Headlight Upgrade

Jakg · 22nd March 2010, 17:39

Currently I have standard lights on my ZT - when I was looking around I drove a ZT with Xenons / HID's / Projectors (whatever they are called - had powerwash and no adjuster switch) and really liked the crisp light output.

eBay have just emailed me a 20% off voucher so I thought if I'm going to get them I might as well do it now, but I actually have no idea what I want at all.

I've seen these - are these the right thing or not? I have no idea what the difference is between projectors / hids / xenons.

Also have a set of LED sidelights in the post to match it, too.

Can anyone tell me what happens with bulbs, too? Can they die / how long do they last / how much do they cost to replace?

Thanks...

EDIT - Mine are also auto-levelling (at least when I turn them on they go up and down)

pab · 22nd March 2010, 17:45

the car you drove with the headlight washer system an no thumbwheel will be genuine xenon units.

the link is for a hid kit which works best with projector type units.

Jakg · 22nd March 2010, 17:47

Excuse my ignorance - what is a projector kit?

I am assuming the OEM Xenon's are hideously expensive...?

pab · 22nd March 2010, 17:53

genuine xenon headlamp units come up on ebay occasionally,the last pair i saw went for about £135 with the postage...not bad

these xenon hid kits will work with either projector headlights or standard headlights with h7 bulbs.

suzublu · 22nd March 2010, 18:26

Hi mate,those are the exact same as i have fitted to mine & the difference is astounding. They give off a brilliant white light which is 10 x better.you,ll want to drive in the dark all the time! The bulbs are replaceable should you need them & don,t cost that much, though they,ll last a long time.Dead easy to fit & i,ve got the led side lights too.J ust make sure you get the error free canbus type led,s

navrac · 22nd March 2010, 20:13

projectors are the dipped beam that look like they have a bubble lens in them.
I don't rate them as being much better than the non projector types.

The HID kits are brilliant - mine cost £38 - a bargain considering they should have a life of 5-10 years in normal use compared to £10 for a set of good phillips halogen bulbs that will last about a year.

Replacement HID kit bulbs are about £8 each.

The difference when driving at night is nothing short of staggering.

Jakg · 22nd March 2010, 22:22

Quote:

Originally Posted by pab

genuine xenon headlamp units come up on ebay occasionally,the last pair i saw went for about £135 with the postage...not bad

these xenon hid kits will work with either projector headlights or standard headlights with h7 bulbs.

Ok thanks - £140 isn't bad but more than i'm looking to spend atm

Quote:

Originally Posted by suzublu

J ust make sure you get the error free canbus type led,s

Yup, got mine via the forum so i know they fit and wont through up errors.

Any better HID kits on eBay?

Jakg · 23rd March 2010, 07:35

Ok, so it seems the best third party kit is this one - whereas the "official one" is 3x the price (example here and here).

Whats the difference, and whats best?

navrac · 23rd March 2010, 10:12

Well both are strictly illegal without self levelling suspension and headlamp washers fitted so really not much to choose between them.

In theory the OEM ones are better because they have been tested and approved for the pattern of light as the reflector has been matched to the lamp.

In practise the kit ones give a perfectly legal spread of light and you would be hard pushed to tell the difference.

If you haven't got projector lenses in your existing units I'd go for the OEM ones, if you have the projector lens I'd go for the cheaper Kit ones.

calibrax · 23rd March 2010, 10:58

Word of warning... the 2nd link you put for the 'official' ones is not for a ZT, it's for a ZS.

22nd March 2010, 17:39	#1
Jakg This is my second home N/A Join Date: Feb 2010 Location: Suffolk Posts: 6,867 Thanks: 0 Thanked 397 Times in 302 Posts	Headlight Upgrade Currently I have standard lights on my ZT - when I was looking around I drove a ZT with Xenons / HID's / Projectors (whatever they are called - had powerwash and no adjuster switch) and really liked the crisp light output. eBay have just emailed me a 20% off voucher so I thought if I'm going to get them I might as well do it now, but I actually have no idea what I want at all. I've seen these - are these the right thing or not? I have no idea what the difference is between projectors / hids / xenons. Also have a set of LED sidelights in the post to match it, too. Can anyone tell me what happens with bulbs, too? Can they die / how long do they last / how much do they cost to replace? Thanks... EDIT - Mine are also auto-levelling (at least when I turn them on they go up and down) Last edited by Jakg; 22nd March 2010 at 17:41..

22nd March 2010, 20:13	#6
navrac Loves to post Rover 75 Tourer Conn SE CDTI facelift Join Date: Dec 2008 Location: Suffolk Posts: 387 Thanks: 0 Thanked 0 Times in 0 Posts	projectors are the dipped beam that look like they have a bubble lens in them. I don't rate them as being much better than the non projector types. The HID kits are brilliant - mine cost £38 - a bargain considering they should have a life of 5-10 years in normal use compared to £10 for a set of good phillips halogen bulbs that will last about a year. Replacement HID kit bulbs are about £8 each. The difference when driving at night is nothing short of staggering. Last edited by navrac; 22nd March 2010 at 20:16.. Reason: poor English

23rd March 2010, 10:58	#10
calibrax Posted a thing or two BMW 4 Series Join Date: Nov 2008 Location: Rochester, Kent Posts: 1,975 Thanks: 29 Thanked 37 Times in 28 Posts	Word of warning... the 2nd link you put for the 'official' ones is not for a ZT, it's for a ZS. __________________ Steve 2004 MG ZT+ CDTi 160 (sadly now gone!) 2015 BMW 435d GranCoupe XDrive

22nd March 2010, 17:45	#2
pab Banned MG ZT V6 190+ Join Date: Sep 2008 Location: Leeds Posts: 33,223 Thanks: 41 Thanked 1,614 Times in 1,416 Posts	the car you drove with the headlight washer system an no thumbwheel will be genuine xenon units. the link is for a hid kit which works best with projector type units.

22nd March 2010, 17:47	#3
Jakg This is my second home N/A Join Date: Feb 2010 Location: Suffolk Posts: 6,867 Thanks: 0 Thanked 397 Times in 302 Posts	Excuse my ignorance - what is a projector kit? I am assuming the OEM Xenon's are hideously expensive...?

22nd March 2010, 17:53	#4
pab Banned MG ZT V6 190+ Join Date: Sep 2008 Location: Leeds Posts: 33,223 Thanks: 41 Thanked 1,614 Times in 1,416 Posts	genuine xenon headlamp units come up on ebay occasionally,the last pair i saw went for about £135 with the postage...not bad these xenon hid kits will work with either projector headlights or standard headlights with h7 bulbs.

22nd March 2010, 18:26	#5
suzublu This is my second home rover 75 1.8 vvc club se wedgwood blue Join Date: Aug 2009 Location: Seaton Carew Posts: 26,955 Thanks: 65 Thanked 7,142 Times in 4,642 Posts	Hi mate,those are the exact same as i have fitted to mine & the difference is astounding. They give off a brilliant white light which is 10 x better.you,ll want to drive in the dark all the time! The bulbs are replaceable should you need them & don,t cost that much, though they,ll last a long time.Dead easy to fit & i,ve got the led side lights too.J ust make sure you get the error free canbus type led,s

23rd March 2010, 07:35	#8
Jakg This is my second home N/A Join Date: Feb 2010 Location: Suffolk Posts: 6,867 Thanks: 0 Thanked 397 Times in 302 Posts	Ok, so it seems the best third party kit is this one - whereas the "official one" is 3x the price (example here and here). Whats the difference, and whats best?

23rd March 2010, 10:12	#9
navrac Loves to post Rover 75 Tourer Conn SE CDTI facelift Join Date: Dec 2008 Location: Suffolk Posts: 387 Thanks: 0 Thanked 0 Times in 0 Posts	Well both are strictly illegal without self levelling suspension and headlamp washers fitted so really not much to choose between them. In theory the OEM ones are better because they have been tested and approved for the pattern of light as the reflector has been matched to the lamp. In practise the kit ones give a perfectly legal spread of light and you would be hard pushed to tell the difference. If you haven't got projector lenses in your existing units I'd go for the OEM ones, if you have the projector lens I'd go for the cheaper Kit ones.