James Herriot eat your heart out!
Discussion
I'm feeling all warm and happy (now I'm back inside out of the crappy weather anyway).
I just changed a blown headlight bulb James Herriot style, in through the grille. I know this is probably easy, and run of the mill to long term owners, but it's my first time (be gentle with me
) and so I'm feeling quite happy.
for now......
I just changed a blown headlight bulb James Herriot style, in through the grille. I know this is probably easy, and run of the mill to long term owners, but it's my first time (be gentle with me
) and so I'm feeling quite happy. for now......If you're that chuffed - then I'd suggest you should have changed the other headlamp bulb - guaranteed to extinguish itself in a few weeks just when your leaving a TVR meeting or similar and really don't want the hassle...........!! Besides, you'll forget the pleasure and details when it does need replacing !!!
Don't say you haven't been "advised....."
Yours, Mellow of Melksham...;-))
Trev McM
P.S. and my "new" alarm has packed in, another booring run to Exeter needed - getting a little cheesed..............;-((
Don't say you haven't been "advised....."
Yours, Mellow of Melksham...;-))
Trev McM
P.S. and my "new" alarm has packed in, another booring run to Exeter needed - getting a little cheesed..............;-((
Next time I 'go in' it will be to replace both bulbs with some nice new ones. It blew on the way home this afternoon, and so I just bought the £2.99 "Ring" branded ones from the local garage. I bought a spare, but I don't think I'll be doing it in the dark on a hard shoulder if the other one goes.... mine doesn't have the wheel arch "flap" and getting the grille back in seems the hardest part (is there an easy way to do this???).
I don't think you get Xenon bulbs.... my Omega has Xenon lamps, and there are no "bulbs" exactly. You can get the blue tinge bulbs, but I'm not convinced by them.
So, on that note.... what replacement bulbs are people using? I want to stay with 55/60w, but if I understand correctly, you can get 55/60w bulbs that are more efficient and chuck out more light?? Philips??
Recommendations please
k4trv: sorry to hear your "new" alarm is playing up.... what seems to be the trouble (just interested, as I had a new one fitted recently).
I don't think you get Xenon bulbs.... my Omega has Xenon lamps, and there are no "bulbs" exactly. You can get the blue tinge bulbs, but I'm not convinced by them.
So, on that note.... what replacement bulbs are people using? I want to stay with 55/60w, but if I understand correctly, you can get 55/60w bulbs that are more efficient and chuck out more light?? Philips??
Recommendations please
k4trv: sorry to hear your "new" alarm is playing up.... what seems to be the trouble (just interested, as I had a new one fitted recently).
the dodger said:
AFAIK Xenon is not a replacement. They are high intensity gas discharge bulbs requiring very high voltage.
I think Philips do a 12v 'substitute' with a blue tint haze - but I wouldn't recommend them.
Xenon is a replacement in a H4 (472) package, just costs more. They use a filling of Xenon and run at 2300K, which is hotter than Halogen, but not anywhere near 6000+K of HID. Yes, HID are specialist installations and also use Xenon, but cost in excess of £600 for 2 X H4 fittments.
Trev McM
TheHobbit said:
Next time I 'go in' it will be to replace both bulbs with some nice new ones. It blew on the way home this afternoon, and so I just bought the £2.99 "Ring" branded ones from the local garage. I bought a spare, but I don't think I'll be doing it in the dark on a hard shoulder if the other one goes.... mine doesn't have the wheel arch "flap" and getting the grille back in seems the hardest part (is there an easy way to do this???).
"NO !!"
I don't think you get Xenon bulbs.... my Omega has Xenon lamps, and there are no "bulbs" exactly. You can get the blue tinge bulbs, but I'm not convinced by them.
"I'll dig out a report for you - see earlier posting, you get the H4 bulb with Xenon gas, but its NOT a HID and nowhere near the brightness........but brighter than Halogen"
So, on that note.... what replacement bulbs are people using? I want to stay with 55/60w, but if I understand correctly, you can get 55/60w bulbs that are more efficient and chuck out more light?? Philips??
"You may consider the MOD Kit which up-grades the wiring to the headlamps?"
Recommendations please
k4trv: sorry to hear your "new" alarm is playing up.... what seems to be the trouble (just interested, as I had a new one fitted recently).
"The solenoids no longer "lock" the door when the alarm is set. They unlock OK tho'??"
Trev McM
as per earlier posting, I've ordered the Osram Silver Star bulbs.... they should be fine for me, and won't need the upgraded wiring, as they're 55/60w..... I'd be interested in reading that report you talk of.... I didn't realise you could get xenon filled normal bulbs! My omega has xenon HID and they are fantastic!
I've just put in Halford's 50% brighter bulbs - they're much better than standard bulbs, illuminating a lot more of the road.
BTW, i've become a bit of an expert at getting the grille on and off. I reckon i could take of grill, change bulb and replace in no more than 10 minutes.
I just use a flat blade screwdriver to lever the grill out leaving the rubber in place. Replacement is just a case of putting one end in first and getting the top edge in the rubber groove and then using the screqdriver the 'scoop' the rubber flap from behind the grill to the front.
Kind of like using a tyre lever when changing a tyre on a bike.
BTW, i've become a bit of an expert at getting the grille on and off. I reckon i could take of grill, change bulb and replace in no more than 10 minutes.
I just use a flat blade screwdriver to lever the grill out leaving the rubber in place. Replacement is just a case of putting one end in first and getting the top edge in the rubber groove and then using the screqdriver the 'scoop' the rubber flap from behind the grill to the front.
Kind of like using a tyre lever when changing a tyre on a bike.
jsr said:
I've just put in Halford's 50% brighter bulbs - they're much better than standard bulbs, illuminating a lot more of the road.
BTW, i've become a bit of an expert at getting the grille on and off. I reckon i could take of grill, change bulb and replace in no more than 10 minutes.
I just use a flat blade screwdriver to lever the grill out leaving the rubber in place. Replacement is just a case of putting one end in first and getting the top edge in the rubber groove and then using the screqdriver the 'scoop' the rubber flap from behind the grill to the front.
Kind of like using a tyre lever when changing a tyre on a bike.
jsr - my grille falls out when I take the screws out - along with the rubber seal. No problem for me but I believe I'm in a minority. Do you have a 'hatch' to get to the bulbs then?
Dear Mr Hobbit, a bit tardy on responding re-Xenon Bulbs - been rather busy !!
The report I read was in a BMW Club Journal (Motorcycles) and paraphrased from Auto Express (with permission) on the tests done on H1, H4, H7 bulbs.
The Philips Vision Plus H4, as used in most Chims, was considered best (55/60w) by at least 20%
Whilst illegal on post Oct 85 registered cars, upping the wattage to anything over 85w produced very snmall increase over the Philips - law of dimishing returns. Especially when going to 90/130w without upgrading the wiring significantly.
Trev McM
The report I read was in a BMW Club Journal (Motorcycles) and paraphrased from Auto Express (with permission) on the tests done on H1, H4, H7 bulbs.
The Philips Vision Plus H4, as used in most Chims, was considered best (55/60w) by at least 20%
Whilst illegal on post Oct 85 registered cars, upping the wattage to anything over 85w produced very snmall increase over the Philips - law of dimishing returns. Especially when going to 90/130w without upgrading the wiring significantly.
Trev McM
K4TRV said:
Dear Mr Hobbit, a bit tardy on responding re-Xenon Bulbs - been rather busy !!
The report I read was in a BMW Club Journal (Motorcycles) and paraphrased from Auto Express (with permission) on the tests done on H1, H4, H7 bulbs.
The Philips Vision Plus H4, as used in most Chims, was considered best (55/60w) by at least 20%
Whilst illegal on post Oct 85 registered cars, upping the wattage to anything over 85w produced very snmall increase over the Philips - law of dimishing returns. Especially when going to 90/130w without upgrading the wiring significantly.
Trev McM
Mmmm... thats interesting, thanks Trev. The reviews on Powerbulbs website suggested the osram "50% better" bulbs were marginally better than the philips ones, and so I bought them instead..... I'd be interested to compare them with some philips ones at some point to see if there is any noticable difference (not that I think you'd necessarily spot it with the naked eye to be honest!)
TheHobbit said:
mine doesn't have the wheel arch "flap" and getting the grille back in seems the hardest part (is there an easy way to do this???).
Best thing that I have found is a wooden peg (split into the two parts) and some hot soapy water. The wood is less likely to scratch the grill.
The hot soapy water lubricates the rubber (Oo Er Missus) and makes it a little more plyable.
>> Edited by chimyellow on Wednesday 7th April 21:19
)Gassing Station | Chimaera | Top of Page | What's New | My Stuff