mgf.be

[ppo]

I know, that it is not legal to do it, but I want some decent light, and those aftermarket bulbs claiming +whatsoever% more light don't satisfy me.
As I'm used to Xenon in my other car, I want to exchange the standard H7 bulbs with an HID conversion on the TF.
Some of you may have done this conversion and I'm looking for some info:

- Which kit are you using ?
- Which light temperature ?
- Is the installation straight forward ?
- Can it easily taken off again for the yearly MOT ?
- What were the technical problems you encountered ?
- Do the lenses cope with the higher temperature generated by the bulbs ?
- Do the original wires cope with the higher voltage ?

Thanks.
Regards,

Pascal

[Bruce]

The only one I can remember who fit xenon in his TF was Cedric, but he took them out because I think it burnt the inside on the lamps... Anyone in the US fitted HID in a TF?

[Bruno]

US ? There are no TF's in the US, Bruce....
There are more TF owners here with Xenon's, I'm sure of that.
But you can send Ceke1618 a PB about your question.

[Bruce]

UK I mean UK...

[Bruno]

Pascal, if you want to send a PB, this is the Profile of Cedric : profile.php?mode=viewprofile&u=238

[ppo]

Thanks Bruno.

[Striker]

- Which kit are you using ?

A cheap Chinese kit from Ebay (44 euro). They have been working without any problems.

- Which light temperature ?

I prefer 6000k as it's clear white. I don't like the higher temperatures as it gets very blue and looks cheap imo.

- Is the installation straight forward ?

Plug & play

- Can it easily taken off again for the yearly MOT ?

Yes, plug and play

-Do the lenses cope with the higher temperature generated by the bulbs ?

Temperature is actually lower than conventional light bulbs.

- Do the original wires cope with the higher voltage ?

There's no higher voltage on the original wires, higher voltage is produced by the transformer that's fitted, before that it's 12v.

The only one I can remember who fit xenon in his TF was Cedric, but he took them out because I think it burnt the inside on the lamps

How's that possible? XID is not nearly as hot as a conventional light bulb.

LeSheep was XID in his TF without any problems.

[andrew]

I bought mine for my F from Adrian about two years ago BUT my headlamps are so bad ( dull ) that I havent fitted them. I have tried to find some one to re chrome mine over here but no succsess as yet. I must admit the TF135 I owned had great lights as standard.

[ppo]

I had a look at the different offers on web. Sometimes the prices are quite optimistic for a kit which even won't survive the posting.
I think, that the most important are the ballasts. This need to be build out of premium components, to prevent fluctuating power output, and in the same time flickering of the bulbs. Also the ballast box needs to be sealed to prevent water to get in, as this is a risc under the front bonnet of the TF.

[Adrian Clifford]

Pascal, the kit I used on the F was a Bosch unit, it looked waterproof to me. Like Cedric I used 6000K as the light was whitest, I wanted lights that done a good job not looked fancy, anybody who saw my F at night would have seen how good these were. Like you I tried many other types of bulb, none made a big improvement. I will add that the bulbs on the TF are good compared to the F, which had quite good reflectors, I feel I don't need to change these to HID's, it would defeat the object of keeping the LE standard anyway.

Cedric has answered your questions, he is spot on with his answers.

I will add that before I changed the bulbs, I asked a few questions :

Are they illegal ? A difficult one to answer, our Dept. for Transport say yes because they are non standard, so I asked the MoT testing station (our version of the TuV) they tested the lights and said there was no problem with them.

I asked my insurance company, they asked if it would pass the MoT test, if so, it was OK with them. I declared them as a modification.

I asked the Traffic division of the Metropolitan Police who asked the same question about the MoT, if so, it was Ok with them.

It does appear that only the enforcement agency don't like them (as it's not standard) so the decision is yours, is it different for you ?

I will finish by saying that in the two years I had them fitted, driving in all conditions I felt much safer because the lights where better, never once did anybody flash their lights at me because I was affecting them and I tested the lights in darkness following other F's at different distances, none said the lights affected them either.

[ppo]

Thanks Adrian.
Over here in Luxembourg, they are illegal. But as long as they don't affect the other drivers, or are too blueish, no one could tell, that you have Xenons.
But for passing the yearly technical control (lux MOT) I'll need to put the original H7 in again.

[Striker]

no one could tell, that you have Xenons.

Apart from the fact they provide about 10 times more light .

[Adrian Clifford]

no one could tell, that you have Xenons.

Apart from the fact they provide about 10 times more light .

and you can actually see where you are going

[ppo]

@Adrian
Do you still know where you bought your Bosch conversion kit? I've been browsing some pages on internet, and apart from "original" Bosch kits from Taiwan or China , I could only find those used by German car builders, which costs mucho dineros.

Thanks

[Adrian Clifford]

Hi Pascal, to a point no but I can try for you as (these were very early kits, probably the first in the UK). I know they came from the US as we bought five sets at £100 each.

I shall ask around and see if I can get proper Bosch kits for you at a good price.