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Rubbish headlights #1654036
11/11/2021 14:08
11/11/2021 14:08
Joined: Jul 2007
Posts: 559
S Wales
Morrison Offline OP
Club member 1566
Morrison  Offline OP
Club member 1566
Enjoying the ride

Joined: Jul 2007
Posts: 559
S Wales
I've had a set refurbished headlights (from one of the Facebook groups) for a year, at first they were ok, but now they're... not. The light output has gone really dim.

The cover is still clear, or appears to be. I had no ancillary devices running last night apart from the lights and could barely see the Audi Infront disappearing into the distance

Apart from hid or led, is there anything I can do? Such as renewing the wiring? Or is it a case of get some supposedly brighter bulbs or go hid?

Re: Rubbish headlights [Re: Morrison] #1654039
11/11/2021 14:44
11/11/2021 14:44
Joined: Feb 2006
Posts: 5,390
Essex
Trappy Offline
Forum is my life
Trappy  Offline
Forum is my life

Joined: Feb 2006
Posts: 5,390
Essex
Originally Posted by Morrison
I've had a set refurbished headlights (from one of the Facebook groups) for a year, at first they were ok, but now they're... not. The light output has gone really dim.

The cover is still clear, or appears to be. I had no ancillary devices running last night apart from the lights and could barely see the Audi Infront disappearing into the distance

Apart from hid or led, is there anything I can do? Such as renewing the wiring? Or is it a case of get some supposedly brighter bulbs or go hid?



You need to go HID or LED. I used HIDs for years with mixed results, regardless of how much I spent on them. I eventually binned the set I had and went with LEDs on both main and dipped beam as the HID ballasts would always rust... For the few times I have used the car at night, they were amazing. Almost as good as the lights on the Volvo S90 (which are the best I've ever used).

I also had a the lights refurbished prior to fitting the LEDs through a service on one of the FB groups and, although the service and initial result was amazing, one has already started to fade. So much so that a chap at PowerItalia asked why I didn't get them both done together...

Last edited by Trappy; 12/11/2021 09:05.

F****** b****** thing...
Re: Rubbish headlights [Re: Morrison] #1654049
11/11/2021 16:39
11/11/2021 16:39
Joined: Jul 2007
Posts: 559
S Wales
Morrison Offline OP
Club member 1566
Morrison  Offline OP
Club member 1566
Enjoying the ride

Joined: Jul 2007
Posts: 559
S Wales
Thanks Trappy, that's what I thought.

On my last car I did have the LEDs from the group buy of a few years back but thought they werent up to much either. Technology moves on and perhaps there's something better now. The Phillips ones for £135 ish look good apart from the price. Very expensive, but if it means I can see, is it really that bad?

I'll be disappointed if the covers have started to haze, will have a better look over the weekend. Might have to get the polisher out and then find a way of sealing the transparency in.

Re: Rubbish headlights [Re: Morrison] #1654052
11/11/2021 18:00
11/11/2021 18:00
Joined: Jun 2007
Posts: 947
Dorchester
R
respace Offline
Enjoying the ride
respace  Offline
Enjoying the ride
R

Joined: Jun 2007
Posts: 947
Dorchester
Have you tried Meguiars? TBH I haven't needed to do it on the coop but it worked really well on the Rover lens (Yes I had a Rover, que tittering)
Doesn't fix the original problem that the lights are crap ( though work well in fog at about 25mph). There was a lengthy thread quite recently about aftermarket lights and the new MOT regs, don't know how it's being enforced.

Re: Rubbish headlights [Re: Morrison] #1654058
12/11/2021 01:58
12/11/2021 01:58
Joined: Jun 2007
Posts: 4,596
Malaysia..Glasgow at heart
Kelv27 Offline
Forum is my job
Kelv27  Offline
Forum is my job

Joined: Jun 2007
Posts: 4,596
Malaysia..Glasgow at heart
Coupe headlights aren't at all rubbish if the lenses are clear and if the right bulb is used. LEDs have mixed results with beam pattern..if you get the right one then fine..But i still find HIDs better in this case as they generate less heat than LEDs. Get 55w HIDs and they have plenty of brightness.

As for the haziness on the covers, the only permanent way to seal them in is to clearcoat them. Clear coating would also prevent the polycarbonate from scratching too easily.

Re: Rubbish headlights [Re: Morrison] #1654060
12/11/2021 09:27
12/11/2021 09:27
Joined: Jul 2007
Posts: 559
S Wales
Morrison Offline OP
Club member 1566
Morrison  Offline OP
Club member 1566
Enjoying the ride

Joined: Jul 2007
Posts: 559
S Wales
I had a check last night, the lenses are clear enough but the bulbs were the most basic cheap ones. I'll try a fancier set then look at hid/led if they're no good.

Got some headlight clear coat too so maybe a small job is on the cards

Re: Rubbish headlights [Re: Morrison] #1654068
12/11/2021 13:34
12/11/2021 13:34
Joined: Dec 2005
Posts: 3,609
S. Wales. Way beyond my means
Gripped Offline
Club member 1924
Gripped  Offline
Club member 1924
Forum is my job

Joined: Dec 2005
Posts: 3,609
S. Wales. Way beyond my means
I've got some spare bulbs Mark if you need to test.

Re: Rubbish headlights [Re: Morrison] #1654078
13/11/2021 03:06
13/11/2021 03:06
Joined: Aug 2015
Posts: 399
Uk
M
Makkadiamond Offline
Making a profit
Makkadiamond  Offline
Making a profit
M

Joined: Aug 2015
Posts: 399
Uk
I changed to Osram night Breakers

Made a huge different

Re: Rubbish headlights [Re: Morrison] #1654080
13/11/2021 06:19
13/11/2021 06:19
Joined: Jun 2008
Posts: 1,306
Kent, South East
Cooperman Offline
Former Club Membership Secretary
Cooperman  Offline
Former Club Membership Secretary
My job on the forum

Joined: Jun 2008
Posts: 1,306
Kent, South East
Changed to 55w HID using a neat kit from HID r us and really happy with the light output. No MOT issues either so recommended thumb


[Linked Image]
Re: Rubbish headlights [Re: Morrison] #1654098
14/11/2021 11:15
14/11/2021 11:15
Joined: Jul 2007
Posts: 559
S Wales
Morrison Offline OP
Club member 1566
Morrison  Offline OP
Club member 1566
Enjoying the ride

Joined: Jul 2007
Posts: 559
S Wales
Thanks all, some nice info to ponder on.

Toby, I think I'll be ok for testing, ordered the supposed 'best' for halogen ones, it's difficult to find objective testing on things like this on the internet without the page being a setup for someone to earn Amazon click money. Went with bulbs made by 20twenty, they came out on top of an Autoexpress test, will put some pics up of difference.

If they're rubbish too, Ive got a cheap set of hids to try but may look at spending a touch more on a better set.

LEDs as a last resort, didn't realise they got hotter than hid, thought it was the other way around.

Re: Rubbish headlights [Re: Morrison] #1654124
15/11/2021 02:21
15/11/2021 02:21
Joined: Jun 2007
Posts: 4,596
Malaysia..Glasgow at heart
Kelv27 Offline
Forum is my job
Kelv27  Offline
Forum is my job

Joined: Jun 2007
Posts: 4,596
Malaysia..Glasgow at heart
Originally Posted by Morrison


LEDs as a last resort, didn't realise they got hotter than hid, thought it was the other way around.


Yes, and the LED boards need to be ventilated. Depending on the design, they usually come with some sort of fan or heatsink on it to dissipate the heat. This means that you will either need to cut a hole on the rubber cap of the housing...or not fit it all together.


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