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[DazzerBoy]

Hi.  
I need to replace one of my headlight units due to water ingress and was just wondering whether anyone has had any experience of converting standard lighting to HID..?  I appreciate that the headlight unit are different but what other components would be needed......and is it practical...?  
Car is a facelift 2.2 CD.  
Cheers  

[jim_c]

Hi, I converted mine by using the HID light units, then using some transformers/ballast packs from a merc. Work great. You can also get HID kits to convert your standard light units. About £130 but well worth it.

[VX1]

If you want to go the cheaper option then yes you can get the hid kits from egay. I bought a set from there and cost me £60 delivered, fitted them and they work great, best £60 I spent.

Paul  

[DazzerBoy]

....thanks for the info guys...sounds like it's worth doing then.  So other than the light units, transformers and ballast packs would I need anything else.  Cheers

[stuy112]

I've had mine converted (pre-facelift poverty spec) using elite headlights.
Seemed fairly straightforward to swap using the existing wiring (iirc an earth wire needs to be fitted) and the old unit levelers were used so they can be adjusted in-car just like normal headlights.
The difference is amazing! The only drawback is that they need to be kept clean, which is why I'm guessing they should have headlight washers (opens a can of worms on that one again lol!)

[VX1]

Yes you are totaly correct. You need the headlight washers to keep the headlight lens clean otherwise there is no point in having them switched on.

Paul  

[stuy112]

Even if they were coated in mud they'd be an improvement over the standard ones  

[markey mark]

Even if they were coated in mud they'd be an improvement over the standard ones  

deffo like a torch with flat batteries before !  

[DazzerBoy]

Thanks guys.....very much appreciated.  Just need to source them now..!!

[TheBoy]

The legal stance for retrofit is that no conversion kit is legal.

Using OEM replacement headlamp units is legal if you're car has a headlight cleaning system and a mechanism for automatically levelling the headlights (non HID'd Omegas only have a manual adjustment, except Elites which overcome the restriction as they have suspension levelling)

[Andy B]

The legal stance for retrofit is that no conversion kit is legal.

Using OEM replacement headlamp units is legal if you're car has a headlight cleaning system and a mechanism for automatically levelling the headlights (non HID'd Omegas only have a manual adjustment, except Elites which overcome the restriction as they have suspension levelling)

Mmmm??? I'm with MarksDTM on HID conversions    

[TheBoy]

The legal stance for retrofit is that no conversion kit is legal.

Using OEM replacement headlamp units is legal if you're car has a headlight cleaning system and a mechanism for automatically levelling the headlights (non HID'd Omegas only have a manual adjustment, except Elites which overcome the restriction as they have suspension levelling)

Mmmm??? I'm with MarksDTM on HID conversions    

I was just stating the legal view.

After speaking to dft, they are having a clampdown - he particularly mentioned conversion kits.  I can understand why.  I saw a Rover 800 the other day with HIDs.  They, afaik, never had clear lenses, and the glare off it was incredible. Hope that idiot gets stopped!

The reason for the rules is to prevent dazzling other road users, so on that basis, I think they are right.


If people were responsible, and used OEM HID parts, and set them responsibly, and regularly cleaned their lights, then we wouldn't need rules.  But most people who retrofit them are not responsible, bit like all the retards you see driving around with front fogs on.

[tmx]

aye the local plod have an operation called BLACK Out and they are targeting cars with defective lights and they do mention illegal hid kits big problem round here as the chavs have all got them:(

[Humpy]

But you could argue that if a decent conversion kit was used on a pair of projector type headlamps that the plod wouldn't pull you knowing that Omega's were fitted with Xenons as original fit?  :-/

Humpy

[beemerdevil]

ok ok ok..................lol...............i tell you what, there has been sooooooooo many thoughts, ideas, opinions on this subject, could someone posibly settle it, and answer this ??
have a 2001 facelift v6 2.6 saloon meega.......no h/light washers, but has level switch - I want to 'greatly improve' my headlights, (legally) so i can rather see at night - lol - so basically, a) what kit do i need ? b) where do i get them?? -   do vx dealers do them??? - if someone  could possibly please answer this, it would please a lot of us 'ignorant'  oofers      many many thanks in advance