lights

Cheers

Been looking on hids4u and is it me or do they not do a conversion for H4 bulbs?

you dont want H4 the standard headlights are H4 but you need to change them to run HIDs....my fk ones are H7

think some of the angel eyes are H1 fitment!