Shocking headlights
Discussion
It could be that the lenses are clouded and could do with a polish. Looking at the pic on your profile page, they don't look like the cleanest headlamps i've ever seen. I could however, be completely wrong as it's only a small pic!
Also when bulbs get old, they start to lose their brightness. Might be worth swapping out with some OEM bulbs.
Also when bulbs get old, they start to lose their brightness. Might be worth swapping out with some OEM bulbs.
Edited by IanCress on Friday 6th February 10:25
IanCress said:
It could be that the lenses are clouded and could do with a polish. Looking at the pic on your profile page, they don't look like the cleanest headlamps i've ever seen. I could however, be completely wrong as it's only a small pic!
They were really dirty when I bought it and took that photo. However I have since cleaned them and it made no difference at all. I cut my knuckles for no reason! I'd do it in stages.
Before you spend any money on anything, clean the inside and outside of the lens; if they're reflectors clean the reflector as well. If the lenses look milky or the reflector is fogged or pealing, they need sorting out (polishing the lenses with a very fine cutting polish sometimes clears them up but it sometimes makes them worse).
If that's all clean and in good condition try some of the super-bright bulbs.
HiDs are a last resort. Goods ones are expensive (especially if the car has reflectors from the factory) and bad HiDs are a menace.
Before you spend any money on anything, clean the inside and outside of the lens; if they're reflectors clean the reflector as well. If the lenses look milky or the reflector is fogged or pealing, they need sorting out (polishing the lenses with a very fine cutting polish sometimes clears them up but it sometimes makes them worse).
If that's all clean and in good condition try some of the super-bright bulbs.
HiDs are a last resort. Goods ones are expensive (especially if the car has reflectors from the factory) and bad HiDs are a menace.
I'm having to clean my lights at least every other day with the recent weather. Once the grit has been laid down and there's a load of frost being sprayed up at the front of the car it's not long before a thick film of muck has built up on the lights. Not being a Powerfully-built Director I don't have those little headlamp washers and nor do I have a butler to clean my headlights for me, so I use a dirty rag and a spray-bottle of some form of Meguiars cleaning gunk.
Agree that certain BMW Halogen lights can be really bad (like make you squint to see if that's the kerb you're about to drive straight into). Replacement bulbs from the likes of Phillips, Osram etc should do the trick (assuming you've made sure it's not dirt / muck causing the problem).
I strongly agree with those who say do not be tempted by the HID kits. They are not supposed to be used as replacements for halogen bulbs unless you do the whole (very expensive) conversion. Without wanting to start off the whole debate again, I have to drive down lots of country lanes and the number of really bad headlights for glare is on the increase I'm sure.
I have a 6 year old Audi and find the lights perfectly ok, your BMW may need better bulbs or/and cleaning properly. Good luck getting them sorted.
I have a 6 year old Audi and find the lights perfectly ok, your BMW may need better bulbs or/and cleaning properly. Good luck getting them sorted.
fezst said:
Don't put HIDs in reflector headlamps.
This, precisely. People who do this should be shot. The wiring to the headlights is probably old and knackered. Try applying a voltmeter across the headlight wiring with the lights set on main beam - I doubt you will see more than 10v there. It should be north of 13v.
Either fit fancy bulbs or install some relays with direct power connections via fat wire to the battery. Switch the relays using the existing wiring, and make sure you install fuses as necessary. There are lots of instructions on how to do this on the internet, it'll cost you around £20 and an afternoon to do it properly and the difference will be huge. If you still need fancy bulbs once this is done then they will work much better for having the relays in place.
Oli.
Before you do anything I'd check what voltage you're getting (with the engine on) across the bulb terminals, it should be over 14v.
I've had experience with E39s and E60s and their headlights are both fine, halogen and xenon.
I tried some 'uprated' halogen main beams in my E39, mainly because they were cheap, and they made zero difference.
I've had experience with E39s and E60s and their headlights are both fine, halogen and xenon.
I tried some 'uprated' halogen main beams in my E39, mainly because they were cheap, and they made zero difference.
I would strongly suggest you do fit HID headlamps if you are competant at getting the beam height set correctly - something which most cars will do electronically anyway.
I've been running HID lamps in my car (not designed for them) and have so far not been flashed at for excessive glare by anyone. How long have they been fitted? nearly 2.5 years.
If, however, you are like the general motoring public and think that Halfords is a magical emporium where headlight bulbs and windscreen wipers are changed by a team of highly-trained engineers then I would not recommend you go near a HID kit...
I've been running HID lamps in my car (not designed for them) and have so far not been flashed at for excessive glare by anyone. How long have they been fitted? nearly 2.5 years.
If, however, you are like the general motoring public and think that Halfords is a magical emporium where headlight bulbs and windscreen wipers are changed by a team of highly-trained engineers then I would not recommend you go near a HID kit...
Do you have a switch somewhere that allows you to adjust the angle of the headlights. Usually numbered 1-5. Have you played around with that.
If you don't have the switch and the car has auto-levelling headlights (I think this was only available on xenon equipped cars) then that has a couple of levers connected under the car that work out the balance of the car. I have had the lever on the front driver wishbone snap on my car and so self-leveling stopped working.
If you don't have the switch and the car has auto-levelling headlights (I think this was only available on xenon equipped cars) then that has a couple of levers connected under the car that work out the balance of the car. I have had the lever on the front driver wishbone snap on my car and so self-leveling stopped working.
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