upgrading headlight

Post by **gumtree** » Fri Dec 28, 2007 9:33 pm

hey all,

im thinking of properly upgrading the headlights is my wt sierra. before i had the car there was a full $600 ipf headlight upgrade done but something happened ( dont know what) so all i think is left is the ipf headlight casing/shell. i dont know what the wiring is there and there seems to be $30 autobarn headlight bulbs in the casing now that are slightly brighter than standard but still crap.

so what will i have to do to have decent lights. is there a total kit with wiring, looms, bulbs ect or can i just buy some decent bulbs from autobarn to put in that will be bright but wont melt the wiring, even bulbs out of a decent standard car like wrx or camry etc.

Post by **oozuk** » Sat Dec 29, 2007 9:38 am

nope sorry i'm pretty sure that ipf and parana are the only ones (correct me if i'm wrong) that do upgraded wiring and if your still running the ipf upgraded globes then you should be running these harnesses as otherwise you will burn out the factory harness.

I'm running the ipf upgraded harness with ipf lenses and ipf 90/140W globes, and that setups awesome, will burn the eye's out of the head of a possum from a km away

Post by **GRPABT1** » Sat Dec 29, 2007 9:43 am

Perhaps the headlights they sell on ebay to suit sierra's and land drovers. Anyone tried these?

Post by **gumtree** » Sat Dec 29, 2007 10:54 am

oh yeah they're bright, saw them when they were in. my friend used to get flashed when driving in low beam coz they were that bright.

does narva do a set does anyone know?

i checked right now there is narva 12v 60/55w h4 globes in there. if i go to 100w will that melt my wiring or will it be ok if i put a bigger fuse in?

these are the ones on ebay u were talking about. he seems to say nothing about upgrading wiring for the 90w / 135w globes. anyone tried them?

http://cgi.ebay.com.au/Land-Range-Rover ... dZViewItem

Post by **alien** » Sat Dec 29, 2007 12:10 pm

im using 55/100w globes on the stock wiring and its perfectly fine, and very bright. pretty sure i got mine from supercheap.

Post by **gumtree** » Sat Dec 29, 2007 7:54 pm

55/100watts ay, sounds decent enough. this sounds like the way to go without out spending heaps. so you've had no probs at all. how long have u been running this set up for?

Post by **alien** » Sat Dec 29, 2007 8:58 pm

about 3 years... the car's been outa action for 2 of those, but they still work now =)

Post by **ZookNC** » Sat Dec 29, 2007 10:15 pm

Yep, Narva sell upgraded lights. Any brand 7 inch round lights will fit (I've got Hellas I bought off Ebay) but you'll definitely need to upgrade your wiring to go anywhere above standard bulb wattage or you'll not only melt the wires, you won't get half the light you should out of your new bulbs and you will fry them really quickly. I fitted 4 relays, 1 for low beam, 1 for high beam on each light and they really light up the night ! Standard wiring really is piss poor so either way, you need relays regardless of what your upgrade is.

Hope this helps !

Cheers,

Post by **gumtree** » Sun Dec 30, 2007 12:02 am

typed in narva headlight upgrade in google and found this. seems to answer my question.

http://www.exploroz.com/Forum/Topic/445 ... ights.aspx

it seems i can put brighter bulbs in there without melting anything as long as they are the same current as stock. alien, that must be why yours works fine. that being said does anyone know the current i should be looking 4. those phillips crystal vision seem to get a good wrap, might go with them.

Post by **ZookNC** » Sun Dec 30, 2007 6:21 am

Standard wattage is 55 watt low beam and 65 watt high beam.But talking from personal experience, they still won't be as bright as with upgraded wiring.

Website · Post by **murcod** » Sun Dec 30, 2007 7:54 am

These bulbs are supposed to give a noticeable light output increase but are still 55/60W

http://www.powerbulbs.com/product_detail.asp?prod=43

Post by **Puk** » Sun Dec 30, 2007 8:28 am

I got an upgraded wiring loom from potter on this site. $75 inc postage. It was well made, truly plug 'n play into your existing headlight sockets etc, and a i also got narva h4 insert headlights. I went to 55/100w globes, but am thinking of dropping back to the 55/65's, because they are almost too bright.

Seriously, look at the loom first. Even the crappy old sierra sealed beams improve a lot with the new wiring loom.

Puk

Post by **gumtree** » Sun Dec 30, 2007 10:53 am

ZookNC wrote:Standard wattage is 55 watt low beam and 65 watt high beam.But talking from personal experience, they still won't be as bright as with upgraded wiring.

yes standard wattage is 55/65w but its the current that will melt stuff if its too high.

These bulbs are supposed to give a noticeable light output increase but are still 55/60W

http://www.powerbulbs.com/product_detail.asp?prod=43

yes i think this is the way to go. phillips globes seem to give great performance from standard wiring.

I got an upgraded wiring loom from potter on this site. $75 inc postage. It was well made, truly plug 'n play into your existing headlight sockets etc, and a i also got narva h4 insert headlights. I went to 55/100w globes, but am thinking of dropping back to the 55/65's, because they are almost too bright.

Seriously, look at the loom first. Even the crappy old sierra sealed beams improve a lot with the new wiring loom.

wow $75 isnt that much and they will further improve the upgraded bulbs. might consider these if its not too hard to install.

Post by **NIK** » Sun Dec 30, 2007 6:16 pm

If your handy and want to save $$ Im sure Mart on here did a write up on how to upgrade your wiring Im planning to dig it up one day soon.
Nik

Post by **shakes** » Mon Dec 31, 2007 7:48 am

http://www.outerlimits4x4.com/phpBB2/vi ... p?t=127119

that thread might help a little

Post by **Potter** » Thu Jan 03, 2008 9:56 am

I couldnt find the pics with the loom installed but here is the diagram for anyone that wants to have a go at it themselves

Potter

Post by **gumtree** » Thu Jan 03, 2008 1:02 pm

thanks 4 that potter. it looks easy to follow ans simple to do because u only have to hook into one of the old plugs and lay the new wiring down. will attempt this in the next couple weeks when time persists. will let u know the results.

also thanks 4 that thread shakes. there is good info there.

Post by **built4thrashing** » Fri Jan 04, 2008 7:39 pm

whats the go with upgrading the headlight loom? i run new sealled beam 55/75wheadlights and for the extra light when driving out in the bush i turn on the spot lights. Around town all ya use is the low beam and nobody seems to upgrade that much.

If ya wanna see where ya goin on high beam fit a decent set of spot lights.

Post by **gumtree** » Fri Jan 04, 2008 8:58 pm

why do ppl upgrade engines or stereos. coz we can. id rather have decent set of lights and spotties.

Post by **gumtree** » Sun Feb 17, 2008 9:27 pm

ok some problems occured. actually several problems but i will adress them one at a time.

when i hooked everything up to the relay this is what happened.

the park/low/high beams all went on when they were supposed to but the low beam lights were heaps dimmer than normal and the high beams were brighter than normal like it should be and park were as normal as they should. any ideas why the low beams were dim? only thing i can think of is that the low beam relay isnt boosting as it should. (i used the diagram potter posted exept i didnt have to do spotties and i bought a 2 in 1 relay that is neater to use than 2 singles).

the second problem is when i put a tester light on the standard headlight wiring. the earth is positive when lights are on and off. as it should.
when lights are off the low beam wire should be positive and when low beams are on they should be negative, well it always seems to be negative. when the high beams are off there is be a very very dimm positve when it should light up the light in the tester screwdriver well. when high beams are on, the dim tester light is off as it should.

then sometimes i have no low beams through my upgrade wiring or original wiring, but high beams are there in both occasions. i think it might be a bad earth in the original wiring but i cant find where the earth is???

Post by **gumtree** » Mon Feb 18, 2008 11:31 pm

serious help anyone. i am going back to the shop where i got the relays and stuff from to get another relay coz i think this one is faulty. anyone agree. i just want to know what im talking about when i go in there.

Post by **gumtree** » Tue Feb 26, 2008 11:28 pm

earthing problem fixed for now...

still dont have bright lights thou but have the ability to put in highter wattage globes now.

it it illigal to go brighter to a 90/100w ???

Post by **alien** » Wed Feb 27, 2008 12:12 am

i dont know that its illegal as such - those xenon lights are blinding as when the car behing u has them and goes over a bump!

I think if you were behind a cop and he got cranky he could pull you up and question it, but how does one say lights are illegal? lol

i have mine turned FULLY down, they wont go any lower and still shine into people's rear-view mirrors if im about 10-15m away... but my lights measure about 1m from ground to centre of light...

Post by **ScrawnC** » Thu Feb 28, 2008 10:03 am

Do you need brighter than 90/100w?

I can't find anything in the QLD regulations about how bright is too bright.

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