Poor Headlights

[DHGTR]

Ok, i've done the PH search but as usually happens the result i wanted didn't come up.

I was out pretty late last night obviously in the dark and noted yet again the normal driving headlights were pretty poor. Main beam was great nice bright white light shining down the road.
I seem to remember a while back a thread about this and somebody rectifying it by doing a bit of rewiring as he found the voltage to the normal headlights was low.
Question is - does anybody know what i'm talking about or have anymore information?

Got a feeling it may have been Lee(Rowdy)

Please don't divert down the HID road, this isn't what i'm after ... yet.

Cheers
Dave

[DHGTR]

Found it after more searching.

[Graham-P]

Don't think you'll be able to fit HID anyway, unless you go bespoke
I fitted 120% brighter bulbs these haven't done much night driving but the time I did I was impressed how much brighter they were over std, for the money!

[DHGTR]

thanks Graham, going to have a measure around the lighting circuit tomorrow, i have a spare relay in my tool kit so will wire that in and see if there is a marked improvement. Drive home last night was awful so something needs changing.
May fit those bulbs as well, small outlay for possible improvement.

Cheers
Dave.

[Storer]

The car is very sensitive to the setting of the dipped beam due to the fact the light are so low down.

My lights aren't Factory standard and are even lower down. As you say great on main beam. I would love to fit electric on-the-move adjustment to raise or lower the dipped beam. How hard can it be!!!!!

I intend making small changes to my current lights over the winter and this could be another modification. Watch this space.


Paul

[Steve_D]

There is a relay for each of the high beams but none on the dip so there may be some benefit to be had.

Steve

[F.C.]

Graham-P said:

Don't think you'll be able to fit HID anyway, unless you go bespoke
I fitted 120% brighter bulbs these haven't done much night driving but the time I did I was impressed how much brighter they were over std, for the money!

HID shouldn't be a problem provided you keep the light source at the same distance from the reflector as a filament lamp, should use a lot less power as well.

[DHGTR]

I think the rear of the HID 'bulb' is the problem as they are slightly longer causing issues with the steering again.

Edited by DHGTR on Sunday 4th November 14:31

[V8Dom]

yes fit a relay on dip will help..

ive been looking at rewiring so 2 dips on each side are on then an addition 3rd for full beam..

standard is 1 dip on each side then additional 2 extra on main..

not sure about mot time though but BMW have 2 on each side

dom

[DHGTR]

Other factors limited my time this afternoon, but i have managed to, to rig a temporary low beam relay.
I found i was dropping just over 2 volts on the lighting circuit through the switch and when the headlights were on in the dark garage a yellowish light was emitted.
I then rigged up the relay setup, got my 2 volts back and I was actually surprised at the difference it made, nice very bright white light.
I'll have to finish the job tomorrow and test it tomorrow night.

I just want to add before the factory get all upset - my dash and switches are NOT standard Ultima and any work I may have done may have added to any problem and may not be apparent on a standard build.

Although I haven't actually found a problem with my wiring.

Cheers
Dave

[Steve_D]

For those thinking of going the HID or LED route be aware that to remain legal you must include a headlight wash system and the lights must be self leveling.

Steve

[macgtech]

We ran the Halfords 'rally' bulbs in order to avoid the filaments failing due to vibration, but they seem a fair bit brighter than the standard ones we had before. They might be a higher wattage but can't remember off the top of my head. Prior to fitting these we had constant bulb failures due to vibration.

[DHGTR]

Do you use the standard factory headlamp covers?
No Perspex overheating?

[shithotfast]

Yep I had the same problem, it's the fact that without a low beam relay you will get dim lights regardless of what bulbs you fit. The volts drop, in my case was 12 down to about 7! I fitted the Phillips 110% brighter, but once I fitted the relay the difference was simply staggering. Relay 100% will fix it.

[macgtech]

DHGTR said:

Do you use the standard factory headlamp covers?
No Perspex overheating?

Ours are special polycarbonate ones as the standard ones do not last 5 minutes due to the debris being flicked up on track. Not issues with overheating, although the car is never really stationary with the lights on for any length of time.

[Storer]

Back in the late 70's or early 80's I had some rally headlight bulbs I think they were 65w dipped beam and 100w main. It only took a few months for them to discolour the reflectors and therefore defeat the object of the exercise.

I am sure the materials have improved but beware of increased wattage's.



Paul

[UltimaCH]

I had those type bulbs on an old Mercedes W124 which improved the night vision and helped driving enormously Never had a problem with them by heat or change of colour of reflectors. I did put them on my 964RS which also made night driving great, but they fried the bulb plugs and adjacent wiring very quickly

[F.C.]

Steve_D said:

For those thinking of going the HID or LED route be aware that to remain legal you must include a headlight wash system and the lights must be self leveling.

Steve

Bit of a grey area here, plenty of factory cars out there without either self levelling or wash,
Probably due to SVA limited runs, imports etc.
Evo vII's spring to mind.

ETS HID lights are in theory illegal in Britain, the only reason manufacturers get away with is the dreaded CE mark.
Which brings us to debate whether fitting HID aftermarket with self levelling and wash is legal anyway as you would not have the all important CE approval.

Edited by F.C. on Monday 5th November 08:39