Headlights

[DJW]

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?

 

 Mine was straight swap and didn’t take that long when your mate runs a garage business with Ramos and power tools

[Sharky]

On ‎29‎/‎10‎/‎2017 at 01:16, sieger said:

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!

Got the dealer to adjust the headlights up. In their words, to the point of blinding other drivers and then adjusted down a notch. Much improved visibility at night but yes, the stock bulbs do need an upgrade. 

[LotusPilot]

Based upon my own experience, when the headlights aim is raised to the point of being okay - you’ll faill your MOT!  

When re-alligned to pass the Ministry test, they’re pretty hopeless.  You can’t see much on dark, damp, roads...

Edited November 8, 2017 by LotusPilot

[GFWilliams]

Just to update about HIDs... I put some in the other day and the headlights are still shit.

[550superfast]

2 hours ago, GFWilliams said:

Just to update about HIDs... I put some in the other day and the headlights are still shit.

have you tried any of the supposed better bulbs too? Or straight to HIDs?

[MARTIN_S]

Anyone had any luck improving the high beam?  

Martin S

 

[Daveb99]

My new bulbs arrived yesterday, so whilst I'm not expecting a dramatic improvement, it would be nice if I don't lose too much skin off my knuckles fitting them...

Can anyone give me some pointers - do I need to remove each front wheel to get proper access?

[550superfast]

Wheels off, inner arch liners out

[550superfast]

How are the new bulbs?

[Daveb99]

Haven't had a chance to fit them yet, sadly...

[MARTIN_S]

Drove in the dark last night cross country and the HID's are pretty good as low beam. Unsure what type GFW used but they are at least twice as good as originals and a notably whiter light . Admittedly they don't match modern Mercedes/BMW etc but are a notable improvement over the original candles. The high beam is a poor yellow light in comparison. What bulb type are they as want to upgrade them now.

Martin S

 

[Hangar 111]

@GFWilliams Worse than standard I thought, and very much not popular with other road users, I could see even less when they kept flashing me!

[Daveb99]

1 hour ago, MARTIN_S said:

Drove in the dark last night cross country and the HID's are pretty good as low beam. Unsure what type GFW used but they are at least twice as good as originals and a notably whiter light . Admittedly they don't match modern Mercedes/BMW etc but are a notable improvement over the original candles. The high beam is a poor yellow light in comparison. What bulb type are they as want to upgrade them now.

Martin S

 

Which ones did you go for Martin?

[GFWilliams]

1 hour ago, MARTIN_S said:

Drove in the dark last night cross country and the HID's are pretty good as low beam. Unsure what type GFW used but they are at least twice as good as originals and a notably whiter light . Admittedly they don't match modern Mercedes/BMW etc but are a notable improvement over the original candles. The high beam is a poor yellow light in comparison. What bulb type are they as want to upgrade them now.

Martin S

 

What HID kit did you go for? Mine are terrible as Dave said!

[Hangar 111]

Another downside of aftermarket HIDS is they generate an awful lot of electrical interference - you can't use the radio with them unless you re-route the antenna from under the front clam, for example.

Can you tell I'm not a fan?

Edited December 6, 2017 by Hangar 111

[MARTIN_S]

further back in this post this is what I got -http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/301364894921 and spotted back there,that the high beam are H9B 12V 65W so will track down an upgrade for them.

My radio also still works fine (well as fine as any original Lotus fitted radio)?!

Martin S

 

Edited December 7, 2017 by MARTIN_S

[550superfast]

Just a small update on bulbs, I fitted these - OSRAM NIGHT BREAKER UNLIMITED HB3 halogen headlamp bulb 9005NBU-HCB +110% more light and +20% whiter light in double box

https://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/product/B00FQ8ANVC/ref=oh_aui_detailpage_o05_s00?ie=UTF8&psc=1

and they are still pretty crap.

Anyone know of a LED plug and play option?

[ArthouseCompany]

You don't have to remove the weels for changing bulbs or using HID kits, but surely makes it a bit easier.

For any modification (HB3A to HB3 bulbs) or HID kits you always have to cut the rubber cap.

I first changed my bulbs to HB3/9005 Osram Nightbreaker Unlimited: like said before: it's not worth for our cars, still a crappy light

Currently I use a mid-price Chinese HB3/9005 HID kit, definitly a brighter  light and better distance, no interferences or any other problem, worth the price but i'm still not totally satisfied:

I now ordered a very high qualtity HB3/9005 LED kit (Opt-7 Flux-Beam), but found no time to install it: http://www.opt-7.com/fluxbeam-led-headlight/

Like HID kits all LED kits are plug and play, but LEDs start immidiately, while HIDs need some seconds to reach full brightness and the right color. And LEDs have a build-in ballast or a very small ballast. 

[MartynB]

Hi Peter,

I'll be very interested to see how you get on with that Opt7 kit. With all these LED retrofit options in the OEM projector it's really down to the detail of the "filament emulation" as it were. If it doesn't line up at the right focal point, the beam pattern (which is less than awesome by default) can get noticeably degraded.

With baited breath* and crossed fingers...

*it's OK, I'm not really holding my breath, take your time 

[ArthouseCompany]

Will definitely install the LEDs the next 4 weeks, but it’s currently so f.... cold in my unheated garage  

[ArthouseCompany]

Okay, installed the FluxBeam Opt 7 (socket HB3/9005 with color 6000K) today on my LHD Exige S

HID/Xenon (photo1 ): aftermarket HIDs need up to half a minute to reach full brightness and a pure white color. They come with a heavy ballast, so need more place and wiring.  I was satisfied but had some kind of blind spots and the light is mostly centered to one spot in the middle (see garage door) but provides a good distance (at least at this centered point)

LED (photo 2): less weight and easier to install (extremely small ballast and less wiring). LEDs start immediately with a pure white and full brightness. A much more harmonic light distribution but obviously a shorter distance (you can see it at the garage, not as bright here as HID) . The lightning to the right isn't perfect, but I'll adjust the right lamp tomorrow and try to optimize it (maybe this is also the reason why the HID is spotted mainly to the middle) 

So, we can't have all, but both lights are definitely better than the original halogen bulbs. So it's up to you what you prefer.

 

 

Edited March 4, 2018 by ArthouseCompany

[MartynB]

Thanks for the write up Peter. Sorry it's taken me so many months to log into the forums. This year hasn't been the smoothest.

Looks like the HID is better for real world driving visibility, out at distance. A bit hard to compare the wet vs dry tarmac. Dry kicks back so much more light than wet.

Cheers

 

[GazzyFizzle]

Has anyone done anything different/new for improving the headlights since this post was last updated?

[mikey k]

Found this thread trying to solve this issue on my newly acquired 350 sport

I'm going to give these a go

 

https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/273948309923

Edited March 15, 2020 by mikey k

[Edinburgh 111s]

23 hours ago, mikey k said:

Found this thread trying to solve this issue on my newly acquired 350 sport

I'm going to give these a go

 

https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/273948309923

Are they road legal?