*UPDATED NIGHT PICS* Sonar Clear Lights

Quick update, I installed the osram nightbreaker bulbs Yesterday and can say that the installation of bulbs is very easy in these Sonar lights. I would go as far as to say its Easier to fit bulbs in these than oem as you don't have to take the back off the lamp before inserting the bulbs into bulb holders!

Since fitting the bulbs the lamp warning lights have now gone out on the dashboard.

The new bulbs are a revelation. Fitting updated bulbs has been like switching to non run-flats. Massive improvement over standard spec.

I'll try to get a picture of beam pattern against a wall ASAP.

Zednotzee, I don't remember seeing anywhere for the second smaller oem plug to plug into whilst fitting. I'll look tonight to see if the beam dips on start up but I don't think it will.
 
imp75 said:
The light warning indicator is on, but that's because I was a total rub and didn't plug the h7 bulb into the power socket!
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Were they not supplied with the new type 'wireless' bulbs then? :D
 
gookah said:
imp75 said:
The light warning indicator is on, but that's because I was a total rub and didn't plug the h7 bulb into the power socket!
Click to expand...

Were they not supplied with the new type 'wireless' bulbs then? :D
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Apparently not! We re still living in the dark ages and having to plug them directly into a power source......... I couldn't even find a left handed screwdriver that day when I was in b&q either............ ;)
 
tonight i checked to see whether the lights raised when switched on and they DO NOT.

Checked the height/load adjuster and that DOES NOT work either. The small plug must be for headlight level adjustment.

a number of pics for anyone interested to see the light at night:

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i have no idea whether they would pass an mot or not but am gonna take it to a local guy i know can let me know as i need him to replace the bonnet release cable anyway. if anyone can tell from the photos, any comments will be appreciated.
 
They freshen the front of the car up. However they also look very aftermarket. I would be more concerned with poor light output. You can see from the 5th pic there is a clear hotspot where the lights over brighten the road. This is wasted light that should shine forward with the rest of the beam pattern. Cheap lenses is my guess as with the poor quality depo units.

Good work being brave enough yo try them though and as said they do freshen up the look of the car well.

imp75 said:
tonight i checked to see whether the lights raised when switched on and they DO NOT.

Checked the height/load adjuster and that DOES NOT work either. The small plug must be for headlight level adjustment.

a number of pics for anyone interested to see the light at night:

6070906008_bf8f509b57_b.jpg


6070359673_da4c99799a_b.jpg

6070373699_05a03539fc_b.jpg


6070919710_9e2b1e3404_b.jpg


6070927480_25ae1d1ec0_b.jpg


6070383799_0f5412486d_b.jpg


6070385037_b6a398f4c6_b.jpg


i have no idea whether they would pass an mot or not but am gonna take it to a local guy i know can let me know as i need him to replace the bonnet release cable anyway. if anyone can tell from the photos, any comments will be appreciated.
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I like them, for what they cost.
My only gripe - I think i would deactivate the daytime running light at the top though. Just looks like it pointlessly glows and doesnt look like the standard headlight at all.

Do the lights have height and direction adjustment like standard units have?
 
Dreamer I tend to agree with you about the top strip, its a more 'mellow' light than the rest of the bulbs give off. Perhaps a change of bulb would make it look better? V easy to disconnect though.

The lights do have adjustment, but would need the bumper off to amend the settings.

Dannyboy, do you think that adjusting the height or direction might get rid of the hotspot?

As for brightness the lamps brighten the road better than oem, but that is prob mainly due to uprated bulbs. The light projected does seem higher than previously but from head on it doesn't dazzle other road users (imo anyway)

If nothing else at 85 quid its not a bad price to pay for the experiment and saved anyone on here coughing up the usual 300 pounds and perhaps being disappointed.
 
For what its worth I think that for £85 squid and 4 hours work youve done a great job :thumbsup:
 
i dont think the headlight control matters... when i used to own a car with halogens i never touched those adjusters... ever! Although would that be an MOT requirement - as part of the new headlight checks they plan to do?

But it does look like they need adjusting - they are very left bias at the moment.
 
For anyone considering buying these there is Def no level adjuster. Just had email back from the seller;

Iain

The Z4 headlights aren't compatible with the standard load level adjusters (although to be honest I've never used them on any of the cars I've owned). If you let me have your e-mail address I can send you a pdf showing where the adjusters (for beam direction) are located on the back of the lights.

Kind regards,

Alan

It does look to me though that they can also be adjusted for UK and continental Europe in the same way as oem lights to save needing ugly deflectors on the lens.
 
Really good job! – they update the front end brilliantly…

Just one question, I have aftermarket Xenon’s that required me to cut holes through the back of my current light enclosures in order to pass cables through to ballasts…

Do you think they would work with these??

D
 
Dansprag, I'm not technical enough to confirm or deny but unlike the oem light, there is no
hard back on the sonar light. In simple terms if you left the back off the oem unit you would have more or less what the rear of the sonar lights look like. The individual bulbs are made watertight with rubber cups. I'm not sure where you would secure the ballasts but the wiring would easily be fed through the rubber cup and be secure. I'm gonna post a pic later showing the actual rear of the lamp from head on angle which may help you mate.
 
this pic shows the rear of the light and may give more info for those looking to fit ballast and how to adjust beam direction etc.

provided by the seller today.

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IMP

I've had a set of these fitted but the "light out" indicator is on on the dash.

As I haven't even looked under the bonnet yet....what should I be doing to get rid of this ?

Cheers
 
Chester, the first thing to check is that all the bulbs are securely fitted into the holders. I didn't have when I first did mine and bulb out warning showed on the dash. As soon as all bulbs were in the dash lights went out.
 
Hey imp75,

Was just seeing how you were getting on with these? Did you ever find out about MOT requirements? I am a little concerned that if the level is incorrect it would fail an MOT. And as you have to take the bumper off to adjust the levels, this would involve you going home and going back for another MOT. This could obviously happen a few times until the levelling is correct?

Could you also confirm, with a simple plug and play, you would have the dipped beam, the rings and the headlight connected, i mean without re-wiring anything.

Cheers

Neil
 
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