Aftermarket HIDs Legal or Illegal

[geokilla]

I'm considering adding aftermarket HID to our 2000 Volvo S70. However, before I proceed any further into this, are aftermarket HIDs illegal? I see them a lot on cars that shouldn't have them, but they're still running on the roads. I've heard that if done incorrectly, they're unsafe to the oncoming traffic as the HIDs can be blinding them.

Also, what's the best temperature for HIDs? I'm thinking of around 4000K? I'll be purchasing them from SharpHID if everything goes well.

[john widow]

HID pnp kit in oem halogen reflectors will most likely always give horrible glare. Just do a retrofit with actual hid projectors the first time and you'll be happy and done with.

[booblehead]

It's illegal .. mainly due to the incorrect light beam pattern resulted from the type of light housing it uses.

Here is a link to further explain ...

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yVuSSdZNsZw

[l69norm]

If your headlights look like:


A HID kit probably won't work very well in that kind of headlight. All the extra light from the HID kit reflects off the ridges on the lens (called "flutes") and ends up in all the wrong places = glare for oncoming drivers. It's more likely to work in a headlamp with a clear front cover.

Every car's headlamp is a bit different. I'd look at the results that someone else got with a car that's the same as yours. Just because it worked in your friend's Audi headlamp doesn't mean it will work in a Volvo.

HID kits aren't explicitly illegal in ON. In some other provinces, HID kits are explicitly illegal in their version of the HTA. For ON, you have to meet all the head lamp provisions in the ON HTA (and it's regulations) such as aiming and beam pattern. You most likely won't with a HID kit in a halogen reflector headlamp.

..........Edit - H7 to H9 deleted - won't work...........

As well, make sure your stock wiring is OK as many OEM setups don't get full voltage at the bulbs (13VDC vs. 11VDC). This can reduce stock bulb brightness by as much as 30%. A heavy duty wiring harness would be the first lighting mod I would do and it's cheap at about $30.

BTW, if you are really set on a HID kit, there is a RFD discount from user "Qube":
http://www.redflagdeals.com/forums/h...ghting-791954/

The best color temperature is about 4300K which is OEM stock (3200lm). As you go up in temperature, the light output drops. At 6000K, the light output is about 2600-2800 lm.

There are now drop in HID mini-projectors that replace the H7 bulb (called the G1 and G3) with no physical alteration to the existing headlamp, however they won't work for you because of the ridges or flutes on your headlamp lenses

[S203]

To make a long story short (aside from the technical reasons why aftermarket HID kits shouldn't be in halogen reflector headlights), if it wasn't there from the factory, then it's considered illegal.

[VorteC]

To make a long story short (aside from the technical reasons why aftermarket HID kits shouldn't be in halogen reflector headlights), if it wasn't there from the factory, then it's considered illegal.

Proper aiming is the key. Retrofitting achieves a result better than factory.

[tapanpatel88]

Proper aiming is the key. Retrofitting achieves a result better than factory.

True. If OP doesn't want to do a retrofit, then atleast make sure you aim your headlights properly. Aiming lights isn't too difficult and most cars have a little bolt (one bolt per light) in your engine bay area that you need to turn clockwise/counterclockwise to raise/lower light output. Obviously you have to lower in yours in order to prevent glare onto oncoming drivers.

[Mayoo]

If you plan to get HID, get with proper housing and point it down a bit compare to OEM otherwise it will be pain for oncoming drivers and the driver infront of u ..

[Paolo]

the ones whitch are projector and are a direct bolt-on are legal. the ones which are not bolt-on are possibly illegal and u can get arrested and go to jail.

[Qube]

Here's the short of it... YES, illegal. Having said that, so is going 1 KP/H over the speed limit or having any type of frame or cover over your license plates.

Now as long as you have your headlights properly aimed, you would most likely not be stopped, BUT it is still illegal which is why most (if not all) kits are marked for "offroad use only".

The bottom line is you're installing a kit to increase your safety without making the road unsafe for others. Proper aiming and consideration is key here. If you're installing 10000k temperature bulbs in your reflector fog lights, you should certainly be ticketed. Think about it... an improperly used or aimed HID kit is much worse that someone driving willy-nilly with their high-beams on... and we all know how annoying those folks are!

[VorteC]

the ones whitch are projector and are a direct bolt-on are legal. the ones which are not bolt-on are possibly illegal and u can get arrested and go to jail.

goto jail for HIDs? do you live in switzerland or something?

[HP_John]

Proper aiming is the key. Retrofitting achieves a result better than factory.

Can you explain why retrofitting is better than factory? I'm just curious

[DLFB]

Aftermarket HIDs Legal or Illegal

Annoying.

If there's a way for people these to have their High beams disabled please do it.

HIDs + high beams = road hazard.

[Qube]

Can you explain why retrofitting is better than factory? I'm just curious

I think it was a shortened sentence. Probably:

"Retrofitting with projector lenses achieves a result better than factory halogen lighting systems."

Still, proper HID projectors (a la popular TSX projectors) is the way to go. A stopgap would be aftermarket projector headlamps.

[jchan1985]

just placed my order, Thanks for your help Qube!

H11 kit for a 2010 Mazda3

looking forward to it!

Has anybody here tried an HID kit for a 2010 Mazda 3?