So, now its dark again - improving my car headlamps..
Discussion
04 Celica with Projector beam for dip beam.
Current light output is woefull to be honest.
So, do I fit a pair of Nightbreakers/Extreme + bulbs or bite the bullet and go for Xenons ?
Would appreciate some real world opinions, as the 'net is awash with heresay.
If I go for Xenons, wheres the best place to buy - would prefer to have them fitted I think, as my hands are not suited for the gynocology involved in bulb replacement.
Current light output is woefull to be honest.
So, do I fit a pair of Nightbreakers/Extreme + bulbs or bite the bullet and go for Xenons ?
Would appreciate some real world opinions, as the 'net is awash with heresay.
If I go for Xenons, wheres the best place to buy - would prefer to have them fitted I think, as my hands are not suited for the gynocology involved in bulb replacement.
I've got a 52 plate Celica t-sport with standard lights and they are brilliant. No complaints regarding performance from me! Does your model have different bulbs?
I'd either recommend an eye test or perhaps the high performance ones before copping out and joining the badly fitted HID knob brigade ;-)
I'd either recommend an eye test or perhaps the high performance ones before copping out and joining the badly fitted HID knob brigade ;-)
I bought the cheapest xenons on ebay which were in the UK. Think I paid £40. Secret is to not go too blue. Mine are 6K colour and look bright white. Makes a big difference as white lines and road signs tend to jump out at you. Not as good as non dipped beam, but not a million miles away either.
I couldn't go back to regular (old) headlights. Even thinking of converting my 205 and that rarely goes out in the dark...
Edited to add I don't consider myself part of the badly fitted knob brigade - they are pretty easy to fit and I've never been flashed for dazzling anyone ever.
I couldn't go back to regular (old) headlights. Even thinking of converting my 205 and that rarely goes out in the dark...
Edited to add I don't consider myself part of the badly fitted knob brigade - they are pretty easy to fit and I've never been flashed for dazzling anyone ever.
Edited by Jamesemt on Tuesday 29th October 20:09
I put some Halfords Ultra Brilliance halogen bulbs in my Golf a couple of weeks back (£30 for a pair) and have to say I'm fairly impressed, dipped beam seems to go further and they provide a much whiter light than the standard halogens. They still pale in comparison to the cars I drive at work with xenons though in all honesty.
Might be prudent to try a pair of these or similar first and if you're not happy with them start searching for xenon units?
Might be prudent to try a pair of these or similar first and if you're not happy with them start searching for xenon units?
GokTweed said:
I've got a 52 plate Celica t-sport with standard lights and they are brilliant. No complaints regarding performance from me! Does your model have different bulbs?
I'd either recommend an eye test or perhaps the high performance ones before copping out and joining the badly fitted HID knob brigade ;-)
Eyes are fine thanks, but I dont want to be a member of BFHIDKB either....I'd either recommend an eye test or perhaps the high performance ones before copping out and joining the badly fitted HID knob brigade ;-)
340600 said:
Might be prudent to try a pair of these or similar first and if you're not happy with them start searching for xenon units?
Is what my current thinking is....340600 said:
I put some Halfords Ultra Brilliance halogen bulbs in my Golf a couple of weeks back (£30 for a pair) and have to say I'm fairly impressed, dipped beam seems to go further and they provide a much whiter light than the standard halogens. They still pale in comparison to the cars I drive at work with xenons though in all honesty.
Might be prudent to try a pair of these or similar first and if you're not happy with them start searching for xenon units?
I had them on my mk1 focus and they was very good but then I got a e36 (I love it) and there not much better. Might be prudent to try a pair of these or similar first and if you're not happy with them start searching for xenon units?
g3org3y said:
1) How is the state of the units? Would they benefit from a polish?
2) Philips X-Treme Vision is my bulb of choice (rather than Nightbreakers).
Externally,as clean as you can keep them this time of year. Do you mean inside the projector beam? I think even ET would struggle to reach that.2) Philips X-Treme Vision is my bulb of choice (rather than Nightbreakers).
Turn7 said:
g3org3y said:
1) How is the state of the units? Would they benefit from a polish?
2) Philips X-Treme Vision is my bulb of choice (rather than Nightbreakers).
Externally,as clean as you can keep them this time of year. Do you mean inside the projector beam? I think even ET would struggle to reach that.2) Philips X-Treme Vision is my bulb of choice (rather than Nightbreakers).
Edit to add link.
Edited by g3org3y on Tuesday 29th October 21:17
I've always had good results on older cars with running some thick wiring from the battery to the headlights and using some relays on the original loom to turn them on and off. The rationale being that as the loom gets older it's resistance creeps up and the voltage under load available to the bulbs drops off, meaning the lights are dimmer than they should be. If you attach a a voltmeter to the bulbs when they are on you may find you only have 9-10v at them (instead of the 13.5v or so that the alternator is producing.)
If you are naughty you can take this a stage further and put some bigger bulbs in the headlights (DON'T do this if you haven't done the relay mod though!) This may or may not be illegal (depending upon who you talk to).
Oli.
If you are naughty you can take this a stage further and put some bigger bulbs in the headlights (DON'T do this if you haven't done the relay mod though!) This may or may not be illegal (depending upon who you talk to).
Oli.
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