car headlights....

specialman

specialman

Suspended / Banned
Messages
8,193
Name
Pat MacInnes
Edit My Images
Yes
My S60 had a xenon kit fitted that was some small relay box and then a load of wires coming off to the xenon bulbs. Anyway, they kept failing (usually at 3am on the M1) so i had them removed and taken back to standard with regular bulbs.

Anyway, just looking through fleabay for a replacement fog light (I'm having light issues this month :lol: ), and there are loads of xenon bulbs available for the main beam unit and it just got me thinking about whether these replacement bulbs are as easy as just popping them in and Bob's your Uncle - you have xenons?

I have no particular bias towards xenons over standard bulbs, but just wondering. If it is just a straight swap then I might go with them, but I might not :)
 
specialman said:
My S60 had a xenon kit fitted that was some small relay box and then a load of wires coming off to the xenon bulbs. Anyway, they kept failing (usually at 3am on the M1) so i had them removed and taken back to standard with regular bulbs.

Anyway, just looking through fleabay for a replacement fog light (I'm having light issues this month :lol: ), and there are loads of xenon bulbs available for the main beam unit and it just got me thinking about whether these replacement bulbs are as easy as just popping them in and Bob's your Uncle - you have xenons?

I have no particular bias towards xenons over standard bulbs, but just wondering. If it is just a straight swap then I might go with them, but I might not :)
Click to expand...

Xenons don't normally have relay boxes. Those were HIDs in all probability. They can't be used for main beams either as they take too long to come on. They're often unreliable if you have anything less than a perfect electrical system.

Xenon bulbs with the right EU/CE marks will be a straight swap. Just a matter of making sure you get the right fitting and wattage. They're brighter than standard but within regulations so will pass an MOT ok.
 
Proper Xenon bulbs need a ballast to ignite the xenon at about 25,000V.

Xenon bulbs that just replace your normal bulb are not the same, don't give that crisp white light of proper xenon/HID lights.
 
srichards said:
Xenons don't normally have relay boxes. Those were HIDs in all probability. They can't be used for main beams either as they take too long to come on. They're often unreliable if you have anything less than a perfect electrical system.

Xenon bulbs with the right EU/CE marks will be a straight swap. Just a matter of making sure you get the right fitting and wattage. They're brighter than standard but within regulations so will pass an MOT ok.
Click to expand...

Ah, yes - the relay box thingymijig says HiD... thought that was the same as Xenon.
 
specialman said:
Ah, yes - the relay box thingymijig says HiD... thought that was the same as Xenon.
Click to expand...

It is. I always think they're different.... Doh.

Osram night breakers are supposed to be good halogen ones that are brighter but within regs. I've got some and they're much better than standard halogen. Nowhere near as bright as hid ones but none of the hassle.
 
I've used osram night breakers and will be getting more for my new car.

If you had HID's fitted to a car that didnt have self levelling headlights and headlight washers then you were illegal anyway and a good MOT inspector will spot and fail you.
 
I cannot stand all these bright headlights all they do is b****r up my view of the road :( though the worst are the numpties that drive everywhere with main/high beam on :annoyed: and yeah I'm well aware of the irony in me moaning at others driving ;)
 
Donnie said:
A lot of the problems is the idiots that fit HID's aftermarket to cars without self levelling headlights and without washers, ie alluding to my previous post.
Click to expand...

The factory fit ones are no better. Mercedes ones are particularly poor. Most of the chav HID conversions are less dazzling and annoying.
 
Donnie said:
I've used osram night breakers and will be getting more for my new car.

If you had HID's fitted to a car that didnt have self levelling headlights and headlight washers then you were illegal anyway and a good MOT inspector will spot and fail you.
Click to expand...

It passed every MOT without it being flagged up - not sure if Volvos have self-levelling headlights or not... I can alter the angle with a little dial on the dashboard... not sure if that's the same thing :)
 
I've put Osram NightBreakers in my car and there's no doubt they are much better. They are supposed to have a shorter lifespan though (The light that burns twice as bright burns for half as long, and you have burned so very, very brightly, Roy.) so carry spares if you decide to fit them.
 
The mot laws have recently changed...HIDs are aftermarket and should only be fitted to headlights that have a built in reflector,
Headlight washers and self levelling which is not the same as a manual levelling, all "normal" bulbs should be a max of 55 watt.
Xenons are different as to go from low to high beam a shroud is moved from around the bulb to spray the light pattern in a different direction.
 
If we're going to moan about vehicle lighting, can I give a quick hello to the idiots that drive around with their front foglights on when it's a clear night and not foggy at all. Even more so to the people that just use their sidelights with the fogs.

They don't improve visibility, at least not of anywhere that the driver should be looking at normal road speeds, because they are designed for use in fog, where speeds will be much lower.
 
Steep said:
I've put Osram NightBreakers in my car and there's no doubt they are much better. They are supposed to have a shorter lifespan though (The light that burns twice as bright burns for half as long, and you have burned so very, very brightly, Roy.) so carry spares if you decide to fit them.
Click to expand...

I've had the same pair of Osram Nightbreakers in my car for over 3 years now, no problems, but then again I suppose it's down to how much night time driving you do.
 
Are xenon bulbs those things that glare and look as if they are on full beam to oncoming traffic? If so I think they should be banned.

I put them in the same category as go-faster stripes and personalised number plates.
 
PatrickO said:
Are xenon bulbs those things that glare and look as if they are on full beam to oncoming traffic? If so I think they should be banned.

I put them in the same category as go-faster stripes and personalised number plates.
Click to expand...

That's the ones, and that's exactly why they're banned in the US.
 
specialman said:
It passed every MOT without it being flagged up - not sure if Volvos have self-levelling headlights or not... I can alter the angle with a little dial on the dashboard... not sure if that's the same thing :)
Click to expand...

Definitly not the same thing, ive checked and its why legally I cant fit hids to mine.

As I say, a GOOD mot inspector will fail them if not fitted as per the law
 
PatrickO said:
I put them in the same category as go-faster stripes and personalised number plates.
Click to expand...

I've never had to slow down due to a car coming the other way at night with a go faster stripe or a personalised plate. ;)
 
MWHCVT said:
I cannot stand all these bright headlights all they do is b****r up my view of the road :( though the worst are the numpties that drive everywhere with main/high beam on :annoyed: and yeah I'm well aware of the irony in me moaning at others driving ;)
Click to expand...

I think at least some of those numpties are ones with shoddy aftermarket HiDs. They have much more light spread so look like full beam even when not.

Or just poorly adjusted dip beams...
 
nilagin said:
I've had the same pair of Osram Nightbreakers in my car for over 3 years now, no problems, but then again I suppose it's down to how much night time driving you do.
Click to expand...

I have used the nightbreakers in my last two cars, and will be fitting them to my current car soon. Very good bulbs - more than bright enough for UK roads and still only 55w. :thumbs:
 
PatrickO said:
Are xenon bulbs those things that glare and look as if they are on full beam to oncoming traffic? If so I think they should be banned.

I put them in the same category as go-faster stripes and personalised number plates.
Click to expand...

As far as I am aware, you have to change the whole light unit to fit after market Xenons, and they have to have washers & the self levelling kit. My last 4 cars have all had factory fit Xenons and I wouldn't be without them now. On an empty road they light up like a stadium on main beam, on dipped they're like any other light, just a bit brighter.

The problems come when lights are poorly adjusted or poorly fitted. And nobody can find an answer for those that feel the need to run their fog lights in normal visibility.
 
RichardtheSane said:
I think at least some of those numpties are ones with shoddy aftermarket HiDs. They have much more light spread so look like full beam even when not.

Or just poorly adjusted dip beams...
Click to expand...

Quite possibly although one of those numpties I had dazzling me last year took particular offence to me flashing my lights at him to dip his head lights and as soon as he dipped his lights proceeded to turn on his blue lights :shake:

He soon changed his mind when I suggested I'd accompany him back to his station to discuss the situation with his sergeant ;)
 
Carlo said:
I find Land/Range rovers to be the worst offenders:bang:
I live in a semi rural area too so there's loads of the b*ggers!!!:thumbsdown:
Click to expand...

I've found that larger cars such as 4x4s (as you say, Range Rovers) seem to dazzle more also - do you think thats down to height of the lamps?
 
The secret is don't stare at other cars headlights.
 
High Intensity Discharge lights do not have a filament and require a charge of 25,000v to make the gas fluoresce.

Xenon bulbs are conventional filament bulbs with a higher % of xenon in the bulb.
 
andrewc said:
High Intensity Discharge lights do not have a filament and require a charge of 25,000v to make the gas fluoresce.

Xenon bulbs are conventional filament bulbs with a higher % of xenon in the bulb.
Click to expand...

HID bulbs contain Xenon, this is the gas that requires the 25-30Kv to start it.

Non HID xenon bulbs are sometimes just painted blue, or contain a little xenon gas that makes little to no difference to the output.
Normally manufactures would list them as xenon lights, aftermarket list them as HID.
 
specialman said:
I've found that larger cars such as 4x4s (as you say, Range Rovers) seem to dazzle more also - do you think thats down to height of the lamps?
Click to expand...

Yes.

modern lights angle up on the left & have a flat beam on the right to keep the light down out of oncoming cars windscreens.

Where that completely fails is headlight height seems pretty flexible depending on car design. (always just below bonnet height regardless of how high that is) My car is very low so most 4x4 headlights are almost level with my roof. No matter the beam pattern they're always shining in my eyes, especially as we get close. :(

Personally i think headlight height above ground level should be restricted in the same way crash bars are now.

(IIRC) In the past crash bars were also relative to the car design so in a head on collision between cars of different sizes they could pass each other causing one car to be shredded. On new cars they're designed at a standard height so they hit each other and deflect properly.

I see no practical reason (while on road at least) a 4x4 would need headlights set 1-2 foot higher than mine as set lower they'd still get the same level of lighting i get.
 
Last edited:
I had Philips Xtreme bulbs which were a massive difference to the standard headlights.

As for Xenons, I've never found them to be problematic. Crap HID kits are far worse.

IIRC, you can have Xenon units fitted to your car without the need for washer system/autolevellers - the MOT states they must work if fitted, not that they must be fitted to all cars with xenons.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top