Advice please: headlamps.

Technically one should have headlight washers and self levelling headlights for the HIDS to be fitted as O/E equipment and as most cars that don't have HID as O/E don't have both self levelling and headlight washers.

Thanks James. Just to clarify then, as my V40 has both of those features, could I fit them if I wished? (I don't) or does it have to be OEM?

Yes you could but possibly you have them already.

talkingcars wrote: Yes you could but possibly you have them already.

Nope, standard type lamps. IIRC however, they may have been an option.

It's not just about self-levelling. The headlight assembly must also be type-approved for HID and this can only be done by the manufacturer. By headlight assembly, that is the full thing including lens and reflector - not just the bulb housing and bulb!

You you could legally buy and fit a type-approved HID headlight assembly (eg from another car) and be road legal, but not replace standard bulbs with a HID conversion. The latter wouldn't be legal for road use and therefore your insurance would potentially be invalid too.j

https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/aftermarket-hid-headlamps/aftermarket-hid-headlamps

Nick

Even type approved factory fitted hid lights are a pain to oncoming road users on anything but flat roads.

Around here, where flat roads are a rarity, facing an oncoming car with hids is akin to someone flashing main beams straight in your face. I'm surprised more accidents aren't caused by this phenomenon! On small bumpy rural roads it is necessary to pull over to the side of the road and wait for the oncoming hid car to pass.

Although hids are great for the person driving with them, around here they are a total menace to oncoming drivers.

My personal opinion is that they should be banned on safety grounds!

I'm at one with David here, HIDS are only an advantage to the driver of the car equiped with them, to the rest of the world they are a pain, literaly.

Airportable wrote: I'm at one with David here, HIDS are only an advantage to the driver of the car equiped with them, to the rest of the world they are a pain, literaly.

+1 from me as well. I think they're a total pain in the rear.

Obviously not the tw*t near you. although my lights are much brighter they're not going to be visible by you in St Helens from where I am..... yes my beam are adjusted correctly so they're not dazzling other road users. HID bulbs are no worse than any other brighterr bulb on the market as long as they are correctly fitted and point in the right direction.

smudger69 wrote: HID bulbs are no worse than any other brighterr bulb on the market as long as they are correctly fitted and point in the right direction.

Wrong!

The source point of the light from the HID bulb is completely different to a filament bulb!

They must never be used in a reflector/refractor type light housing, as they do not have a point source of light in a set position like filament bulbs do. A reflector housing is designed for filament bulb (to E standards) and the reflectors positioned and shaped for such a bulb. Instead a HID bulb, as would an LED cluster bulb, will scatter its light with a much wider pattern than intended.

Fitted behind a projector lens is a better solution, as less chance of light scatter, but still not the same as a filament bulb.

If you want HID on your main beam, then fine, but fitting HID conversions on dipped beam is just plain selfish, and dangerous. When driving down a dark country lane I don't want to dazzle on coming drivers, as it will be me they crash into!

HID conversions are illegal for a reason!

Now you do what you want! At least you are nowhere near me.

Get a life. You're really quite boring, have you suddenly become an expert on everything motoring related or just learnt to google information to make yourself look clever. Im know which one i think. I hope you never go over 70 mph on a motorway as that's illegal too, for a reason........

smudger69 wrote: Get a life. You're really quite boring, have you suddenly become an expert on everything motoring related or just learnt to google information to make yourself look clever. Im know which one i think. I hope you never go over 70 mph on a motorway as that's illegal too, for a reason........

True, it is. But if he drove over 70, he would only be breaking the law when he drove over 70. The rest of the time he would be driving within the law. You, on the other hand, are breaking the law the moment you pull away and continue to do so until you are back on your private land.

So there is a subtle difference....