Headlight bulb upgrade

[magnum44]

I drove my 2007 V8 Vantage at night for the first time since buying it a few months back and was astonished at how poor the headlights are. I've done a search on the forum but can't find any tips on improving the beam quality by upgrading bulbs etc., so wondered if anyone has any information or recommendations on what bulbs, if any, I can swap mine for?

I understand the job might entail removal of the wheel and inner wheel arch liner, so I'm expecting this to be a tricky job!!

Thanks in advance for any tips.

[Phil Dicky]

Aren't they xenons?...in which case the bulbs may nned replacing.

[divetheworld]

Main dipped beam is a D1s. The high beam is H9.
There are no worthwhile upgrade paths other than a full internal retrofit of the projectors.
The H9 is already popping out at 65w. Although there are some 100w+ bulbs available for off-road use, the extra heat and amps issue will not be proportional to the gains.
The D1S bulb is 35w and the current top performance replacement is the Osram nightbreaker Laser. They are about £65-70 each.
You could rip out the AML xenon unit and replace it with a 55w version which are readily available. However, you’d have to pull the entire headlight out to get to the ballast properly.
Big job, marginal gains.
Stick some top performer bulbs in, keep the condensation down and live with it.

[magnum44]

Ok thanks guys, useful info. I'll take a look at the Osram bulbs, any improvement will be bonus!!

[Gday2]

I changed to the Osrams D1S is two years ago, much better. The high beam H9 I change for LEDs - quite good. Only problem is to find LEDs with a short cooler unit so they fit into the tight space.

Cheers

Christian

[magnum44]

Christian

Thanks for the info.

Slightly confusing that section 13.7 of the manual suggests they are either fitted with 35w DS1 HID or 55w H11 Halogen. Not sure why there are two options and I've no idea which one is currently fitted, so will the Osram DS1s you fitted be ok, irrespective of which bulb I have?

Thanks

Greg

[divetheworld]

magnum44 said:

Christian

Thanks for the info.

Slightly confusing that section 13.7 of the manual suggests they are either fitted with 35w DS1 HID or 55w H11 Halogen. Not sure why there are two options and I've no idea which one is currently fitted, so will the Osram DS1s you fitted be ok, irrespective of which bulb I have?

Thanks

Greg

If you have HiD lamps then its a D1S. If you have halogen, its the H11. You cant mix them up, they look very different.

[David W.]

Had HiDs on mine, no issue with brightness but the very sharp cut off was more of an issue. They didnt seem to give a spread beyond a line as others do. Thought that maybe more reflector design than bulb?
DW

[Gday2]

@magnum:
You can tell if you have HIDs by the way the light behaves when you switch it on: HIDs (D1S) take about one second to reach full output, this is very noticable, halogen do not they come on almost instantenious. If you open the light pod and you see a squarish metal box for the headlight it is HID

Hope thet helps


Christian

[magnum44]

Thanks guys for your tips. Much appreciated.

Perfect day today to get out there and sort those lights!!

[TR-Spider]

David W. said:

Had HiDs on mine, no issue with brightness but the very sharp cut off was more of an issue. They didnt seem to give a spread beyond a line as others do. Thought that maybe more reflector design than bulb?
DW

Yes, thats a reflector design/alignment/quality issue.

I'm afraid the Xenon projectors in the Vantage ones are not the best - my DD, a BMW E46 from 2004 "outshines" the Vantage with it's Bi-Xenon by far in ever aspect (even light distribution and cut off in low beam, high beam).

I played with the idea of retro-fitting Bi-Xenon projectors to the Vantage...lot's of work, though.

Thomas

[Handyman2009]

I upgraded mine this summer with these, very happy now




Sorry they are upside down

[Gday2]

Are you from Downunder?

[divetheworld]

Gday2 said:

Are you from Downunder?

Where women glow and men plunder?

[Gday2]

Just asking because of the upside down images

[grezman]

Sorry to drag up an old thread.

Just wondered if the OP found a satisfactory solution ?

My 2008 v8v has halogen dip and main. Dip is exceptionally poor - even compared to my 07 Focus workhorse !

I've fitted Osram Nightbreaker laser, which improved things slightly, but I'm thinking of going HID.

Anyone recommend a decent quality kit ?

Thanks in advance.

[magnum44]

I ended up fitting Osram Nightbreaker Unlimiteds and saw a marginal improvement. But I rarely drive the car at night so am ok with that.