[s-cars] OEM European HID Lights

[Pram]

Guys:

In money is a factor then the best way is to go with the stock US
headlight assembly and just upgrade the bulb to the 9006 based HID
bulb.  AFAIK, the Catz kit is made by McCullough which uses a two piece
bulb assembly (I might be wrong on this).  What I meant with two piece
is that the bulb itself is pretty much standard and the other piece is
basically a custom sleeve to fit the application (in this case a
9006base.  McCullough made all kind of base for 9006/9005, H1, H7 etc,
etc.   The standardized bulb itself has grooves so as when intalled into
the sleeve, you can adjust which groove to use so as to match the focal
length of the application.   As it come from McCullough the normally
glued these two piece.

I have been doing all kind of custom HID conversion using this
McCullough based HID bulb.  I just finished a H9/H11 bulb to HID
conversion for my bike.

In my experience, the matching of the focal length is not really a
precision requirement (you need to be precise but not that precise)  I
have played with the focal length variations on the UrS4/S6, E-class
W210 , Porsche 993, Harley V-rod headlight application and it does not
create a problem with light distribution unless you are really
off/imprecise with the focal length.  Most aftermarket HID bulb are
pretty good on this focal length set-up.

I do not believe that the  UrS4/S6 Euro housing is significantly
brighter than the US housing in low beam after the HID conversion.  I
think the difference on the low beam HID application can the attributed
to some degradation on the US low beam reflector (mainly due to use of
high wattage halogen bulb) and the hazing of the reflector, lens of the
projector as compared to using a new Euro headlight housing.

WRT to concern about HID bulb with 9006 base availability, worst come to
worst, if they are not available anymore, high probability is that
McCullough still make the standardized HID bulb and you might be able to
use the old base from the McCullough/CATZ HID bulb with the new HID
bulb/insert.

So far I have not had any of my HID bulb failed (they would probably
outlast my vehicles).

My take on this,  for the price difference, go with the 9006 based HID
(and if possible clean the lens/reflector of the US headlight).  I like
the McCullough HID bulb since they do not have the bulky connection at
the end of the bulb (it does not interfere with the back cover of the
UrS4/S6 headlight assembly).

HTH,
Pram
92S4



On Wednesday, April 16, 2003, at 08:14 AM, Igor Kessel wrote:

> Sean Douglas wrote:
>> Hi Bob and Igor:
>>
>> I'm considering the following:
>>
>> Option 1: Hella euro-lights with a HID upgrade (such as lltek). Cost
>> $600 +
>> $600 = $1200
>> Option 2: OEM Hella HID. Cost $2,000
>>
>> How would you say the two compare with regard to quality, light output
>> and
>> ease of installation?
>>
>> Looks like the wiring is a little more difficult, as I would have to
>> source
>> the proper plugs to mate with the OEM ones. Did you wire in the
>> levelling
>> motors which are controlled by the switch in the console?
>>
>> Also, the FA says that the HID bulb is not available separately ("not a
>> spare part"). Is this available in the aftermarket should one fail?
>>
>> Thanks,
>>
>> Sean Douglas
>
> Sean,
> the best nad safest approach off course is the factory one. You get the
> whole pre-focused assy with the D2S dead centre in the focus of the
> projector.
> The D2S is available separately. Just check e-bay.
>
> If the aftermarket kit can place the filament (although there is no
> "filament" per se in the HID bulb) in the same exact spot where the 9006
>  filament used to sit, then you stand to save $1400.
> However, and that is a big however. If the HID bulb is farther or closer
> to the reflector than the OEM filament used to sit, your end result will
> be light scattered all over the place and quite possibly worse off than
> before you started.
> There is another issue that bothers me with the aftermarket approach. It
> is the availability of the spare HID bulbs grafted onto the 9006 (or H1,
> or H7) OEM base.
>
> There is no easy decision. You  have to weigh in the pros and cons.
>
> --
> Igor Kessel
> two turbo quattros
>
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