Need new headlights, what to do?

[OutlawFlat4]

Hi all

My Cerb had crappy lights when I bought it and I have left it all year as I wasn't sure whether to go for the conversion or not. I bought all the lamps and the pods but decided to stick with the originals (even though I much prefer the look of the quad conversion) as its a 98 and shouldn't have them.

So, I need to make them work. My reflectors are shot so have ordered new ones, but what should I do in terms of bulbs? What do you guys run and do any of you have the HID setup? (if so, how much work is involved in doing this?). And if you had to start from scratch (mine are far worse than candles) what would you do?

I have searched and read many threads but none that compare all the options, so all your thoughts and opinions wold be a great help.

Thanks

J

[Gazzab]

New reflectors are hard to get hold of but I would recommend some of the brighter bulbs (with new reflectors) rather than HIDs. With HIDs you'll forever be flashed at by other cars etc...
There is a thread re LED coversions somewhere around here...

[OutlawFlat4]

Gazzab said:

New reflectors are hard to get hold of but I would recommend some of the brighter bulbs (with new reflectors) rather than HIDs. With HIDs you'll forever be flashed at by other cars etc...
There is a thread re LED coversions somewhere around here...

Thanks Gazzab.

I have just bought these on eBay (http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/201216543187) so hope that they are right?

OK - will go down the bright bulb route (any recommendations anyone?) and see how they fair. Read the LED thread so will so how people get on with it and maybe consider it in the future.

[jackwibble]

Running some fatter cables or a fused supply directly from the battery will help as the biggest issue other than shot reflectors appears to be voltage drop due to the cables running to the boot control box and back so high power bulbs alone may not produce a brighter beam.

[RichV6]

Ran a direct fused power feed to relays which in turn were controlled by the original control box in the boot. Hopefully no more fried control boxes, and the light output with new reflectors and upgraded bulbs is far better than the original. Got a relay kit from EBAY, adapted the wiring to suit the Cerb and it was just about plug and play. Access to the light units being the most time consuming.

[ukkid35]

Not tried them myself, but will use them when my reflectors would otherwise need replacing, depending on price.

http://www.chromespray.co.uk/

[ukkid35]

I also have a pair of these that I intend to fit soon which should reduce the load on the wiring and control boxes significantly. They are beautifully made!



http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/161368485889

[otp]

Outlawflat4 my cerb had shot reflectors when I got it. I also bought the same reflectors. I used the bright bulbs from halfords they are better but they still aren't great. I also wouldn't do the xenon conversion it's a grey area of legality. I did mange to find some of the correct part number reflectors too, it's not a major difference and easy enough to modify.

[RochdaleGT]

legal xenons have self leveling and washers.....

badly adjusted xenon´s (e.g. most (illegal) retrofits) are blinding other motorists...which is very dangerous imo....

[magpies]

most 'legal' HiDs although self levelling are badly set in the first place so still blind - people don't realise their headlights need adjusting properly to start with - which is why lots have one headlight higher than the other

[msmith0592]

Get a set of Lupo headlights, these illuminate the road well enough.

[OutlawFlat4]

otp said:

Outlawflat4 my cerb had shot reflectors when I got it. I also bought the same reflectors. I used the bright bulbs from halfords they are better but they still aren't great. I also wouldn't do the xenon conversion it's a grey area of legality. I did mange to find some of the correct part number reflectors too, it's not a major difference and easy enough to modify.

OTP, did you modify the new reflectors you bought to the same beam pattern as the originals or just leave them as they are.

[OutlawFlat4]

ukkid35 said:

I also have a pair of these that I intend to fit soon which should reduce the load on the wiring and control boxes significantly. They are beautifully made!



http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/161368485889

Thanks mate.

I'm following this thread on the Chim Forum and waiting to see how they work out and how much work is involved. If I can use the new reflectors I bought with these, then that would be my preference, although I dont fancy drilling them to make them the correct beam pattern.

I'm now wondering if spraying the Chrome paint on my original reflectors would be the better idea, although not sure if it would hold up to the heat of normal bulbs.....

Who'd have thought this would be such a PITA

[otp]

Outlawflat4 sorry for late reply since the demise of my cerb not on her so often. I modified mine to be the same pattern as the rhd ones. I did have some pictures but I've deleted them there is a post on here with the pictures in . I may even have a modified lense here along with a rhd one somewhere.

[RochdaleGT]

such lights are illegal!!

[OutlawFlat4]

RochdaleGT said:

such lights are illegal!!

Which and why?

[OutlawFlat4]

OTP, sorry to hear about your car so soon after getting it, but glad you are OK.

So, I picked up my new reflectors from Sonnylad who kindly drilled them to the correct pattern for me (thanks Russ!) and I await my LED headlights to arrive. I will probably also order some standard bulbs and see how both fare.

Thanks for input all.

J

[Stunned Monkey]

H4 LED bulbs are just dreadful and do not expect decent light output whilst simultaneously annoying other road users. A great resource on the eubject:

http://www.danielsternlighting.com/

Nutshell: The lens must be matched to the bulb.