Defender head-lights.

Any lighting gurus out there?

I'm not impressed with the head-lights on my L reg 90, these dark nights the
light seems to come out of the lamp, trickle across the front bumper and
fall on the road about five yards in front. This is even after the mud has
been washed off them.

Read a wee article in LROI workshop answers about upgrading the bulbs from
40/45w to 60/65w which seemed like a good way to go, until I looked under
the bonnet....

...I've got sealed beam units. There's no indication that I can see on them
as to what their wattage is. How easy is it change back to normal bowls and
bulbs? Is this likely to be an improvement (any guesses what wattage the
sbu's are likely to be?)? Cost? Any thoughts gratefully appreciated.

Cheers,

M.

In message <[email protected]>
"McBad" <[email protected]> wrote:

> Any lighting gurus out there?
>
> I'm not impressed with the head-lights on my L reg 90, these dark nights the
> light seems to come out of the lamp, trickle across the front bumper and
> fall on the road about five yards in front. This is even after the mud has
> been washed off them.
>
> Read a wee article in LROI workshop answers about upgrading the bulbs from
> 40/45w to 60/65w which seemed like a good way to go, until I looked under
> the bonnet....
>
> ..I've got sealed beam units. There's no indication that I can see on them
> as to what their wattage is. How easy is it change back to normal bowls and
> bulbs? Is this likely to be an improvement (any guesses what wattage the
> sbu's are likely to be?)? Cost? Any thoughts gratefully appreciated.
>
> Cheers,
>
> M.
>
>

Seal beams were standard at that time.

<shameless plug>

RTC4615K Halogen Conversion Kit - RHD - Pair £22.32 inc VAT

</shameless plug>

Richard

--
www.beamends-lrspares.co.uk [email protected]
Running a business in a Microsoft free environment - it can be done
Powered by Risc-OS - you won't get a virus from us!!
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"McBad" <[email protected]> wrote in message
news:[email protected]...
> Any lighting gurus out there?
>
> I'm not impressed with the head-lights on my L reg 90, these dark nights
> the
> light seems to come out of the lamp, trickle across the front bumper and
> fall on the road about five yards in front. This is even after the mud
> has
> been washed off them.
>
> Read a wee article in LROI workshop answers about upgrading the bulbs from
> 40/45w to 60/65w which seemed like a good way to go, until I looked under
> the bonnet....
>
> ..I've got sealed beam units. There's no indication that I can see on
> them
> as to what their wattage is. How easy is it change back to normal bowls
> and
> bulbs? Is this likely to be an improvement (any guesses what wattage the
> sbu's are likely to be?)? Cost? Any thoughts gratefully appreciated.

Ditch the sealed beams, fit good quality halogen replacement light units,
around £28 a set. DO NOT fit higher wattage bulbs to them, you WILL burn out
the main lighting switch, normally half way round a blind bend in the dark!
Fit Phillips vision-plus bulbs, 50% greater light output than std halogens
for the same wattage, excellent bulbs, came top in various reviews.
As for replacements, genuine Lucas are good, Ring are ok, last set of Wipac
I fitted were crap, now running Cibe Iode units, they're as good as the
Lucas ones. Remember it's not just the bulbs, but the reflector design and
quality that plays a big part.
Stay clear of the "crystal" units, you may have MOT issues due to no "E"
marking and no distinctive dip pattern.
Badger.

Rip out those poxy sealed beams!!

Get yourself a wipac conversion kit, and get the 65w or maybe even 100w bulbs in there.

Makes one hell of a difference

Jim

PS... Run the headlamp circuit through a relay per side and you wont have your switch burning out.

Jim

"Badger" <[email protected]> wrote in message
news:[email protected]...
>
> "McBad" <[email protected]> wrote in message
> news:[email protected]...
> > Any lighting gurus out there?
> >
> > I'm not impressed with the head-lights on my L reg 90, these dark nights
> > the
> > light seems to come out of the lamp, trickle across the front bumper and
> > fall on the road about five yards in front. This is even after the mud
> > has
> > been washed off them.
> >
> > Read a wee article in LROI workshop answers about upgrading the bulbs
from
> > 40/45w to 60/65w which seemed like a good way to go, until I looked
under
> > the bonnet....
> >
> > ..I've got sealed beam units. There's no indication that I can see on
> > them
> > as to what their wattage is. How easy is it change back to normal bowls
> > and
> > bulbs? Is this likely to be an improvement (any guesses what wattage
the
> > sbu's are likely to be?)? Cost? Any thoughts gratefully appreciated.
>
> Ditch the sealed beams, fit good quality halogen replacement light units,
> around £28 a set. DO NOT fit higher wattage bulbs to them, you WILL burn
out
> the main lighting switch, normally half way round a blind bend in the
dark!
> Fit Phillips vision-plus bulbs, 50% greater light output than std halogens
> for the same wattage, excellent bulbs, came top in various reviews.
> As for replacements, genuine Lucas are good, Ring are ok, last set of
Wipac
> I fitted were crap, now running Cibe Iode units, they're as good as the
> Lucas ones. Remember it's not just the bulbs, but the reflector design and
> quality that plays a big part.
> Stay clear of the "crystal" units, you may have MOT issues due to no "E"
> marking and no distinctive dip pattern.
> Badger.
>
>

Thanks all for responding so quickly. This is a superb newsgroup for
getting useful information fast.

Cheers,

M

McBad wrote:
> "Badger" <[email protected]> wrote in message
> news:[email protected]...
>>
>> "McBad" <[email protected]> wrote in message
>> news:[email protected]...
>>> Any lighting gurus out there?
>>>
>>> I'm not impressed with the head-lights on my L reg 90, these dark
>>> nights the
>>> light seems to come out of the lamp, trickle across the front
>>> bumper and fall on the road about five yards in front. This is
>>> even after the mud has
>>> been washed off them.
>>>
>>> Read a wee article in LROI workshop answers about upgrading the
>>> bulbs from 40/45w to 60/65w which seemed like a good way to go,
>>> until I looked under the bonnet....
>>>
>>> ..I've got sealed beam units. There's no indication that I can see
>>> on them
>>> as to what their wattage is. How easy is it change back to normal
>>> bowls and
>>> bulbs? Is this likely to be an improvement (any guesses what
>>> wattage the sbu's are likely to be?)? Cost? Any thoughts
>>> gratefully appreciated.
>>
>> Ditch the sealed beams, fit good quality halogen replacement light
>> units, around £28 a set. DO NOT fit higher wattage bulbs to them,
>> you WILL burn out the main lighting switch, normally half way round
>> a blind bend in the dark! Fit Phillips vision-plus bulbs, 50%
>> greater light output than std halogens for the same wattage,
>> excellent bulbs, came top in various reviews.
>> As for replacements, genuine Lucas are good, Ring are ok, last set
>> of Wipac I fitted were crap, now running Cibe Iode units, they're as
>> good as the Lucas ones. Remember it's not just the bulbs, but the
>> reflector design and quality that plays a big part.
>> Stay clear of the "crystal" units, you may have MOT issues due to no
>> "E" marking and no distinctive dip pattern.
>> Badger.
>>
>>
>
> Thanks all for responding so quickly. This is a superb newsgroup for
> getting useful information fast.
>
> Cheers,
>
> M

I have to agree, easily the best NG i know of! Mainly thanks to the top blokes who frequent it!

Nige

--
Subaru WRX
Range Rover LSE (Bob)

'"gimme the f*ckin' money"

On Sat, 5 Nov 2005 14:27:25 +0000 (UTC), "Badger"
<[email protected]> wrote:

>Ditch the sealed beams, fit good quality halogen replacement light units,
>around £28 a set. DO NOT fit higher wattage bulbs to them,

I found that the switch from sealed beams to standard wattage halogens
was enough of an improvement and i didnt need to fit any more powerful
bulbs!

"Badger" <[email protected]> wrote in message
news:[email protected]...
>
> "McBad" <[email protected]> wrote in message
> news:[email protected]...
>> Any lighting gurus out there?
>>
>> I'm not impressed with the head-lights on my L reg 90, these dark nights
>> the
>> light seems to come out of the lamp, trickle across the front bumper and
>> fall on the road about five yards in front. This is even after the mud
>> has
>> been washed off them.
>>
>> Read a wee article in LROI workshop answers about upgrading the bulbs
>> from
>> 40/45w to 60/65w which seemed like a good way to go, until I looked under
>> the bonnet....
>>
>> ..I've got sealed beam units. There's no indication that I can see on
>> them
>> as to what their wattage is. How easy is it change back to normal bowls
>> and
>> bulbs? Is this likely to be an improvement (any guesses what wattage the
>> sbu's are likely to be?)? Cost? Any thoughts gratefully appreciated.
>
> Ditch the sealed beams, fit good quality halogen replacement light units,
> around £28 a set. DO NOT fit higher wattage bulbs to them, you WILL burn
> out the main lighting switch, normally half way round a blind bend in the
> dark! Fit Phillips vision-plus bulbs, 50% greater light output than std
> halogens for the same wattage, excellent bulbs, came top in various
> reviews.
> As for replacements, genuine Lucas are good, Ring are ok, last set of
> Wipac I fitted were crap, now running Cibe Iode units, they're as good as
> the Lucas ones. Remember it's not just the bulbs, but the reflector design
> and quality that plays a big part.
> Stay clear of the "crystal" units, you may have MOT issues due to no "E"
> marking and no distinctive dip pattern.
> Badger.
>

I think you are right about quality. My last LR had a Lucas H4 headlight
upgrade and I was slightly disappointed to find that there were Wipac H4
lights on my latest one (Wipac being by tradition a "cheaper" make). I
thought it would probably not make much difference , but in fact dipped beam
is very poor, although main beam is ok. I too will be looking to change the
lenses soon.

Nick

....and beamendsltd spake unto the tribes of Usenet, saying...

>> I'm not impressed with the head-lights on my L reg 90, these dark
>> nights the light seems to come out of the lamp, trickle across the
>> front bumper and fall on the road about five yards in front. This
>> is even after the mud has been washed off them.
>>
>
> RTC4615K Halogen Conversion Kit - RHD - Pair £22.32 inc VAT

Best 20-odd quid you could spend. Easy to swap, and the improvement is
amazing.

--
Rich
==============================
Disco 300 Tdi auto
S2a 88" SW
Tiggrr (V8 trialler)

"Badger" <[email protected]> wrote in message
news:[email protected]...
>
> "McBad" <[email protected]> wrote in message
> news:[email protected]...
>> Any lighting gurus out there?
>>
>> I'm not impressed with the head-lights on my L reg 90, these dark nights
>> the
>> light seems to come out of the lamp, trickle across the front bumper and
>> fall on the road about five yards in front. This is even after the mud
>> has
>> been washed off them.
>>
>> Read a wee article in LROI workshop answers about upgrading the bulbs
>> from
>> 40/45w to 60/65w which seemed like a good way to go, until I looked under
>> the bonnet....
>>
>> ..I've got sealed beam units. There's no indication that I can see on
>> them
>> as to what their wattage is. How easy is it change back to normal bowls
>> and
>> bulbs? Is this likely to be an improvement (any guesses what wattage the
>> sbu's are likely to be?)? Cost? Any thoughts gratefully appreciated.
>
> Ditch the sealed beams, fit good quality halogen replacement light units,
> around £28 a set. DO NOT fit higher wattage bulbs to them, you WILL burn
> out the main lighting switch, normally half way round a blind bend in the
> dark! Fit Phillips vision-plus bulbs, 50% greater light output than std
> halogens for the same wattage, excellent bulbs, came top in various
> reviews.
> As for replacements, genuine Lucas are good, Ring are ok, last set of
> Wipac I fitted were crap, now running Cibe Iode units, they're as good as
> the Lucas ones. Remember it's not just the bulbs, but the reflector design
> and quality that plays a big part.
> Stay clear of the "crystal" units, you may have MOT issues due to no "E"
> marking and no distinctive dip pattern.
> Badger.
>
I got some "Ring" halogen lights, they are a bit poo (made in India) but
they were really cheep (got another set for spair).
Fitted some 60% brighter Ring xenon bulbs and now the light output is
excellent.
--
Jon

Is it true that Mr Beam Ends has offered to do the RTC4615K Halogen
Conversion Kit - RHD - Pair £22.32 inc VAT to also include postage?
If so, I'll have a pair! Now that's what you call true LR altruism!
Peter

"Peter" <[email protected]> wrote in message
news:[email protected]...
> Is it true that Mr Beam Ends has offered to do the RTC4615K Halogen
> Conversion Kit - RHD - Pair £22.32 inc VAT to also include postage?
> If so, I'll have a pair! Now that's what you call true LR altruism!
> Peter
>
>
>

An order has been placed... I'll report upon what difference it makes in
due course. It should please the wife because at the moment she's having to
walk in front with a torch. It's ****ing her off a bit with all this rain
we're having.

Cheers,

M.

On or around Sat, 5 Nov 2005 14:22:16 +0000 (UTC), beamendsltd
<[email protected]> enlightened us thusly:

>Seal beams were standard at that time.
>
><shameless plug>
>
>RTC4615K Halogen Conversion Kit - RHD - Pair £22.32 inc VAT
>
></shameless plug>

are they the genuine LR ones or the Wipac conversions? Not that the Wipac
ones have anything wrong with 'em, AFAIIK.

In message <[email protected]>
Austin Shackles <[email protected]> wrote:

> On or around Sat, 5 Nov 2005 14:22:16 +0000 (UTC), beamendsltd
> <[email protected]> enlightened us thusly:
>
> >Seal beams were standard at that time.
> >
> ><shameless plug>
> >
> >RTC4615K Halogen Conversion Kit - RHD - Pair £22.32 inc VAT
> >
> ></shameless plug>
>
> are they the genuine LR ones or the Wipac conversions? Not that the Wipac
> ones have anything wrong with 'em, AFAIIK.

They are both Wipac - as to whether the Genuine ones are made to a
different sepc. I couldn't comment on.

Richard
--
www.beamends-lrspares.co.uk [email protected]
Running a business in a Microsoft free environment - it can be done
Powered by Risc-OS - you won't get a virus from us!!
Boycott the Yorkshire Dales - No Play, No Pay

In message <[email protected]>
"Peter" <[email protected]> wrote:

> Is it true that Mr Beam Ends has offered to do the RTC4615K Halogen
> Conversion Kit - RHD - Pair £22.32 inc VAT to also include postage?
> If so, I'll have a pair! Now that's what you call true LR altruism!
> Peter
>
>
>

£3.00 post to the uk, but otherwise yes!

Richard
--
www.beamends-lrspares.co.uk [email protected]
Running a business in a Microsoft free environment - it can be done
Powered by Risc-OS - you won't get a virus from us!!
Boycott the Yorkshire Dales - No Play, No Pay

What does the conversion kit consist of?

In message <[email protected]>
"Peter" <[email protected]> wrote:

> What does the conversion kit consist of?
>
>

2 x Halogen light units
2 x Rubber bulb covers
2 x bulbs 60/65W

Which ia all you need.

Richard

--
www.beamends-lrspares.co.uk [email protected]
Running a business in a Microsoft free environment - it can be done
Powered by Risc-OS - you won't get a virus from us!!
Boycott the Yorkshire Dales - No Play, No Pay

In article <7c3598c64d%[email protected]>, beamendsltd
<[email protected]> writes
>In message <[email protected]>
> "Peter" <[email protected]> wrote:
>
>> What does the conversion kit consist of?
>>
>>
>
>2 x Halogen light units
>2 x Rubber bulb covers
>2 x bulbs 60/65W
>
>Which ia all you need.

Count me in for some too, but it's not *quite* all you need...

.... check the cable connectors are clean and shiny-bright, and that the
wires to the lamps are in good nick, otherwise the extra power will
still go in warming up the joints and the wires!

Thick copper = bright lights...

.... or 90-day detention periods, if you're a Commissioner.


Regards,

Simonm.

--
simonm|at|muircom|dot|demon|.|c|oh|dot|u|kay
SIMON MUIR, BRISTOL UK www.ukip.org
EUROPEANS AGAINST THE EU www.members.aol.com/eurofaq
GT250A'76 R80/RT'86 110CSW TD'88 www.kc3ltd.co.uk/profile/eurofollie/

....and SpamTrapSeeSig spake unto the tribes of Usenet, saying...

> Thick copper = bright lights...
>
> ... or 90-day detention periods, if you're a Commissioner.




--
Rich
==============================
Disco 300 Tdi auto
S2a 88" SW
Tiggrr (V8 trialler)