Poor headlamps - suggestions for replacements?

[RTZ62]

I have a 98 reg Chimeara with quite feeble headlights -crtainly not what I'd expect on such a performance car.

I have had the benefit of trying out friends Griffiths & Chimearas at night, and all have the same problem.

A local auto-electrician has checked the lights etc, and all are working as they should.

Does anyone have any suggestions for a straight forward replacement / light swap (not the Tuscan -type, which requires bodywork mutilation, please!)

[e2djh]

Hi Andrew,
I have the same car, and had the same problem. A couple of glow worms strapped to the front of the car.

A visit to Racing Green, and the exchange of a few (quite a few actually) drinking vouchers had me kitted up with some gas discharge lights. No structural changes required, everything fits into the standard car.

Wow, what a difference. They are extremely bright, and light up the whole road. They are a bit pricey, but IMHO well worth it.

Try speaking with your local dealer

[Sharky500]

Do a search on the Mod-Wise Brighter lights kit. This simple mod, plus some uprated Philips (or similar) bulbs made a huge difference to my Chim, for around £40 all-in

[chris_chim]

I fitted some Halfords high performance bulbs (xenon filled from memory) a while back. They did make a significant difference. I wouldn't recommend going for higher wattage bulbs as I don't think the wiring can take it (and of course they're illegal...).

[RTZ62]

Thanks for the replies

- I've contacted Dave at Mod-Wise and his kit costs £70.

It sounds the best way to go, and bearing in mind the quality of the 2-speed fan kit and hot-start kit I purchased from him, should be reliable and of good quality.

[Sharky500]

RTZ62 said:

- I've contacted Dave at Mod-Wise and his kit costs £70.

Blimey. Certainly didn't cost me that much! I checked my invoice from Mod Wise, and the loom only was £25+VAT.

I am guessing that includes bulbs, though, correct?

You may want to ask the question though...

[RTZ62]

Yeah, spoke to David himself.

It includes bulbs etc. Guess thats inflation (don't start me on power companies putting up prices by 54% this year.....)

[dkl]

If your car has the headlight covers on then this will disperse the already poor light emission. Taking them off (carefully) will probably help along with the other ideas suggested. If it hasn't then just brighter candles!

[RTZ62]

No,it hasn't got the covers, although I know what Series 1 E-Type Jag owners must have felt like.

Thanks for the advice anyway.

Just checking out 'high-power glow worms' on eBay.....

[Bomber Denton]

Having run the the standard Chim lights for five years I find a tilly lamp on a long stick is an effective upgrade except on a windy day!

[derbygreg]

the problem is that dirt gets in behind the glass and makes the reflector ang back of the glass dirty... the unit is not properly sealed. Im just buildind a prototype kit to replace the unit with a modern unit - much brighter.

[Graham]

I found 2 problems with mine

1) the refletors were dirty so cleaned them
2) 100watt bulds had been fitted, these degrade very quickly, so i changed them for some uprated standard wattage bulbs



the result a massive improvment....

[-JUT-]

I've just posted on another thread about this - thinking of swapping mine out for these:

http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/ws/eBayISAPI.dl

Plus some Osram Silverstar 50% brighter bulbs - should do the trick, and at about £50 plus postage, not too pricey :-)

[derbygreg]

-JUT- said:

I've just posted on another thread about this - thinking of swapping mine out for these:

http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/ws/eBayISAPI.dl

Plus some Osram Silverstar 50% brighter bulbs - should do the trick, and at about £50 plus postage, not too pricey :-)

Not as simple as youd think... you will need to get some custom brackets made up...

[TVR keith]

Has anyone seen the post on the Griffith forum, "HID lights this weekend".
Sorry don't know how to post the link. Perhaps someone will oblige.
Interesting reading and the pics show a massive difference

[Wildfire]

-JUT- said:

I've just posted on another thread about this - thinking of swapping mine out for these:

http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/ws/eBayISAPI.dl

Plus some Osram Silverstar 50% brighter bulbs - should do the trick, and at about £50 plus postage, not too pricey :-)

Those are actually the Crystal Halogen lights they sell to the Classic Mini Fraternity, had them on my Mini and my S3. IIRC I suggested fitting these to an S around 4 years ago and a few of us did. Boltonbits are the same company we all bought stuff from. Their website is minitrailers.com Not sure if the Chim lights are the same as the S, if they are then they will fit. If not then you will need to adapt them.

They have the beam pattern on the reflector and a clear plastic lens. You can't fit 100w bulbs to them or they will melt.

Edited by Wildfire on Monday 30th October 23:03

[Nano2nd]

i've been thinking of getting some of these

http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/XENON-LIGHT-HID

[ubernoober]

www.powerbulbs.co.uk are doing a special 2 for 1 offer on their own brand (PowerPlus) 50% brighter Xenon filled bulbs - works out as a fiver each

[jubileejim]

Are there any issues with putting powerful bulbs on a tvr? IIRC if you put high power bulbs in a saab 900 this can cause the wiring to fail as it wasn't built to take such power.

[tvrchim]

I was thinking the same, Halfords sell 100/80 watt bulbs to replace the standard 60/55, would these cause a problem for the wiring and would relays in the system help.