Lotus Elan Central

Started from here viewtopic.php?f=80&t=20246 now finally found a kit I liked and here are the results. It was a very simple MOD entirly plugs into and runs off the OEM harnesses power, placed the ballasts with double sided stick tape, finally plugged in the bulbs and here it is. A total plug and play kit, no wire running or splicing, brights are regular. I went with 6000K colored bulbs.

-James

Good one!

Did you do any night driving yet?
And what are the results IYHO?

Night time driving results are brilliant! It's like they turn the night into day in front of the car. And there is no dazzling of other drivers because it really projects straight down on to the road ahead. I'll add a pic tonight.

-James

Looks great !
Don't think I have ever used the Elan at night but they would look menacing when I'm flashing car's to get out off my way as I tear down the highway

I love the idea of doing this - but the UK Lighting Regulations make it difficult (read illegal) to do so

dapinky wrote:I love the idea of doing this - but the UK Lighting Regulations make it difficult (read illegal) to do so

Can you give some more detail please Dave, as I was pretty keen on this idea?

epipete wrote:

dapinky wrote:I love the idea of doing this - but the UK Lighting Regulations make it difficult (read illegal) to do so

Can you give some more detail please Dave, as I was pretty keen on this idea?

Basically, it's illegal without type approval of the whole headlamp assembly, self levelling, cleaning .... canny article here Pete.

Shame that! Not the first time that a seemingly beneficial mod would be disallowed due to EC red tape but there you go.

I fear that one of the problems might be that the reflectors in my units might not be as bright as they once were so the HID route may not have been the salvation I was seeking but useful to know, thanks Geoff.

GeoffSmith wrote:

epipete wrote:

dapinky wrote:I love the idea of doing this - but the UK Lighting Regulations make it difficult (read illegal) to do so

Can you give some more detail please Dave, as I was pretty keen on this idea?

Basically, it's illegal without type approval of the whole headlamp assembly, self levelling, cleaning .... canny article here Pete.

In a nutshell, HID's are only normally type-approved in projector-type headlamps - the dazzle factor with retro-fit kits is a nightmare to other road users..... Chances are a retro-fit kit will be an MOT failure in the UK.

A better (read legal and more responsible ) option is some higher output, whiter halogen bulbs....

It may be illegal, but i don't know how many times iv'e been totally blinded by bloody modern cars with xenon lights, its not even a hight issue as i drive a navara as my daily, worst offenders are nissan micras , then e class merc's range rover sport,

last time the elan was mot i asked the tester about getting blinded by xenon's and he agreed, not all self leveller's seem to work ,
ive only had to drive the elan at night once and i thought id'e developed touretts syndrome, every other car blinded me

its my pet hate,

Wow, Banning automotive upgrades in the USA would go over as well as gun control... It will ever happen here. Watch "The fast and furious" movies. As long as a car can pass a smog test very two years , it's roadworthy. Although I have heard of noise ordinances for playing your music in your car too loud. But that's about it. European law makers have more time, power and control I am afraid. I was followed by a new 2013 beautiful Range Rover and it totally blinded me and everyone else the entire time... Gosh I want a new one!!! I have decided to put this same kit in my range rover, I wanna blind everyone too!!! Does anyone know why the new Rover makes a strange winding UFO like noise?!? Maybe to match the UFO like lights...

-James

GoM100Go wrote:Wow, Banning automotive upgrades in the USA would go over as well as gun control... It will ever happen here. ...

Well, youngster , it HAS happened here! When I grew up in SoCal a few, ahem, decades ago, headlights were VERY regulated. The police could and would pull you over and issue a fix it ticket for headlights they considered misaligned. Much like todays emissions testing, you would have to get a compliance document from a shop that was an approved "headlight alignment" shop. Also, I was made to remove the Carello Perspex headlight covers from my Alfa Spider...after showing my compliance I put them back on of course

I believe you, I don't doubt there was a time, but now realistically and logistically it would be impossible. Every other car would have to be pulled over, esp with so many cars and coffee meets. The street car scene it just too big in SoCal now, they may have just gave in, ticketing racers now mostly. I commute two cities away (in the Lotus of course) it's hard to keep it under 80 and not be passed up by a minivan or SUV. Thanks for the commentary. But I do stay safe and can't wait for those roll bars to get here...

-James

That headlight specification crap back then was blatant market protectionism - protecting the US big three automakers from European imports.

jHamshaw wrote:A better (read legal and more responsible ) option is some higher output, whiter halogen bulbs....

Don't these run hotter, risking damage to other components?

rip wrote:

jHamshaw wrote:A better (read legal and more responsible ) option is some higher output, whiter halogen bulbs....

Don't these run hotter, risking damage to other components?

Only if they're higher wattage - there are plenty of similar wattage, "50% brighter" (read whiter and take 50% with a pinch of salt but they're definitely an improvement) options.....

PS - It also helps if you flip the pods and clean the lights with the rest of the car - when I bought mine I thought all of the bulbs were out at first!

I am keeping a close eye on heat and surprisingly enough there is no more heat coming from the housings than with the regular bulbs that are still in the bright light housings, the high/brights are still traditional bulbs (9003/H4) on my car. On the issue in the Uk with the housings having to be HID compliant, if you notice the housings I purchased had an HID option with these same housings, so they are indeed designed to house LED bulbs - right from the same manufacturer, so indeed they are HID compliant housings, they even have the vents built in -something that regular 9003/H4 bulbs do not require...

-James

Actually, non DOT approved headlight upgrades are just as illegal here as in the UK. The difference is the lack of a proper MOT. In California, you make your upgrade and take your chances. If you keep them adjusted so as to not blind anyone, you're probably safe. But, if an officer decides he wants a reason to stop and cite you, you've just given one.

There are more than a few headlight "improvements" on San Diego roads that need to be cited, IMO. Pick up trucks raised to ludicrous levels, then fitting HIDs in the standard reflector/lens are my least favorite.

It's true, but it's like I mentioned earlier, there just isn't enough man power to regulate headlights, or much else for that matter. It's a secondary "fix it ticket" anyhow. I have them [HID] on both my cars, and along with no front plates (also illegal) on both. Going 9 years with the Range Rover and 2+ on the Élan with no front plates, and no probs. Also my Elan just passed smog tests (MOT) with flying colors, so good for 2 more years! I have been dead front faced at intersections and behind police cruisers and never even a second look. I think you really have to commit some serious driving offense to get cited for those things, otherwise they just look the other way. I also commute 2 cities away for work (9yrs), speeding 80+Mph in a bright red lotus daily... and nothing, but I do think being a pasty white guy with no tickets or accidents ever (knock on wood) helps, heck even if they did run my rear plates helps a lot. I love Southern California! (RIP Paul Walker)

Elan on!