Brighter Headlights?

[andy400]

Sorry if this is an old subject - I'm new here! Is there any easy way of making standard Chim headlights brighter? The prospect of driving in the dark with an approximate bhp/candlepower ratio of about 250/1 does not excite me.....

[Podie]

Better bulbs... or the modwise kit...

[tdm]

on the subject of lights, anyone the cost of a rear light upgrade?

[andy400]

How do you get in to change the bulbs?

[tvrbob]

Most, if not all, Chimaera's have a hatch in the wheel arch. You'll need to take the wheel off to allow access.

[Big Al.]

IIRC you can go through the front grill.

[philf329]

I had the bulbs changed to Osram Silverstars when it went in for the service at Austec & it has made a huge difference. Only thing is I now realise just how poor the wipers are in the rain at night.
I got them mail order at www.powerbulbs.co.uk

[Podie]

I thought it was the wheelarch, as per TVRBob's comment... although I've been advised it can be done with the wheels on, but at full lock...

[squirrelz]

It's through the front opening (remove the mesh grill) on the older models, and through a hatch in the wheelarch on the newer models (the ones with the bar across the front opening).

[5ltr-chim]

On later models it is possible to do the offside throught the front aperture but the air intake gets in the way on the nearside, so hatch for that one. BTW I use 80/100 H4's - big improvement, the wiring's up to it, 100% legal and available at virtually all car accessory shops inc Halfwits.

[pete]

5ltr-chim said:

I use 80/100 H4's - big improvement, the wiring's up to it

Hmm, not too sure it is up to it - at least not enough to run the bulbs at 13.8v.

I put 80w bulbs in my Griff headlights and found there was a 2.5v voltage drop over the wiring under load. I rewired them using heavier gauge cable, and now there's almost no voltage drop, and the normal 55w bulbs are brighter than the old 80s!

[cptsideways]

Aren't these just standard landrover type sealed beam or H4 type units's??

If so Ring make some super duper upgrade units, MK1 MX5's use the same crap light units & its a very good upgrade for about £35.

[Nevin]

Big Al. said:

IIRC you can go through the front grill.

But be aware that its an absolute bitch to do. I tried and whilst I could feel the fittings and releases to remove the existing headlights, I couldn't actually get the lights unclipped. Still, will try again when I sum up the courage.

[jem]

I put xenon bulbs in from haltwits - Bosch ones not their crappy ones.

As for the method, do a search I've described in detail elsewhere. or the bible says too...

J

[Nuggs]

Nevin said:

Big Al. said: IIRC you can go through the front grill. But be aware that its an absolute bitch to do. I tried and whilst I could feel the fittings and releases to remove the existing headlights, I couldn't actually get the lights unclipped. Still, will try again when I sum up the courage.

Having used both methods, the inspection hatch route's (IMHO) easier and hurts less.

That said, the indicators are very easy to change by sticking one's hand through 'the hole what Ned bit' in the front spoiler...

[rev-erend]

http://mod-wise.com/

[soapbox]

IMHO when attempting to change the headlight bulbs ensure that you have had a good day, that you have not drunk any wifebeater, that nobody close to you has died and that you have a good couple of hours to kill.

[Tiger]

The first one will take a good ten minutes the second will take two minutes.

[chimyellow]

If you are going to have to remove the grill do it after washing the car, or get the grill wet (with soapy water first) this makes it much easier to get off and back on.