HID'ing the Headlights

Has anyone converted their headlights to HID? I did this on my motorcycle, and it's the best mod I ever did (H7), though I understand that HID H$'s are not perfect since they have a solenoid to move a shield to change from dipped to main beam.

Just done mine, lot better than the standard one's. I went wading early one morning and left the lights on and the both broke.

Can anyone help regarding the main headlamps. The offside headlamp dipped beam has failed but the main beam still works. I have replaced the bulb but have the same problem with the new bulb. Is there a seperate fuse for each filament on each headlamp?

there are kits which you can HID the headlamps. not a problem, you just use the existing wires to drive a relay which is hooked directly to the alternator. hence your headlamps draw power directly from the alternator and not over power the switch which is live.

regarding the post from anthony. i think you might have melted your switch. open up the collumn and remove the switch, check the contacts, you might have a melted contact after repeated on/off cycles of your headlamps. i had the same problem after 4yrs even using the factory spec. bulb ratings and nothing extra. the high beam will work cos it's from a different switch.

Re. Anthony's query, the offside dipped beam is protected by fuse no. 22 in the bulkhead fuse box. It's worth checking the wiring harness. I had repeated failure of the nearside dip fuse, and I found that the harness was trapped against the bodywork where it passes the heater ducting, and had chafed through the insulation, shorting to earth.

sorry guys

can someone translate for me...HID?.

what this do for me and my 300tdi standard lights

ta

greenpaint said:

sorry guys

can someone translate for me...HID?.

what this do for me and my 300tdi standard lights

ta

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Can't remember what HID stands for but it's a different sort of headlamp system to the ones we're all used to.

HID headlights first came out on top end cars, BM's, Merc's etc and now there are aftermarket conversion kits - but beware, true HID headlights (as opposed to changing halogen bulbs for Xenon ones) are governed by a raft of complicated and sophisticated requirements to have them legally. Eg. your vehicle must have self-levelling suspension.

The conversion kits should come with a balast, which ensures that the lighting ECU doesn't get it's knickers in a knot.

Lots of talk about this on the BM forums, but be warned they are not straightforward.

aint it

High
Intensity
Discharge?

Sounds good to me, fella

HID are white light. yes, those irritating ones which you see so damn bright from a long distance.

they have a longer range and can be very blinding if they are not aimed correctly. hence vehicle must have the self leveling headlight ability. even a country spec model has a manual leveling headlight only. so legally, defender - no HID lights

I have them fitted to my BMW Motorcycle (the simpler H7 ones) and they don't seem to cause a problem (I don't get 'flashed'). Landrovers, etc. use reflector lights, most of the factory fitted HID's use projector lights which have a very accurate cut-off - my experience is that it is the projector lights which are the most 'blinding' if not aimed correctly.

I've no experience with the Land Rover, but the ones I've fitted H7 and H3 are pretty straight forward.

Oh - you need to be careful, the wire from the ballast to the burner (lamp) pulses at 23,000 V!

If it's of interest, I fitted my headlights with PIAA Platinum White bulbs. Not cheap, but supposed to last forever and a big improvement on standard bulbs.

Ron Knight said:

If it's of interest, I fitted my headlights with PIAA Platinum White bulbs. Not cheap, but supposed to last forever and a big improvement on standard bulbs.

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was that a literal 'straight swap' ?

no buggering about with wires etc

HID

High Intensity Discharge.

The lights in my TD5 Disco 2 are just fine the way they are.

Why pay heaps of cash for a fashion fad? I never understood that.

Light is light. Add 50% and you'll hardly notice the difference.

And if you are going to all this expense so you can drive faster at night ... then I hope you don't drive near here.

CharlesY

H.I.D os a good idea on motorbikes but on a car ****ing great spots work better

G-man said:

H.I.D os a good idea on motorbikes but on a car ****ing great spots work better

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Way to go ..... !

Anthony Sprigings said:

Can anyone help regarding the main headlamps. The offside headlamp dipped beam has failed but the main beam still works. I have replaced the bulb but have the same problem with the new bulb. Is there a seperate fuse for each filament on each headlamp?

Click to expand...

had a similar prob mate, check the connections on the back of the headlight unit, they have a tendancy to corrode!
failing that there is a relay that goes wrong, mines in a disco so dont know where it would ne on yours but it looks more like a rectifier than a relay, its black with an orange plug.

Each to their own, and the environment they live in! (I'm in South Africa!)

Re. Greenpaint's query...straight swap, no buggering about!