Omega Owners Forum

Omega Help Area => Omega Electrical and Audio Help => Topic started by: beemerdevil on 12 October 2008, 13:53:18

Title: HID lights??
Post by: beemerdevil on 12 October 2008, 13:53:18
hi peeps....need some of your expert advice...........firstly, what type headlights would be on my 2001 v6 2.6? - are they HID's? if not can i put HID's on? and do i need ballasts?? (youve probably sussed i am NOT an auto sparks)  [smiley=undecided.gif] [smiley=undecided.gif]secondly, how can i increase/improve my headlight beams for better night driving vision???

not that my eyes are gettin worse................wwhhoorrrr...who said that?? 8-) 8-) 8-)
Title: Re: HID lights??
Post by: JonArgraig on 12 October 2008, 13:57:11
You should have projecter lens so you can add a aftermarket HID kit, I've done this, took 15 mins to fit and the best £40 ever spent, but there are legaly "grey" at best.

Title: Re: HID lights??
Post by: Albatross on 12 October 2008, 14:05:27
Which bulbs does this replace and what needs changing?
Title: Re: HID lights??
Post by: JonArgraig on 12 October 2008, 14:10:50
Quote
Which bulbs does this replace and what needs changing?
The head lamp bulbs,

You fit the balast which plugs to the HID bulb, the old wiring for the head lamp plugs into the balast - really easy to fit
Title: Re: HID lights??
Post by: Albatross on 12 October 2008, 14:14:27
Is that the bulbs inside the bowl shaped lens? What's the net effect of this upgrade?

Oh, and what does the ballast do and where can I get them?
Title: Re: HID lights??
Post by: JonArgraig on 12 October 2008, 14:17:33
Quote
Is that the bulbs inside the bowl shaped lens? What's the net effect of this upgrade?

Oh, and what does the ballast do and where can I get them?

Yeah the projector bulb, you can get a full upgrade kit, with the HID bulbs and balasts from ebay for £30 upwards.

The difference is amazing, I use the Omega to add light when doing night shots now as the light is almost daylight like.

The range, the sharpness the colour is so much better - I'll stick a normal blub in tonight and do some pics to show the difference later
Title: Re: HID lights??
Post by: beemerdevil on 12 October 2008, 14:19:25
Quote
You should have projecter lens so you can add a aftermarket HID kit, I've done this, took 15 mins to fit and the best £40 ever spent, but there are legaly "grey" at best.

cheers jon...where can i get these kits??

woops....bit late...already andwered - cheers :y
Title: Re: HID lights??
Post by: beemerdevil on 12 October 2008, 14:22:43
what size bulbs do i look for? (wattage)..........which are the best?? :question :question
Title: Re: HID lights??
Post by: Albatross on 12 October 2008, 14:37:04
Quote
Quote
Is that the bulbs inside the bowl shaped lens? What's the net effect of this upgrade?

Oh, and what does the ballast do and where can I get them?

Yeah the projector bulb, you can get a full upgrade kit, with the HID bulbs and balasts from ebay for £30 upwards.

The difference is amazing, I use the Omega to add light when doing night shots now as the light is almost daylight like.

The range, the sharpness the colour is so much better - I'll stick a normal blub in tonight and do some pics to show the difference later

Look forward to the pictures.

Any chance you could post an ebay link? I'm not sure I'd find the right ones for the Omega.

Is this an upgrade for my 2001 Elite, or are they standard on the Elite facelift?
Title: Re: HID lights??
Post by: RobG on 12 October 2008, 14:45:49
Quote
Quote
Quote
Is that the bulbs inside the bowl shaped lens? What's the net effect of this upgrade?

Oh, and what does the ballast do and where can I get them?

Yeah the projector bulb, you can get a full upgrade kit, with the HID bulbs and balasts from ebay for £30 upwards.

The difference is amazing, I use the Omega to add light when doing night shots now as the light is almost daylight like.

The range, the sharpness the colour is so much better - I'll stick a normal blub in tonight and do some pics to show the difference later

Look forward to the pictures.

Any chance you could post an ebay link? I'm not sure I'd find the right ones for the Omega.

Is this an upgrade for my 2001 Elite, or are they standard on the Elite facelift?
Should be standard HID on the Elite :)
Title: Re: HID lights??
Post by: Albatross on 12 October 2008, 14:47:53
Cool, £0 saved. Mind you I was getting all excited about even brighter headlights then. :-/
Title: Re: HID lights??
Post by: JonArgraig on 12 October 2008, 14:49:12
Quote
Cool, £0 saved. Mind you I was getting all excited about even brighter headlights then. :-/


Could be worth changing the bulbs though

I use 6500k in mine, nice and bluey white - I think standed they would be 4000k Yellow / white, brighter but not as sharp IMHO
Title: Re: HID lights??
Post by: TheBoy on 12 October 2008, 15:23:16
Quote
You should have projecter lens so you can add a aftermarket HID kit, I've done this, took 15 mins to fit and the best £40 ever spent, but there are legaly "grey" at best.

Not even grey. Utterly illegal.

Grey is retrofitting proper HID units - ie, HID headlamps off a HID equipped car.
Title: Re: HID lights??
Post by: JonArgraig on 12 October 2008, 15:39:30
Quote
Quote
You should have projecter lens so you can add a aftermarket HID kit, I've done this, took 15 mins to fit and the best £40 ever spent, but there are legaly "grey" at best.

Not even grey. Utterly illegal.

Grey is retrofitting proper HID units - ie, HID headlamps off a HID equipped car.

Fair point...

Title: Re: HID lights??
Post by: Martin_1962 on 12 October 2008, 19:04:30
Better off spending £50 as the cheapest kits can have flicker problems.

As to illegal - the chance of being done is so minimal and the improvememnt so good - well I have done it.

I have used 4300K as they are supposed to be brightest, bulbs also wear out
Title: Re: HID lights??
Post by: tmx on 12 October 2008, 19:19:25
them after market hid kits will eventually blow the light switch up and melt the wires my mate has a vectra b that he done this to and today i have spent most of the day rewiring the lights!
Title: Re: HID lights??
Post by: JonArgraig on 12 October 2008, 19:20:28
Quote
them after market hid kits will eventually blow the light switch up and melt the wires my mate has a vectra b that he done this to and today i have spent most of the day rewiring the lights!

Can't see how that happens as they pull less wattage... - unless it's a dodgy balast
Title: Re: HID lights??
Post by: JonArgraig on 12 October 2008, 21:35:51
(http://i4.photobucket.com/albums/y148/jonargraig/forum%20pics/121008Bangor020.jpg)

HID Head lamps 6500k

(http://i4.photobucket.com/albums/y148/jonargraig/forum%20pics/121008Bangor021.jpg)

Normal Foglamps

(http://i4.photobucket.com/albums/y148/jonargraig/forum%20pics/121008Bangor022-1.jpg)

Full Beam


I have mini facelift projectors, the pictures where taken on a unlit road under 3/4 moonlight