H.I.D Xenon light problem
Discussion
I've just fitted a pair of zenon HID lights to the C5.Made all the correct light adjustments regarding aims,but once out onb the open road the light spread is all over the place and not concentrated in a single spot.But on the laser guidance machine the height is below the accepted level.Has anyone else had a problem with HID,s on a C5.I'm beginning to think that the lenses themselves are not suited for HID,s.Any ideas?.
I fitted HID's a couple of weeks back but have had it in the back of my mind to put the original bulbs back in come MOT time. As you said the lenses aren't designed to accept HID bulbs and the light is all over the place but they do look a million times better than the originals as they do produce a nice white light.
Do a search on this forum and you'll find all sorts of info and discussions on the subject,
http://www.corvetteforum.com/
The only way to get a proper HID set-up is to pay the $$$$'s.
ps, I'm currently replacing the shockingly bad side lights that come as standard on the Euro C5's.
Do a search on this forum and you'll find all sorts of info and discussions on the subject,
http://www.corvetteforum.com/
The only way to get a proper HID set-up is to pay the $$$$'s.
ps, I'm currently replacing the shockingly bad side lights that come as standard on the Euro C5's.
Edited by eldudereno on Saturday 17th November 07:43
I know this won't make me the most popular person for saying this - but please have a thought about this point:
HID bulbs have a very different shape as a light source (very different from the filament in a conventional bulb.) When you fit an HID bulb into a conventional housing the result is sadly inevitable - a change in beam spread that is probably not going to be an improvement.
If you look at OEM xenon installations, they take a three pronged approach to controlling glare from xenons (these all aply under EU regs, so Euro cars should all feature this)
- lens set up to focus the xenon light source correctly (these normally give a very sharp cut off on dip)
- automatic levelling - a quick responding mechanism, that has sensors to detect a cars attitude, e.g. when coming over a crest or under acceleration or braking.
- Headlight washers (I kid you not!) - since dirt will cause uncontrolled beam spread.
If you have HID's only on your main beam, then that is not so much of a problem. Bearing in mind xenons are on average 2.5 times brighter than conventional lights, a poorly defined beam on dipped to people coming the other way is pretty dangerous, worse on dark country roads and even worse when you're on the receiving end in a low car.
Sorry for the 2p worth, just concerned.
HID bulbs have a very different shape as a light source (very different from the filament in a conventional bulb.) When you fit an HID bulb into a conventional housing the result is sadly inevitable - a change in beam spread that is probably not going to be an improvement.
If you look at OEM xenon installations, they take a three pronged approach to controlling glare from xenons (these all aply under EU regs, so Euro cars should all feature this)
- lens set up to focus the xenon light source correctly (these normally give a very sharp cut off on dip)
- automatic levelling - a quick responding mechanism, that has sensors to detect a cars attitude, e.g. when coming over a crest or under acceleration or braking.
- Headlight washers (I kid you not!) - since dirt will cause uncontrolled beam spread.
If you have HID's only on your main beam, then that is not so much of a problem. Bearing in mind xenons are on average 2.5 times brighter than conventional lights, a poorly defined beam on dipped to people coming the other way is pretty dangerous, worse on dark country roads and even worse when you're on the receiving end in a low car.
Sorry for the 2p worth, just concerned.
i've got the HID kit on my car
Great conversion - massive improvement. But I had to play around with the alignment - there are much lower than they should be - purely to stop blinding oncoming traffic - but it's still a huge improvement on stock
I'd suggest you get the car out at night - and park facing a wall and just tweak the alignment - u should get a satisfactory result
Great conversion - massive improvement. But I had to play around with the alignment - there are much lower than they should be - purely to stop blinding oncoming traffic - but it's still a huge improvement on stock
I'd suggest you get the car out at night - and park facing a wall and just tweak the alignment - u should get a satisfactory result
Links to pictures borrowed from a post on CF.
HID in the wrong housing:
http://inlinethumb12.webshots.com/30539/2662417530...
HID in the correct housing:
http://inlinethumb22.webshots.com/28117/2614356690...
Notice how the light is distributed in a much less focused way when in the wrong housing. Better than standard, but may upset oncoming traffic!
Obviously, over here, the light would need to "slope" the other way, but you see the difference
HID in the wrong housing:
http://inlinethumb12.webshots.com/30539/2662417530...
HID in the correct housing:
http://inlinethumb22.webshots.com/28117/2614356690...
Notice how the light is distributed in a much less focused way when in the wrong housing. Better than standard, but may upset oncoming traffic!
Obviously, over here, the light would need to "slope" the other way, but you see the difference
Edited by sayerbloke on Saturday 17th November 11:26
sayerbloke said:
Links to pictures borrowed from a post on CF.
HID in the wrong housing:
http://inlinethumb12.webshots.com/30539/2662417530...
HID in the correct housing:
http://inlinethumb22.webshots.com/28117/2614356690...
Notice how the light is distributed in a much less focused way when in the wrong housing. Better than standard, but may upset oncoming traffic!
Obviously, over here, the light would need to "slope" the other way, but you see the difference
I have fitted the same HID kit to my V8 90.All i have done is replace the original lamps with the better quality wipac versions at £30 for the pair,as you can see in this picHID in the wrong housing:
http://inlinethumb12.webshots.com/30539/2662417530...
HID in the correct housing:
http://inlinethumb22.webshots.com/28117/2614356690...
Notice how the light is distributed in a much less focused way when in the wrong housing. Better than standard, but may upset oncoming traffic!
Obviously, over here, the light would need to "slope" the other way, but you see the difference
Edited by sayerbloke on Saturday 17th November 11:26
And this is the beam admitted fom the lenses.(sorry for the quality of the pics.It was on a mobile phone)
I have heard storys that HID,s were only desighned for projector headlamps,which is a load of rubbish.Reason being that Xenon HID technology was first introduced on the Merc E-class back in 1996 on non projected lamps.I think in the case of the C5 they are just crap lamps to begin with.The search is on for a better lamp.The HID,s fitted on my C5 give the same pattern as the ones on the first pic in your post.
Edited by BLUETHUNDER on Saturday 17th November 12:06
If they have a poor beam pattern to start with, and that beam pattern points where oncoming traffic might be, and don't forget they will be in different places in relation to your car depending on whether you are going round a left or a right hand bend, or straight ahead, then with HID's you'vemadethe situation at least 2.5 times worse i.e. more if it changes the beam pattern).
I'm ony asking you to think about it, it probably won't be you affected by it, it'll be the guy driving the other way who drives off the road.
I expect the Merc had different lamp housings for the HID vs conventional - it's not about whether it's projector or not, more if the combination of the housing and the light source give the right lighting.
Sorry for being a bit touchy about this, I normally drive an MX5 to work and back - and regularly have enough touble with badly maintained cars with poor aim or people who don't know how to use fog lights. HID's are enough in a car designed for them...
I'm ony asking you to think about it, it probably won't be you affected by it, it'll be the guy driving the other way who drives off the road.
I expect the Merc had different lamp housings for the HID vs conventional - it's not about whether it's projector or not, more if the combination of the housing and the light source give the right lighting.
Sorry for being a bit touchy about this, I normally drive an MX5 to work and back - and regularly have enough touble with badly maintained cars with poor aim or people who don't know how to use fog lights. HID's are enough in a car designed for them...
franv8 said:
If they have a poor beam pattern to start with, and that beam pattern points where oncoming traffic might be, and don't forget they will be in different places in relation to your car depending on whether you are going round a left or a right hand bend, or straight ahead, then with HID's you'vemadethe situation at least 2.5 times worse i.e. more if it changes the beam pattern).
I'm ony asking you to think about it, it probably won't be you affected by it, it'll be the guy driving the other way who drives off the road.
I expect the Merc had different lamp housings for the HID vs conventional - it's not about whether it's projector or not, more if the combination of the housing and the light source give the right lighting.
Sorry for being a bit touchy about this, I normally drive an MX5 to work and back - and regularly have enough touble with badly maintained cars with poor aim or people who don't know how to use fog lights. HID's are enough in a car designed for them...
I dont think you have been touchy.You have made some good points.I'm trying to find away around the problem,and at the moment i have made a couple of markers over the lamps that projects the light pattern down on to the road.This is only temporary until i find a better lense.I'm ony asking you to think about it, it probably won't be you affected by it, it'll be the guy driving the other way who drives off the road.
I expect the Merc had different lamp housings for the HID vs conventional - it's not about whether it's projector or not, more if the combination of the housing and the light source give the right lighting.
Sorry for being a bit touchy about this, I normally drive an MX5 to work and back - and regularly have enough touble with badly maintained cars with poor aim or people who don't know how to use fog lights. HID's are enough in a car designed for them...
blue thunder
which headlights have you got?
i have the euro lenses in mine and found the sockets for the bulbs didn't fit the hid h4 bulbs i bought.
can i suggest taking out the actual light units so you can properly check the bulbs are in place
then i had to attack the bulb holders with a dremel to make them fit properly
which headlights have you got?
i have the euro lenses in mine and found the sockets for the bulbs didn't fit the hid h4 bulbs i bought.
can i suggest taking out the actual light units so you can properly check the bulbs are in place
then i had to attack the bulb holders with a dremel to make them fit properly
chimtvr said:
blue thunder
which headlights have you got?
i have the euro lenses in mine and found the sockets for the bulbs didn't fit the hid h4 bulbs i bought.
can i suggest taking out the actual light units so you can properly check the bulbs are in place
then i had to attack the bulb holders with a dremel to make them fit properly
I have the U.S spec lenses.I was told that the euro lense takes a H4??.Anyway with the U.S one a H4 is'nt going to go any where near it in a million years.The closest you will get is a H7 which fitted in the holder perfectly.which headlights have you got?
i have the euro lenses in mine and found the sockets for the bulbs didn't fit the hid h4 bulbs i bought.
can i suggest taking out the actual light units so you can properly check the bulbs are in place
then i had to attack the bulb holders with a dremel to make them fit properly
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