Self leveling headlights?? Can this be done?

[thestu]

Well guys i need new headlights and i really want to run HIDs but its illegal unless they are self leveling and they are annoying to other drivers if they are not aswell...

What are my options?

Can i make them self leveling or can i buy mk4 ones and make them fit??

Stu

[team_v]

Probably going to be way too much effort.
Why not just get some high output/throw halogen bulbs?

[thestu]

Yeh i gues i can do that but i was just wondering because HIDs last quite a long time and overall better!

Whats equivalent to a 5000k?? that is bright??

[team_v]

I would look into some osram bulbs.
You would have to check what bulbs you have obviously and compare these to other halogen bulbs.

Phillips and Osram would be the way to go though.

[DubSteve]

You can actually buy self levelling headlights from tmtuning! They are OEM aswell but you have to make them work. I wouldn't be too fussed to be quite honest, If you make them right the first time you will never get done, I had them on for 6 months and they were absolutely fine!!!

[thestu]

So if they are set right the first time then they should be ok??

[thestu]

Found them!! rheostat leveling kits

[DubSteve]

Yep thats right I don't see why not

[rayray086]

It's projectors you need if you want to run HIDs isn't it? Doesn't have to be self-levelling if you've aimed them correctly (which should be done if you retrofit projectors properly).

[Manaz]

Yeh i gues i can do that but i was just wondering because HIDs last quite a long time and overall better!

Whats equivalent to a 5000k?? that is bright??

Please stop for a bit and do some research before you screw things up royally - if you don't understand what you're buying, you'll only get it right (if indeed you manage to do so) by sheer dumb luck.

For what it's worth, 5000K refers to the colour (or technically, colour "temperature" - basically, the colour of the light that a matte black object will output when heated to a temperature of 5000K, or something just over 4700ºC) of the lights, and not their brightness.

Found them!! rheostat leveling kits

Those allow for manual adjustment (using a thumb-wheel in the cabin), but not the automatic levelling which is required by the ADRs.

[Manaz]

It's projectors you need if you want to run HIDs isn't it? Doesn't have to be self-levelling if you've aimed them correctly (which should be done if you retrofit projectors properly).

The ADRs clearly state that gas high intensity discharge lighting is only legal on passenger vehicles if used with an auto-levelling system. The whole point of this system is that you don't end up with a static setting, but rather one that adjusts based on the attitude of the car - when your nose is up in the air, the headlights will dip, and vice versa). This is to stop the HIDs from dazzling drivers of cars in front of you (either facing you or travelling the same direction) as a car moves over varying road surface gradients.

And yes, HIDs should also be used only in projector housings, and NOT in standard reflectors.

[Preen59]

Most minor mods are illegal. Just do it properly, don't drive like a twat and the cops will leave you alone, dude.

[Manaz]

Most minor mods are illegal.

But rarely for as good a reason as retrofitting HIDs to reflector housings with no auto-levelling is illegal.

And doing this makes your car stand out like dog's balls, and if you're already known to and being targeted by the local constabulary, this will just be another book they can throw at you...

[DubSteve]

Most minor mods are illegal. Just do it properly, don't drive like a twat and the cops will leave you alone, dude.

Exactly right, If you don't do anything stupid you will not have a issue!

[Preen59]

But rarely for as good a reason as retrofitting HIDs to reflector housings with no auto-levelling is illegal.

And doing this makes your car stand out like dog's balls, and if you're already known to and being targeted by the local constabulary, this will just be another book they can throw at you...

Well, that's my point entirely. If you don't give them a reason, you won't have a problem.