sulzerman Posted March 15, 2017 Report Share Posted March 15, 2017 Hi all Can anyone recommend a good quality pair of dip (outer) headlamps for my 2500? I fitted a new budget pair last year and they are terrible!! (I have relays fitted) thank you Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Posted March 15, 2017 Report Share Posted March 15, 2017 Hello Paul. I find Stafford Vehicle Components very good and their products are decent quality. http://www.s-v-c.co.uk/category/lenses---assemblies/ They will be at the NEC at the end of this month. Regards. Richard. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Clive Posted March 15, 2017 Report Share Posted March 15, 2017 Is it the bulb or the beam pattern? Cheap bulbs can be poor.....(as indeed can cheap or expensive units!) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sulzerman Posted March 15, 2017 Author Report Share Posted March 15, 2017 Hi Clive The beam pattern has no spread so I think it is the actual unit Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Clive Posted March 16, 2017 Report Share Posted March 16, 2017 They don't look original, in that the lenses are clear, but I have a pair of "crystal" headlights in my spitfire, and the light is fantastic. So much so that I have never needed to use the spotlights I thought I would need when doing 12 car rallies at night. I would assume the smaller size is equally good? Otherwise branded ones eg cibie would be a safe, if pricey, bet. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Pete Lewis Posted March 16, 2017 Report Share Posted March 16, 2017 I have a set of crystal lamps on my Mk2 off ebay , ones without the side lamp ,they are brilliant. in would suspect the bulb is not fitted quite right if there is a poor defined beam cut off and no light spread Pete Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sulzerman Posted March 28, 2017 Author Report Share Posted March 28, 2017 Hi all I fitted a pair of crystal headlights as recommended. They are excellent and have transformed nighttime driving Thanks for the advice! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Paul H Posted March 29, 2017 Report Share Posted March 29, 2017 Hi all I fitted a pair of crystal headlights as recommended. They are excellent and have transformed nighttime driving Thanks for the advice! Hi Where did you purchase your crystal headlights from as my Vitesse has the existing sealed beams and looking to convert Paul Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TomL Posted March 29, 2017 Report Share Posted March 29, 2017 It is not clear, at least not to me, what "crystal headlamps" are; is Crystal a manufacturer, and are these lights e-marked? Tom Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Posted March 29, 2017 Report Share Posted March 29, 2017 Paul / Tom. I have attached an EBay seller link that gives some insight - I know they are 7" units, they may stock the 5 3/4" units; but I have not enquired. The price seems reasonable enough. http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/281696271071?_trksid=p2055119.m1438.l2649&ssPageName=STRK%3AMEBIDX%3AIT Hope it assists ?? Regards. Richard. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Posted March 29, 2017 Report Share Posted March 29, 2017 A better link, but looks as though you will need to purchase 2x H1 bulbs for the main as these appear to come with 4x H4 units - I suppose you do then have 2x spares !! http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Ford-Cortina-Capri-5-3-4-H4-Crystal-Halogen-Headlamp-Headlight-Upgrade-Pilot-/261771311744?hash=item3cf2c93a80:g:66cAAOSwBLlU2jSw Regards. Richard. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Clive Posted March 29, 2017 Report Share Posted March 29, 2017 Crystal lights have a plain glass (Acrylic more likely) lens rather than the traditional type with a pattern on them. To achieve the correct pattern they rely on the reflector shape, so that is probably more complex that the original type. They seem to waste less light energy in achieving the pattern.... Pretty sure most are e marked (mine are) and seem to be lasting well on a car that spends a lot of time outside. Much better than the Wipac/autopal varieties in my experience (where the reflectors start to lose brightness around the edges fairly quickly) 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Paul H Posted March 29, 2017 Report Share Posted March 29, 2017 A better link, but looks as though you will need to purchase 2x H1 bulbs for the main as these appear to come with 4x H4 units - I suppose you do then have 2x spares !! http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Ford-Cortina-Capri-5-3-4-H4-Crystal-Halogen-Headlamp-Headlight-Upgrade-Pilot-/261771311744?hash=item3cf2c93a80:g:66cAAOSwBLlU2jSw Regards. Richard. Hi Richard thanks for links , H1 Bulbs cost between £1.50 & £15 each . Which ones do you use Thanks again for valuable advice Paul 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Posted March 29, 2017 Report Share Posted March 29, 2017 Hello Paul. I have to say I am a big fan of Osram bulbs, not only for the classics but also our modern vehicles. Yes they are a tad more expensive but they are a quality bulb and have an excellent shelf life during use. Just flicking through EBay, I spotted the following: http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Brand-new-Osram-Silverstar-Headlight-bulbs-H1-H4-H7-Closing-stock-Sale-/172582888058?hash=item282ebde27a:g:98UAAOSwzgBYzlSW The lights should be sold in pairs, which looks as though these are on the sellers listing, but worth making an enquiry to confirm. The seller is open to offers so could be worth a cheeky tipple; especially as your Micra fan was a scoop !! Here is some info from Osram: https://www.osram.com/osram_com/products/lamps/vehicle-and-bicycle-lighting/cars/halogen-headlight-lamps/silverstar-2.0/index.jsp There are other Osram types such as Nightbreaker and Nightbreaker Plus, all of which have various updates. I think the Silver Star with Crystal units will be a very nice set-up IMHO; quite tempted myself !! Regards. Richard. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TomL Posted March 29, 2017 Report Share Posted March 29, 2017 Thanks Richard and Clive, for your comprehensive replies. Very helpful. Cars' headlamps have certainly improved in quality and intensity over the 50-odd years that our cars have been around. I have run mine with a halogen-conversion for a long time now and although an improvement over the originals, they're not up to some of the (often blinding!) ones on some moderns. Tom Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Posted March 29, 2017 Report Share Posted March 29, 2017 Hello Tom. I agree with your view on modern cars with headlights that are at times blinding; especially if out of alignment - a helpful aid that has almost become a real danger. Is it really necessary to have lights that bright - I am not sure there is. It's likely that some accidents have occurred due to an oncoming driver being blinded especially along country roads. The downside is that drivers will drive faster with these penetrating lights and probably way beyond their ability to control the vehicle correctly if a situation occurs in front of them. Regards. Richard. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Pete Lewis Posted March 30, 2017 Report Share Posted March 30, 2017 Agree if you look at the modern projections you dont have the clean top cut off of the older lamps far more stray light gives a bright fuzzy cloud above the \___ flat top beam cut off more devised by styling and how daft can we make the running lights add these seem to be on with headlamps to creat even more dazzle Chuck in varifocals and heat reflective screens and thers no hope ,.....well squint and hope Pete Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Colin Lindsay Posted March 30, 2017 Report Share Posted March 30, 2017 Not to mention the lights that flash everytime a car goes over a bump, since the suspension is so low that there's no more give, so that you perpetually think that the car behind is the Police, flashing you to pull over. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dougbgt6 Posted March 31, 2017 Report Share Posted March 31, 2017 Ignore them Colin, and put your foot down! No one's mentioned night blindness, a fact of life for the elderly. I only drive at night when creeping home from the area meetings. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Pete Lewis Posted March 31, 2017 Report Share Posted March 31, 2017 you mean they let you put after curfew Pete Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Colin Lindsay Posted April 1, 2017 Report Share Posted April 1, 2017 you mean they let you put after curfew Pete I did ignore them the last time, Doug, and got done for failing to stop..... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Paul H Posted April 13, 2017 Report Share Posted April 13, 2017 A better link, but looks as though you will need to purchase 2x H1 bulbs for the main as these appear to come with 4x H4 units - I suppose you do then have 2x spares !! http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Ford-Cortina-Capri-5-3-4-H4-Crystal-Halogen-Headlamp-Headlight-Upgrade-Pilot-/261771311744?hash=item3cf2c93a80:g:66cAAOSwBLlU2jSw Regards. Richard. Hi Richard - Ive added the Crystal headlight replacements to my birthday list for my vitesse ! One ? currently the 2 outers are halogen and the 2 inners are sealed beam - with the crystal upgrade will the current wiring be ok or will a relay be required ? best regards Paul Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Pete Lewis Posted April 13, 2017 Report Share Posted April 13, 2017 The bulb wattage is not very different between some sealed vs bulbed be they halo or tungsten the old sealed on my 2000 were 75w Most halo are 55/60w so actually a bit less what you gain with relays and a good sized and fused supply is 14.5 volts at the pointed end with old wiring and ancient switch gear on my old vit6 we had only 10volts under load so getting full voltage to the old lamps will rejuvenate glow worms into bright yellow using halo makes for a brighter white, but getting the voltage up to a correct workin level is the key to decent lighting and safe guards the old switches from heating up pete 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Paul H Posted April 13, 2017 Report Share Posted April 13, 2017 The bulb wattage is not very different between some sealed vs bulbed be they halo or tungsten the old sealed on my 2000 were 75w Most halo are 55/60w so actually a bit less what you gain with relays and a good sized and fused supply is 14.5 volts at the pointed end with old wiring and ancient switch gear on my old vit6 we had only 10volts under load so getting full voltage to the old lamps will rejuvenate glow worms into bright yellow using halo makes for a brighter white, but getting the voltage up to a correct workin level is the key to decent lighting and safe guards the old switches from heating up pete Hi Pete , is there an idiots guide how to introduce relays into existing lighting wiring regards Paul Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Pete Lewis Posted April 13, 2017 Report Share Posted April 13, 2017 You need 2 relay one for dip one for main e bay sells some cheap kits with fuse and pig tails to link up you make a fused feed from the starter sol battery side. You use the old wires to trigger the relays so mount them up front under the bonnet and you only need to run a supply to them Break out the old wires in the front snap connectors , fit lucars to match the relay terminals Hoping there will be a sketch along soon from someone who can ....draw pete 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Recommended Posts
Create an account or sign in to comment
You need to be a member in order to leave a comment
Create an account
Sign up for a new account in our community. It's easy!
Register a new accountSign in
Already have an account? Sign in here.
Sign In Now