HID kits

Seven Of Nine Firestorm · Tue Jan 27, 2009 3:52 pm

Been enquiring about HID kits and just been offered the following:-

Motorbike kits are available with normal or slimline ballasts.

If they require 1 Single beam bulb and normal ballast it will be Â£40 delivered.

If they require 1 single beam and slimline ballast it will be Â£50 delivered.

If they require 1 dual beam bulb and normal ballast it will be Â£50 delivered

If they require 1 dual beam bulb and slimline ballast it would be Â£60 delivered.

Is this a good price ?, what type of bulb / fitment / power would be suitable for the firestorm ? just testing the waters. So for example:- H7 35W - 5000 - Normal ?

rst steve · Post by **rst steve** » Tue Jan 27, 2009 7:58 pm

Hiya

If its for a storm then you need a H4 kit. This will let you keep your hi/lo beam but be warned these kits although they offer a lot of light far more than a halogen bulb dont have a good beam pattern. The reason for this is that the reflector in the headlight is designed for a halogen bulb not a hid so what happens is the light gets reflected all over the place which can result in dazzling other drivers which is not good. I had one of these kits in my storm so know what they are like. There are a couple of other options too. One is some high quality halogen bulbs from someone like PIAA expensive but makes a big improvment over standard just need to stick to 55watt or you risk melting your headlight or the other option is retro fit a hid projector from a car which is what i have done. This will give you the power of a hid but with a perfect beam pattern and is the best way to get a good headlight.

Steve

Seven Of Nine Firestorm · Tue Jan 27, 2009 8:47 pm

Is just an option i'm playing around with as the mo at the stock light doesn't inspire, + mine are cutting out from time to time.
So basicaly they are H4 duel beam, but what about the ballist slim line or normal, i'm assumbing normal would be ok, I do know MOT friendly stations so thats not really a problem for me. Just want more visibility what power wattage would you recommend ?

rst steve · Post by **rst steve** » Tue Jan 27, 2009 10:04 pm

If you really want to go for a hid kit then there are two types of ballast a 35w and 50w most standard kits are 35w. H4 is the bulb that you need and then you need to pick a colour. This is done by rating in Kelvin or K, 6000k is a good option as it gives good light and a slight blue tint but if you want out and out bright light then 4000k would be better. To be honest it will pass an mot with the kit fitted mine did but when somebody nearly hits you head on because they have been dazzled by your light thats when i thought that i really need a better option. Be safe

Steve

RedStormV · Post by **RedStormV** » Wed Jan 28, 2009 12:44 am

What donor car did you use Steve?

Did you have to buy additional ballast too?

rst steve · Post by **rst steve** » Wed Jan 28, 2009 2:56 am

RedStormV wrote:What donor car did you use Steve?

Did you have to buy additional ballast too?

I used a Mercedes CLK headlight for the bike. You can get headlights for next to nothing on ebay i paid Â£40 for the CLK unit which came with ballast and a bulb. I am half way through doing my car at the moment as the bike came out so good and have got a pair of e-class headlights for Â£60 again with bulbs and ballasts. Toying with the idea of bulding a few storm headlights and converting them then selling them on if i can stock pile a few headlights and build up a good stock of parts i might do it. Reckon i could do a full set up for around Â£150 exchange.

Steve

stormingjoe · Post by **stormingjoe** » Wed Jan 28, 2009 1:10 pm

Have bixenon h4 kit fitted, ballast sits on headlight, relay tucked under right fairing. Adjusted headlight down so as not to blind other road users when going at speed, so a bit low below 40 ok at higher speeds, inho just shows poor reflector design as nearlly always the case with motorbikes. Very rarely use high as most times not needed but only shows a slot of light anyhow. Projector lens far superior, if you want to modify your headlight unit. I got my HiD of fleabay Â£30 from Hongkong.

storminateacup · Post by **storminateacup** » Wed Jan 28, 2009 3:30 pm

Be aware that because your normal reflector was not designed for HIDS you may fail the MOT due to to the way the light disperses.

Jbrebel · Post by **Jbrebel** » Wed Jan 28, 2009 3:40 pm

Ive heard stuff like that before too

Plus nightmare stories about the cheap kits melting wires and fitments

dunno if itâ€™s all poppycock or pukka?

If you've had no issues with yours stormingjoe I cant see the issue:?

stormingjoe · Post by **stormingjoe** » Wed Jan 28, 2009 5:04 pm

they produce less heat and supposed to be uv protected, since i fitted mine, had no problems except for when I used acf50 and sprayed the electrics, the spray is conductive and can cause problems, I just sprayed wd40 on electrics to resolve. No MOT problems no melting problems.When fitteing recommend soldering joints and giving system its own live from battery not that there is many connections to be made.

Seeker 77 · Post by **Seeker 77** » Wed Jan 28, 2009 8:02 pm

Hmmmm, i have to disagree with all of you. I have fitted HIDs to all of my bikes, GSXR600, Firestorm, SP1, GSXR1000 and now my TL1000R. I have yet to have a single problem with them on MoTs or indeed the TUV German version of the MoT which is far more stringent. In fact I have yet to see any of the spilling of light from the reflector. In truth you can take a projector from a BMW or similar and mount it into your headlight but i have had not a single problem with mine. I bought this one:

http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/BI-XENON-HID-CONV ... 240%3A1318

RedStormV · Post by **RedStormV** » Thu Jan 29, 2009 1:37 am

Thanks for that link Mark - wery wery interesting

Now do I have a spare? - or check the Hornet fittings maybe (not standard btw)

rst steve · Post by **rst steve** » Thu Jan 29, 2009 9:24 am

mellis wrote:Hmmmm, i have to disagree with all of you. I have fitted HIDs to all of my bikes, GSXR600, Firestorm, SP1, GSXR1000 and now my TL1000R. I have yet to have a single problem with them on MoTs or indeed the TUV German version of the MoT which is far more stringent. In fact I have yet to see any of the spilling of light from the reflector. In truth you can take a projector from a BMW or similar and mount it into your headlight but i have had not a single problem with mine. I bought this one:

http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/BI-XENON-HID-CONV ... 240%3A1318

Have you got any beam pattern shots from your TL???

Be interesteing to compare them to my storm ones. The main problem is the reflector as it is designed for halogen not hid. I have fitted these kits into various different cars and bikes and all of them have had the same problem which is glare and funnily enough all have passed mot's. I have a video somewhere that shows the problem i will try to find it and post it later.

Steve

stormingjoe · Post by **stormingjoe** » Thu Jan 29, 2009 10:29 am

this the pattern with the HiD, the stray light isnt a fault of HiD it is already there, just HiD amplifies the faults within the light by being so bright, OK at MOT time as the beam pattern is correct!!

rst steve · Post by **rst steve** » Thu Jan 29, 2009 1:04 pm

stormingjoe wrote:
this the pattern with the HiD, the stray light isnt a fault of HiD it is already there, just HiD amplifies the faults within the light by being so bright, OK at MOT time as the beam pattern is correct!!

Is that high or low beam????

Also you need to pull the bike about 20ft away from the wall and take the pic from that distance when its dark.