Headlights

[Xisthos]

On 5/11/2017 at 22:02, MARTIN_S said:

I fitted a set of HID's very soon after buying, and they work really well. Massive improvement, cheap and easy to fit.

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/301364894921

Martin S

 

Do you have any pics of the light throw? I put on LEDs on mine and I was incredibly disappointed

Would it be too much draw if I got a 55w HID kit?

[Stephanie]

Hi

And that fits to an Exige ? What about on Elise S3 ?

Thank you !

[SamoL]

Elise and Exige have same headlights. I wouldn't convert them to 55W HIDs as they might not be much brighter but will produce more heat. It's better to buy a 35W kit with high quality ballasts. Dipped beams are shaped properly, but because of the lens that is too small not bright enough. High beams and driving lights work great. And having 6 HID lights is just enough for fast night driving. 

Exige unfortunately doesn't have driving lights (and I still don't know why). I have found a great add on HID driving lights from Hella that produce even more light than Elise's driving lights converted to HID.

[Stephanie]

Thank you ! That's a good idea ! Fitting driving light on Exige !
I'll try, and we'll see.
Thank you

 

[MARTIN_S]

Sorry no pics of light throw at this time, but the difference was pretty big, probably twice as much light and a good cut off.

 

Martin S

 

 

[Stephanie]

And that caused no electrical problem ? Everything okay ?

[MARTIN_S]

All went straight in no problems. I had the same make of HID's on my vx220 for 8 years and never even had to swap a bulb!

Takes about an hour and a half to fit them.

Below is a picture I found when they were fitted. The top shot is the original lights and the one below the HID's.

Martin

 

Edited May 17, 2017 by MARTIN_S

[French Frie]

25 minutes ago, Stephanie said:

And that caused no electrical problem ? Everything okay ?

@Stephanie : no electrical problem, and it's a real improvement, Stéphanie ... but it's not road legal here in France, because it HIDs should have a self levering system ( and headlights washers, but it could be not mandatory anymore) ! so it's supposed to be a "controle technique" fault ...

PS: BTW, could you please send me the car cover promised by Sacha 20 months ago  ? still waiting...

[Stephanie]

We've got a supplier problem, but we don't forget you.

[Bibs]

https://www.thelotusforums.com/shop/103-indoor-covers

We're a problem free supplier of car covers 

[French Frie]

@Stephanie :I hope so  ... but 20 months  !

@Bibs :I know, but it was a part of the purchase deal, so I'm stuck with that !

back to the topic : I bought the HID kit from a french supplier, with ultra-slim ballasts... but it's still lying in the garage ! but a friend has fitted this very kit, and is happy with it (ballasts have a lifetime warranty, and 2 years for bulbs).

Edited May 17, 2017 by French Frie

[550superfast]

HB3A with straight connector did not fit. Needed one with bent arm.

[Sharky]

Hi There, I'm a new owner and had a question on headlights. This seems the right place. To my surprise that the lights are appalling. It seems to me that rather than poor light output, although HIDs would be good, it's more that the headlights are facing the ground. The pool of light ends only 30 ft or so from the front of the car making night driving borderline dangerous. 

Its not clear from the manual if the lights can be adjusted. Is there any way to do this? 

[sieger]

Short answer is yes, you can adjust the beam height (cog behind headlight)

Long answer is that it’s a wheel off, arch liner off, PITA to do!

If you’re going to do it, consider a bulb upgrade too, as the stock output is dim. 

 

Good luck!

[550superfast]

7 hours ago, sieger said:

If you’re going to do it, consider a bulb upgrade too, as the stock output is dim.

Bulb upgrade to which bulb?

[andydclements]

No experience in an Exige/ Evora/Elise etc but in other cars I've found the Osram nightbreakers a fantastic upgrade. They cite up to 11%extra light, and are available in an angled H3.

[550superfast]

On 10/29/2017 at 11:32, andydclements said:

No experience in an Exige/ Evora/Elise etc but in other cars I've found the Osram nightbreakers a fantastic upgrade. They cite up to 11%extra light, and are available in an angled H3.

these?

https://www.carparts4less.co.uk/cp4l/p/-/-/-/-/?48177029N&0&cc5_847&gclid=EAIaIQobChMIkITUw9mY1wIVRLHtCh1sfAUoEAQYBCABEgLzxfD_BwE

[andydclements]

Those are the ones, just check that they are the right lamps for the application (angled /straight).

[Daveb99]

I was under the impression that it isn't possible to buy improved bulbs in H3BA fitting (such as Osram Nightbreakers).   

Can someone explain the "angled /straight" but above?   Is that what the A stands for in H3BA?

[550superfast]

[Daveb99]

Thanks, so has anyone one successfully sourced bulbs in H3BA fitment, that offer better performance than the standard bulbs (other than HID kits..) ?

[Xisthos]

This problem has frustrated me in the 12 months that I have owned the car. My solution was just to get whatever the known brands were out there and test them one by one, both LEDs and the known strong halogens. After purchasing 5 different sets, this, by FAR was the best:

https://www.amazon.com/HIKARI-Headlight-Conversion-9600lm-Warranty/dp/B01LCE1AY2

I didn't do the install myself so I can't really help there, but we didn't experience any problems mouting them.

[DJW]

Just checked with garage who replaced my bulbs on my old 350 and they stated they fitted these http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/NEW-HB3-Ring-XENON-ULTIMA-Car-Headlight-Bulbs-120-Brighter-HB3-Pair-/321638967867

big improvement over standard. 

[Daveb99]

11 hours ago, DJW said:

Just checked with garage who replaced my bulbs on my old 350 and they stated they fitted these http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/NEW-HB3-Ring-XENON-ULTIMA-Car-Headlight-Bulbs-120-Brighter-HB3-Pair-/321638967867

big improvement over standard. 

Excellent, I've also just found these, which get slightly better reviews than the Rings it seems:

https://www.amazon.co.uk/Osram-Night-Breaker-9005NBP-Headlight/dp/B00AV5XMTU

Bit pricier though.  Do in theory, either of these should be a straight swap?

 

[BAS]

2 hours ago, Daveb99 said:

Excellent, I've also just found these, which get slightly better reviews than the Rings it seems:

https://www.amazon.co.uk/Osram-Night-Breaker-9005NBP-Headlight/dp/B00AV5XMTU

Bit pricier though.  Do in theory, either of these should be a straight swap?

 

What colour temp would this be? 5k 6k? Can't seem to find it from the link