Hi
i have been told that i cannot change my headlights to these new fancy brighter lights, as they are factory fittted. the name has slipped my memory.
They advertise bright bulbs on ebay and other outlets, has any member changed his lights to these brighter bulbs ?
bright lights
John boy
Did you end up getting the Hoen Titanium bulb for your car,
After reading what you said i checked the web site about them they are more powerful than the Philip's bulbs 4300 kelvin to 4000 kelvin (makes me sound very technical) and a lot more expensive than the Philip's bulb.
Are they only available in the USA via the web.
Before i purchase them i will wait and see if anybody else has any comments as the results are getting better all the time i get a response
These forums do work
Ray
Did you end up getting the Hoen Titanium bulb for your car,
After reading what you said i checked the web site about them they are more powerful than the Philip's bulbs 4300 kelvin to 4000 kelvin (makes me sound very technical) and a lot more expensive than the Philip's bulb.
Are they only available in the USA via the web.
Before i purchase them i will wait and see if anybody else has any comments as the results are getting better all the time i get a response
These forums do work
Ray
I haven’t changed my bulbs as yet, but I intend to do so before next winter when I start using the Head-Lights more.
If you do a search on the forum for Hoen, you will find DavidM was very enthusiastic about them. It was his car I compared my lights to, and the difference was astounding to say the least.
I don’t know if Hoen retail outside of the USA, but the Hoen bulbs, as the only ones I have seen a direct comparison for, will certainly be a consideration when I change mine.
If you do a search on the forum for Hoen, you will find DavidM was very enthusiastic about them. It was his car I compared my lights to, and the difference was astounding to say the least.
I don’t know if Hoen retail outside of the USA, but the Hoen bulbs, as the only ones I have seen a direct comparison for, will certainly be a consideration when I change mine.
John Boy
2.8 Z3
2.8 Z3
I've had 4 different bulbs in mine and the Hoen are definitelly the best. They give a very strong and white light (not blue tinted, which lower the lumen count).
I bought mine about 9 months ago and at the time Hoen were trying to set up a distributor in Edinburgh. Give them a buzz, might be able to save a few quid on the shipping.
http://www.PowerManiac.com
I bought mine about 9 months ago and at the time Hoen were trying to set up a distributor in Edinburgh. Give them a buzz, might be able to save a few quid on the shipping.
http://www.PowerManiac.com
In the Netherlands we had a group buy of xenon sets where you have the choice between the 6000K (white) and 8000K (blue) lights.
If you have the "older" model with the HB4 lights, it can be fitted in 15 minutes. For the H7 lights you'll need an adaptor, which can be bought for a lot less from Opel (Vauxhal) instead from BMW.
If you have the "older" model with the HB4 lights, it can be fitted in 15 minutes. For the H7 lights you'll need an adaptor, which can be bought for a lot less from Opel (Vauxhal) instead from BMW.
That is rubbish if fitted correctly that is not an issue.
I can imagine the same discussion when the headlights changed from traditional glow lamps to halogen lamps.
That is a hot item here in the Netherlands at the moment.
It will be mandatory to have a headlight washer unit and self leveling headlight units. As a matter of fact I know the Dutch equivalent of the MOT (APK) is a lot more strict than in the UK. So these new rules will have to be followed to the letter.
Come to think of it, the German TUV, even more strict doesn't disapprove them.
I can imagine the same discussion when the headlights changed from traditional glow lamps to halogen lamps.
That is a hot item here in the Netherlands at the moment.
It will be mandatory to have a headlight washer unit and self leveling headlight units. As a matter of fact I know the Dutch equivalent of the MOT (APK) is a lot more strict than in the UK. So these new rules will have to be followed to the letter.
Come to think of it, the German TUV, even more strict doesn't disapprove them.
Last edited by ChrisXL on Wed 03 Aug, 2005 20:58, edited 1 time in total.
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Guest
Xenon Bulbs
There are many 'Xenon' type bulbs availbale, but remember price does not guarantee quality! the best in repeated Auto Express tests are always Philips, their latest being BlueVision, which I have in the Zed - they changed very good lights to unbelievably good!
Since going to France I had to buy new RH dipping lights, these later ones having H7 outer bulbs, as distinct from the original HB6. Blue Vision are available in both types.
Since going to France I had to buy new RH dipping lights, these later ones having H7 outer bulbs, as distinct from the original HB6. Blue Vision are available in both types.
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Guest
HID Lamps
I think Ray was referring to High Intensity Discharge lamps, which are a different thing from xenon lights - this simply refers to the type of halogen gas used in the bulb, xenon being the current favourite.
I can sympathise with Robin, for all too many HID lights do indeed promote dazzle, in spite of their mandatory self-levelling systems. The tragedy is that the drivers seem unable to decide what to do with the (also mandatory) headlight height adjuster control on the dash, while most of them imagine that they must travel close enough to the car in front for their headlights to illuminate the inside of its driver's eyeballs!
I find that the Zed's mesh wind deflector reduces night-time glare considerably, and it can also be very useful for dropping a hint, by having the passenger hang a coat over it, so totally stopping the glare, and - sometimes - making the clot behind wonder why it has been done!
There's probably a law against it, but a reflective sheet would make an even better job of it, by returning the light to those who produce it.
I've added another article to the Knowledgebase, detailing the halogen bulb tests by AutoExpress - the most expensive was not the best, by a large margin.
I can sympathise with Robin, for all too many HID lights do indeed promote dazzle, in spite of their mandatory self-levelling systems. The tragedy is that the drivers seem unable to decide what to do with the (also mandatory) headlight height adjuster control on the dash, while most of them imagine that they must travel close enough to the car in front for their headlights to illuminate the inside of its driver's eyeballs!
I find that the Zed's mesh wind deflector reduces night-time glare considerably, and it can also be very useful for dropping a hint, by having the passenger hang a coat over it, so totally stopping the glare, and - sometimes - making the clot behind wonder why it has been done!
There's probably a law against it, but a reflective sheet would make an even better job of it, by returning the light to those who produce it.
I've added another article to the Knowledgebase, detailing the halogen bulb tests by AutoExpress - the most expensive was not the best, by a large margin.
Re: HID Lamps
What adjuster control? - there is no such thing with the BMW Xenon option - which must mean it is not mandatory?Mike Fishwick wrote:The tragedy is that the drivers seem unable to decide what to do with the (also mandatory) headlight height adjuster control on the dash
Re: HID Lamps
Only problem Mike is that only solves glare from the rear but not from oncoming vehicles. Lately I've noticed when HID or xenon equiped vehicles cross undulating road surfaces or hit a slight bump the headlights obviously momentarily point upwards so are insufficienly dipped & so cause glare. Not such a problem with halogen but I think rather bright with HID's.Mike Fishwick wrote:I can sympathise with Robin, for all too many HID lights do indeed promote dazzle, in spite of their mandatory self-levelling systems. The tragedy is that the drivers seem unable to decide what to do with the (also mandatory) headlight height adjuster control on the dash, while most of them imagine that they must travel close enough to the car in front for their headlights to illuminate the inside of its driver's eyeballs! I find that the Zed's mesh wind deflector reduces night-time glare considerably, and it can also be very useful for dropping a hint, by having the passenger hang a coat over it, so totally stopping the glare, and - sometimes - making the clot behind wonder why it has been done!
IMHO halogens are bright enough on the darkest of roads.
The minor advantage of HID's & xenons doesn't warrant the downside to other drivers in terms of glare so they're best kept for rally cars.
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Guest
Glare and Dazzle
As Robin says, glare from oncoming cars is now a real problem in the UK, with its ever-increasing traffic density and dreadful standard of headlight alignment.
I find that new-ish cars are major offenders, probably due to their 'advanced' lights with clear lenses. Our VW Golf had the worst lights in 30 years, and emitted a shaft of vertical light fromo each dip unit.
Just to show my age, I also think that the use of hand dipswitches is another retrograde step, as lots of drivers cannot anticipate that they will need to dip ina couple of seconds, then fumble around to find the stalk.
In most 'dip' situations the left foot is doing nothing - and all the time in automatic transmission cars - so it may as well be used to work a dip switch. I suppose combining the dip switch with the trafficator stalk saved a few pence on each car, so manufacturers adopted it, and it has now become standard, just like self-cancelling trafficators, which are another sop to the lazy driver.
As I mentioned, use of the headlight levelling knob is quite beyond the average UK driver, while the self-levelling on HID lights never seems to operate quickly enough. The fact that such a system is mandatory seems to point to these lights being a larger potential source of dazzle than normal filament lights. As these cars become older the problem will inevitabley increase - I'm glad I live in France, where traffic density is a lot lower!
I find that new-ish cars are major offenders, probably due to their 'advanced' lights with clear lenses. Our VW Golf had the worst lights in 30 years, and emitted a shaft of vertical light fromo each dip unit.
Just to show my age, I also think that the use of hand dipswitches is another retrograde step, as lots of drivers cannot anticipate that they will need to dip ina couple of seconds, then fumble around to find the stalk.
In most 'dip' situations the left foot is doing nothing - and all the time in automatic transmission cars - so it may as well be used to work a dip switch. I suppose combining the dip switch with the trafficator stalk saved a few pence on each car, so manufacturers adopted it, and it has now become standard, just like self-cancelling trafficators, which are another sop to the lazy driver.
As I mentioned, use of the headlight levelling knob is quite beyond the average UK driver, while the self-levelling on HID lights never seems to operate quickly enough. The fact that such a system is mandatory seems to point to these lights being a larger potential source of dazzle than normal filament lights. As these cars become older the problem will inevitabley increase - I'm glad I live in France, where traffic density is a lot lower!
