HID Conversion kit

[woof]

Hi Chaps

We know the C5 headlights are crap ! So i saw an HID upgrade kit being offered on the Corvette Forum for $300
so about £155 - nothing to loose right

Fitted them this weekend - they are amazing - night and day

http://forums.corvetteforum.com/showt
https://www.shop.djmotorsportaccessories.c

Edited by woof on Sunday 11th March 20:54

[anonymous-user]

More information please! The first of your links is a lot to read and the second link doesn't work. So,

Does this system retain pop-up lamps?
Does this system cope properly with driving on the left?
Does it replace both dip and high beam?
Does it causes moments of darkness when you switch between high/dip or dip/high?
Does the system pass UK MoT test requirements?
Does the conversion suit both Euro and Federal C5?

If it ticks all the boxes I'll be straight down the shops!

[sayerbloke]

5 USA said:

Does this system retain pop-up lamps?

Yes [also, they say in theory it also works on the C5R look lights].

5 USA said:

Does it replace both dip and high beam?

Two different kits by the looks of it. Some of those users are saying the new dip beam is brighter than the standard high beams.

5 USA said:

Does the conversion suit both Euro and Federal C5?

Someone asks that question and got told "The Euro kit is still a work in progress. I'll let ya know". It sounds like the EuroVette has a different glass lense or something? Don't know how tricky it'd be to convert it to US spec. One guy on the forum says he went the other way [US to Euro to see if it improved the brightness of the stock lights] so it should be possible... That said, he wouldn't have needed to worry about changing it to work on the other side of the road too!

Can't see the answers to your other questions, I'm afraid. Woof will probably know when he gets back

[woof]

5 USA said:

Does this system retain pop-up lamps?

Yes - it's just a simple 20min job to swap over

5 USA said:

Does this system cope properly with driving on the left?

Yes - your just changing bulbs. Though I had to make a slight vertical alignment adjustment - a simple twist with a screwdriver.

5 USA said:

Does it replace both dip and high beam?

There's 1 kit for low and 1 kit for high
But the HID kit for low beam is far brighter than the standard high beams - maybe 3or4 times brighter, so there's no real need for a high beam - unless you wanted to go a little overkill. But perhaps I would of ordered both kits upon reflection.

5 USA said:

Does it causes moments of darkness when you switch between high/dip or dip/high?

No - it just gets darker with the stock high beams !

5 USA said:

Does the system pass UK MoT test requirements?

Not sure - can't see why not - as long as the lights are aligned. I don't think the MOT test measures brightness. It's basically looks like a BMW HOD lights (maybe a bit brighter)

5 USA said:

Does the conversion suit both Euro and Federal C5?

Mine's a US import - so I'm not sure what the difference is

But it's really like night and day.
The stock lights are so bad in comparison - the dull yellow glow, is replaced by a bright ice blue night cutting light

Edited by woof on Sunday 11th March 21:12

[franv8]

HID conversion kits aren't techinically legal for road use - if you've got HID lights then in the EU you should have headlamp washers and also the lights need to be self levelling (NOT manually adjustable for dip). I believe the intention of this is to ensure oncoming motorists aren't dazzled by the extra brightness of the HID's over normal lights (about 2.5 times), also the light source is a different shape and so causes a different beam pattern.

It'll look great from the driving seat no doubt, and I'd of thought in reality, you're unlikely to get hamered for it at the MOT.

[woof]

I'm not sure what the MOT regs say - but I know that since it's not an EU spec car, certain elements of the test don't apply.

As long as the lights align correctly in the garage, then I'm sure it will be OK

[franv8]

They say this:

www.ukmot.com/1-2.asp

So it's unlikely to be an issue. Sorry - was looking at same MOT resource for emissions rules so thought I'd post the link! Knew the bit about xenons since I didn't get what the salesman was saying when we spec'd Sciencebird's car.

[owenemyr]

The need for self adjusting and headlamp wash is a type approval requirement and is a requirement of all "new" cars fitted with xenons hid as original equipment.This is why all european corvettes have this ugly blimp below the headlamps, and I believe that it is engineered in Belgium prior to distribution.
I am uncertain whether SVA has this requirement for unregistered personal imports, but everyone takes the lights off and then re-fits after the SVA.
Pre-owned and registered cars can apparently be retro-fitted with hid without the need for lens wash etc.
Confusing isent it.

[anonymous-user]

owenemyr said:

Some stuff

I think that's probably right as it fits with my checking of the reg's for euro rear fog lamp requirements. Namely,

Type approval - strictest
SVA - fairly strict
MoT - relatively relaxed.

Sounds like this HID kit could be the way to go.