Ideas for decent lights?

[johnmckenzie]

Having uprated just about everything else over the past 5 years, I suppose it might be a good idea to be able to see where I'm going at night. The pathetically standard candles are driving me insane and so I'd like to know what experiences others have had.
I've not much interest at all in going the xenon discharge route as having just driven an XKR and an M5 both fitted with them, its clear that whilst the colour temperature is obviously bluer, they dont actually give out that much more light or extend the visible range significantly - and certainly not in relation to cost.
Has anyone tried complete replacement 7 inch lamp units from the likes of Cibie or others?
What about 100W bulbs? (I know the cable has to be doubled up and relays fitted). Do these offer any real improvement.
What about auxiliary driving lamps - anything small enough to fit in the grille area that actually works well?

Regards

John

[Podie]

Brighter bulbs? Something like the Philips vision jobbies - www.powerbulbs.com

Add in a ModWise brighter lights kit? (sorry, can't remember the URL!)

[satman]

Im looking too for a headlamp upgrade, mostly for apperance as i think the 3 smaller looking headlamps look better IMO, (speed 6 i think they call them). I will however choose halogen, rather than gas discharge as im told they are a) very costly and b) not that much better than halogen anyway.

[carl_w]

H4 HID upgrade available from www.hid-online.com for around 400 notes.

[BCA]

You would be amazed how much brighter the lights are when they are properly earthed!!! Although we will be upgrading to flashy S12 lights sometime soon...

Xenons are awful, they dont seem much brighter but even more annoying is the fact that they are more blinding to every other road user out there!!!

[andy4200]

I fancy the Speed12 ones myself. I'll be trying to sort it out depending on how expensive/painful the next service is.

[dannylt]

Well, I complete disagree. Fitting HID lights to the Cerbera made a HUGE difference - night & day! I could see far further - and this was compared to the usual upgraded wattage bulbs. Were you looking at a conversion that does dipped *and* mains? You need both. The Xenons on the BMW are awesome too.

I think some people just don't get on with them. I think Joolz didn't like the lights on my car either.

[ro_butler]

I had the upgraded headlight conversion done to my cerbie and it helped. I didn't have the wiring and relays doubled up though which would have helped more.

Agree with danny, my current car has xenons and there is no comparison with normal lights. Xenon kits are getting cheaper too.