Xenon Headlight Conversion

[tigerwong58]

I just bought an H7 Xenon headlight conversion kit (Made in Japan) and installed it into my Smart Passion. It's awesome ! Very bright 6000K. It took me about 20 minutes. When I took out the stock headlight bulb they had a blueish tint to them, that's why they look so white. I move them to the highbeam position. The user name I bought them from is intensehid on ebay, I bought over 4 kits from them and they work great. The ballasts can only be install with velcro since there are limited flat surfaces. The only thing I noticed is when accelerating it looks like I am flashing highbeams at people oncoming, so I lowered the light beam a hair to reduce oncomer's irritation.

Look at the replies, for additional info, especially the law which I was not aware of. Thanks, I posted some pictures, hope it helps.

[Evilution]

HID output is excellent and the light pattern is very good on standard projector optics like on the 451. As long as you know that retrofitting HIDs is illegal and are prepared to pay a fine if you are pulled over, it's all good.

[dbwill]

I think most of the factory installed HID's, at least on expensive cars hafe a leveling system so oncoming traffic will not be affected so much as they are in an installation in our cars. I can see why the government is hholding hearings on this subject.

[jwight]

Originally Posted by Evilution

HID output is excellent and the light pattern is very good on standard projector optics like on the 451. As long as you know that retrofitting HIDs is illegal and are prepared to pay a fine if you are pulled over, it's all good.

Some additional info:

Update: May 3, 2007:
NHTSA Cracks Down on Aftermarket HID Conversion Kits

The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) is targeting high-intensity discharge (HID) conversion kits for enforcement actions. NHTSA has concluded that it is impossible to produce HID conversion kits (converting a halogen system to HID) that would be compliant with the federal lighting standard, Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard (FMVSS) No. 108. The noncompliant kits frequently include a HID bulb, a ballast, an igniter, a relay and wiring harness adapters. The NHTSA believes this equipment presents a safety risk to the public since the kits can be expected to produce excessive glare to oncoming motorists. In one investigation, the NHTSA found that an HID conversion headlamp exceeded the maximum allowable candlepower by over 800%.

Under FMVSS No. 108 Section S7.7 (replaceable light sources), each replaceable light source for headlamps must be designed to conform to the dimensions and electrical specifications for the headlamp source it is intended to replace. For example, if an HID kit is marketed as replacing an H1 light source, then it must match the H1's wire coil filament size and location, the electrical connector size and location and the ballast design for use with an H1 light source (which is impossible since there is no ballast). Consequently, companies that are manufacturing HID light sources (e.g., D1S, D1R, D2S, D2R, 9500, etc�) with incandescent light source bases (e.g., H1, H3, H7, H8, H9, H11, H13, HB1, HB2, HB3, HB4, HB5, etc�) should be aware that this light source design would not be one that conforms to FMVSS No. 108, and could not be imported and sold in the United States without violating Federal law. (The importer is treated as the manufacturer and subject to the same fines and penalties that apply to a domestic manufacturer.)

NHTSA has also determined that a commonly used disclaimer "for off-road use only" has no legal meaning and is not recognized by the agency as the manufacturer, importer and retailer are not in a position to control use once a product has been sold. Any equipment offered for sale which is covered by FMVSS No. 108 (headlamps, taillamps, side markers, etc.) must comply with the standard.

From www.aa1car.com/library/hid_headlamps.htm

[tigerwong58]

Thanks for the great info and responses, I never knew about the laws.

[lowndex]

Originally Posted by tigerwong58

I just bought an H7 Xenon headlight conversion kit (Made in Japan) and installed it into my Smart Passion. It's awesome ! Very bright 6000K. It took me about 20 minutes. When I took out the stock headlight bulb they had a blueish tint to them, that's why they look so white. I move them to the highbeam position. The user name I bought them from is intensehid on ebay, I bought over 4 kits from them and they work great. The ballasts can only be install with velcro since there are limited flat surfaces. The only thing I noticed is when accelerating it looks like I am flashing highbeams at people oncoming, so I lowered the light beam a hair to reduce oncomer's irritation.

Look at the replies, for additional info, especially the law which I was not aware of. Thanks,

1. Model #
2. P/N (or where to order)
3. Other than EBay, maybe a retail source to buy
4. installation advice and/or instructions

[Evilution]

Originally Posted by dbwill

I think most of the factory installed HID's, at least on expensive cars hafe a leveling system so oncoming traffic

IF an HID is factory fitted it has to have a self levelling system and a washer spray. IF you fit an HID system after manufacture you don't have to have them. The only legal requirement is that the reflector is designed solely to use an HID bulb.

The arc of the HID bulb is a different shape to a standard halogen filament. Reflectors work on the principle that it knows exactly where the light is coming from so it can shape the light correctly. Using a bulb with a different shape light (such as an HID arc) refracts incorrectly causing an incorrect beam pattern to the one the reflector was designed to create.

[dbwill]

Thanks Appreciate the education

[MercuryX100]

Actually in the US of A there is no such requirement for self-leveling (either the vehicle itself or the headlights only) or washers.
I wonder if the lack of self-leveling causes some of the complaints?

[Smart09]

i never heard of a car factory fit that has to have washers............ but they do include the self leveling