Very poor headlights

[figbat]

Another factor can be the wiring and connectors - these can be degraded or just simply low cost and limit current to the bulbs.

 

[Marchrider]

Our 2013 Fiat has very poor headlights, nothing amiss clear lense and clean reflector , I've been given some more powerful bulbs 80/100w the current ones are 55/60w ,, but there are concerns about it blowing fuses . Has anyone tried this what's the general consensus about doing this.

is it just cos everyone elses has got brighter ?
I have an old van and my wife has a new car with the ubiquitous nuclear glare headlights that are all the fashion (can we opt for the model that blinds all other road users please) And if I am driving my wife's car lots then go out in my van it is as if my lights have been replaced with candles in a jam jar

and of course if you are driving about with candles in a jam jar - then the oncoming nuclear glare brigade are going to reduce your night vision making your own lights seem worse that they used to be

 

[figbat]

Check the adjustment, our Citigo had terrible lights, I upgraded the bulbs and also realised that they were on the lowest setting

I have to say that I find the Citigo lights to be pretty good for halogen.

 

[Drago]

is it just cos everyone elses has got brighter ?

It's just you

 

[ren531]

is it just cos everyone elses has got brighter ?
I have an old van and my wife has a new car with the ubiquitous nuclear glare headlights that are all the fashion (can we opt for the model that blinds all other road users please) And if I am driving my wife's car lots then go out in my van it is as if my lights have been replaced with candles in a jam jar

and of course if you are driving about with candles in a jam jar - then the oncoming nuclear glare brigade are going to reduce your night vision making your own lights seem worse that they used to be

The much brighter lights certainly don't help but I think it is a combination of me getting older and slower and a lot of roads around here as everywhere never get cleaned so can't tell were verge ends and road begins plus invisible white lines that are worn away.

 

[Gunk]

I have to say that I find the Citigo lights to be pretty good for halogen.

They are Ok, just had years of Xenon and LED lights, it was a bit of shock going back to old tech lights

 

[CXRAndy]

Our 2013 Fiat has very poor headlights, nothing amiss clear lense and clean reflector , I've been given some more powerful bulbs 80/100w the current ones are 55/60w ,, but there are concerns about it blowing fuses . Has anyone tried this what's the general consensus about doing this.

You're better off using HID lights than 100W bulbs. If you can find some after market conversion kits all the better.

 

[CXRAndy]

I've been asked to look at my mates daughters Renault. One headlight is not functioning, even though he's swapped bulbs for new ones

 

[Jody]

You're better off using HID lights than 100W bulbs. If you can find some after market conversion kits all the better.

Illegal and more dazzle than the 100w bulbs

Legal requires washers, auto leveling and the correct headlights

 

[CXRAndy]

Illegal and more dazzle than the 100w bulbs

Legal requires washers, auto leveling and the correct headlights

I've got hid lamps on one of my cars, passes every year MOT. They have reflectors and left rising beam. The rest of the beam is perfectly flat , doesn't blind oncoming traffic.

I bought some aftermarket headlights and did a full HID conversion by separating front clear lense from back, fitting, aligning I did before sealing them back up.


You can get very good non blinding HID setups if you're prepared to research and pay.

 

[Marchrider]

It's illegal for a start...

really ? as in taking vehicle 'out of type' ?

doubt it is any more illegal that fitting some stupid loud exhaust, and if plod can't be arrised to deal with that I doub't they ill be removing headlight bulbs to check the wattage

I suppose you insurance company could use one of their many get out clauses

 

[Drago]

really ? as in taking vehicle 'out of type' ?

Illegal, as un it exceeds the permissible power limit for headlamps expressed in Watts, currently 55/60 dip/main in the UK.

The law is badly drafted and painfully dated at a techical level, and the odds of falling foul of it are slim, but it is nevertheless the law...and guess what both poloce AI's and insurers scrutinise closely if you have a bad smack at night...

 

[Jody]

I've got hid lamps on one of my cars, passes every year MOT. They have reflectors and left rising beam. The rest of the beam is perfectly flat , doesn't blind oncoming traffic.

I bought some aftermarket headlights and did a full HID conversion by separating front clear lense from back, fitting, aligning I did before sealing them back up.


You can get very good non blinding HID setups if you're prepared to research and pay.

A car can pass an MOT and still be illegal. Look at gutted DPF's

The fact is retro fit HID kits are illegal.

https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/aftermarket-hid-headlamps/aftermarket-hid-headlamps

• once fitted to the vehicle it must have headlamp cleaning and self-levelling (which can be for the headlamp or can be in the vehicle suspension - some expensive estate cars have “self-levelling suspension” and that is adequate). Also the dipped beam must stay on with the main beam

In summary: it is not permitted to convert an existing halogen headlamp unit for use with HID bulbs. The entire headlamp unit must be replaced with one designed and approved for use with HID bulbs and it must be installed in accordance with the rules stated above.

 

[Gunk]

Previous owner fitted an HID kit to my BMW motorcycle, I went to the main dealer for a service and MOT and they failed it because of the HID dipped beam, I had to pull all the kit out and put an H4 back in

 

[CXRAndy]

I fitted HID to my FJR1300. It has a built in front reflector from factory. It passes too