HID upgrade

[Bushbasher]

A thread in another part of the forum re HIDs' and legality of it in a retro fit prompted me to chase up the fitting of HIDs' to the 'lane so I thought I'd share my experience today...........

OK, I am going to upgrade my high beams to HID. So to that end I've spent alot of last night and today reading and wading through heaps of opinions on various forums plus ADR regs and state regs etc to get an answer. So today I've been on the phone to firstly the federal transport dept. and explained exactly what I wanted to do , that is, upgrade ONLY the dedicated high beam driving lights in the front of my 'lane and NOT the low beams which in my case are dedicated low beams as apposed to a H4 hi/lo setup. As far as I could acertain from reading the ADRs', before my head started hurting,lol, all the pertinent regs pertain to new vehicles and more specifically to the low beam, ( called "dipped beam" or "passing beam" in the ADR regs.) with similar regs for retro fitting but again, only mentioning the low beam. When I said I only wanted to upgrade the dedicated driving lights and it was no different than putting HID spotties on the front of the car they had no problem with it but told me that the state RTA had the final say. So I rang the RTA technical section and explained what I wanted to do and was told that as long as it's white light and meets ADR then no problem, go ahead. So there was the legalities out of the way. Then I phoned my insurance company and explained what I wanted to do and who I'd been speaking to and what I'd been told and they (CGU) said no problem go ahead. So I got them to notarise on the policy that I'd modified the high beam driving lights to HID and that it was ok and wouldn't void my insurance, JOB DONE :

So there ya go, it can be done as long as you don't mess with your low beam and only upgrade the high beam because, as stated, it's essentially no different than bolting on HID spotties.


Bushbasher

[eyes87]

i upgraded all my lights to hid. the ones that i got fitted are adr approved. i don't know how or why because they're not ment to be but it said on the box they came in that they were. i can't remember the brand now tho

[blackers10]

the LIGHTS would be ADR approved.. but the lense you have fitted them into will NOT be ADR approved with HID lights fitted

the HID items focus differently to normal Halogen lights due to the position of the lighting portion of the lights

nobody would even know if your high beams were HID unless you forgot to dip them with a cop car on comming

bushbasher let me know how they go tho as Im interested for my Fairlane's high beams

[FGII-XR6]

For Australian users, local regulations require the following conditions to be met in order to have an HID system in place:

• The headlamps of the vehicle must be correctly aligned.
• The vehicle must be fitted with an automatic headlamp leveling
system.
• The vehicle must be fitted with an automatic headlight cleaning
system.
so retrofitting low beam is illegal on all australian made as none have the requirement as listed above

[xr8edute]

I recently fitted a full set (low beam and high beam) of HID globes to my 04 XR8 ute. After reading about them being illegal and everything i decided i better find out for my self.

I did the same thing, i called my insurance company (R.A.C) told them what i have done, no problems sir it's now noted and all legit.
Then went down to the local licensing centre and took the ute over, explained to the nice men there, they made their phone calls to who ever they needed to and .... whola "No problems mate". Certificate and everything.

See fellas, sometimes it pays to be two hours behind most of the rest of Australia. ha ha

Cheers

[DJL351]

Originally Posted by xr8edute

I recently fitted a full set (low beam and high beam) of HID globes to my 04 XR8 ute. After reading about them being illegal and everything i decided i better find out for my self.

I did the same thing, i called my insurance company (R.A.C) told them what i have done, no problems sir it's now noted and all legit.
Then went down to the local licensing centre and took the ute over, explained to the nice men there, they made their phone calls to who ever they needed to and .... whola "No problems mate". Certificate and everything.

See fellas, sometimes it pays to be two hours behind most of the rest of Australia. ha ha

Cheers

Where did you get them from?

[Macca23]

britax supply h4 low & high beam Hid kits complete! around $450 for the kit. Seen it in my local 4wd shop.

[xr8edute]

Originally Posted by DJL351

Where did you get them from?

Ebay is your friend DJ

[FGII-XR6]

Originally Posted by xr8edute

I recently fitted a full set (low beam and high beam) of HID globes to my 04 XR8 ute. After reading about them being illegal and everything i decided i better find out for my self.

I did the same thing, i called my insurance company (R.A.C) told them what i have done, no problems sir it's now noted and all legit.
Then went down to the local licensing centre and took the ute over, explained to the nice men there, they made their phone calls to who ever they needed to and .... whola "No problems mate". Certificate and everything.

See fellas, sometimes it pays to be two hours behind most of the rest of Australia. ha ha

Cheers

regardless of what you have been told your low beams are illegal, according to ADRs you don't have headlight auto leveling or cleaning and these are mandatory on all HID fitted cars in australia. the RTA have gotten it wrong and unless you have it in writing from them you can get done, even if you do they can force you to comply with ADRs they just wouldn't be able to fine you

[xr8edute]

Originally Posted by au3xr6

regardless of what you have been told your low beams are illegal, according to ADRs you don't have headlight auto leveling or cleaning and these are mandatory on all HID fitted cars in australia. the RTA have gotten it wrong and unless you have it in writing from them you can get done, even if you do they can force you to comply with ADRs they just wouldn't be able to fine you

Thats probably correct mate. But as most of you know, as long as you can show some sort of proof that you have tried to do the right thing most police officers will be fine.

And any way, it's only a five minute job to put it back to standard. Hardest part is getting those little metal clips back on correctly. ha ha.

The reason i fitted these HID's in the first place was that i was sick of blowing High beam globes. I would go through about 4 a year i guess, different sides too. Didn't matter if it was standard wattage, blue vision, plus 30's or anything. Oh and of course the major reason was so i would look cool!!!!!!!!! ha ha. Just jokes.

Cheers guys

[blackers10]

the self leveling is in the headlight it self (The accord euros have it and the toyota aristo's etc (lexus)

the cleaners are just sprayers on the bumper facing the lense

you can retro fit all this but its a major stuff around