Underpowered headlamps
Discussion
As winter rolls around I've quickly realised my headlights appear to be pretty weak. Obviously sidelights seem to be normal, and I changed the bulbs on those a few months ago - but dipped/full feels ridiculously useless and I find myself putting the foglamps on (which gets annoying having to turn them on and off every time a car is coming)
I've checked the electrics and it all seems fine, there are no outstanding electrical issues in the car and the battery is pretty new.
So I'm wondering if someone's put in the wrong bulbs somewhere along the line, or it's just rubbish as standard. Which leads me to wonder if there is a (cheap) sensible upgrade I can do, such as uprated bulbs? I don't want to have to get stupid halfords christmas strips
Car is an '00 306 HDi. cheers
I've checked the electrics and it all seems fine, there are no outstanding electrical issues in the car and the battery is pretty new.
So I'm wondering if someone's put in the wrong bulbs somewhere along the line, or it's just rubbish as standard. Which leads me to wonder if there is a (cheap) sensible upgrade I can do, such as uprated bulbs? I don't want to have to get stupid halfords christmas strips
Car is an '00 306 HDi. cheers
My old BM E39 suffered this and I ended up using wet and dry to clean them up and replaced the bulbs.
This guy has a video that shows what he did, I did pretty much the same thing.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GsHHBk-hZzk
This guy has a video that shows what he did, I did pretty much the same thing.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GsHHBk-hZzk
Thanks for the heads-up on the osrams, i'll give them a look.
The most irritating part is that they're weaker than the lamps on my '87 escort, which has atrocious corrosion on the reflectors and electrics that would embarrass a BL car
cuprabob said:
It's probaby more down to the reflectors than the bulbs. They can get discoloured with age and as a consequence performance reduces.
I had considered this, but the reflectors/lenses are in pretty good condition - no yellowing or internal corrosion compared to cars of a similar vintage (I can't remember the last time I saw an early focus without yellowed headlamps)Edited by cuprabob on Friday 16th November 14:21
The most irritating part is that they're weaker than the lamps on my '87 escort, which has atrocious corrosion on the reflectors and electrics that would embarrass a BL car
Like you I have a 306 HDI. Full beam on the car works excellently. I have upgraded to some Osram Nightbreakers for dipped beam, which has made a reasonable difference but i've never thought they were awful.
The headlights on the later 306s does not seem to cloud up like some. I doubt this is your issue. This sounds like a silly question, but have you tried washing any dirt from your headlights? This makes a massive difference to mine and because it is a slow deterioration (no headlight washers), I don't notice until I do.
The car should take H7 bulbs. It sounds like it is worth replacing these, even if just with new but standard versions.
If all else fails, a full set of headlight clusters cant be that expensive. It does sound as though something is wrong!
The headlights on the later 306s does not seem to cloud up like some. I doubt this is your issue. This sounds like a silly question, but have you tried washing any dirt from your headlights? This makes a massive difference to mine and because it is a slow deterioration (no headlight washers), I don't notice until I do.
The car should take H7 bulbs. It sounds like it is worth replacing these, even if just with new but standard versions.
If all else fails, a full set of headlight clusters cant be that expensive. It does sound as though something is wrong!
C.A.R. said:
Osram Nightbreakers can be had for about £14 off eBay,
or at the risk of upsetting the PH community, a HID kit can be had for around £30.
HID gets my vote every time, and sod the PH community.or at the risk of upsetting the PH community, a HID kit can be had for around £30.
The difference between HID's and a standard bulb (any bulb) is phenomenal.
Once you try them, you won't change back.
I would get a multimeter to check how much voltage the bulbs are actually getting.
Older VW's are terrible for poor headlight looks, does wonders to make your own standalone loom for the lights with the power being drawn directly from the +ive battery terminal.
I did this mod to my mk2 golf and the difference was amazing, only 9.8 volts before and 12.8 volts after.
Older VW's are terrible for poor headlight looks, does wonders to make your own standalone loom for the lights with the power being drawn directly from the +ive battery terminal.
I did this mod to my mk2 golf and the difference was amazing, only 9.8 volts before and 12.8 volts after.
To be honest, 306 dipped headlights aren't particularly wonderful at the best of times.
They seem OK in isolation and there's plenty worse out there, but swapping between cars you tend to notice that they're not brilliant - my 205 for comparison has far better lights than my 306, despite like yours having the later "crystal" Phase 3 headlights in good order. I've had other 306's as well previously and they've all been much the same.
As per one of the posters above though, at this time of year, the amount of road grime that covers the headlights in no time at all dramatically reduces their output despite not looking paricularly dirty.
I previously had a HID kit on mine which made a massive improvement and had minimal glare when properly aimed, but clearly that's somewhat frowned upon. Swapping back to standard halogen bulbs was like trying to light the way with a candle by comparison, even with some claimed 30% brighter Phillips bulbs fitted.
They seem OK in isolation and there's plenty worse out there, but swapping between cars you tend to notice that they're not brilliant - my 205 for comparison has far better lights than my 306, despite like yours having the later "crystal" Phase 3 headlights in good order. I've had other 306's as well previously and they've all been much the same.
As per one of the posters above though, at this time of year, the amount of road grime that covers the headlights in no time at all dramatically reduces their output despite not looking paricularly dirty.
I previously had a HID kit on mine which made a massive improvement and had minimal glare when properly aimed, but clearly that's somewhat frowned upon. Swapping back to standard halogen bulbs was like trying to light the way with a candle by comparison, even with some claimed 30% brighter Phillips bulbs fitted.
Thanks everyone - the headlights are admittedly pretty filthy at the moment (in fact the whole car is) but the issue was present really since we got the car in the spring. I'm looking into some osram H7's - which seem to be compatible, although a lot of ebay listings state they are not (?)
One thing that struck me tonight is also how bad the reach of the full beams are - obviously they are as high as possible per the adjustment dial right of the steering column - but they still seem pretty low. I'm going to have a closer look tomorrow but I'm just wondering if a previous owner has had the lights out or something and there is manual screw adjustment (thinking of my escort here) that could be wrong.
Cheers
One thing that struck me tonight is also how bad the reach of the full beams are - obviously they are as high as possible per the adjustment dial right of the steering column - but they still seem pretty low. I'm going to have a closer look tomorrow but I'm just wondering if a previous owner has had the lights out or something and there is manual screw adjustment (thinking of my escort here) that could be wrong.
Cheers
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