Another dark wet night meant I had some time to play around with my spare headlight.
I'll bring you up to speed so you know where I am with my lighting changes so far...
I think lights make a huge difference to a cars appearance. Not only the style of the lamp and it's internal details but also the lighting format and colour output etc.
I started by fitting some LED H7 bulbs to my dipped beam -
View attachment 118522
(LED Left, Nightbreaker Halogen Right)
The colour is great and the output is amazing, however the beam control isn't fantastic, leading to the occasional flash from oncoming cars...
(Also, my main beam bulb was now insignificant in comparison, so naturally I also upgraded these to an LED bulb).
Looking to cars which are newer than mine, it's apparent that most OEM's are moving to "Projectors" for their headlights, giving much better beam control.
Some still use a Halogen bulb, but most are used with a Xenon. The Xenon gives out an amazingly bright crisp beam pattern.
Freelander 2 Headlamp -
View attachment 118525
You can buy retrofit Xenon kits online, however when fitted into a headlamp designed for a Halogen bulb you basically lose all beam pattern... The same as my LED... Not ideal.
The solution - A Retrofit Projector Kit -
View attachment 118523
These Projectors can be fitted to any headlight which uses an H4 or H7 bulb.
The projectors are then fitted with an H1 Xenon or Halogen bulb (there is no mention of LED).
They are classed as "Bi-Xenon", meaning they are used for Dipped beam but also have a main beam function, via means of an actuated flap.
My friend had a cheap-o projector kicking about, so we fitted an LED bulb to see if it was viable to run an LED Projector set-up.
There was some light bleed, given the poor design of the projector internals, however the beam pattern was encouraging -
View attachment 118524
After searching through the various projector "shrouds" available (the chrome cover trim for the projector), trying to pick one I thought would suit the lamp, I chose a design and ordered myself a set.
They arrived yesterday so I decided to crack on!
View attachment 118526
Lens removed and Projector fitted -
View attachment 118527
The shroud needed a fair bit of trimming, as the main beam section of the lamp intrudes into the reflector bowl -
View attachment 118528
A bit more fettling with a dremel and it was a perfect fit -
View attachment 118529 View attachment 118530
Really pleased with the fit and look of the projector.
Next up - Lighting functions and wiring...
Rob