Very poor headlights

Hi can anyone help me with this?
Is it common that the headlights on a 1993 discovery has very poor illumination? I cant see where I am going on illuminated roads even on full beam no-one flashes me. Can I improve by putting in better bulbs or can I replace the headlight units for something else and from what?

Hello

The headlights on my old 1991 Disco were very poor too.

I purchased a pair of ultra white headlight bulbs off ebay for £10, They were really good and better tham the "candles" that land rover fit.

I would also inspect the headlight units to see if the reflective lining is getting rusty or dull, Better to check now rather than waiting until MOT time and it getting failed on them !!!!!.

After putting it off for a while (cos I had to remove bull bar, etc), yesterday I fitted relays to my dip and main beam and at the same time changed the headlight units. These are really cheap on a Defender, but it does make a difference. (I know this is the Disco forum, but I don't think the light units are very expensive). A year or so ago I replaced the 'normal' Osram H4 bulbs with Osram 'Silverstar's and they do make a difference. I measured the voltage at the headlight before and after fitting the relays: 11.7v versus 12.4v . I must say that the relays were really fitted to prolong the life of the headlight switch and the dip/main switch. I thought of fitting four relays as some do, but eventually fitted two on the passenger side and fed the wires across to the others.

I also noticed the old Bosch units have a tin shield over the bulb and the new Hella units do not have this. The reflectors were ok, but the glass itself was looking a bit sand-blasted.

Thanks retsgom do you know if I can get these bulbs from a motor factors other than E bay? I can't be arsed to bid on E bay if I can pop to a motor factors and buy them I think I may crash before I can outbid someone on E bay.

try halfords they had the bulbs on a b.o.g.o.f offer not long back got some for my 300.

if you do a lot of driving on high beam fitting spots will help ive fitted 8 inch wipacs with 100 watt bulbs.

You see all the discos with great big spot lights on the front and you fink, poser. but they aint they just cant see nowt. I fitted phillips cool blues to my tdi 200 same wattage so no uprated wiring required. could see fer miles...well aswell as anyone else...

thanks people I.ll try Halfords tomorrow and let you know how I get on

Thanks guys bought a pair from Halfords and fitted them this morning. £14.99 each EEEEK!!!! but it was BOGOF and guess what I can now see where I am going. Working off the manual I have they reckon you can change these bulbs without removing the headlight unit? Only if your a child with very small hands!