Better lights than now - ideas / options ? Please

[Hybrid_From_Hell]

Update

Thanks to this forum, I am now sorted and a whole lot happier

In the end I bought a pair of these (last night) http://www.mm-4x4.com/wipac-7inch-pre-formed-headlamp-unit---each-1885-p.asp

These are WPIAC S6072 Plastic / polywhatsit, Steve at KAM has these and swears they are near indestructible

and, they are completely clear on the front lens, all the shpaing you see is in the reflector.

Anyway, I liked the sound of these and they were £14 each

They arrived TODAY ! - Top Marks MM4x4

I then bought some bulbs, Lucas ones, £4.50+ vat each of the higher rating that was mentioned, and Glued them in with Flange sealant

which prob means they are now sealed beams ie won't ever come apart, but equally I don't wnat to have to by

goldfish for the lens

Fitting was a doddle, both sealed beams swapped over and fitted with prob 5 mins the pair !

See pics :

1. Remove the 3 screws holding old sealed beam in place :

Remove, and admire the rust / mud / debris

Remove light from plug, take new unit, glue in light, refit

(its that simple)

Twas only dusk but "Dipped" looked promising :

Had a coffe, was sort of dark, went for a whizz - Stunning

Dip and Main are 1000%better - well happy

Thanks all - feel much safer in it now all done total cost £43

Nige

[Quagmire]

result - when i did mine I was amazed at the difference, main beam is more of a weapon than a source of light now

And that's with standard 55w bulbs.

[Hybrid_From_Hell]

Ahem

"For Sale"

Reliable (25 years Old) Sealed beams for 90

about as much use as a Glow worm with a cold, but will pass an MOT

Nige

[western]

good result

[dirtydiesel]

So, would wipac crysals live with 130/90's in them?

[western]

So, would wipac crysals live with 130/90's in them?

they might but your wiring would probably melt after due to the extra heat from the higher power bulbs & they are illegal in UK for road use.

[tuko]

For the best possible lighting thats legal, these are what you should be looking at: Philips X-treme Power

Todd.

[dirtydiesel]

they might but your wiring would probably melt after due to the extra heat from the higher power bulbs & they are illegal in UK for road use.

I my wiring will be fine, it wasn't specced by accountants and built by brummies.

Not really worried about legality either.

[western]

up to you then, I had 100/80's in for a while & the plug at the headlights got far to hot the plastic case melted & the terminals got so hot they burnt.

if it's a off road only vehicle & never goes on public roads then you will be fine.

[landroversforever]

up to you then, I had 100/80's in for a while & the plug at the headlights got far to hot the plastic case melted & the terminals got so hot they burnt.if it's a off road only vehicle & never goes on public roads then you will be fine.

or by the sounds of it pre 89?

[dirtydiesel]

or by the sounds of it pre 89?

Come on Ross if your going to regurgatate information at least make sure it's correct, it was only 2 pages back.

Have a read: http://www.legislation.gov.uk/uksi/1989/1796/schedule/5/made

Basically, you don't need an E mark, and minimum wattage is 30W.

I think I have it right, but there's no wattage requirement post 1986, but the bulb must be E marked, which I guess means all E marked bulbs will be 55W

Please check!

[teaandbiscuits]

Sorry to resurrect this thread but I need to upgrade my lights too. Is there any implication of buying headlights that are not fitted with a sidelight? My current defender has a sidelight in the main light and one above the indicator, so can I just have the little separate sidelight?

[western]

Sorry to resurrect this thread but I need to upgrade my lights too. Is there any implication of buying headlights that are not fitted with a sidelight? My current defender has a sidelight in the main light and one above the indicator, so can I just have the little separate sidelight?

standard front lights are

seperate sidelight

seperate indicator

headlight containing dip & main beam in one bulb

sounds like a previous owner has already fitted headlights with a sidelight built in,

you can either have the normal type headlights or headlights with additional sidelights, doesn't make any difference at MOT time provided all the legally required lights work.

depending on age, your vehicle may have the dim dip system fitted, this puts the dip beam on at reduce brightness when sidelights are on with the engine running, this system is no longer required in the UK & if it fails, can be disconnected & noraml roadlights work as normal

[teaandbiscuits]

Wow, great reply thanks very much!

[jeremy996]

As a driver of a little red sports car, I am getting really fed up with the various idiots driving around with too many watts, badly adjusted or broken standard lights or badly set up HID lights, as it completely trashes my night vision.

Please don't run over-watted lights as it reduces my chances of avoiding your dog/cat/wife/son/daughter/close relative as I cannot see a bloody thing as some truck lit up like a Christmas tree drives the other way. When I get my Land Rover back I will be a little less bothered as I will be higher up, less dazzled and not so worried about being killed or injured by the person/pet I hit!

[Range Rover Blues]

I remember reading somewhere (a lamp manufacturer's website) that in the uk we should only have 1 pair of "marker lights" (sidelights) and technically all those truck with dim lights in the spots are not legal other than in Germany.

As for the discussion about lamp power, pre the 1986/7 vehicle lighting regulations there was very little resriction (minimum of 30watts) on what lamps you can fit, as said since then they must be e-marked which almost certainly limits you to 55watts, the maximum allowed is 99 watts but I can't remember where I read that. 24volt bulbs are somthing like 80 watts.

I've used 130/90s but they don't last very long, the bulbs go. I've been quite happy with 100 watts in my spots and my old Escort had 100/80s with upgraded wiring in glass lamps.

Oh, and I found that the Osram bulbs fitted by Nissan are just as good as the Phillips plus 50% ones but cost less.

[q-rover]

so is it legal to fit HID,S to a p38 with air suspension then?

Rob

No.

There are 3 conditions that need to be met for legally having HID lights on your vehicle.

The light units must be self levelling. (not vehicles suspension)

The vehicle must be fitted with headlight wash system.

The light units must be marked with ´D`for discharge lighting.

So no matter what stories you here, fitting HID units to halogen lamps is never going to be legal.