Quick + Easy Headlamp improvement please?

derin100

derin100

Active member
I'm actually going to be using my E85 3.0Si a bit more this winter. I brought it out of storage in Shropshire yesterday and drove it back to Lincolnshire. It was an evening journey and I really noticed just how poor the standard (non-Xenon) lights are on this car and it's pretty dark countryside around where I now live.

Previously, to other cars like E38s and E39s, I have just fitted those relatively cheap 'Night Eye' bulbs that you can buy on Ebay for about £17. Although I'm aware they're not strictly legal, they did their job quite well actually with no particular problems and come MOT time I'd just change them back out again temporarily.

With the E85 however I'm not sure I could use a set of these as the cooling bit at the back probably won't allow the back cover on the headlamp assembly to go back on.

What relatively quick and easy solutions for improvements do forum members recommend? I don't really have the skills (or patience these days) to do complex electrical installations.

Thanks in advance!
 
Hi
I’ve used the Osram Nightbreaker bulbs to good effect, had them in my E46 and my TR6 and the lighting is much improved.
 
Thanks Kev, I used them in the passed as well on other cars. I might even have some in the garage. So, I might try them temporarily.
I'm just wondering if anyone had found a 'Night Eye' type LED bulb that fitted the Z4...as they really are a MASSIVE improvement!

Cheers
 
Hi
I’ve used this https://www.classiccarleds.co.uk/search?q=LLB477 company for LED dash light for my TR6 but not for headlights. Worth checking them out.
No connection, just a happy customer.
 
i've got the halogens which were terrible in the dark - i just adjusted the beam upwards by about half a turn and this helped alot
 
Kevoz4 said:
Hi
I’ve used this https://www.classiccarleds.co.uk/search?q=LLB477 company for LED dash light for my TR6 but not for headlights. Worth checking them out.
No connection, just a happy customer.
Click to expand...

Those are like the 'Night Eye' ones I was talking about Kev (only you can get the much cheaper than the price they're advertising). The do make a huge difference but the problem in the Z4 is that the back of those bulbs is over 4cm proud of where the bulb inserts. So I don't think the black plastic cup that seals of the bulbs at the back in the Z4 will fit over them.
 
chrisgreen said:
i've got the halogens which were terrible in the dark - i just adjusted the beam upwards by about half a turn and this helped alot
Click to expand...

That's a good little trick Chris! I may give that a go as well.

In the meantime, I've also ordered a couple of pairs of these:

https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/OSRAM-Night-Breaker-LASER-NEXT-GEN-H7-Car-Headlight-Bulbs-55W-150-Twin-Duo/163183045881?_trkparms=aid%3D555018%26algo%3DPL.SIM%26ao%3D1%26asc%3D20140122125356%26meid%3D67258975b5df480badd2569f45100e71%26pid%3D100005%26rk%3D2%26rkt%3D12%26mehot%3Dpp%26sd%3D153124987524%26itm%3D163183045881&_trksid=p2047675.c100005.m1851

Thanks chaps! :thumbsup:
 
I have the night eye h7 LED's, Theres loads of room for the back cover. Its not even remotely close.
Much better than any halogen. I wouldnt even think about going back to halogens, Especially when every other modern car has high mounted laser beams installed directly into your eye.
 
Take out the projector assembly (4 nuts) and give it a clean, I was surprised how much fine dust there was on the lens
 
Another vote for nightbreakers here although I found I still needed to adjust the beam angle upwards. I put them back for mot day just incase...
 
Are your lenses clear? With age they discolour and get slightly cloudy. You can restore them with kits that are easily available :)
 
I bought the Philips X-tremeVision (+130), they've made a big difference. Fairly well priced on Amazon too:
https://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/product/B00NMEEV9W/ref=oh_aui_detailpage_o06_s01?ie=UTF8&psc=1

I've also bought a headlight restore kit, but haven't got to that yet.
Also Amazon..
https://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/product/B0078IHJ1K/ref=oh_aui_detailpage_o06_s00?ie=UTF8&psc=1
 
I'm also on the Philips X-tremeVision (+130), make a big difference for my two hour commute only mainly unlit country roads.
 
I'm also in Lincs and am using the car a lot in the dark as well.

Osram night breakers, polish the headlamps and nudge them up a turn! This has helped a lot.

LED lamps really don't have the throw when fitted in conventional holders. Something to do with the distance between the reflector and emitter from what I understand. This means you tend to get a really bright, unfocused source that doesn't light up down the road very well.
 
If you use xtreme vision make sure your connectors are in good condition and a secure fit. If any of the terminals are loose the connectors can get very hot and melt down. I made a small link lead and use a ceramic base on the bulbs to be sure.
 
noiseboy72 said:
I'm also in Lincs and am using the car a lot in the dark as well.

Osram night breakers, polish the headlamps and nudge them up a turn! This has helped a lot.

LED lamps really don't have the throw when fitted in conventional holders. Something to do with the distance between the reflector and emitter from what I understand. This means you tend to get a really bright, unfocused source that doesn't light up down the road very well.
Click to expand...

Did quite a bit of research into this a while ago... issue appears to be down to 2 factors

- LED’s are highly directional, unlike a filament bulb
- additionally, where a LED bulb uses a traditional housing (even the reflector type) its positioning is critical & often LED’s are not positioned properly

I’ve still not fully understood why their distance / throw is pants... I have a car with factory fitted LED’s & they are brilliant, though even they can’t throw the distance compared with a set of Lucas 20/20 lamps I once had on a previous shogun (though they were 100 watt)
 
derin100 said:
chrisgreen said:
i've got the halogens which were terrible in the dark - i just adjusted the beam upwards by about half a turn and this helped alot
Click to expand...

That's a good little trick Chris! I may give that a go as well.

In the meantime, I've also ordered a couple of pairs of these:

https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/OSRAM-Night-Breaker-LASER-NEXT-GEN-H7-Car-Headlight-Bulbs-55W-150-Twin-Duo/163183045881?_trkparms=aid%3D555018%26algo%3DPL.SIM%26ao%3D1%26asc%3D20140122125356%26meid%3D67258975b5df480badd2569f45100e71%26pid%3D100005%26rk%3D2%26rkt%3D12%26mehot%3Dpp%26sd%3D153124987524%26itm%3D163183045881&_trksid=p2047675.c100005.m1851

Thanks chaps! :thumbsup:
Click to expand...

Can you let me know how you get on with theses please? Are they worth it? I have the same issue when i'm driving up to see the folks who live in the middle of nowhere down the country lanes so looking to upgrade the bulbs too.

Cheers pal
 
I have the nightbreakers lasers - they're good. Not a dramatic improvement but they weren't bad.

I've since moved them to my high beam and got LEDs for the dipped beams - did this mainly to match the white of my halos.

The LEDs don't seem to offer as much distance I feel and later confirmed when my wife asked me one night "are the street lights real bad or are our headlights off???".

I've adjusted my beams higher but they just don't seem to throw out far enough. Understandably the housing/lens wasn't designed for it.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top Bottom