Xm Headlamps, MOT test

Hello readers

I fitted an ebay (Chinese) HID dipped beam conversion kit last Christmas and have been very pleased with the results (including no increase in the rate of being flashed by oncoming drivers). However with the annual MOT looming I wondered if anyone had successfully submitted a HID converted XM for the test?
The alternative is to play safe by temporarily converting the lights back to the original H1 set up.

Regards

Ken

Ken,

I would submit the car as it stands, this is what I will do when my MOT is due with the same setup. If it passes great, if not change the bulbs back and pass on the (free) retest.

John

Hi Ken,

I fitted Chinese HID lamps to the dip of the Grean Bean when I bought it a couple of months ago. Three days ago it sailed through its MOT at a VERY thorough test centre with no comment.

My V6 has been fitted with HID to both main and dip lights and I don't anticipate any problem with that either.

Derek

Hi Ken

Mine passed the MoT without comment about the HID's.

Regards

XMexc

Ken,

I've been through 2 MOT's now with HIDs fitted and the tester hasn't even mentioned them. I really wouldn't worry about it as long as they're adjusted correctly.

I fitted the ballasts on the horn mounting bolts inside the nose cone to save drilling any new holes. This means they're out of sight - but I doubt the tester would have been worried about it even if they'd been in plain view.



Good luck with the MOT.

Roy

My HID Ballasts are in full view.

Passed MOT no probs at AA Autocentre last time

Could you please give some more specifics about this conversion and where to obtain the parts? There seem to be some different options!

Hi Jan,

See the post entitled "Hid Conversions., Has anybody done one?" in this section.

There's now a huge variety of suppliers including many on eBay and the prices have since plummeted.

Details of the units I fitted and the supplier I bought them from are given there. They were prepared to give a discount to Citroen Car Club members at the time I wrote the original article - but with dropping margins this may no longer be the case.

Cheers

Roy

This post has been edited by mackay1 on September 16, 2007 09:58 am

Roy,

you are right about the fall in HID kit prices - while browsing ebay I came across a Hong Kong seller 'diane-shop' selling an H1 kit for £44 (£24+£20 delivery to the UK)!!

Ken

Meaning you had to shoehorn in 4 ballasts?

Thanks Roy. Right now I am looking at this auction

http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/XENON-HID-CONVERSION...ShippingPayment

and awaiting a reply concerning shipping.

I suppose, to fit the bulbs and ballasts, I have to remove the grill and headlight units - not the bumper? I actually have always been loath to remove body panels, especially with all this plastic, but little choice here

Hi Jan/Ken,

Wow - I didn't realise they had dropped that much!

I removed the grill but not the bumper. The grill is quite straight forward. I didn't remove the headlamps though. I was able to pass the cable through an opening beneath / to the side of the lamp units. The cables on mine were only just long enough for mounting the ballasts on the horn bracket.

The Pilot H1 6,000k kit I bought doesn't seem to be widely available now, though I did find one seller on eBay (item 250164468409).

Good luck

Roy

I always felt the HID conversion would be a really worthwhile upgrade for the XM front fog lamps too - but couldn't justify the cost. Now the price has dropped so much I just might try it. Has anyone had a go at this?

Roy

This post has been edited by mackay1 on September 17, 2007 09:07 am

Derek

I was interested to hear that your V6 has HID conversions on both main and dipped beam. Does this cause any problem when switching between dipped and full beam in quick succession? I was under the impression that HID bulbs (1) don't appreciate being switched too often and (2) can sometimes fail to 'restrike' while they are still hot and pressurised. A short cooling period might sometimes be required before the arc can be re-established.

Regards

Ken

This post has been edited by kenhall1202 on September 17, 2007 01:47 pm

Because of the outboard position of the dip lights and the relative shortness of the leads, I had to put the dip ballasts in the space behind the headlamps. The nearside one went on the front of the battery box





and the offside one on the front of the cruise control cover, having first moved the Bitron box outboard.





The main beam ballasts fitted nicely on the shelf under the radiator grill. You can just see them if you peer through the grill




and





Sorry for the mucky front on the car, we've just got back from a fly-blown trip.

I found it easier to modify the lights by removing them, easier to see what you're doing and less traumatic when sliding those long, delicate bulbs into place.

I've only used the main beams once in earnest on a late night trip back from the Midlands to home on almost deserted roads. When first switching on, the main beams took three or four seconds to light up fully, but after that they seemed to come on immediately with no hiccups. The sixty or so miles between Melton Mowbray and my home were a revelation during this after midnight drive. The road was lit like daylight and I found myself driving at ridiculous speeds. One disconcerting effect was that the reflection off large white direction arrow road signs was so dazzling I had to switch to dip.

Would I recommend fitting HID to main lights? Probably not. They are perfect on deserted roads but not for our normally overcrowded conditions. I've fitted HID to the dip lights on the Grean Bean but I won't be converting the mains - and that's going to be our winter car, saving the V6 for summer when we can appreciate the air conditioning, the cruise control and the ability to tow our caravan as if it wasn't there.

Derek

PS I told a lie. Last week I went out for a drive on the back roads as soon as it got dark for the sheer pleasure of it. Lovely Indian Summer evening, sunroof open, air con on, wind ruffling what little hair I've got left, lights on full beam, eyes glowing in the surrounding fields. As near Heaven as I'm likely to see.



This post has been edited by DerekW on September 17, 2007 05:12 pm