Thread: New driving lights...which ones?

Originally Posted by AK83

Going by your sig, I'm guessing you've got a D1.

If that's the case, I can highly recommend the Philips Ultinon H4 headlight package.
It comes with two properly designed H4 LED globes, two electronic boxes to run them, which plug into your 3 pronged headlight plug.
Other than the fact that you need to mount the electronic boxes(easy) they are pretty much plug'n'play.
But with the caveat that not quite as easy as the standard H4 plug'n'play setup.
The major issue is a lack of depth behind the headlight to allow for many H4 LED designs heatsink AND also allow for the rubber cover to be refitted to the rear of the light body.
The Ultinon design is simpler and it fits(the D1).

I bought my dad a set of cheaper LED H4's with the traditional heatsink rear end design for his Ford Explorer, which has more room for the heatsink. They worked well too, but won't fit the D1 easily.
Dad wanted better lights for similar reasons that you stare .. he avoids driving at night, but sometimes gets caught out. He's 84.

The electronic box with the Philips globes mounts easily on the rear panel behind the light with plenty of room to move around.

Reason for my use of the LED globes in my main lights was simple. It was that, or a loom update .. remembering that LEDs require less current. So with the LEDs now fitted, I didn't have to change wiring to get more power to a pair of halogens!
Took me less than an hour to fit the LED globes, and I reckon most of that time was taken up on 'smoko' breaks!

I fitted the LED bar before I updated the main lights. With the main lights being LEDs now have made the light bar almost redundant when I use high beams.
Whilst the LED bar does add additional brightness to the LEDs on high beam, it's nothing like the extra light they made with the halogen main globes.

So considering your reasoning for the driving lights, I'd reckon you're better to look into the options of either: better main globes(ie,. good quality LEDs), or updating the headlight wiring loom.

The Philips LEDs were about $200(maybe $220, I think), so, pretty much on the ultra high side, whereas my dads cheaper LED H4 conversion were more like $80.

How do you find the colour ?

Originally Posted by rick130

I know OzScott has done just that with an old pair of Super Oscars and really rates them. Even though they were designed way back in the seventies or maybe even the late sixties, god they were a good design.

The limited time I've spent behind HID's a few years ago I found them that little bit harsh/glarey, but it might come down to colour temp too. Oh, and they were factory stock headlights in the ex's Citroen.

Yep I really like them Rick. I went a warm. They reflect on road signs but that's because they are very bright. Great for long distance travel. The Super Oscars are an awesome light. Well built - steel with beautiful polished chromed reflectors but as Rick says they weather. You can buy new reflectors but i think I will go a new pair already HID'd next time.

Cheers

On my D2 main lights I run German made Osram Nightbreaker Extremes and adjust the beams up slightly as the extra grunt gets you better distance and I never get flashed on low. Had these bulbs for years (stock wattage) and they have done Cape York and other corrugated roads and are still going. Very easy light to live with. Cheers

If you use Oscars and Super Oscars on rough dirt roads the rivets in the base shake out.
A real pain but you do need to drive a lot of rough roads though doubt if a tourist car would do it

My brother fitted up a client's D2a with Steady LED spotties and Steady light bar (full width in effect) on the roof and the light is insane. But probably too white for me. Impressive in terms of massive flooding and no pockets of dark. Cheers

I had heard about the rivets. I had a set for 12 years and they never did that but it wasn't being driven on corrugations a lot. I am form follows function on most things but I really like the slightly retro feel of Super Oscars and they suit the D2 very well. Cheers

Originally Posted by djam1

If you use Oscars and Super Oscars on rough dirt roads the rivets in the base shake out.
A real pain but you do need to drive a lot of rough roads though doubt if a tourist car would do it

Yes they do too!

I re-riveted the ones on the ex's GU with 3/16" monel sealed rivets that seemed to last ok?

Originally Posted by ozscott

I had heard about the rivets. I had a set for 12 years and they never did that but it wasn't being driven on corrugations a lot. I am form follows function on most things but I really like the slightly retro feel of Super Oscars and they suit the D2 very well. Cheers

I agree !