Chim Headlights:

[ar0u2211]

I've had my 1998 chim for about a month now and I have noticed that every time I drive at night people flash their lights at me as if I am driving with full beams on!

Is this commmon and is there any easy was to sort it?

If its gonna be tricky I might have to plump for the T350 light conversion... Not that that would be a massive shame!

[Chiefbadger]

They might just think you haven't turned them on?!

Mine are pitiful. I've actually driven with full beam on before having forgotten to flick it off and still not been flashed by anyone. They seem to be at just about normal dipped beam when on full!

[poorpeet]

On mine the lights are wired up wrong so that on dip the main beam warning light is on & it goes off when I put main beam on!! Mine are so crap that no one noticed!

[Ubernoober]

mmm, must say with all the crap coming off the roads and a regularish commute along B roads and motorways, I'm rapidly approaching the totally fecked off stage with the candles in my Chim - but then swapping to T350 pattern light raises all sorts of aesthetic questions - how about using clip-on 5mega-candle jobbies from Halfrauds on each side of the windscreen instead I wonder?

[jdharris]

Try these - about to fit them to mine. Others report good things and they are a straight swap for the standard lamps (H4 size).

http://www.regalautobulbs.co.uk/acatalog/Xtreme.ht...

[RumbleBee]

Get the modwise brighter lights kit, its a no brainer.

[Podie]

I just put decent bulbs in mine. Job done.

[900T-R]

And have a closer look at your headlamp reflectors - replacing them with new ones (which I had to do anyway together with new lenses as it's a UK-spec car that came to live in The Netherlands) literally made a night and day difference.

They're not nearly as bad as the (tiny) pre-LE Griffith units, anyway.

[chimalsu]

park up to your garage door and fiddle with the light switches to see what you get light wise. its a tvr, things dont always do what they say on the can

[Meatball]

The best upgrade you can do is fit new headlamp reflectors, clean the inside of lens and fit a H4 hi lo Hid kit.
All for around £150 if you fit it yourself
My lights are now awesome

[spyschim]

i agree with meatball best thing i ever done "I CAN SEE"

[argoose]

Dominic

If you have the cash then get the T350 conversion the visablity is good.

Edited by argoose on Tuesday 8th January 20:37

[That Daddy]

900T-R said:

And have a closer look at your headlamp reflectors - replacing them with new ones (which I had to do anyway together with new lenses as it's a UK-spec car that came to live in The Netherlands) literally made a night and day difference.

They're not nearly as bad as the (tiny) pre-LE Griffith units, anyway.

cant see what the fuss is all about with Chims and the headlights ,i drive on unlit rural roads often and find the standard lamps with £15 white light bulbs more than capable,but i do have new reflectors and lenses,that alone made quite a differance,Spec savers anyone maybe

[ar0u2211]

Thans for the replies guys, but I have never had a problem with not being able to see, i think visibility at night is in fact better than my old alfa.
I'm just worried I might one day blind the wrong sh*te driver and end up
I think new reflectors may be the way to go, but don't see that it is absolutely necessary as the problem seems more alignment based rather than intensity.
I might just have to have a fiddle at the weekend

[Cider Andy]

ar0u2211 said:

I've had my 1998 chim for about a month now and I have noticed that every time I drive at night people flash their lights at me as if I am driving with full beams on!

Is this commmon and is there any easy was to sort it?

You need to remove the cowls in front of the lamps to access the adjustment screws. Find an MoT testing station beforehand (or a garage that can properly adjust them).

[Chugger]

Just had new bulbs and reflectors fitted and then alignment sorted at MOT testing station. The improvement is significant, probably 50%. Highly recomended.

[Vee8]

As you may know, the headlight alignment is made though the tightening or relaxing of wing nuts that sit on 3 posts. The main difficulty with this design is that corrosion sets it making adjustment difficult, so have a can of penetrating fluid to hand.

[ar0u2211]

I've got a mate (well friend of a friend) from the MOT centre down the road.
Looks like he's gonna be busy this saturday as I'm already popping over with the alfa to sort a couple of bits on that... I'll blames you lot!
Thanks for the responses guys