Are cheap Ebay light conversions worthwhile? Real world testing.

[M-R-P]

So, I intend to see if I can upgrade the lighting on the front of my car using cheap Ebay stuff and deciding if a bargain really is a bargain.
I'll be using the cheapest possible kit while keeping it safe, error free and relatively legal

I started with LED sidelights as they don't trigger a bulb failure warning and I can get loads pretty cheap.
I found some Cree LED ones for less than £3 for a set of 4, posted. I had issues with the cree chip exploding in the reflector so I've got myself another set and I'll be fitting load resistors in an effort to make them more reliable. More on that later.

I ordered this HID kit on Jan 28th and it arrived tonight. Not bad considering it had to swim all the way from Hong Kong

Although the kit came with no instructions, it was a pretty easy install.

1st, remove the cups from the back of the reflector, drill a 22mm hole in the middle and clip a small slot, leading to the stickered cut-out...

Then remove the wire clamp from the power cable...

And feed the cable through the cup, securing the rubber bung in the 22mm hole and refitting the wire clamp...

Connect the original bulb supply to the power connector on the inside of the cup - this leads out to the ballast, which in turn leads back in through the rubber bung to the bulb itself. Fit the bulb and replace the cap on the reflector.


The more eagle-eyed of you will have noticed the bulb isn't fitted correctly, I sorted it now

The ballast should be mounted on a bracket (supplied) but for now, I've tucked it away somewhere cool and breezy.

Here's a comparison - HID on the left and 100W offroad bulbs on the right...



Both HIDs



They're a bit blue for my tastes (6000k) and for the colour scheme I'm after but it's only full beam so won't get used much.

Stay tuned - more to follow when my other drunken purchases arrive

Oh, as for errors...

[M-R-P]

[MoleT-5R]

Looks like a good upgrade, nice again Martin

[M-R-P]

I'm hoping to dispell or prove the myths about cheap lighting, plus I get to fek about with my car in the evening lol.

[p fandango]

i've lost count how many HID kits i've purchased, but can only think of having 1 issue & just happened to be on the cheapest kit i've ever bought



what wattage did you go for? i've got 55watt in my full beam

[M-R-P]

35W, they're bright enough!

[Kingsford G]

I have 6000k on mine and don`t really like blue ish lights,look nice tho.Any Idea which kit is a bit whiter than these?

[V70 Graham]

I like it, good light, if a little Blue, can't believe you were wearing a long sleeve jumper/jacket.....no wonder they call us 'Southern Softies'

[M-R-P]

I have 6000k on mine and don`t really like blue ish lights,look nice tho.Any Idea which kit is a bit whiter than these?

5000k or even 4300 (a bit yellow) mate.

I like it, good light, if a little Blue, can't believe you were wearing a long sleeve jumper/jacket.....no wonder they call us 'Southern Softies'

It was 1 degree and fekkin snowing lol, That's my excuse and I'm sticking to it lol.

[deathrider311271]

you want 4300k ones mate they seem to be the best in all weather conditions, i have tried 8000k, 6000k and 5000k

[M-R-P]

Cheerz, the colour charts aren't much to go by when they're only an inch across lol.

[MRTREE]

I'm hoping to dispell or prove the myths about cheap lighting, plus I get to fek about with my car in the evening lol.

MRP you asked about my exhaust... Well if you look at that phase 2 R for sale the grey 1 its the same as that one

[Kingsford G]

Is it just the case of 4300k bulbs fitting rather than buying a kit?

[p fandango]

Is it just the case of 4300k bulbs fitting rather than buying a kit?

yeh you can just buy the replacement bulbs if you've already got HID's fitted

[Kingsford G]

yeh you can just buy the replacement bulbs if you've already got HID's fitted

Cheer mate.I think 5000k is just a little blue and more sort of lighter,correct me if I`m wrong.

[M-R-P]

MRP you asked about my exhaust... Well if you look at that phase 2 R for sale the grey 1 its the same as that one

Cool, I'll look at that.

[p fandango]

Cheer mate.I think 5000k is just a little blue and more sort of lighter,correct me if I`m wrong.

i doubt if you'll see any blue in 5000k's, i'm more than happy with my 6000k's

[deathrider311271]

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/H7-HID-Xen...b215cc1&_uhb=1

these are the bulbs i use purely because of the metal base fits better

[M-R-P]

I must admit, the video makes the 6000k bulbs look more blue than they are.
Once warmed up they're bright white with a blue haze.

[oblark]

Very eluminating