VW BORA HID (Xenon)

[speed12]

HI All,

I have recently purchased a black Bora and was disspointed with the original lights so opted to install some fake HID bulbs which are still pretty poor.

I would like to install HID but cannot find any OEM bora HID units, plus they would probably cost a fortune.

I have been reading up about these retrofit conversion kits and was quite tempted until many people said that they were illegal?

However on doing some searches i found this;
http://www.h-i-d.co.uk/index.shtml

If you scrll down to the bottom there is a legality section, they actually say that their product is legal and DOT approved, im sure if this is true? But surely they could not say that if was not true?

Anyone know anything that could help me?

Kind regards
Speed12

[vwbora-driver]

I have a hid kit fitted to my bora which i bought off ebay cheap and it has passed mot with these fitted so they must be legal!!

[m0cea]

From what I have read HID are not legal unless you have fitted self leveling headlamps and headlamp washers.

[speed12]

From what I have read HID are not legal unless you have fitted self leveling headlamps and headlamp washers.

Thats what i thought to, but if the manufactuer/seller is saying they are DOT approved providing i take a screen dump/ record the website details then i should be safe, its not like the government are making it well known that they are illegal, i guess play dumb and no one will know?

[m0cea]

http://www.autoexpress.co.uk/videos/...enon_test.html

They did a full article on this in one of there magazines a while back too.

[Baron_Samedi]

It's a bit crafty, but what the firm are actually saying is that their kit meets the legislation for the kit itself. However and wisely, they do not state whether it is legal or not to install and use a kit in a vehicle used in the UK.

[ini]

In this respect, fitting the OEM hella/philips D2S system to you halogen enclosure will also be illegal.

If you are buying a 'Chinese' kit, whether it is a cheap ebay kit, or an expensive rebranded kit sold in the UK, you are taking a chance on the reliability.

There are undoubtedly many good Chinese manufacturers out there, but it is my experience that many of the exact same kits, will have different components in them from batch to batch, even ballast to ballast in the same kit. I presume they are using reclaimed/very cheap electronic components.

There is nothing wrong with this as such, but it means you may get a kit that works well for 3 years, or you may experience ballast/bulb failure after 3 months.

If i was to buy an aftermarket HID kit now, i would try and get a Japanese or Korean manufactured kit, which use consistently higher quality components, especially if i was purchasing a higher wattage kit.

Or at least buy from a supplier in your own country, where the guarantee can be followed up. (no lost parts in the mail)

Having said that, if you do buy a cheap kit, it can be worth it, as replacement ballasts can be had for £8 and a pair of bulbs for £12 (not including p&p), but only plan on your kit lasting 1 year'ish max before something needs replacing.

Another alternative for halogen enclosures is to source a set of adapter rings and 'used' Hella/Philips OEM ballast/ignitor & bulbs, which can be had very cheaply if you know where to look.

Some of the forum sponsors sell guaranteed HID kits, and give discounts to members, i believe.

[speed12]

Thanks for the replies chaps.

If the systems were legal i would buy one now, but im a bit dubious when it comes to the law... i dont want a fine slapped on me for something stupid like this!

THough the chances of getting detected are slim, unless something crops up during an MOT

its probably on Par with getting a remap and not telling your insruance company... unlikely to get found out but if you do then your in a bit of trouble.

[ini]

You could always fit the headlight washers & do the 'autoleveling' mod, then it would be 'all good'.

I had to go back to 100W H7 halogen bulbs this week, as i have a dead HID bulb.

It was terrible, like having a candle on the front of the car.

Having only 1 HID light was around 3 times brighter than both halogens in the projectors.

[speed12]

I wasnt aware you could retrofit the washers? and i was not aware of the autolevelling mod?

DO you have any more information?

Mind you it sounds pricey and theres not much point when it gets to expensive. im already looking into getting a rear boot spoiler, RS4 alloys and potentially a new suspension kit.