Discussion
I thought this but is it just that we are getting used to the newer technology, much more efficient headlights and it makes our 20-30 year old lanterns seem s
te????
I never noticed the lights on my old 350 being poor but it was an '88 and I bought it in '90.
Sort it so the driving lights can be on when you turn on the sidelights on then you can drive at night with the lights up or down and the fact they are a bit dim don't matter.
te????I never noticed the lights on my old 350 being poor but it was an '88 and I bought it in '90.
Sort it so the driving lights can be on when you turn on the sidelights on then you can drive at night with the lights up or down and the fact they are a bit dim don't matter.
yeah Adam i totally see where your coming from! my mini cooper has hib headlights
but i still would like to improve on the headlights. im sure people here have found something that will fit easy and be a big improvement ...but i really appreciate what you had to say ....cars have came a long way
but i still would like to improve on the headlights. im sure people here have found something that will fit easy and be a big improvement ...but i really appreciate what you had to say ....cars have came a long way
Rob,
IMO it depends on how much time & money you want to spend.
Least expensive route is to first make sure you have full voltage to both headlights (there's a re-wiring mod somewhere), replace the reflectors/lens housings for newer type (available cheap on eBay) and run some better bulbs.
Here's an old but probably still relevant Auto Express bulb review but I'm sure you can find a more up to date one via Google: http://www.autoexpress.co.uk/accessories-tyres/362...
If you don't mind spending £26.00,
http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Universal-Bi-Xenon-HID-P...
and doing a little reworking of the pods you could consider something like the above and despite what some say, HID conversions are not illegal if installed without self-leveling where the vehicle did not come with this as standard from the factory. Naturally one has to get them correctly adjusted for the MOT.
Let us know how you get on as this is a favorite subject to many.
Phil
420 SEAC
IMO it depends on how much time & money you want to spend.
Least expensive route is to first make sure you have full voltage to both headlights (there's a re-wiring mod somewhere), replace the reflectors/lens housings for newer type (available cheap on eBay) and run some better bulbs.
Here's an old but probably still relevant Auto Express bulb review but I'm sure you can find a more up to date one via Google: http://www.autoexpress.co.uk/accessories-tyres/362...
If you don't mind spending £26.00,
http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Universal-Bi-Xenon-HID-P...
and doing a little reworking of the pods you could consider something like the above and despite what some say, HID conversions are not illegal if installed without self-leveling where the vehicle did not come with this as standard from the factory. Naturally one has to get them correctly adjusted for the MOT.
Let us know how you get on as this is a favorite subject to many.
Phil
420 SEAC
I am thinking that if we go with 3" diameter headlights we don't need the pop-up pods. (The pods can be kept for any future owner wanting to get back to original.)
I have been looking at some Hella units and believe I could incorporate them into a bolt on panel across the "pod hole". Or I might wait a year until LED units come down in price.
It will be difficult to get the height to be legal, but in Florida we don't have an equivalent of MoT to worry about.
Wilf.
I have been looking at some Hella units and believe I could incorporate them into a bolt on panel across the "pod hole". Or I might wait a year until LED units come down in price.
It will be difficult to get the height to be legal, but in Florida we don't have an equivalent of MoT to worry about.
Wilf.
Several on the flea at £30 quid a pop:
http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/1995-FIAT-COUPE-LEFT-PAS...
http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/1995-FIAT-COUPE-RIGHT-DR...
Phil
420 SEAC
http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/1995-FIAT-COUPE-LEFT-PAS...
http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/1995-FIAT-COUPE-RIGHT-DR...
Phil
420 SEAC
Just my 2c worth.....
Having worked on a lot of old classic cars in steel, and also lots of GRP classics and kits, I would say it's amazing how many have poor wiring, or dodgy earth, or dodgy connectors. Just a small voltage drop makes a BIG difference in the light output, especially for H4 bulbs (IMHO).
Before shelling out, I would make sure all your earths are good, and check all the wiring from the bulbs to the battery. Try hand wiring a temporary big, thick wire (or two, an earth as well) from bulb to battery and see if bulb gets brighter when you connect it. The Wedges aren't good as they have a connector in the wiring to lamps which can corrode, and my 2.8 didn't have good feed wires from fuses (too thin) to the headlamp relays either. A few improvements and/or connector cleaning can make a big difference.
Going for higher wattage bulbs (can still buy them here in NZ, I think they may have been banned in some countries ?) makes the problem worse, all the wiring has to be in top condition, and often those type bulbs have to be fed with thicker wires.
OK, quite a lot for the 2c....
Having worked on a lot of old classic cars in steel, and also lots of GRP classics and kits, I would say it's amazing how many have poor wiring, or dodgy earth, or dodgy connectors. Just a small voltage drop makes a BIG difference in the light output, especially for H4 bulbs (IMHO).
Before shelling out, I would make sure all your earths are good, and check all the wiring from the bulbs to the battery. Try hand wiring a temporary big, thick wire (or two, an earth as well) from bulb to battery and see if bulb gets brighter when you connect it. The Wedges aren't good as they have a connector in the wiring to lamps which can corrode, and my 2.8 didn't have good feed wires from fuses (too thin) to the headlamp relays either. A few improvements and/or connector cleaning can make a big difference.
Going for higher wattage bulbs (can still buy them here in NZ, I think they may have been banned in some countries ?) makes the problem worse, all the wiring has to be in top condition, and often those type bulbs have to be fed with thicker wires.
OK, quite a lot for the 2c....
Edited by RCK974X on Saturday 13th July 04:26
I went down the route of making a new wiring loom just for the headlights: it takes power from the battery down to teh front of the car by the shortest practicable route, avoids running halfway round the cabin and back and uses thicker cable to minimise voltage drop.
In the original wiring, the headlamps are connected to the main loom by a short link to a 3-pin connector; my version only uses the offside one to provide control signals for the new loom.
New fuses are incorporated for dip and main beams and the relays should be rated at 20A minimum.
All parts and wire are available from Vehicle Wiring Products; I doubt it'd be more than £20 all-in and about an hour's build time.
I've shown 'thick red' as the positive feed cable; I think on my car I actually used brown/red but it's not critical. At most you need about 5m of any colour.
In the original wiring, the headlamps are connected to the main loom by a short link to a 3-pin connector; my version only uses the offside one to provide control signals for the new loom.
New fuses are incorporated for dip and main beams and the relays should be rated at 20A minimum.
All parts and wire are available from Vehicle Wiring Products; I doubt it'd be more than £20 all-in and about an hour's build time.
I've shown 'thick red' as the positive feed cable; I think on my car I actually used brown/red but it's not critical. At most you need about 5m of any colour.
I have used Cibie before, they are very good for light output, but seem to rust quickly (in UK) - again though, make sure the wiring is good, otherwise the money will be wasted....
Wedg1e - as you say, good idea to go the whole way and make a new subloom in nice thick wire !
Wedg1e - as you say, good idea to go the whole way and make a new subloom in nice thick wire !
Edited by RCK974X on Saturday 13th July 22:06
me too. spent most of last winter trying to get my pop ups and lights to work to no avail. gave up and rewired exactly as wedgie suggests, 4 relays in a box behind n/s lamp and new cibies. works a treat.
i cant take all the credit. a previous owner had made botched at the same thing so the ground work had been done.
marcus
i cant take all the credit. a previous owner had made botched at the same thing so the ground work had been done.
marcus
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