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Topic: headlamps (Read 2104 times) |
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ferretmobile
Full Member
2.3 saloon S reg & all the toys. mmmm toys
Posts: 343
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night driving is becoming a bit of a nightmare cos my headlamps dont seem to be that bright. The main beam is great but the dipped beam is not very good at all. my other halfs fiesta has got better lights for night driving. Any tips guys? The lenses look clean, so do you think that a bulb replacement should do the trick and if this is the case is it an easy job & will the beam pattern have to be reset? I am driving at night with the headlamps full on but with the levelling thingy turned right down so as not to blind any one but it should be better than this methinks.Does anyone else have this problem... 
Ferretmobile
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ferretmobile
Full Member
2.3 saloon S reg & all the toys. mmmm toys
Posts: 343
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Re: headlamps
« Reply #2 on: Nov 11th, 2004, 2:13pm » |
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Thanks craig, some good info there. Looks like a trip to Halfords then 
Ferret
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TonyS
Junior Member
Scorpio Nutter - 12 years
Posts: 96
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Re: headlamps
« Reply #3 on: Nov 11th, 2004, 10:37pm » |
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also check the H1's are fitted correctly. If the dip beam is as bad as you say then something is not right ..
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1996 Mk4 2.9 24v Estate
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Eddie
Full Member
Must try a different shampoo!
Posts: 495
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Re: headlamps
« Reply #4 on: Nov 12th, 2004, 1:30am » |
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You will probably find on close inspection, that the chrome reflector is a bit fogged up.
You could try removing the glass and giving it a (very gentle!) polish. The chrome deposit is quite thin so take care!! Try soapy water and a soft cloth,giving it a wipe with a drying cloth after to remove water marks.
When I had to replace one headlamp (n/s) recently the difference in light output was remarkable. When comparing the old with new it was clear that the reflector was to blame.
eddie
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ferretmobile
Full Member
2.3 saloon S reg & all the toys. mmmm toys
Posts: 343
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Re: headlamps
« Reply #5 on: Nov 12th, 2004, 11:27am » |
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Cheers guys!
ferret
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ferretmobile
Full Member
2.3 saloon S reg & all the toys. mmmm toys
Posts: 343
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Re: headlamps
« Reply #6 on: Nov 12th, 2004, 11:38am » |
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It might be a daft thought but has anyone installed halogens correctly wired to the cars system as an additional to the dipped beam?
looking at the grill,they might be installed neatly and in keeping with the existing head lamps. perhaps cibie do something that would look good and give much better vision. Hasanyone gone down this route...
Ferret.
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ferretmobile
Full Member
2.3 saloon S reg & all the toys. mmmm toys
Posts: 343
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Re: headlamps
« Reply #7 on: Nov 15th, 2004, 8:52am » |
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I took a trip to halfords this weekend and got me a pair of extra bright halogens. Buy one get one free!
havent tried them out yet, tonight will be the acid test.
so we shall see...or not,
dazzled Ferret. 
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edds
Newbie
Posts: 16
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Re: headlamps
« Reply #8 on: Nov 15th, 2004, 4:24pm » |
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i also found the lights to be dull so i fitted 100watt ones which did not seam that much brighter. i recently upgraded the headlight system to hid. the bulbs are only 35watts but are 200% better and much clearer the only downside is the cost but i think its well worth it.
Edds
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craig
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hi edds
exactly what bulbs did you fit in the end,and you mention cost,do you mind if i ask how much ?
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edds
Newbie
Posts: 16
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Re: headlamps
« Reply #10 on: Nov 15th, 2004, 6:01pm » |
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on Nov 15th, 2004, 4:48pm, craig wrote:hi edds
exactly what bulbs did you fit in the end,and you mention cost,do you mind if i ask how much ? |
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i fitted the hid gas discharge bulbs they came as a kit from america and cost £275 in total and took just under an hour to fit. the cost may seam high but the bulbs have a lifespan of around 50,000 hours so unlike halogen ones they will outlast the life of the car. i will try and upload a pic later.
Edds
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geraghtyg
Full Member
2001 XG25
Posts: 215
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Re: headlamps
« Reply #11 on: Nov 16th, 2004, 8:42am » |
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Edds. If you could post the name of the website where you got the HIDs, it would be great.
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Graham G, Dublin, Ireland
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ferretmobile
Full Member
2.3 saloon S reg & all the toys. mmmm toys
Posts: 343
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Re: headlamps
« Reply #12 on: Nov 16th, 2004, 5:05pm » |
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Hi guys, tried out the halfords super-duper extra go juice halogen bulbs last night and there is a big improvment on the standard bulbs, and they are the same rating (55w12v) so no extra power drain. Re the last post...hids? sounds hid-eously expensive to me 
ferret.
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TonyS
Junior Member
Scorpio Nutter - 12 years
Posts: 96
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Re: headlamps
« Reply #13 on: Nov 16th, 2004, 10:23pm » |
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Fitting rebased D2S HID discharge lamps into the halogen housing is illegal in the EU and results in the loss of type approval for the car. I'd check with your car insurance company if they are happy with this modification. Since last year it has been illegal to sell these kits in the USA .. hence the vendors are targetting other countries to dump the stocks that are left - don't expect any service or spare bulbs in the future.
Also driving back tonight from Fareham I was interested to see a large police stop and check operation where it seemed they had the bonnets up on about 5 cars out of the 10 they had in the stop pen. I'd guess the number of complaints about exhausts, running lights, HID upgrades, etc are starting to cause some action.
See a recent thread for the url of Daniel Sterns faq on automotive lighting and an explaination over way the apparent brightness is probably resulting in increased danger.
Oh the life of the HID discharge capsule is about 3000 (not 50,000) hours under optimum conditions .. probably closer to 200 hours without the manufactures approved ballast and igniter capable of adjusting to the ageing of the unit.
Keep a spare H1 bulb and hope that the RFI from the ballast does not mess with the electronics of the engine - the RFI suppressor is in the D2S base which was cropped off and the rebasing to H1 does not include proper suppression of the interference generated by the ballast in inverting 12v to 22Kv.
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1996 Mk4 2.9 24v Estate
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craig
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so tony,do i assume that what you are saying is that what edds had done is illegal ?  ,getting very interested in this thread,after driving home last night through country lanes,the main beam is "sufficient ),but dip beam really is abismal for the size of the lights.
so does anybody have the definitive bulb replacement,did think about the HID set up,but the cost,and certainly the "legal" side of things has now get me thinking ...
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TonyS
Junior Member
Scorpio Nutter - 12 years
Posts: 96
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Re: headlamps
« Reply #15 on: Nov 17th, 2004, 9:24pm » |
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Craig,
As I've commented on another thread about HID's I believe that retro fitting OEM E marked second generation projectors is the best legal answer.
Hella and others make a broad range of units and these up the efficency of the dipped beam projectors from about 35% to 50%.
The H1 is rated at about 1700 lumens which is considerable down on newer generation bulbs (H7/H9 etc) which in standard form are rated at some 2300 lumens - one of the reasons you believe the H1 based Scorpio system dim is the basis for comparion is more intense halogen based systems generally using an efficent free form reflector to get most of the light down onto the road.
Add the two effects, newer projection units and higher efficency bulbs. you should get a light output and spread equivalent to newer cars. My wife's Clio has a bright well defined beam pattern which is definately better than the Scorpio .. yet uses a free form reflective H9 based 55w halogen system.
More lumens at the focal point of the H1 based system can be had by either uprating the bulbs (over watt), short life/better passivated bulbs (+30% +50% premiums), or over voltage (upgraded wiring to reduce voltage drop). Past this and the projector unit has to be changed to take the newer bulbs and provide the increased efficency.
The geometry of the HID plasma arc means that whilst 3000+ lumens are placed at the focal point, for projection as the beam pattern, there is considerable amounts of light emitted outside of the focal point resulting in the beam shape being lost, and the cutout shield being ineffective, resulting in glare for other drivers.
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1996 Mk4 2.9 24v Estate
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Paul B
Senior Member
'98 24V Ultima saloon
Posts: 2442
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Re: headlamps
« Reply #16 on: Nov 17th, 2004, 9:38pm » |
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Is it only me who thinks the standard Scorpio lights are pretty good? 
Mind you, we do have street lights down this way. That helps.
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Two hundred & seven horses and only one jockey!
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scorpio_man
Administrator
Ford Kuga awd
Posts: 5654
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Re: headlamps
« Reply #17 on: Nov 17th, 2004, 9:56pm » |
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hi there
i agree with paul. i find the headlights ok. i think some of the problems are with worn lenses (glass parts). i've got one new light and one old one. the new one is much better. i'll need to fit a new lens on the old one soon.
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craig
Guest
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thanks for the reply tony,very informative,and interesting reading (and i love the term "lumens" ).....
the reflectors and lenses appear to be ok on mine,so the bulbs must be "up for renewal",have not even checked to see what ones are in there,but either way,i think this thread will run and run,you either love or loathe the lights
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scorpio_man
Administrator
Ford Kuga awd
Posts: 5654
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Re: headlamps
« Reply #19 on: Nov 18th, 2004, 9:35am » |
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hi there
did we every get the name & phone number of the lens supplier? was it in wales?
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