90 3.9 Not Bright dipped beam

Have the std halogen dipped beam sealed units on my 90 classic.
Recently had the big fog lamps fitted in to the spoiler replacing the little aftermarket ones. During this time I changed the bulbs in the fogs as they were 100W he had in there so replaced with some nice white 55W ones.

I thought I would then check out and replace the H4 bulbs in the round dipped beam units but whatever I put in the light output seems very.... well rubbish not getting any good throw on to the road, tried adjusting them (after marking where they were) next to no throw on to the Near side.

Not sure if its the units and I need to replace them or if its just the way they are...

Main Beam they light up the county

Ash

Hey Ash, I've got a similar problem. The previous owner actually replaced the lamp units to try and improve things (I think they have the "angel eye" side light rings in, thankfully not connected) but the dipped beam is still terrible, although the full beam is great (with or without the driving lights on). I get a pool of decent light extending about 10ft in front of the car, and then the most pathetic light from that point upwards, unless I have full beam on! Rubbish.

If anyone can recommend decent headlamp units for the RRC, I'd be interested too!

My Full Beam is through the front fogs... which lights up everything nicely...
I did toy with 100W ones to liven it up but with old wiring and stuff and legality issues I just have not bothered. I have seen the little cable things which are being punted for the RRC.. if you search fleabay 'Seat 472 55w 80w 100w Xenon White Ceramic Heat Resistant Bulb Holder Adaptor' you will see they are for the H4 bulbs when running 100W.... I might just put it down to having a cross eyed/half blind Range rover but the dipped/side and fog does look nice in the whiter light bulbs I am running.

headlamp ecu could be faulty, hard to source though, or try wipacs on ebay for about 40 quid

Don't suppose either of you have light guards fitted? My P38 has the light guards and dipped beam is crap. The wife's has no light guards and dipped beam is fantastic. My light guards are thin but about 1cm wide. On main beam the thinness causes no issues but on dip the width of the guard blocks about 30% (not scientific) of the emitted light.

Classic headlamps are not brilliant. If really dim check the earthing on the headlamps but also have a careful look at the headlamp itself - corrosion makes the reflectors dim because the shiny plating falls off.

I put extra bright bulbs in mine which did improve things a bit. I wouldn't be too tempted to put higher wattage bulbs in, the original wiring is unlikely to last long under the extra load. I put up with a poor dip beam but a roof bar full of spots is more than enough on main.

Had same trouble, wipac's fitted and now decent.......wouldn't say outstanding.

Seems like its not a major issues just a live with it... I have white 55W bulbs in now and so long as I am not dazzling others I will let it be... I do have the light guards on which won't help I guess... I am slowly but surely whitening the lights on it... done the dipped, main, side reverse and interior think that will do for now...

ashbash2403 said:

Seems like its not a major issues just a live with it... I have white 55W bulbs in now and so long as I am not dazzling others I will let it be... I do have the light guards on which won't help I guess... I am slowly but surely whitening the lights on it... done the dipped, main, side reverse and interior think that will do for now...

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Take the light guards off and see if there is a marked fifference. I think you maybe surprised. Costs nothing to try.

classic kev said:

Classic headlamps are not brilliant. If really dim I put up with a poor dip beam but a roof bar full of spots is more than enough on main.

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This situation is annoying I agree & it has to be said that I've experienced it with 'normal' modern cars as well. When you consider the amount of traffic on the roads at night, even if you travel in the wee small hours, there always seems to be someone coming the other way so your full beam is often redundant & it's the dip you really want to be effective. Having said that the lamps on my '87 are probably original but seem to be adequate although as an old fart I'm rarely in a hurry.

I have light guards fitted too so may temporarily remove them, or try some higher output 55W bulbs to see if they make any difference.