hids i know

Hi there

Has anyone had any success with fitting hids on their p38 with the can bus system converters to stop the bulb failure on the p38 I have seen several type on that famous auction site in kit form

I know the purists will gun me down and lecture me about dazzle etc but I will have them set lowest level for mot purposes

I don't want the 100w bulbs or the +120% bulb that Philips/ring or osram when the bulbs are £30 a set when hids are £40 - £50

Any help would be great I have searched several other range rover forums incl this one

What kit are you using

Many thanks

groan you need a resistor to fool the bulb failure circuit and search led indicators or similar.
although you have automatic levelling air suspension, you still want head lamp wash ideally for mot time ( I seem to remember it depended on hid type)

Hi fanatic

Thanks for the info I just didn't know if I got the can bus hid kit that I wouldn't need to shunt the system, I also know the mot legislation but that won't be a problem!!

I just need to know what other people use or can recommend

I've moaned about HIDs in non-HID designed lamps previously. Go and have a look at factory fitted HIDs and you'll see they ALL have projector lenses fitted, non have a large surface reflector and freznell lens such as the P38 Rangie, which is why you produce light scatter and dazzle. This is the whole reason the government have banned their retrofit use by requiring the car to have auto-levelling and washers, in a very rare exception the P38 has self levelling suspension so gets around this ruling. All the Corsas and Novas et all will be forced to remove their HIDs, thankfully. Although you may be MoT legal, causing dazzle is still illegal. Why not just fit the quality brighter bulbs? Yes, more expensive than a standard bulb, but your cheap Chinese HID balast contains 20K volts and is very poorly made, get a shock from that and you may not walk again. For the record, I was an MoT inspector some (many) years ago.

I've changed all my bulbs for the standard wattage brighter type and the difference is illuminating! I also have a pair of exta driving lights, so on main beam I have 6 bulbs lit, that's almost like daylight!

I understand your view Alan and can see where you are coming from. I am a tester and also work with new vehicles with hids fitted as standard I've also seen several different types of vehicles fitted with hid without hid type lamps and not throwing light around!

As you stated with the cheap Chinese copies aren't most things that come to the UK via the docks are made by china, japan, Thailand what actually is still made on the homeland most cat manufacturing is done abroad (Nissan's are made in Spain, japan, India, sunderland )

I after info on the decodes do they work with a p38

Or better still can people recommend bulbs they have that are better than stock

Alan what bulbs are you using for dim/main?

matt1987 said:

Alan what bulbs are you using for dim/main?

Click to expand...

I believe they are Phillips, H4 and H1 I think, but I have used other makes with good results. The packaging would have you believe they are 50 or 100% brighter, but I very much doubt their claims. I think some of the benefit of these bulbs is the light spectrum, more towards the blue end and so gives a better interpretation of lit objects. I'll admit they don't last as long as a cheap £4.99 H4 bulb of dubious origin, but for what they cost I'm happy to pay it. I think the last I got were actually from Halfords suprisingly, use a trade card and the cost is a fraction of their retail price, but check the price first!

I think I did read on here somewhere that someone has successfully fitted HIDs that didn't trigger the bulb warning. I can only guess that they offer an increased loading over other units so the BeCM sees enough current draw to suggest bulbs are working. If I was to fit HIDs I think a shunt resister is the way to go, and probably the cheapest option?

This guy managed it I think.

Range Rover P38 Maintenance repair improvements and tips learned by experience by ownership.

And he's been good enough to blog how he did it.

Mr gorsky thanks for the link I have seen that site and will wire it up like that I just wondered if theses so called error free decoder work

does anyone else have any views on hids (if you have them fitted) or any halogen headlight bulbs which they use and find good

Hid is a much better light then halogen
But yes there illegal and a pain in the arse when your blinded by them ! Lol
Had them fitted to my freelander and I have OEM ones on my l322 and there great !

Anyone use 100w h4 bulbs any problem with wires melting or becm

melts the headlight. - go for +120%

Even if you use ceramic bulb holders mad hat man

plastic headlight?