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Chat Area => General Car Chat => Topic started by: Jimbob on 11 May 2011, 11:46:50

Title: HID Clampdown?
Post by: Jimbob on 11 May 2011, 11:46:50
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-13143206
Title: Re: HID Clampdown?
Post by: Marks DTM Calib on 11 May 2011, 11:56:33
I think the biggest issue is incorrect headlight aim......and that is independent of the lighting technology.
Title: Re: HID Clampdown?
Post by: Andy B on 11 May 2011, 11:56:35
Quote
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-13143206

I saw him on telly moaning about HIDs, but it wasn't aftermarket lights he had a crusade against, it was factory fit in the likes of Audis, BMWs etc
Title: Re: HID Clampdown?
Post by: Martin_1962 on 11 May 2011, 13:10:39
I agree with them on DRLs, but HIDs - only have any problem with off roaders.

Dazzling DRLs should be banned!
Title: Re: HID Clampdown?
Post by: feeutfo on 11 May 2011, 13:11:01
Posts so far confirm my suspicion that the guy can't see too well. Hids per say are a massive improvement as we know. As said it's head lamp aim in general IMO.

Although retro fitted hid lights are a nuisance on the younger drivers cars round here. Fiestas of that year where not factory fitted with hids! They really are blinding, like hid high beam.
Title: Re: HID Clampdown?
Post by: Martin_1962 on 11 May 2011, 13:13:03
Blue ones - hmmm

Sounds after market to me
Title: Re: HID Clampdown?
Post by: Martin_1962 on 11 May 2011, 13:13:50
Mine are aftermarket but are set low to avoid dazzle
Title: Re: HID Clampdown?
Post by: Proz on 11 May 2011, 13:27:28
I have aftermarket hid on mine and the night time drive is so much better than the crappy standard projectors and yes my lens are crystal clear , even had Nightbreakers in them . I couldnt belive how much better the hids were ...anyway i  just recently had the car in for mot ( which it passed  :y) and i actually asked the guy doing the car if they were ok to use .
His reply was that as long as the beam pattern is ok there is no problem with them .
I actually find the DRL on Audi, bmw's etc much more blinding than any car i see with hids either aftermarket or not .
Why do these daytime lights have to be so bright  :-/
Title: Re: HID Clampdown?
Post by: Andy B on 11 May 2011, 13:49:55
Quote
Blue ones - hmmm

Sounds after market to me


As said, I watched the programme in which he was complaining. His gripe was against HIDs in Audis etc ie fully factory fitted systems.
Title: Re: HID Clampdown?
Post by: Varche on 11 May 2011, 14:31:35
As someone definitely not in the younger category, I can empathise with the general plight of older folk i.e. night vision is not as good as day vision.

I know people compensate for this by either not driving at night or only using known routes.

Like others say, the issue may be one of badly adjusted lights rather than too bright as left factory. Another issue in the UK is that the roads are often wet which worsens the problem of glare.

Maybe the answer is better MOT lights testing OR anti dazzle spectacles (even if you don't need prescription glasses). There you are Specsavers, Varches tip to make a market killing .  ;D ;D ;D 
Title: Re: HID Clampdown?
Post by: dragonlord on 11 May 2011, 15:08:54
sounds like hes one of them vigilantly bell ends

that turn on there full beams when your  Hid`s are dipped
in a attempt to blind you

to you give the full beams

its usually the  same morons that start flash and throwing a wobbly

when you do a safe legal over take cause there doing 15 in a 60
nearly all factory fitted hids are self levering any way and wont blind any

other than going over brow of hill or speed bumps like a normal car  will still
Title: Re: HID Clampdown?
Post by: Martin_1962 on 11 May 2011, 16:34:45
Quote
Quote
Blue ones - hmmm

Sounds after market to me


As said, I watched the programme in which he was complaining. His gripe was against HIDs in Audis etc ie fully factory fitted systems.


No problem with those - but I do with gaytime running lights
Title: Re: HID Clampdown?
Post by: Chris_H on 11 May 2011, 18:17:12
Quote
sounds like hes one of them vigilantly bell ends

that turn on there full beams when your  Hid`s are dipped
in a attempt to blind you

to you give the full beams

its usually the  same morons that start flash and throwing a wobbly

when you do a safe legal over take cause there doing 15 in a 60
nearly all factory fitted hids are self levering any way and wont blind any

other than going over brow of hill or speed bumps like a normal car  will still
They can also dazzle when rounding left-hand bends (in the UK at least).
Title: Re: HID Clampdown?
Post by: Nathan on 11 May 2011, 18:23:05
I can understand them clamping down on the wide boys that fit them to their corsa's etc but the factory fit Hid's are there for a reason........

ROAD SAFTEY :y
Title: Re: HID Clampdown?
Post by: Psychoca on 11 May 2011, 20:48:11
I have found that on the roads around me (which are unlit rural roads) that in foggy conditions, HID lights (in oncoming traffic) have caused the Fog to halo in front of me...  Not due to the lights being badly set, just purely the brightness of the light...  under usual conditions in general they aren't too bad...

That said, I find that both the DRL's and LED rear lights for more distracting, the DRL's being far too bright and the LED rears dancing all over the road everytime I move my head...
Title: Re: HID Clampdown?
Post by: Del Boy on 11 May 2011, 21:29:30
HID's in a reflector style headlight should hold penalty points! They're way too bright! I think you should be able to retro-fit HID's as long as they're setup on a beam setter and they are in a projector lens.
Title: Re: HID Clampdown?
Post by: maracus on 12 May 2011, 09:38:42
Quote
HID's in a reflector style headlight should hold penalty points! They're way too bright! I think you should be able to retro-fit HID's as long as they're setup on a beam setter and they are in a projector lens.

There are rules about them, they need to be in projector lenses to be legal, they need to be self levelling, I think headlamp washers must be fitted too, the light unit has to be correctly e-marked/approved for use. I'll see if I can find an Internet link..

... Just found this on a forum, can't view it ATM I'm in the sticks on an iPhone but if anyone wants to check it out feel free...

http://www.danielsternlighting.com/tech/bulbs/Hid/conversions/conversions.html
Title: Re: HID Clampdown?
Post by: Entwood on 12 May 2011, 11:07:02
DfT position .... quite simple IMHO ...

http://www.dft.gov.uk/pgr/roadsafety/drs/hidheadlamps
Title: Re: HID Clampdown?
Post by: Dishevelled Den on 12 May 2011, 11:37:22
Quote
DfT position .... quite simple IMHO ...

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

Yes, clear, unequivocal and, more importantly, sensible.
Title: Re: HID Clampdown?
Post by: 2woody on 12 May 2011, 16:29:12
also not legal as a statement, unclear, and just plain wrong ! ( the statement says "In our opinion" which is the same as "our opinion probably isn't right" )

HiD is safe if installed properly - it's down to the individual driver to make this so. The technology is easy, all you need is a dark road and an MOT-test machine. It is illegal to dazzle oncoming drivers whatever type of filament is fitted.
Title: Re: HID Clampdown?
Post by: Andy B on 12 May 2011, 16:30:54
Quote
also not legal as a statement, unclear, and just plain wrong ! ( the statement says "In our opinion" which is the same as "our opinion probably isn't right" )

HiD is safe if installed properly - it's down to the individual driver to make this so. The technology is easy, all you need is a dark road and an MOT-test machine. It is illegal to dazzle oncoming drivers whatever type of filament is fitted.

I don't think anyone is taking any notice of you Stu.  ::) ::) ::) ::)
Title: Re: HID Clampdown?
Post by: 2woody on 12 May 2011, 16:46:42
had an interesting chat with my counterpart at DfT the other day. They know it's not enforceable.

anyhow, the gadgie in the story just doesn't like bright lights of any kind, safe or not as far as I can tell. HMG cannot do anything about that even if they wanted, it's a European Directive over which we have no power to appeal
Title: Re: HID Clampdown?
Post by: albitz on 12 May 2011, 16:48:50
I really must get my washers fitted soon. ::)
Title: Re: HID Clampdown?
Post by: Andy B on 12 May 2011, 17:24:02
Quote
I really must get my washers fitted soon. ::)

I suppose I should put the fuse back in for my washer pump  ::) ............. the washers tend to not return properly   ;)
Title: Re: HID Clampdown?
Post by: o-meg-a on 13 May 2011, 18:51:27
So in essence that DFT site is in relation to fitting of "after market" HID's....

So besides the fact that there are no washers....which i may be able to understand, fitting genuine GM HID's to my mig is entirely legal.

Simple as that.

As far as i'm concerned, i've never driven round with dirty lights anyway, as it makes a hell of a difference, even on Halogens.

And self levellers from my halogens will fit to the HID's themselves and make sure they aren't sitting too high at any point.

Mine just arrived in the post today, as well as the plugs and connectors to wire them into my Select estate
Title: Re: HID Clampdown?
Post by: tigers_gonads on 16 May 2011, 18:44:13
Mot inspection rules for headlights  :y

http://www.motuk.co.uk/manual_170.htm