Headlight Thread (another one)

23e Heure · Post by **23e Heure** » Sat Jan 09, 2016 2:45 pm

Sorry its probably a bit of a repeat question, but I already hi-jacked Helen's thread when she fitted replacement lights a few week's ago, and thought it better form to start a new one.

I had planned to fit Nighthawk LED headlights to my car:
http://consumer.gelighting.com/catalog/p/69821

Lots of the 914world folk seem to think they are great. Expensive, yes - and certainly not period correct looking.
But very bright, which is what I care most about on this car.
Sadly my research seems to find they are only available for LHD at this time. Add in the fact that LED lights like these may not strictly be UK legal, and I'l wait a while till more LED options come to market.

So now I am looking for the brightest UK MOT legal lights I can fit.
For now does that mean halogen sealed beam 7inch units?

Assuming so, what is the difference between these:
http://www.demon-tweeks.co.uk/motorspor ... onversions

And these?:
http://www.vehicle-wiring-products.eu/p ... ersion-kit

Are the two options about the same, but the Cibie ones more expensive just because of the brand name?

Darren C · Post by **Darren C** » Sat Jan 09, 2016 3:31 pm

Both take H4 bulb, neither therefore are sealed beam (which unless your 1960's OCD on originality; you don't want)
Second one looks like it takes a pea bulb side light.

There are 100's of 7" headlights out there to choose from. I bought Lucas ones at about £9 each. Perfectly good quality and take a H4 bulb.

Your getting in a muddle over headlight choice and bulb choice. All the 7" headlights are basically the same, it's down to what bulb you want to fit and most are limited to a max Wattage, so apart from colour, your not going to get any brighter unless you go for some illegal bulbs from some old KC daylighters etc.
Then you'll need to upgrade your wiring loom, headlight switches and relays to take the current. Any LED option is sure to trip you up at MOT time.

Ivy Watts and all that.

Why do you want to go excessively bright anyway? Cataracts? or do you need to try Specsavers instead of Halfords.

Jokes aside James, it occurred to me that you might not know what a sealed beam headlight is??

A sealed beam is where the filament is cast into the glass of the WHOLE light unit. ie the whole light unit IS the bulb. if it blows there is no bulb to change you buy a whole new headlight. I suspect (without looking) you can only get 55W maximum sealed beams.
What you want is just an H4 (which refers to the type of bulb and fitting) headlight. In this way you can find alternative bulbs to fit it.

Jonny Hart · Post by **Jonny Hart** » Sat Jan 09, 2016 3:35 pm

Remembering back to my British classic days (Minis and Minors) the first step was to get rid of the sealed beam units. That was a step change in performance and good enough for most driving I would have thought.

If the 911 is anything to go by, then make sure the power to the bulb is switched through a relay.

I would imagine that the difference in price is down to branded and non branded. They are both E marked, therefore have been tested and are legal.

Personally, I always go branded as my time is precious and I don't want to do the job twice.

Fo my electric 914, I want to go to LED simply due to power savings but won't until we have proper E rated units available in the UK.

sladey · Post by **sladey** » Sat Jan 09, 2016 5:26 pm

I went for those rpm teknic ones - can't see the price on the first post ones but rpm are about 600.

Expensive yes but difference is night and day (see what I did there) - as I drive it ever day and along country roads in the winter they are absolutely great

210bhp · Post by **210bhp** » Sat Jan 09, 2016 5:29 pm

Hi James

I'm deep into looking at LED lights and there are several 'Rhd' choices at this moment in time.

John Audette on the ESR is currently making these up for the early 911 market in the USA with some success. He has several threads over there explaining the choices. Most of the UK discussion seems to be on several land rover sites where it seems to be a common 'upgrade' with UK legal versions from the same manufacturers as John's units. If you do a search you will turn up a lot of chat and info. Also, someone on here did a similar upgrade to a 911 from a UK supplier. Can't find the thread at the moment. Not cheap as you say but there are several DIY routes if you already have the correct headlight unit to fit them in.

Regards
Mike

23e Heure · Post by **23e Heure** » Sat Jan 09, 2016 5:48 pm

Thanks everyone.

I didn't specify in my post but my question was specific to RHD headlight options for the 914.
I need to do this to get the new car MOTed.

Although I know what sealed beam lights are (and don't want those), I most certainly have been getting confused at all the H4 replacement/upgrade options out there.

For example, for my 914: do I want Wipac convex lens, or Lucas flat? I think the former, just want confirmation before 'Buy Now' gets clicked.

Nice and bright is what I want. But without needing to rewire / upgrade the standard electric the car is equipped with, nor wanting to fail an MOT.
Yes that might be my eyes, Darren!

I like to drive all the way up to the speed limit day and night, and want to see a long way up the road

sladey · Post by **sladey** » Sat Jan 09, 2016 11:51 pm

210bhp wrote:Hi James

I'm deep into looking at LED lights and there are several 'Rhd' choices at this moment in time.

John Audette on the ESR is currently making these up for the early 911 market in the USA with some success. He has several threads over there explaining the choices. Most of the UK discussion seems to be on several land rover sites where it seems to be a common 'upgrade' with UK legal versions from the same manufacturers as John's units. If you do a search you will turn up a lot of chat and info. Also, someone on here did a similar upgrade to a 911 from a UK supplier. Can't find the thread at the moment. Not cheap as you say but there are several DIY routes if you already have the correct headlight unit to fit them in.

Regards
Mike

They are the ones I've fitted Mike. I sourced the Land Rover ones (which don't have integral sidelights) for 575 - at the time RPM technic were charging about a grand. Then someone on here contact rpm and they explained the more expensive ones had side lights in them and they would do the non-sidelights for 625 iirc. This included two laser it adapters to make them fit 911.

I think this is the thread you are looking for

viewtopic.php?f=1&t=52440

They aren't very original though Mike....

210bhp · Post by **210bhp** » Sun Jan 10, 2016 1:33 am

sladey wrote:
210bhp wrote:

I think this is the thread you are looking for

viewtopic.php?f=1&t=52440

They aren't very original though Mike....

That's the thread Mark,

I'm going to use them on my new hot rod/mongrel/evocation/replica/backdate/wide body/swb/turbo/stripped out track day monster. I've seen the light. Lol.

Regards
Mike

rhd racer · Post by **rhd racer** » Sun Jan 10, 2016 9:22 am

Mine are H4 units with standard bulbs, and because the car is so low I find them pretty effective for close / med range on low beam. I have also wired the front fogs to be independantly switched to boost low beam (not sure how they were wired from stock as reworded the whole car).

You have to bear in mind also that the lights do chatter a little bit up and down because of the mechanisms ( or is that just my car?) - so super bright bulbs and a chattering lamp will do nothing for your popularity on the S Circular!!

badger914 · Post by **badger914** » Sun Jan 10, 2016 4:31 pm

I have got these on mine

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/261978808642? ... EBIDX%3AIT

jwhillracer · Post by **jwhillracer** » Sun Jan 10, 2016 4:51 pm

rhd racer wrote:You have to bear in mind also that the lights do chatter a little bit up and down because of the mechanisms ( or is that just my car?) - so super bright bulbs and a chattering lamp will do nothing for your popularity on the S Circular!!

Hi Wayne
If you have the stop bolt correctly adjusted on your headlights, then they shouldn't chatter, unless the swivel linkage is very worn.

Cheers!
JW

sladey · Post by **sladey** » Sun Jan 10, 2016 5:34 pm

210bhp wrote:
sladey wrote:
210bhp wrote:

I think this is the thread you are looking for

viewtopic.php?f=1&t=52440

They aren't very original though Mike....
That's the thread Mark,

I'm going to use them on my new hot rod/mongrel/evocation/replica/backdate/wide body/swb/turbo/stripped out track day monster. I've seen the light. Lol.

Regards
Mike

I had no idea you were coming over to the dark side Mike - is there a thread I've missed?

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