P38A Headlights

J L Carr · Dec 31, 2020

Hi Guys, first things first. I wish each and every member a Very Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year, now to the silly stuff headlights,could somebody tell me if my dipped lights also incorporate main beam or are they just dipped only. The reason I'm asking is every set of H4 bulbs are Hi/Low as I've just fitted a set of Led bulbs but they are only working on dipped only,and the 3rd element is not lighting up. Any ideas. Many Thanks.

brianp38dse · Dec 31, 2020

If i remember right the side light bulb is separate then there is the dip and main in one bulb then an extra h7 iirc in the other part of the light as an extra main, led can throw up a few faults as the becm is expecting a set current draw which leds dont have.

Gord Wedman · Dec 31, 2020

I just checked my LED lights and the pattern does change when I switch from low beam to high. They don't seem any brighter on high but maybe that is to be expected as
the instruction book says 25W on low and 25W on high. These are NovSight, made in China and sold by Amazon. No error messages on my dash.
Have to say I very seldom use high beam due to traffic everywhere.

kermit_rr · Dec 31, 2020

25w of LED sounds like a lot of light to me

Gord Wedman · Dec 31, 2020

kermit_rr said:
25w of LED sounds like a lot of light to me

Oh they get plenty hot. Some have fans built into the back of the holder but mine just have an aluminum heat sink.

kermit_rr · Dec 31, 2020

Gord Wedman said:
Oh they get plenty hot. Some have fans built into the back of the holder but mine just have an aluminum heat sink.

I was thinking more along the lines of 25w of LED being close to an equivalent of 100w normal bulb, which isn't legal for road use

J L Carr · Dec 31, 2020

Flipping heck mine are 70w with built in fans, there called Nighteyes 9000lm at 6500k and there canbus free so no alerts on the dash board,so mine work out at 35w each,but it seems that my connection wires must be the wrong way around as there only working on dip.

Grrrrrr · Jan 1, 2021

brianp38dse said:
If i remember right the side light bulb is separate then there is the dip and main in one bulb then an extra h7 iirc in the other part of the light as an extra main, led can throw up a few faults as the becm is expecting a set current draw which leds dont have.

Most now have resistors so they draw as much current. Problem is that they then have to dump all that heat generated. Sounds like asking for trouble to me, especially anything from China.

The stock lights are excellent if you keep the lenses clean - and we do that all the time with winter muck about, don't we?!

RangeRoller dt · Jan 1, 2021

My lights were crap, thought it may be where we adjusted the beam down for the lift or need Osrams but Grrrr was right - good clean on inside of the lenses all good now.

domino · Jan 1, 2021

Nightbreakers on mine and they're excellent. No blinding drivers, decent output on dipped and excellent on main beam.

oakey · Jan 1, 2021

I would bin any fancy lights and stick to the originals

J L Carr · Jan 1, 2021

RangeRoller dt said:
My lights were crap, thought it may be where we adjusted the beam down for the lift or need Osrams but Grrrr was right - good clean on inside of the lenses all good now.

How did you clean them, I would like to know.

RangeRoller dt · Jan 1, 2021

Open up the lights take out the bulbs stick a damp rag on stick and poke it about. Then jam a dry towel in there buff it up
You can take the unit out but it’s a faff. I’m lucky at the time Data was watching me as the colour on them I thought they were like L322 plastic and was going to scrub them with toothpaste

Rubberknees · Jan 1, 2021

oakey said:
I would bin any fancy lights and stick to the originals

+1

Gord Wedman · Jan 1, 2021

Rubberknees said:
+1

I think mine were something like $14 Cdn for the pair. Try buying a pair of H4 quartz bulbs for $14. Over here we have daytime running lights so they are illuminated all the time I'm driving. Two years old and still fine. I have the old bulbs for quick replacement if they should go. Wanted to see if they would be an improvement. I think they are somewhat brighter and pure white in color. You don't learn anything if you don't experiment.

oakey · Jan 2, 2021

What are they like for oncoming drivers?

Gord Wedman · Jan 2, 2021

oakey said:
What are they like for oncoming drivers?

Seem to be fine. No one flashes their lights at me. I guess I have them set low enough.
A while ago I had a Jeep drive towards me and I was so blinded I had to stop. Rolled down my window and when the Jeep slowly passed by I said to the driver " your lights are too high".
"Its a brand new car they said".

Grrrrrr · Jan 2, 2021

Gord Wedman said:
Seem to be fine. No one flashes their lights at me. I guess I have them set low enough.
A while ago I had a Jeep drive towards me and I was so blinded I had to stop. Rolled down my window and when the Jeep slowly passed by I said to the driver " your lights are too high".
"Its a brand new car they said".

With very bright lights the dirt on the lenses scatters the light and blinds people. That's why they have to have headlight wipers or washer jets. The latter are a bit crap.

kermit_rr · Jan 2, 2021

The worst lights are HID where dipped hem is merely a shutter that drops over the light source. When you go over a bump, crest of a hill etc, oncoming drivers are looking directly at the arc. Sure they self level, but not quick enough, which is why some cars look like they are flashing you

RangeRoller dt · Jan 2, 2021

^^^ is the one that bugs me. Perhaps it’s bit different on wider American roads?

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