Hey all,
just an update for all of those interested in the progress of the HID retrofit project I am working on - the BMW E46 projectors are now properly retrofitted into the sports headlights, and the ballasts are mounted and wired.

The results are unbelievable - I was driving parallel with a TJ sports and I completly overpowered his headlights on the road - you could not see the halogens over the xenon lights! Road markings, reflective 'traffic cones', and number-plates practically glow - down the road illumination is wonderful, and the terrible side-illumination that the parabolic headlights suffered from is now banished!

Legality wise, I am having fun (NOT) - the ADR's (13/00) require that all gas discharge headlights are fitted with headlight cleaners (a windscreen washer jet would probably do, need to research furthur) and fortunatly automatic headlight levelling is not required, as it was not fitted to the vehicle originally (and to pass 13/00 without it would require the vehicle to pass the stringent suspension load inclination testing) so it won't have to be fitted. Phew!

Also, to pass ADR 13/00 the vehicle must be fitted with ADR 49/00 compliant parkers/front end outline lights fitted level (H+V) and capable of being mounted at 10-15 degrees from the vehicle axis (due to the bumper design). Most parkers are only designed to be fitted at 0 degrees to the axis (due to complex and stringent photometric requirements at angles). I am awaiting a response from Narva Australia on their ADR 13/00 compliance at 10-15 degrees from axis, particularly for their LED models with retro-reflector (as there are no front RR's fitted on the TJ's)

So, I need to get the washers and parkers fitted before it can be approved. At least anyone who wants to try this will know how to go about it now :P

Pics will be coming soon...

Cheers
Heath Young

Nice going mate, sounds awesome! I saw a BM with HID lights at the lights one evening and compared to the cars next to him, he truly lit up the road many metres ahead, in fact you couldn't even see the light from the normal cars..this was at 5pm, so those lights MUST be a good thing.

Just a question. Did you buy the CD full of ADR requirements? Or what cos it would'nt be bad having it to prove a cop wrong when he tries to defect you, or at least to know your legal. On the site, they only give a brief description of the requirements so it sucks :cry:

Otherwise..excellent work mate and maybe in a few years we could be seeing a majority of TJ's with parabolics and HID going around :clap:

ardei.... i think there is a site with a pretty comprehensive description of the ADRs all in PDF format.... i can't remember where it is but a google search would find it

If you look under technical in the nav bar you will find a link to your states regulations and the Australia Design Rules (ADR's).

heathyoung, great work mate busting for pics :D

Thanks Blake, I have seen these before but they'll do. It's just the actual Australian Design Rules book/cd a whole Phonebooks worth of rules! The one in NSW are just sum Vehicle Standards..about as long as a children's picture book. Oh well no worries, I was just checking to see if there is anythin specific regarding indicators and headlights in particular.

Once again Thanks.

Unfortunatly the ADR's are only available to RTA signatories.

The rules on the RTA website are of marginal utility (ie. practically useless)

The ADR's are practically word-for-word compatible with ECE regulations (very minor changes). For example, ADR 13/00 (installation of lighting and light signalling devices) is ECE 48.

Download all of the ECE rulings from here in PDF in English or French from...

http://www.unece.org/trans/main/wp29/wp29regs.html

These are the most up-to-date rulings, some are more current than our ADR's.

Photos will be coming soon, just need some time :P

Cheers
Heath Young