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Thread: defender Headlight Upgrade.. Plastic refeltors how dare they!!!

  1. 31st March 2009, 04:12 PM #1
    Mikes defender
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    defender Headlight Upgrade.. Plastic refeltors how dare they!!!

    Hi Folks

    Just upgraded the wiring for my defender lights. It all started with a new set of driving lights. Then i measured the voltage going to the headlights with the engine running was only 11.2 volts. No wonder they were yellow!!

    So i installed 3 relays under the bonnet close to the altinator and reran a larger diameter wire, and to finish it all off a set of 100/130 globes!! I now have 13.8 volts at the globe!! worth the afternoons work!!

    Just as i was putting the last screw in i found that the reflectors are crome plated plastic!! HOW DARE THEY. This is the kind of thing i would expect to find on a daewoo.

    Can these reflect take the heat of larger wattage lights? or am i going to find a puddle of crome and plastic?

    Are these light landrover specific? Do those "sealed beam H4 conversion kits" fit? they look a similar size?

    Thanks

    Mike's defender
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  2. 31st March 2009, 04:28 PM #2
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    rick130
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    They are just a standard 7" round head lamp.

    Any good aftermarket one like Cibie Z beams will do the job nicely, your plastic reflectors may melt with 100w globes, let alone 130's.
    I can post the Cibie/Valeo pt. # if you wish.

    The plastic headlights have been standard for well over ten years now, they are nothing new, in fact does any car on the road have metal reflectors these days ?
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  3. 31st March 2009, 04:35 PM #3
    Mikes defender
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    Thanks Rick...

    Ill put the old head lamps back in.. Should still see an improvement due to the wiring up grade...
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  4. 31st March 2009, 04:45 PM #4
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    JDNSW
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    Quote Originally Posted by Mikes defender View Post
    Thanks Rick...

    Ill put the old head lamps back in.. Should still see an improvement due to the wiring up grade...
    The improvement going from 11.2 to 13.8v will be a lot more than the improvement from doubling the wattage!

    John
    John

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  5. 31st March 2009, 05:13 PM #5
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    All you are going to do with the hi wattage bulbs is anger oncoming drivers. Besides being illegal they are twice the normal bulb watage - 60/55W. If you are dead set keen on higher wattage I would try to find a set of 100/55W ones that are only brighter on hi beam - will save a lot of heartache!
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  6. 31st March 2009, 05:36 PM #6
    Mikes defender
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    i have been driving with 100w globes in my old 504 pug for at least 7 years.

    I always make sure that they are correctly adjusted so they do not shine in to the eyes of on coming drivers. I haven't been flashed with them on... If they are too bright for oncoming drivers i am sure the will let me know...

    Any way. Turns out i have found a set of glass reflectors, my brother had a spare set for his mini.. he asked if i wanted a set of crome eyelids to go with it!! arrr no
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  7. 31st March 2009, 05:50 PM #7
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    Quote Originally Posted by Mikes defender View Post
    i have been driving with 100w globes in my old 504 pug for at least 7 years.

    I always make sure that they are correctly adjusted so they do not shine in to the eyes of on coming drivers. I haven't been flashed with them on... If they are too bright for oncoming drivers i am sure the will let me know...

    <snip>
    ditto, and never had a problem as the lights are adjusted properly.
    Cut off low (Z) beams help a lot here too.
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  8. 31st March 2009, 08:14 PM #8
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    Quote Originally Posted by rick130 View Post
    ditto, and never had a problem as the lights are adjusted properly.
    Cut off low (Z) beams help a lot here too.
    The problems for oncoming drivers arise (on low beam) when the lights have dirt on them which scatters the light. But as pointed out above, the perceived light increase by doubling the wattage is only barely perceptible, since the eye's response to light intensity is logarithmic.

    John
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  9. 1st April 2009, 01:47 AM #9
    Mikes defender
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    Quote Originally Posted by JDNSW View Post
    The problems for oncoming drivers arise (on low beam) when the lights have dirt on them which scatters the light. But as pointed out above, the perceived light increase by doubling the wattage is only barely perceptible, since the eye's response to light intensity is logarithmic.

    John
    Most of the cars i come across that have there lights incorrectly adjusted are cars/ 4wds that are heavly loaded ! pointing there nose skyward!!
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  10. 1st April 2009, 05:53 AM #10
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    Quote Originally Posted by Mikes defender View Post
    Most of the cars i come across that have there lights incorrectly adjusted are cars/ 4wds that are heavly loaded ! pointing there nose skyward!!
    Yes, this is a problem. Another one is that with the push to use headlights in daylight, far too many people run on high beam, since their high beam warning light is too dim to see in daylight.

    Worth noting that if you have HID lights they should legally have both wipers/washers and adjustment available for the driver to compensate for load.

    Thirty-five years ago my Citroen had self levelling lights operated by linkages from the front and rear sway bars - a few more vehicles could do with this.

    John
    John

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