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HID conversion

Discussion in '206/246' started by Jonnodino, Feb 13, 2014.

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  1. Jonnodino

    Jonnodino Rookie

    Apr 25, 2012
    7
    Jersey, Channel Isla
    #1 Jonnodino, Feb 13, 2014
    I know that for some, this might be considered sacrilege, but I've owned my Dino for some 20 years now and frankly I've reached the point where function outweighs originality... In one area... Lighting. To get round the candle-power headlights I've changed the originals for sealed beams etc and all the other obvious fixes, but now I've decided that I'm going to bite the bullet and see if I can upgrade to some HID units. Am I mad/ missing the point, or faintly sane. If the latter, does any one have advice or recommendations?
    Jonathan
     
  2. mar3kl

    mar3kl Formula Junior

    Nov 17, 2011
    471
    Silicon Valley
    Full Name:
    Mark
    #2 mar3kl, Feb 13, 2014
    Depends on how you do the conversion. Dropping an HID bulb into a a standard non-sealed reflector assembly can create lots of glare - you want a projector assembly designed for HID, not halogen. You might be able to jam a couple of 3" projectors into a 7" round assembly (bi-xenon, for hi and low beams), but you'll either want to be in a mood for lots of tinkering, or you'll want to pay someone who knows what they are doing to do the retrofit for you. There may well be electrical system upgrades required too - no idea what the power draw of HID versus halogen is.
     
  3. Jonnodino

    Jonnodino Rookie

    Apr 25, 2012
    7
    Jersey, Channel Isla
    #3 Jonnodino, Feb 13, 2014
    Ok thanks , that's surprised me, purely because you see kits advertised on the internet for all sorts of cars which use non- projector fittings...so what am I missing, as in why does it work for other cars?
     
  4. mar3kl

    mar3kl Formula Junior

    Nov 17, 2011
    471
    Silicon Valley
    Full Name:
    Mark
    #4 mar3kl, Feb 13, 2014
    It works, in the sense that you will get light out of your headlamps, but the light will be scattered in all directions because your reflector assembly is designed for halogen bulbs, not HID arcs. That creates glare, which is bad for oncoming drivers.
     
  5. UroTrash

    UroTrash Four Time F1 World Champ
    Consultant Owner

    Jan 20, 2004
    40,549
    Purgatory
    Full Name:
    Clifford Gunboat
    #5 UroTrash, Feb 13, 2014
    Why not add some (removable) driving lights to your bumpers?
     
  6. JCR

    JCR F1 World Champ
    Silver Subscribed

    Mar 14, 2005
    10,949
    H-Town, Tejas
    #6 JCR, Feb 13, 2014
  7. Renato

    Renato Formula Junior

    Apr 14, 2013
    553
    New York
    #7 Renato, Feb 15, 2014
  8. Jonnodino

    Jonnodino Rookie

    Apr 25, 2012
    7
    Jersey, Channel Isla
    #8 Jonnodino, Feb 17, 2014
    Many thanks for the advice - I take the point, now, about using HID, so I think Im going to look into the Cibie lamps idea. Any suggestions on where to get them?
     
  9. JCR

    JCR F1 World Champ
    Silver Subscribed

    Mar 14, 2005
    10,949
    H-Town, Tejas
    #9 JCR, Feb 17, 2014
    Cibie products from Holden Vintage & Classic
     
  10. snowric

    snowric Karting

    Apr 15, 2009
    90
    UK
    Full Name:
    Richard Snow
    #10 snowric, Feb 18, 2014
    Morning - my HID converaion was not "junk" but the guy who fitted it for me also fitted a pair if replacement headlamps designed for hid bulb use so you don't get vast amounts of scatter. Has to be wired with separate relays etc.

    Occasionally one of the hids failed to ignite so you had to turn on and off again but system didn't fail over three or so years.

    Made driving at high speed on motorways across Europe much safer and better than the halogens we tried first - if you call roger at the Ferrari centre in kent uk he probably is removing my set for a client who wants to classiche my old car.

    Best snowy
     

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