Upgrade Head Light Blubs/Lamps?

P

Popey

Senior member
For those with non xenon cars like me what to you do if anything to improve night time driving?

I'm not sure aftermaket HID are my thing but I did find these http://www.carbulbsdirect.com/product_detail.asp?prod=154, not marked road legal but I feel you for more likley to get away with it than with a HID kit fitted.

Any bulb/lamp recomendations??

Thanks
 
Also found these:

http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/PIAA-H7-Xtreme-White-Plus-Performance-Bulbs-55W-2-Packs_W0QQitemZ250676466215QQcmdZViewItem?rvr_id=124447550498&rvr_id=124447550498&cguid=9d8d91441290a0aad5076927fe482f7a
 
HID kit or dont bother imo. We all have projector lights, so HID's are perfect. When i upgraded the e46 it was like night and day, so much better it was untrue. Get slimline canbus suitable versions, then you can fit them in behind the headlights too.
 
Not sure on HID kits, if you was to have a crash, then the insurance inspector comes to see the car....... :?
 
What for having better headlight bulbs? I know they are not strictly legal with the mot, but we have projectors and headlight washers, and very much doubt they would start taking apart the headlights looking for different bulbs :D
 
I dont have the washers :(

Do the slim ones fit in the headlight housing so it looks OEM, any pics?

(do you have a link to the HID kit you have)
 
I dont have them yet, but had them on my e46, and have looked in the light holes in the Z4 to make sure they will fit. You will need bulb holders as well though, but they are only £10 ish.

I had he ones from HIDs direct, the 35w slimline versions. Got a lambo on the front of the box iirc.

Think lots and lots of people use them, although on normal lights you do tend to blind everyone else. Thats why projectors are perfect for them :wink:
 
Popey said:
Not sure on HID kits, if you was to have a crash, then the insurance inspector comes to see the car....... :?
Click to expand...

Popey - you are correct. No aftermarket HID kits are road legal in the UK, but that said many people fit them and of course never get stopped or spotted. They do dazzle as the interior structure of a xenon light is different to a halogen, but just happen to have a similar looking lens in front. True xenon operate in a different way to halogen in terms of dip / main.

Any pedantic officer or MOT could spot in a moment due to a combination of: manual adjuster switch, no washers, wording on the lens, underbonnet stickers and self levelling controls on 2 of the suspension arms.

Pays your money and makes your choice.
 
Popey, get some brighter bulbs and adjust your headlights up two complete turns, it will make a huge difference believe me.

Just remember to adjust them down again for MOT time. And I have never been flashed in the two years I have done this.
 
Or

do what I did :). I bought some mint e55 bi-xenon projectors, aftermarket ballasts, D2S to aftermarket ballast adapter and OEM philips D2S bulbs.

1) Take off the front bumper

2) Take off the headlight assembly and open the back plate.

3) Unscrew the current halogen projector and replace it with the bi-xenon ones.

4) Drill a hole an run the wires though like a regular HID kit.

5) turn on the lights with the engine running to make sure they're working solid before putting the bumper back on.

Congratulations! You now have a proper xenon beam pattern (without auto leveling) at the 3rd of the price of buying a brand new set of headlights and go through the headache of reprogramming, etc.
 
srhutch said:
Popey, get some brighter bulbs and adjust your headlights up two complete turns, it will make a huge difference believe me.

Just remember to adjust them down again for MOT time. And I have never been flashed in the two years I have done this.
Click to expand...

x2 Save your money and simply lift the headlights 2 turns, it really does make a difference

Just had mine MOT'd without turning them back down and it went through OK.
 
Lift the bonnet and by the headlights you will see a white plastic socket that takes either a 5 or 6 mm Allen Key, park facing a wall and turn the socket you will see the beam either move or down.

I think A11y posted picture once of exactly what to adjust if you do a search.
 
Just be careful as there are actually 2 adjusters for each light. One for up/down, one left/right. I suggest you take a good note od exactly which you turn and by how many turns so you can undo any mistakes.

Easiest way is to have it on a flat level surface about 15' from a wall, (such as an underground carpark), so you can see the beam pattern and get everythng square.
 
I think im going for some PIAA

This is best price I can find: http://www.piaaonline.co.uk/product/157-49/PIAA-H7-Type-Chrome-Mirror-White-H361-H361
 
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