Quick HID questions!

Post by **mikealder** » 24 Oct 2010, 11:50

Make sure you specify they are for use in a left hand drive car, there are still beam adjusters for moving the light pattern up and down as well as side to side, best adjusted using proper kit at a garage but the old fashioned method of chalk marks on a wall in front of the car is also good enough. In the UK you can take the car to an MOT Test station and most will check/ adjust the beam alignment for a small charge typically £10.

As for whether this style of headlight is legal in the USA I have no idea, in the UK they are fine and I could fit HID's if I wanted to as the cars got the headlight washers and self level suspension, whether these sort of rules about HID's apply in the USA I have no idea, the only reason I didn't bother with the HIDs is the projectors throw more than enough light out with standard bulbs unlike the factory fitted headlights that were not much more than useless when driving on unlit country roads. Prior to changing the headlights I used to use the driving lights on a regular basis, since fitting the projectors I seldom bother switching the driving lights on as they make little difference to the range of the beam - Mike

Post by **FlyingVolvo** » 24 Oct 2010, 13:47

Thank you, I'll be doing some more research.

Both projectors for $350 is great, but I just calculated shipping to the US... $110.

Post by **FlyingVolvo** » 24 Oct 2010, 14:17

Any comments/opinions on these:

1. http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/97-00-Vo ... ccessories

These look pretty good, and they come with the side lights too. Seller has good feedback with no apparent issues. These are the more expensive of the two, coming in right around $400.

2. http://cgi.ebay.com/Volvo-S70-C70-V70-P ... 588a8f7b3f

These ones look about the same, maybe not quite as nice (based on the pictures). They also come with the side lights and are $370.

If these look good, please let me know. The first one I posted seems to be a good deal and the parts look like good quality. Opinions?

Also, random question, I know where the main headlight goes, and then the high beams.. but does that little bar on the bottom of it all light up too? In some pictures it appears to be illuminated.

Post by **mikealder** » 24 Oct 2010, 16:00

That should answer the issue of what lights up - Mike

Post by **FlyingVolvo** » 25 Oct 2010, 09:21

Cool, thanks again!

If there are no issues that anyone would like to bring up, I think I'll settle on getting one of those ebay sets. All I really need to know is if they'll give me any issues for inspection? Although I guess I could just hang on to the old set for inspections.

Anything else I should know about before committing to buy?

Post by **mikealder** » 25 Oct 2010, 11:43

ecbsykes wrote:Also, random question, I know where the main headlight goes, and then the high beams.. but does that little bar on the bottom of it all light up too? In some pictures it appears to be illuminated.

Just in case it wasn't clear from the picture I posted yesterday the "little bar" does light up when you install the side light bulbs!

I very nearly made an idiot of myself as I was close to phoning the retailer to complain that mine didn't illuminate after fitting them to the car, then I found the empty bulb holders......... Fitted LED's inlue of the bulbs for the sidelights and it failed its MOT check earlier this year due to "incorrect coloured light from the side lights" replaced them with bulbs and it passed - Go figure......

After you have changed the headlights and indicators have you considered the rear lights:

I did have the silver effect indicator bulbs fitted so the indicators were clear/ silver unless the bulb illuminated but they are a straight MOT fail so they had to be removed for the test and I have yet to put them back in which is why the indicators glow orange, looks far better with it clear/ silver even if its against the rules/ regs etc - Mike
Mike

Post by **FlyingVolvo** » 25 Oct 2010, 12:50

Yea, I was confused a bit by that, since they didn't really make any mention anywhere of those lights. Do you mean you need to remove the small side turn signal blinker wiring to get those lit? I'm not that worried about getting that part working, since I'm just looking to maximize night driving night without hurting other people...

Also, I messaged one of the eBay sellers (the first one I posted) and he said that the projectors he sells are actually better with HIDs and that they are DOT and E-Mark approved.

Post by **mikealder** » 25 Oct 2010, 13:42

The wiring to the indicators is separate to the headlight unit, the horizontal bar under the main beam reflector is the side light and is pre-wired in the headlight assembly, just connect the one single plug (four pins on it as I recall) and all three bulbs in the headlight are fed through this single plug (the indicator has its own separate plug).

The issue I had with the sidelight (horizontal bar) not illuminating was down to my own stupidity, I had fitted headlight and main beam bulbs but not seen (or fitted) the sidelight bulbs as they are under the main beam reflector and quite well hidden!

- Mike

Post by **FlyingVolvo** » 25 Oct 2010, 15:56

Ahh... OK, that makes sense!

Well, I think I'm going to get these guys here:

http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/97-00-Vo ... ccessories

They seem to me like a good deal, and the seller has been very prompt about answering my questions so far.

Post by **FlyingVolvo** » 06 Nov 2010, 21:58

Little update here... got my projectors in today, although the HID are not here yet...

This is the current beam pattern with standard 55w halogen bulbs. Does it look normal? Any tips/tricks to aim them perfectly or is it mostly trial & error?

Quick HID questions!

Re: Quick HID questions!