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[Turk]

Would an upgrade to HID's (O/E units, not the Fleabay kits) make big difference in actually seeing where I'm going and is it just a case of "plug and play" regarding the wiring ?

What about h/lamp washers and the self leveling linkage, how critical are they to performance etc ?

[Omegatoy]

absolutely!!one of the  best upgrade ive done on mine, although i do have adjustable rear air shocks, i havent bothered fitting the sensors etc and had no problems with mot or anything else most people say you should fit all the gubbins, but as said the rear shocks on mine do set the beams where i want them!!
i actually soldered my hid wires into the loom infront of my original plug, so i can swap back almost immediately just by plugging in the original lights to the original wiring if that makes sense?

[Turk]

So they won't plug straight in then ? 

[tunnie]

So they won't plug straight in then ? 

Nope, considered it for mine. The main problem i have fitting them is the lack of washer system.

We have a 3.0 Elite with HIDs and its amazing the difference washing them does to the light output. They are affected by road dirt much more than standard lights, hence washers are a legal requirement (on paper) but i see why they are needed.

It put me off putting them on mine, i stuck nightbreaker bulbs in and they bring it very close to HID output

[Omegatoy]

i just wash mine every time i use it in dirty weather but have to say i havent really noticed any degradation in the light output when they are dirty, but am sure there is if they say there is!!

[tunnie]

i just wash mine every time i use it in dirty weather but have to say i havent really noticed any degradation in the light output when they are dirty, but am sure there is if they say there is!!

I am doing 150 miles a day now, i given them quick wipe before i start. But driving along in mother tunnies Estate, i thought the windscreen looked a bit mucky (driving at night) gave it a blast, light output went up by around 30% 

[joshwyatt]

I agree totally with Tunnie, headlight washers do serve a real purpouse. I would not even consider only fitting the lights, in my opinion you MUST fit the correct sensors to make the light motors work and headlight washers. I think it's bordering on unsafe and careless not to fit them. They are there for good reason, and by-passing them can only lead to trouble. I think not fitting headlight washers negates the whole point of fitting HID's...you want better light output so therefore you also need the headlight washers. And the light levelling motors are to avoid dazzling oncoming drivers. I know of an instance around here, that after investigation by TVP and other agencies an accidnet was attributed to a driver who thought he culd fit Xenon's without correct self levelling, blinded a driver coming over a small bridge, and caused them to crash, causing them to suffer fairly severe injuries and right their car off.
Quick answer, if you do it...please do it properly and fit headlight washers, and correct levelling motors etc.

[Turk]

I suspect the self leveling is only an issue when the rear drops with a heavily loaded boot, rear passengers, towing etc. but that would be easily adjusted by the in-dash leveling switch.

I have heard before that HID's are affected by dirty lenses more than std bulbs.   

[Turk]

So they won't plug straight in then ? 

Nope, considered it for mine. The main problem i have fitting them is the lack of washer system.

We have a 3.0 Elite with HIDs and its amazing the difference washing them does to the light output. They are affected by road dirt much more than standard lights, hence washers are a legal requirement (on paper) but i see why they are needed.

It put me off putting them on mine, i stuck nightbreaker bulbs in and they bring it very close to HID output

I have Nightbreakers fitted and they definately made an improvement, but I wouldn't say they're close to any HID's I've seen. If that's all the improvement is then I definately won't bother.

[tunnie]

So they won't plug straight in then ? 

Nope, considered it for mine. The main problem i have fitting them is the lack of washer system.

We have a 3.0 Elite with HIDs and its amazing the difference washing them does to the light output. They are affected by road dirt much more than standard lights, hence washers are a legal requirement (on paper) but i see why they are needed.

It put me off putting them on mine, i stuck nightbreaker bulbs in and they bring it very close to HID output

I have Nightbreakers fitted and they definately made an improvement, but I wouldn't say they're close to any HID's I've seen. If that's all the improvement is then I definately won't bother.

Other HIDs are another matter, brand new beemers pounding the outside lane tend to light up the whole 6 lanes 

Omega HIDs aren't fantastic, when my 2.2 waterpump decided to die on me, i used mother tunnies Estate for a week, i liked the HIDs, when i got mine running again i was expecting to be plunged into darkness, but i found its not too far off. In poor weather the HIDs are much better, but under clear conditions, they are not far off.

If you do fit them, i highly recommend washers 

[Omegadoha, Desert Member]

I thought the headlamp washer system was to stop dazzling other oncoming drivers?

[tunnie]

I thought the headlamp washer system was to stop dazzling other oncoming drivers?

Think the level sensors on the rear shocks are for that, washers are for keeping them clean  8-)

[mathewst]

Nope, leveling motors are to stop dazzling oncoming drivers

[Andy H]

I thought the headlamp washer system was to stop dazzling other oncoming drivers?

I agree. Dirt on the lenses either absorbs light or scatters it.

The scattered light contributes to the glare that other road users are subjected to.

[Turk]

I thought self leveling is connected to the front wishbones.