Headlamp upgrade… need more light…

[baconsarney]

Car is a Volvo but I’ve posted on GG as it’s a much wider audience than the Volvo forum and, er, headlamps are headlamps… kind of… so, I have a ‘95 850 T5, and the headlamps, main and dip are abysmal … the newness has worn off the reflectors, but I’m not sure buying OE alone will give modern day brightness (that I’m looking for)… changing bulbs for high performance jobbies is probably a given, but any help particularly from peeps who’ve had the same problem would be very welcome… TIA Richard…

[Krikkit]

You'll never match new headlights via any vaguely legal methods - modern LED arrays are ridiculously effective by comparison to old incandescent bulbs.

Practically speaking: Fit Osram nightbreakers. Get a multimeter and check the voltage at the bulbs, if it's low then run dedicated wiring from the battery to the bulbs and use the original wiring as a trip for a relay, maximising the power transfer.

[Lotobear]

I had this issue in my old A4 Allroad - did quite a bit of reseacrh and Philips Extreme Vision lamps came up the best. Fitted and a very big improvement, not HID levels of improvement but so much better and I actually felt safe on the rural back roads.

[Davie]

If the reflector bowls are tarnished, there’s your starting point. No point putting improved bulbs in if the light output is all but being killed by the reflectors. In good condition, their lights are perfectly acceptable for a mid 90’s car running basic H7 bulbs. However mildly improved bulbs won’t go wrong… after you’ve addressed the headlight units themselves.

[paul rich]

I put Osram Night Breaker Laser +150% H7 into Volvo S80, one at a time. The difference next to the standard H7 was really significant. They do have shorter lives than standard bulbs, but I place safety above running cost.

[GeniusOfLove]

paul rich said:

I put Osram Night Breaker Laser +150% H7 into Volvo S80, one at a time. The difference next to the standard H7 was really significant. They do have shorter lives than standard bulbs, but I place safety above running cost.

I've found them a useful upgrade but I was changing them every 18 - 24 months. They do have a lifetime rating on the box and from what I recall it was about right.

[ScoobyChris]

We bought our runabout Pug 107 after the first lockdown and I realised recently with the shorter days that, thanks to lots of WFH over the last couple of years, I'd never actually driven it in the dark. When I did it was a bit of a surprise (it's been many years since I owned a halogen bulbed car!) and the light output was not great. I invested in a 3M "headlight restoration" kit as well as some Osram Nightbreakers and the result, whilst nothing like as good as xenon or LED, is a big improvement and at least the illumination is now in line with the performance of the car.

Chris

[Bill]

Isn't this just a good excuse for a massive pair of Cibies??

[Robertb]

Lotobear said:

I had this issue in my old A4 Allroad - did quite a bit of reseacrh and Philips Extreme Vision lamps came up the best. Fitted and a very big improvement, not HID levels of improvement but so much better and I actually felt safe on the rural back roads.

I fitted Philips Extreme Vision bulbs to my daughter’s Mini. Really impressed, made a big difference.

[baconsarney]

Bill said:

Isn't this just a good excuse for a massive pair of Cibies??

I had been thinking that…

[Bill]

baconsarney said:

I had been thinking that…

At least it's an option. I've got a Yeti with HIDs and the throw is rubbish so I started researching spots and have discovered that additional spots aren't an option because it buggers up the canbus. On the vaguely positive side I've worked out it may be a sensor issue with the self levelling so it should be easily fixed, but I'd set my heart on a plate sized pair (or trio ideally ) of massive spots.

[Pica-Pica]

baconsarney said:

Bill said:

Isn't this just a good excuse for a massive pair of Cibies??

I had been thinking that…

I was thinking Cibié, actually.

[Bill]

Pica-Pica said:

I was thinking Cibié, actually.

Suddenly prefer Hella!