Additional front lights
Discussion
The lights on my Aston are not as bright as on my Toaureg, or the Z4. Maybe because the other two are 2010 cars and the Aston is a 2004 build, but the fact remains they are no where near as good.
Whilst I appreciate that the norm on PH is to slate any post or idea first, and then engage brain later it does become tiresome when people start calling you a tosser for no reason. Seriously, get a life. You wouldn't say it to me in a pub so don't say it on here. I also dont like fog lights, not becuase they are additional illumination but because the lenses, bulbs and reflectors are not designed to be used as driving lights. That is why they blind you in good light.
To be honest aethetically it shouldnt show as they'll be behind the grill, and when on they will be correctly angled to illuminate the road ahead and hopefully give me a little further visibility and spread.
Until deer start wearing flourescent jackets i'd rather be safe than sorry
The thing is, lighting technology is constantly on the move... Lights are getting smaller, brighter, and using less energy than ever before....
I'd be searching the web, and in particular the truck, side of lighting options....
As an example, I've just sourced some led, combi tail, stop and indicator lights, for my camper van... Less tha 200mm x 40.
And only 10 mm thick... Cost £15 quid each.....
Not what you're after obviously, but the range is huge
I'd be searching the web, and in particular the truck, side of lighting options....
As an example, I've just sourced some led, combi tail, stop and indicator lights, for my camper van... Less tha 200mm x 40.
And only 10 mm thick... Cost £15 quid each.....
Not what you're after obviously, but the range is huge
CatalystV8V said:
I thought my front lights were pretty poor when I first had my V8... It turned out that the self levelling mechanism wasn't working because a wire had become disconnected... The effect was that the lights pointed further down than would be the norm. Once corrected and with the lights properly level things were much improved...
As CatalystV8V says, for those people complaining about light levels from HIDs I would seriously check that the salf leveling is operational.If when you turn the headlights on you do not see them "swing up" to horizontal then there's a very good chance that the stepper motor that does the alignment, or some of the level detection paraphinalia is defective.
So far as I understand HID lamps by legislation must have self leveling and when the lights are switched off they always seem to go to sleep facing down toward the ground. Any aspect of the leveling control could compromise that.
I suspect garage queens or even those that are only used on dry daylight runs will be prone to the mechanism seizing up.
If you are tempted to have a peek in the light assembly be aware there are some nasty voltages knocking around in there!
I've never had cause for complaint on the V8V with HIDS.
I'll probably incur some venom for this, but I almost always drive with the headlights on though, so they get exercised every start up. Might reduce lamp and ballast life but I'd rather be seen.
peterr96 said:
CatalystV8V said:
I thought my front lights were pretty poor when I first had my V8... It turned out that the self levelling mechanism wasn't working because a wire had become disconnected... The effect was that the lights pointed further down than would be the norm. Once corrected and with the lights properly level things were much improved...
As CatalystV8V says, for those people complaining about light levels from HIDs I would seriously check that the salf leveling is operational.If when you turn the headlights on you do not see them "swing up" to horizontal then there's a very good chance that the stepper motor that does the alignment, or some of the level detection paraphinalia is defective.
So far as I understand HID lamps by legislation must have self leveling and when the lights are switched off they always seem to go to sleep facing down toward the ground. Any aspect of the leveling control could compromise that.
I suspect garage queens or even those that are only used on dry daylight runs will be prone to the mechanism seizing up.
If you are tempted to have a peek in the light assembly be aware there are some nasty voltages knocking around in there!
I've never had cause for complaint on the V8V with HIDS.
I'll probably incur some venom for this, but I almost always drive with the headlights on though, so they get exercised every start up. Might reduce lamp and ballast life but I'd rather be seen.
huggy1 said:
I have the same issue as the above. My lights to swing up but the beam has a cut off only a few yards in front of the car. On an unlit dual carriageway last week it felt unsafe at anything over 50mph. Any ideas???
Add me to the list of folks that seem to think there is a problem with the lights on the V8V. I even took it to the dealer to check out because the cutoff seems far too low compared to other cars so I can't see as far ahead. I also mentioned to them that I only see the lights go up and down when you turn them on about 30% of the time. They said they checked the headlamp alignment and it seemed fine, but I'm still not convinced. Does everyone else's headlights move up and down every single time they turn on their headlights after an engine start?KarlFranz said:
Add me to the list of folks that seem to think there is a problem with the lights on the V8V. I even took it to the dealer to check out because the cutoff seems far too low compared to other cars so I can't see as far ahead. I also mentioned to them that I only see the lights go up and down when you turn them on about 30% of the time. They said they checked the headlamp alignment and it seemed fine, but I'm still not convinced. Does everyone else's headlights move up and down every single time they turn on their headlights after an engine start?
So far yes. My07 model.I think the problem is mainly because the lights have to shine through the highly angled perspex of the headlight covers, the steep faired-in type lights favoured by sports cars are always compromised, my Marcos had (retrofitted) HIDs and they aren't worth a damn. My 1998 911 gives out light much better than my DB9 (both have HIDs) but the 911 lens is far more uprights so less refraction and scatter.
I would like there to be extra driving lights situated like the Vanquish/DB7 but used as driving lights rather than fogs - as mentioned above different beam pattern and lens type so would not dazzle necessarily, especially as they'd be so low down. I also think they look very good when not lit, they provided a nice detail on my DB7 Vantage.
George is right, people who drive with fog's on when it isn't foggy are tossers, under the impression it looks good. He however did *not* call the OP a tosser and neither am I calling him one. It's a great plan and I'd certainly give it a go.
I would like there to be extra driving lights situated like the Vanquish/DB7 but used as driving lights rather than fogs - as mentioned above different beam pattern and lens type so would not dazzle necessarily, especially as they'd be so low down. I also think they look very good when not lit, they provided a nice detail on my DB7 Vantage.
George is right, people who drive with fog's on when it isn't foggy are tossers, under the impression it looks good. He however did *not* call the OP a tosser and neither am I calling him one. It's a great plan and I'd certainly give it a go.
JohnG1 said:
KarlFranz said:
Does everyone else's headlights move up and down every single time they turn on their headlights after an engine start?
Yes in my V8 and yes in my V12.Simond S said:
George H said:
Why? You would just look like a massive tosser basicly driving around with fog lights on. One of my pet hates, there is just no need for it 
Because the standard lights are not very bright. I thought that would have been obvious by my (and othrs by the looks of things) desie have have better forward illumination.You may have noticed that the motor industry has made significant improvements to the lights on cars over the last few years, this isnt purely cosmetic you understand.
I am with George though you will look like a complete tool driving around with silly lights fitted - I really wouldnt mess about with your car by modding it with extra lights that arnt supposed to be there. You will massively devalue the car because you will make it unsaleable to a good slug of potential Aston buyers including the likes of me and George. Just upgrade to the HID lights (which are superb) and you might even add a tiny bit of value to your car!
peterr96 said:
rjn21 said:
And the lights have to shine past the condensation that will be all over the inside of the headlamp...
Er yes! I think in reality that burns off pretty quickly once the lights are on, but really it shouldn't be there!My V8 had a service item done where they cleaned a vent from the back of the headlight to the wheel arch and fitted some kind of goretex membrane (this is a few years back, memory fails)....
huggy1 said:
I have the same issue as the above. My lights to swing up but the beam has a cut off only a few yards in front of the car. On an unlit dual carriageway last week it felt unsafe at anything over 50mph. Any ideas???
That sounds wrong. I'll try and have a peek to see this evening.When it's dark, park your car somewhere level 10 metres from a high wall with your lights on (not on full beam). Snap a photo of yours from top of the drivers windscreen pillar (we need to try and ensure similar points of view) over the bonnet to show the light pattern on the ground in front of the car and also on the wall.
If you want, repeat with it on beam.
I'll try and do the same and we can compare.
If they're radically different it would point to an issue. If not then it would point to a difference in expectation.
peterr96 said:
Er yes! I think in reality that burns off pretty quickly once the lights are on, but really it shouldn't be there!
Never evaporated on my V8V or DB9 and doesn't evaporate on my V12V. Had all the fixes done and have the silica gel TSB applied on delivery and at each service. Still always have condensation at end of journey.Gassing Station | Aston Martin | Top of Page | What's New | My Stuff