Will everyone stop flashing at me?!

**Wobbly Dave** · Saturday 19th September 2009, 02:17

I have replaced my aftermarket headlights with genuine Volvo MY2003 clear ones. I retained the HIDs. I've lined them up with the real-deal MOT measuring device, yet I am often flashed by other drivers at night?

Now I asked a chap in a 4x4 when we chanced at the same service station on the M5 last night about it. I asked if the lights were too bright? He said that they were very bright indeed but "not as bad as some".

I have employed the lowering motors on the dash to dip them down further - but to my mind they need not be? I should be able to run with them in normal position - shouldn't I?

Everything is very clear - but I worry about causing accidents for other motorists.

Any direction from traffic officers on this site would be welcomed. Other opinions welcomed too.

**PaulZX** · Saturday 19th September 2009, 02:24

HID's on oncoming cars are a pain in the arse on country lanes, or dark motorways..

That said, I'll probably fit them at some point.......

**Storm-Troll** · Saturday 19th September 2009, 02:42

Dave... try drivin with ya lights off at night... then u wont get flashed.. just hold a torch out the window as u drive.. problem solved.....

**Wobbly Dave** · Saturday 19th September 2009, 02:57

Well I am fitting some new bilstein shocks (FSDs are shot) in a week or so - I will check the alignment again. TBH I think compare with the projectors - these are much better from my perspective, but maybe not so from everyone elses.

I get flashed by trucks - coming the other way!!

For now I have used the dipping motors to reduce the throw by 2 stops. They are awesome on their own when no-one else is about.

**Flatout Phil** · Saturday 19th September 2009, 07:52

My HID are good and bright - although whether my MOT man passes them is a moot point - but no-one flashes me.
Maybe they just like your car?

Or want to meet you???

**BruceT** · Saturday 19th September 2009, 08:22

Peugeot Halogen and HID lights are THE WORST and they are factory fit, infact I find most headlights on the motorway at night a nightmare(no pun lol) just get blinded all the time.

**Porcine_Aviator** · Saturday 19th September 2009, 08:38

Originally Posted by BruceT

Peugeot Halogen and HID lights are THE WORST and they are factory fit, infact I find most headlights on the motorway at night a nightmare(no pun lol) just get blinded all the time.

I used to have that problem, so I bought a set of night driving glasses. They are great, and another advantage with them is when I'm driving on the motorway in heavy rain and passing wagons they seem to give me better vision.

So at night the oncoming headlight's intensity is cut and in th wet they help as well.

So I don't care is people have HID lights.

What I will say is some of them seem to be much brighter than others

**cornclose** · Saturday 19th September 2009, 08:59

Are they HID burners fitted into headlamp units designed for Halogen bulbs ? If so, the beam pattern will be wrong. This is interesting :-

http://www.danielsternlighting.com/t...nversions.html

Perhaps that's why you're being flashed.

Besides, if the above is true, they're illegal :-

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

**Wobbly Dave** · Saturday 19th September 2009, 10:45

I'll get them rechecked when I return from Holland next weekend. I would not have said the pattern was all over the place.

**Alan M** · Saturday 19th September 2009, 12:18

Retro fitting HIDs to Halogen type lights create to much beam scatter. In projector type lamps they work very as the beam pattern can be focused much more in a direct manner where required.

**MIKESC70T5** · Saturday 19th September 2009, 13:22

I've got the later jewel headlamps in my c70 along with Philips extreme power bulbs and they are great. No need for the hids imo.

Also aftermarket hid kits are not approved for road use as automatic levelling and headlight washing systems are required to meet ECE regulations, so you may even fail the mot test. It's a bit of a grey area as to wether they are legal or not aswell.

**Wobbly Dave** · Saturday 19th September 2009, 22:48

Originally Posted by Alan M

Retro fitting HIDs to Halogen type lights create to much beam scatter. In projector type lamps they work very as the beam pattern can be focused much more in a direct manner where required.

I got rid of the projector lights as I was unhappy with amount of light produced. Now I have too much. For now I have knocked the leveling motors to half way - and so far no-one has flashed at me and this evening I followed behind one of Shropshires finest in an Astra diesel - and no complaints. I may yet ditch the HIDs if mike thinks they are ok without.

**cornclose** · Sunday 20th September 2009, 08:48

I have standard t5 headlight units with osram nightbreakers (upgrade 'xenon' bulbs which are 'upto 80% brighter') and they are a vast improvement over standard halogen bulbs, and of course you retain the nice clear, sharp beam pattern. Aswell as remaining legal.

They are noticably 'white' rather than yellow when compared to ordinary halogen bulbs too. I also have a pair of ultra bright White LED side light bulbs which remove the yellowness. All in all they look almost like factory fitted HIDs when switched on.

**mexybhouy** · Saturday 10th October 2009, 21:03

There are plenty of drivers out there who don't know anything about hid's and think your driving with main beams on because they are so bright!!!!
This could be the case?

**Wobbly Dave** · Friday 29th January 2010, 13:39

Just bought some Osram nightbreaker bulbs - h7 for main beam and h1 for fogs - for half the price on PFV via amazon, with free 1 day delivery! How awesome is that!

**volvokid** · Friday 29th January 2010, 15:06

tell as how you get on

**HammyUK** · Friday 29th January 2010, 15:57

There are now HID's available with the black tip the same as halogen bulbs have to have.
This is the cause of 95% of all the "problems" that HID owners have on a retrofit.
www.hids4u.co.uk are the 1st to have them and they are the biggest importer out there.
They also have http://www.autobulbsdirect.co.uk/
Same company just slightly different pricing as the "direct" site is aimed at the chav end of the market.
I have used them loads of times and always pick them up myself as its only 15mins from me. They have some proper goodies in the warehouse and will happily do split kits for those who have different bulbs, bike, etc.

**PNuT** · Friday 29th January 2010, 16:45

most humans cannot tell the difference between bright & high.... why on earth they let them drive a couple of tons of car is beyond me.....

**Dangerous Dave** · Friday 29th January 2010, 17:52

I've had Osram nightbreakers in for two years or so now (in both dipped and main beam clusters), and I must say the longevity of them is awesome, not had to replace them yet. They're supposed to be brighter than standard, but I could only tell a slight difference in them. They do seem to light the road pretty well.

I got them off ebay for around £10-12 with free delivery, and they were sent really quick! So cheaper than standard halfords bulbs. Definately worth it anyway

**MIKESC70T5** · Friday 29th January 2010, 21:09

Originally Posted by Wobbly Dave

Just bought some Osram nightbreaker bulbs - h7 for main beam and h1 for fogs - for half the price on PFV via amazon, with free 1 day delivery! How awesome is that!

I stock these now and used the free samples i got off the rep to replace the philips i originally had in. By far the best bulbs i've ever used.