[DSK]

I have taken the plunge and reluctantly ordered a HID kit. With quality being the main feature I wanted, I ended up buying the following (over the phone a I do not do Ebay/Paypal). 2yr warranty :thumbsup digital ballasts :thumbsup E certification :thumbsup highly rated by many :shifty:

http://www.hids4u.co.uk/hb4-9006-hids4u-proplus-hid-xenon-conversion-e4-certified-ballas-c-18-p-1-pr-8.html

Costs = £97.86 (kit) and £5 for next day delivery by FedEx.
Spec: 6000K - Projector
Fitment: Toyota Supra (projectors are far better than the E36 but should provide a good enough idea).

I'm hoping that the kit will perform as many owners rate such kits. I'd rather have lights that work and function correctly than look cool and I'm put off by a kit that doesn't sem to work well on my aunts M3 and some issues that people complain about with regards to many usual/cheaper kits.

I will be taking pictures before and after from outside the car and from a drivers perspective/viewpoint on a typical road and then pitch black country lanes. I hope these forthcomming images will help anyone whose considering a HID kit. (I will post images directly in this thread). As I drive a lot at night motorways and country lanes, I hope to be able to confirm if such a kit is a worthwhile purchase in comparison to my favoured Philips Ultra Blue Vision bulb upgrades which I have been very impressed with for several years.

The kit is to be fitted on 21/10/2009 by Garage 786 in Leicester so expect the pictures to be up by around 23/10/2009.

 

[Joe9087]

Good luck with the conversion DSK, even though the Philips Ultra Blue Vision bulbs are good, I'm sure you'll notice an improvement. Look forward to seeing the results.

 

[DSK]

I'm a little nervous as I have seen some pictures in general and the light output seems good but rather spread out with a lack of definition and on some other pictures its looks 'acceptable' with some definition and clarity as a worthy upgrade. This can obviously be down to differences in applications, head light lens, quality of HID kits, colour temps etc etc so I'm hoping that this kit will genuinely perform.

The Supra has ageing bulbs (probably orignals from 1995 lol), so when you turn them on there's a faint yellow tinge (ageing) but they still perform due to the headlight set up. I was going to replace all the bulbs to Philips Ultra Blue Vision (as per all my other vehicles) but this will cost me around £100 anyway...... So thought I'd get a HID kit for dipped then just change the fogs, sides and main beam with uprated Philips bulbs.

 

[DSK]

HIDS4U kit fitted

Update:

(Kit = HIDS4U, 6000K, Projector)

BEFORE & AFTER VIDEOS comming tonight (see below).

Kit fitted today by BMW & Jap specialist Garage786 in Leicester in addition to a fluids change.. HIDS4U kit could not have been easier to install. A couple of wires, that just plug into each other and the ballast one way so no chance of screwing anything up. The kit appears to be genuinely high quality kit. Here's some pictures of the kit being installed and a few quick snaps I managed to get.

Pulled up @ Garage786

Up in Air having fluids drained, full front end cover (even dealers and specialists don't have covers this good)

Installation Tests (camera is showing glare due to headlamp assembly being loosened at time)

At home

Another Angle

Some random pictures

Some quick observations

There IS is very distinctive blue tinge, not heavy, but consistent and always noticeable. I had to double check the kit after the inital test drive and tests to ensure it was a 6000K kit that has been sent as I ordered and not an 8000K kit by mistake. Even in broad day light, there is a highly distinctive blue tinge similar to that shown in the 3rd picture as well as the reflection on that 4x4 thingy at the traffic lights.

On the test drive on Belgrave Road (getting g/box fluid upto temperature), during the day around 12pm, I put the lights on hoping to catch a reflection somewhere lol. Clearly road signs even those at a distance were being reflected from the HIDS so the power of the lights is CLEARLY obvious and in a league of its own and appear to be stronger than the OEM HIDs that were fitted on my previous 53' Jag XKR.

VIDEOS from a drivers viewpoint

I went out last night along a country lane that I use often. I have made a couple of videos which have been uploaded to youtube.

Tonight I will be running the same route but, will leave the camera on to get a continous film rather than break it up, again filmed by my trusty hand from a drivers view point. Upon my return I will upload the new videos and link them for all to see.

 

[DSK]

Driver's view videos - here

To start with a couple of quick night time pics before I set off;

VIDEOS

RUN 1

BEFORE

Samsung Tocco Ultra Phone Video. Light rain, slippery surface, standard light bulbs. (yes the lights were on at all times and the camera was pointed correctly).

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vGLXlnyn5EM


AFTER

with HIDS4U kit fitted.

I started the video earlier, but during the video where I actually stop and set off again, this is the point at which the 'before' video above starts and both end at pretty much the same point.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xXTd1nWo48U

RUN 2

BEFORE

********************
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pAUplzb9OUc
********************


http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BFT8MvA2kwo

AFTER

This video starts and stops at the same point as the before video above thats in '*'

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=c8PJugjqAyM

Can't upload the last one as I was being naughty :eek

Hopefully this should give you a before and after view of this kit installed on my car from a real world drivers perspective.

Quick Opinions;

- HIDs spread the light broader and stronger across their range
- Pick up objects far in the distance with ease so you become aware of signs and 'things' well in advance.
- clarity of objects is sharper

Downside - initially when you come towards roundabouts and the light catches the boards, there's a slight purple > blue > blue/white effect which is distracting. The 996 does not do this, that just hits a strong white just off blue light at the signs and thats an original OEM kit fitted at manufacture.

Well worth the money - well you can see from the videos, yes!

A few chaps and other folks that came to Garage 786 did comment on the initial quality of the HIDS4U kit compared to kits they had bought via Ebay and from the look and plug & play installation I got very positive comments on the quality.

£105 well spent.

 

[E36Meerkat]

Looking good! Nice job!! :thumbsup

 

[steve23002]

Excellent work Dsk, You can really see the difference in the before and after videos..

The Hid's carry so much further.......:thumbsup

 

[SimonSingh]

very nice mate. where is that garage in leic?

if you don't want to catch the board signs then i suggest modifying the projector shield to the xenon type.

also after a few weeks of using them they'll settle down to a more modest white/blue colour.

 

[DSK]

(I think its 281) Loughborough Road. I travelled from Notts to go there.

Very good chaps, owner runs a 600bhp + 200mph+ mph Supra and also has an old 3 series ( old x-reg shape) that he uses to run around in and is restoring to some extent. They have done a lot of big single turbo coversions (big BHP Supra's) and generally are busy with high performance Japanese cars and BMWs as their main work.

They let you watch whats being done, treat you with respect and are easy going as well as being a laugh to be around.

 

[DSK]

very nice mate. where is that garage in leic?

if you don't want to catch the board signs then i suggest modifying the projector shield to the xenon type.

also after a few weeks of using them they'll settle down to a more modest white/blue colour.

GARAGE 786
218 Loughborough Rd
Leicester LE4 5LG
tel: 0116 266 2227

Just mention 'DSK' with the UK spec black Supra TT sent you but I can genuinely vouch for their workmanship, skill and care for both cars and customers.

 

[Joe9087]

Looks like it a very high quality kit DSK you must be pleased.
You do find with 6000k hid's that there is bluey tinge that is sometimes more noticeable depending what your lights are shining on, but as you know when driving at night the light output on the road is pure white, you can see so much further and the beam pattern really is a lot broader.

With the nights drawing in now you'll really notice the improvement, looks like a great kit :thumbsup

 

[DSK]

I still think that the original stuf that comes factory fitted is better in terms of it being fully set up (lights matched to lamps, settings etc etc) but as for a worthy upgrade a quality HID kit is worth it.

When you look at my car with your eyes, there's no glare but for some reason its showing on the pictures.....

Just about to order a HIDS4U kit for my aunts M3 now lol (thanks to Steve telling me I need H1 bulbs for it). Not sure what nasty kit is fitted in her car but its shockingly bad compared to my kit. Its what put me off HIDs initially due to all the cheaper kits giving some degree of issues to owners with installation/performance and also I didn't like the way many are fitted to incorrect headlamps.

 

[DSK]

Garage 786 also has a website for anyone whose interested;

http://bmwspecialistleicester.co.uk/

 

[Kevin Whittaker]

Look really good DSK, like the before and after - very clear improvement.. Well done mate:thumbsup

 

[DragonLogicX]

Job well done. They look sweet :thumbsup

I don't do enough night time driving that warrant these, but its posts like these that make me want to fit a HID Kit on just because you can lol :hihi

 

[Ian S]

Interesting stuff. Did you go for the 4000k for your Aunts?

Ian

 

[DSK]

Interesting stuff. Did you go for the 4000k for your Aunts?

Ian

6000K, best of both worlds, strong white light for seeing where you are going and a nice blue tinge as well.

 

[Paul_330ci]

For a discount add "toyota pro" or "strathy" on the 35w ultimate i tested the hids4u.co.uk website with at £195 they both gave £48 discount!

 

[pangster]

looks good!!! - the videos give a good comparison as well!!!

 

[Joe9087]

How are the HIDs going DSK? Still impressed?