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Headlight trauma
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- Newbie
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- Joined: Fri Jan 11, 2019 8:19 pm
Headlight trauma
I've recently purchased my 1st Z4, (had a Z3 and loved it) and I'm utterly shocked at how poor the headlights are
I cannot see a ruddy thing. Reading various pages on the web, people suggesting Xenon upgrades etc.
My question is, which is the best, easiest way to go, to make them usable.
I think they're standard at the min, the car is on a 55 plate, it's the 2.0ltr model.
Thanks in advance
Dave
I cannot see a ruddy thing. Reading various pages on the web, people suggesting Xenon upgrades etc.
My question is, which is the best, easiest way to go, to make them usable.
I think they're standard at the min, the car is on a 55 plate, it's the 2.0ltr model.
Thanks in advance
Dave
- ben g
- Lifer
- Posts: 7858
- Joined: Thu Mar 29, 2012 5:20 pm
- Location: Essex
Headlight trauma
Firstly, raise the beam level, using the left adjuster in this photo:
And then purchase some decent halogen bulbs. I went for GE sport ultra bulbs and they are great.
And then purchase some decent halogen bulbs. I went for GE sport ultra bulbs and they are great.
Red Soft-top Sterling grey 3.0i - Z4M Front, Eibachs, Polybushed, Clear headlights, Triple clear spot rear lights, Shadow Chrome 107's, Sport MFSW, ZHP.
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- Lifer
- Posts: 9541
- Joined: Sat Jun 13, 2015 9:09 am
- Location: South west Buckinghamshire
Headlight trauma
Welcome to the forum, we want photos of your Zed
BMW Z4 30i 2003 auto 107's Whippy Toledo Blue
Beige M sport seats, wood dash
Toyota MR2 NA 1995
Triumph GT6 1972 (project)
Land Rover Discovery 1994 TDI (Tow car)
Mini 1000 1981
Beige M sport seats, wood dash
Toyota MR2 NA 1995
Triumph GT6 1972 (project)
Land Rover Discovery 1994 TDI (Tow car)
Mini 1000 1981
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- Newbie
- Posts: 3
- Joined: Fri Jan 11, 2019 8:19 pm
Headlight trauma
Ok here we go then
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- Lifer
- Posts: 9541
- Joined: Sat Jun 13, 2015 9:09 am
- Location: South west Buckinghamshire
Headlight trauma
Very nice..apart from the dirt
I like the way the light catches the wheels
I like the way the light catches the wheels
BMW Z4 30i 2003 auto 107's Whippy Toledo Blue
Beige M sport seats, wood dash
Toyota MR2 NA 1995
Triumph GT6 1972 (project)
Land Rover Discovery 1994 TDI (Tow car)
Mini 1000 1981
Beige M sport seats, wood dash
Toyota MR2 NA 1995
Triumph GT6 1972 (project)
Land Rover Discovery 1994 TDI (Tow car)
Mini 1000 1981
- Mr Tidy
- Legend
- Posts: 23946
- Joined: Wed Jul 02, 2014 12:18 pm
- Location: North West Surrey
Headlight trauma
Nothing wrong with some dirt - it washes off!
Much better than SORNing it to keep the wood dry!
But to answer the OPs question the Halogen headlights aren't great - but after-market Xenons are probably not a great idea with the latest change to the MOT Test, and you need headlight washers if you have Xenons.
So a tweak on the vertical alignment and upgraded bulbs is probably the simple answer.
Coupes because stunning!
Current - Silver Grey MC, Imola Red heated Nappa & carbon trim. Aeros, H & R Coil-overs, 224s, OE Strut brace, Nav, cup-holders, DSP Hi-Fi, pdc, cruise, MFSW, no CDV! E90 330i daily
Gone - Montego Blue
Gone - Ruby Black
Current - Silver Grey MC, Imola Red heated Nappa & carbon trim. Aeros, H & R Coil-overs, 224s, OE Strut brace, Nav, cup-holders, DSP Hi-Fi, pdc, cruise, MFSW, no CDV! E90 330i daily
Gone - Montego Blue
Gone - Ruby Black
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- Newbie
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- Joined: Fri Jan 11, 2019 8:19 pm
Headlight trauma
Ben G, is this the kind? And do i need to uprate anything else too make them work?
[url]https://m.ebay.co.uk/itm/GE-Sportlight- ... 523609/url]
[url]https://m.ebay.co.uk/itm/GE-Sportlight- ... 523609/url]
- NickDE
- Senior Member
- Posts: 1170
- Joined: Sat Oct 01, 2016 12:21 pm
- Location: Newcastle upon Tyne
Headlight trauma
I use Philips X-Treme bulbs on main and dipped beams
Darkness gone, go Darknes2, go Frozen, go Tronic
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- Member
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Headlight trauma
+1 upgrade the bulbs and adjust the beam height
- ben g
- Lifer
- Posts: 7858
- Joined: Thu Mar 29, 2012 5:20 pm
- Location: Essex
Headlight trauma
Thats the ones I also used Philips crystal vision before those, which were great. I put them on my wife's A class when I bought the GE bulbs and they are also very good in her car too.Spiderbadger wrote: ↑Fri Jan 11, 2019 11:38 pm Ben G, is this the kind? And do i need to uprate anything else too make them work?
[url]https://m.ebay.co.uk/itm/GE-Sportlight- ... 523609/url]
They fit perfectly. It's a standard H7 Halogen fitting inside your headlamp.
The main thing to do first is bring the headlight beam level up. Try that and see how you get on. I think I adjusted mine up 1 brick level on my house (I used the mortar in between the bricks as a guide) and it made a huge positive difference in night time driving on unlit country lanes.
Let us know how you get on. It's really simple and won't take you more than a few minutes.
Red Soft-top Sterling grey 3.0i - Z4M Front, Eibachs, Polybushed, Clear headlights, Triple clear spot rear lights, Shadow Chrome 107's, Sport MFSW, ZHP.
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- Lifer
- Posts: 9541
- Joined: Sat Jun 13, 2015 9:09 am
- Location: South west Buckinghamshire
Headlight trauma
No point getting the wood wet Mr TMr Tidy wrote: ↑Fri Jan 11, 2019 11:18 pmNothing wrong with some dirt - it washes off!
Much better than SORNing it to keep the wood dry!
But to answer the OPs question the Halogen headlights aren't great - but after-market Xenons are probably not a great idea with the latest change to the MOT Test, and you need headlight washers if you have Xenons.
So a tweak on the vertical alignment and upgraded bulbs is probably the simple answer.
BMW Z4 30i 2003 auto 107's Whippy Toledo Blue
Beige M sport seats, wood dash
Toyota MR2 NA 1995
Triumph GT6 1972 (project)
Land Rover Discovery 1994 TDI (Tow car)
Mini 1000 1981
Beige M sport seats, wood dash
Toyota MR2 NA 1995
Triumph GT6 1972 (project)
Land Rover Discovery 1994 TDI (Tow car)
Mini 1000 1981
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- Senior Member
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- Location: UK
- ben g
- Lifer
- Posts: 7858
- Joined: Thu Mar 29, 2012 5:20 pm
- Location: Essex
Headlight trauma
They are, but I imagine you should still be able to adjust the beam level in the same way?
Red Soft-top Sterling grey 3.0i - Z4M Front, Eibachs, Polybushed, Clear headlights, Triple clear spot rear lights, Shadow Chrome 107's, Sport MFSW, ZHP.
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- Newbie
- Posts: 5
- Joined: Tue Jan 22, 2019 12:09 am
Headlight trauma
Hi spider badger just browsing forums and came across this and noticed that you're in the b&q in my town... kings lynn?!
I have a similiar problem with my z... if you're based in kings Lynn could.meet up or something at somepoint!
Sam