Crap headlights

[forddeliveryboy]

As far as I understand it, the auto levelling is only to ensure the beam doesn't point skywards when you have 25 paving slabs in the boot - it's not meant to respond to road conditions is it?

The last car you'd think would have active, real time headlamp levelling would perhaps be a DS, given its clever suspension which self-corrected so whether fully laden or empty the headlights would be at the correct angle to the road. Of course, they did - the outer reflectors rotated about a horizontal axis to accommodate pitch and dive, the inners swivelled about a vertical axis according to the steering.

 

 

They were still shite enough to convince Morette to revert to circular headlamps.

 

They won't be making any more kits for the GS/A either

I've driven CXs with Morettes and they're not as broad and even a spread on dipped as the originals, unless you're comparing them with those late units which weren't anywhere near as good (they reduced the size of the reflector for dipped by dividing the unit internally to dipped and beam - total bonkers thinking, probably inspired by a memo from some manager who'd been talking to the sales team).

[Tadhg Tiogar]

....I've driven CXs with Morettes and they're not as broad and even a spread on dipped as the originals, unless you're comparing them with those late units which weren't anywhere near as good (they reduced the size of the reflector for dipped by dividing the unit internally to dipped and beam - total bonkers thinking, probably inspired by a memo from some manager who'd been talking to the sales team).

 

Which ones were the "late" ones - Series 2 only, or the bi-optic ones that were introduced in the Series 1 GTi Turbo, going on to be fitted to S2 GTis, Prestiges and S2 Turbos? I can't remember if the DTR T1/T2s had bi-optics.

[forddeliveryboy]

Which ones were the "late" ones - Series 2 only, or the bi-optic ones that were introduced in the Series 1 GTi Turbo, going on to be fitted to S2 GTis, Prestiges and S2 Turbos? I can't remember if the DTR T1/T2s had bi-optics.

Yes, the 'bioptic' ones. I seem to think they changed the reflectors from metal to poorly-made plastic ones too, which didn't help. I also remember single optic ones on a S2 car which didn't work half as well as those from the 70s and early 80s, all cost-cutting.

 

The French used to take their headlamps very seriously, driving as fast as they used to I suppose it was vital.

[PhilA]

Funny, I've owned and driven cars with a variety of headlamp types.

 

5 1/2" halogen sealed beams- on original wiring and switch (Vauxhall Victor FD), abysmal. On uprated wiring and relay, correctly adjusted? Really very good.

 

10" rectangular Federal-spec lamps (Chevy Astro), apparently painted silver at the factory rather than an actual reflective coating and filaments on all the time with daylight running system, badly adjusted- downright dangerous.

 

9" round sealed beams (Super Minx), adjusted correctly on original wiring with switch cleaned up- acceptable.

 

HID projector lamps (modern Jeep), low beam very bright, too high for my liking with very very sharp cut off. Actually quite tiring to drive with due to the really significant contrast between light and dark.

 

H4 bulbs, fairly decent reflectors, glass lenses (Fiat Cinquecento), dip good, main terrible. Added 4x spotlights which helped significantly.

 

H4 bulbs, fairly decent reflectors, glass lenses (Nissan Bluebird T72)- dip so-so, main terrible. Added Hella Comet 500's with 130W bulbs. Main beam was daylight and turning them off faded down to almost darkness that my eyes took a few seconds to get used to. Debateable safety.

 

VW Beetle with non halogen 35W lamps. Really very good, to be honest.

 

Common theme with the bright lights is the interior of the car is far too bright also. In town you don't need bright lights anyway...

 

Phil

[New POD]

I was cycling along the canal tow path at 6 am the other morning and was blinded by another cyclist. Twin 100 watt rally spec cibies would not have burnt my retinas any more. I need these headlights on my own bike so I can get the twat back if I ever see him again.

[BorniteIdentity]

One thing to point out is that bulbs age. As they age they dim. Especially on modern HIDs that don't tend to blow. It's quite noticeable when you change a 100k original bulb to a new one. Our A4 is on 176k with original bulbs.

In a similar yet different situation - I just changed the dash bulbs on my car. 19 years later the first of three bulbs picked up and I thought I might as well do them all at the same time.

 

Holy Moly. I’ve had to knock the rheostat down quite a bit now because the last bulbs, whilst still working, were blackened at the end and not making anywhere near their potential.

 

I’d stick an upvote here for Nightbreaker bulbs. I did notice the difference at 4.30 on the B1040!

[chaseracer]

Wait 'til you try a Ford Puma in the dark.

 

Or a Citroen XM, even without yellowing filters.  Scary.

[Richard]

I was cycling along the canal tow path at 6 am the other morning and was blinded by another cyclist. Twin 100 watt rally spec cibies would not have burnt my retinas any more. I need these headlights on my own bike so I can get the twat back if I ever see him again.

 

I got one of the first super-bright bike lights years ago. If I angled it low enough not to light up drivers' faces I ended up riding in a tiny pool of bright light like Mr Bean. The solution was to buy an aftermarket patterned lens like this.

 

 

These lenses make all the difference and I don't understand why lights aren't fitted with them as standard. 

[ray]

Awhile back I fitted a pair of driving lamps recessed into the front grill and a pair of "fog" lamps under the bumper of my MkIII Capri S. And fitted 100watt halogens to all the lights (separate looms and fuse box) 800 watts of power. My they were bright.

[GeordieInExile]

Wait 'til you try a Ford Puma in the dark.

Christ, first time I did this I thought the lights were fucked or I was doing something wrong!

[LightBulbFun]

Awhile back I fitted a pair of driving lamps recessed into the front grill and a pair of "fog" lamps under the bumper of my MkIII Capri S. And fitted 100watt halogens to all the lights (separate looms and fuse box) 800 watts of power. My they were bright.

 

is that even road legal?! 

 

that would be 66.6 amps im sure the devil your alternator/battery loved* you   also the heat that must of kicked off with non dichroic reflectors could cook a sausage

[Junkman]

So is it cost cutting by the manufacturers to blame eg plastic lenses or just bad design?

 

It is this and much more than this.

 

Today's manufacturers have to meet a plethora of entire jungles of legislation with their headlight designs.

Headlights are among the most law and regulations ridden components of a vee-hickle. For example, that they are made from plastic for quite a while now is simply because the laws and regulations for pedestrian protection cannot be met with glass lenses. Within the confines of this tangled mass of regulations, the manufacturers still want to apply their styling (yes, cars nowadays are carefully styled to look as gopping as they do, believe it or not) and still turn a profit. Therefore you can imagine that any headlight nowadays - and actually ever since they were mere headlights back in the 1940s - is a compromise of styling, compliance and production cost. However, I bet you anything that the lights you are moaning about are bright as shit rolled in glitter in comparison with the 'architectural' H4 lights we saw nothing with in the 80s and 90s. Cue Ford Granada MKII, which is arguably the all time record holder of nyctalopia.

 

Besides, a gentleman doesn't drive by night.

[The Reverend Bluejeans]

You've not driven a BMW lately?

 

 

[Wilko220]

I'd say the problem is definitely headlights that are too bright rather than too dim. We've ended up in this ridiculous arms race where if the front of your car doesn't have the illumination power of Wembley Stadium's floodlights, it's deemed as being crap.

 

Same goes for brake lights which are brighter than the sun, although this of course would be less of a problem if the average driver knew what a handbrake was.

[Junkman]

196776_1.jpgYou've not driven a BMW lately?

 

This is how I usually checked whether the headlights of my Granny MKII worked.

[Scruffy Bodger]

I was cycling along the canal tow path at 6 am the other morning and was blinded by another cyclist. Twin 100 watt rally spec cibies would not have burnt my retinas any more. I need these headlights on my own bike so I can get the twat back if I ever see him again.

 

Part of the problem with LED's is they are effectively a point source of illumination, hence if you end up looking directly at the die itself you get the effect you suffered. My keyring torch is ridiculously bright for its size, equivalent to approx 50W of halogen on its highest setting with a suitable battery, it has a warning in the literature that came with it saying do not shine it directly into someone's eyes as it can cause damage. I'm sure the time is rapidly approaching for pushbike lamps to be regulated in some way to stop them from blinding other road users.

 

 

The French used to take their headlamps very seriously, driving as fast as they used to I suppose it was vital.

 

I've certainly found that the case with 309's, 205's and 405's.  I don't get to travel in modern cars much but I have been on occasion very surprised to see how utterly shit they are compared to stuff from 20+ years ago (if the lamps are in good nic). As others have said that distinct cut off they have, especially on dip I actually find unnerving. 

[lesapandre]

Part of the problem with LED's is they are effectively a point source of illumination, hence if you end up looking directly at the die itself you get the effect you suffered. My keyring torch is ridiculously bright for its size, equivalent to approx 50W of halogen on its highest setting with a suitable battery, it has a warning in the literature that came with it saying do not shine it directly into someone's eyes as it can cause damage. I'm sure the time is rapidly approaching for pushbike lamps to be regulated in some way to stop them from blinding other road users.

 

 

 

I've certainly found that the case with 309's, 205's and 405's.  I don't get to travel in modern cars much but I have been on occasion very surprised to see how utterly shit they are compared to stuff from 20+ years ago (if the lamps are in good nic). As others have said that distinct cut off they have, especially on dip I actually find unnerving. 

Some bikes in London have these absurdly bright lights. I have a bike and have been careful to get a bright but not dazzling light. My experience is the more aggressive the light the worse the cyclist. About 1 in 10 jump red lights. 

[forddeliveryboy]

I'd say the problem is definitely headlights that are too bright rather than too dim. We've ended up in this ridiculous arms race where if the front of your car doesn't have the illumination power of Wembley Stadium's floodlights, it's deemed as being crap.

 

The irony is that those with stupidly-bright lights can't see as well on dipped as an old-fashioned setup. Even the shadows within the illuminated area directly ahead created by undulating and bumpy roads become distracting they're so black, everything beyond the lit area is also totally invisible. Full beam can result in reflective road signs dazzling you with your own lights. I'm guessing they exist to pander to those who haven't a clue, who just want to demonstrate their imagined superiority.

 

You can put as bright a bulb in a conventional lamp as you wish, chances are that if two 60w (halogen bulb) reflectors aren't enough then substituting a pair of 130w bulbs won't transform anything. It's the physical size of reflector and quality of it/light beam and its alignment with its twin (and the road) which counts.

 

Light from a small reflector hits objects all from one direction, which is fine if said object has only one dimension and everything's stationery. But it doesn't and isn't, not even a small piece of stone in a chipping-surfaced road - so a single large shadow is formed. With a big reflector, the light is hitting said stone from a far more diverse set of angles, individual shadows aren't as dark and many of them are filled in by light from different angles.

 

So with a large reflector, looking through the windscreen at the unwinding road gives a more complete picture making it easier for the brain to process, allowing quicker and more relaxed driving progress. With tiny, very bright lamps it's a little like increasing the contrast and reducing the number of pixels on an image editing app.

 

There are more fatal injuries on the roads in the dark than in daylight, despite fewer journeys - I wonder how many of these are related to poor illumination or being dazzled?

 

https://autoweek.com/article/car-news/iihs-study-reveals-most-midsize-suvs-offer-inadequate-headlights

[AMC Rebel]

is that even road legal?! 

 

 

 

No - and there is a preponderance (at least around here) of people with all manner of illegally modified headlights - and that's aside from the fuckers who have such poor eyesight they need the front foglights on too.

 

I also suspect there are very large numbers people who don't know what the headlamp levelling switch on their car is for. 

[AMC Rebel]

Some bikes in London have these absurdly bright lights. I have a bike and have been careful to get a bright but not dazzling light. My experience is the more aggressive the light the worse the cyclist. About 1 in 10 jump red lights. 

 

There's bloke who rides (entirely legally) on the shared cycleway/pavement on my route to take my daughter to school.  His front light is a flashing beacon of sufficient intensity to serve as an anti-collision beacon on an Airbus A380 - as he approaches he makes it very hard for me to see anything past him as he is on my side of the road heading towards me.  No doubt he feels he is "protecting" himself and he is in the sense he is impossible to avoid seeing - but he makes it very hard for the rest of us to see anything else.

[ray]

is that even road legal?! 

 

that would be 66.6 amps im sure the devil your alternator/battery loved* you   also the heat that must of kicked off with non dichroic reflectors could cook a sausage

 

 

 

 

In those days 100watt was only legal I believe in some Ferrari models and obviously off-road. Heat didn't seem to be a problem in the days of glass lenses and metal reflectors.

[Tadhg Tiogar]

Yes, the 'bioptic' ones. I seem to think they changed the reflectors from metal to poorly-made plastic ones too, which didn't help....

 

The very ones I have. They aren't brilliant, and the offside ones are losing their reflective surfaces. I've got a spare offside which is even worse, so I'm having to send that away for the reflectors to be restored.

 

Or a Citroen XM, even without yellowing filters.  Scary.

 

Weren't the Vauxhall Calibra ones supposed to be pure comedy?

 

...the more aggressive the light the worse the cyclist. About 1 in 10 jump red lights.

They are all as bad as each other. Are any of them actually insured? What happens when a large vehicle doesn't see them?

[Guest Hooli]

Awhile back I fitted a pair of driving lamps recessed into the front grill and a pair of "fog" lamps under the bumper of my MkIII Capri S. And fitted 100watt halogens to all the lights (separate looms and fuse box) 800 watts of power. My they were bright.

 

Impressive I only got as far as 60/55W headlights, 2 x 100w spot lights, 4 x 55w spot lights (on a roof-bar) & 2 x 55w fog lights on the front of a Disco. That lit up the road well & the curve of the roof bar meant the spots up there looked into corners & junctions very well too. So 640watts total.

 

We'll ignore the 2 x 55w spots on the roof pointing backwards of reversing off road at night...

[lesapandre]

 

The very ones I have. They aren't brilliant, and the offside ones are losing their reflective surfaces. I've got a spare offside which is even worse, so I'm having to send that away for the reflectors to be restored.

 

 

Weren't the Vauxhall Calibra ones supposed to be pure comedy?

 

 

They are all as bad as each other. Are any of them actually insured? What happens when a large vehicle doesn't see them?

I'm not sure of the law but once you jump a red light and get squashed to hamburger you have no defence. Jump a red light on a bike and cause a third party accident I'd assume personal liability if caused the accident. Silly people.

[Captain Furious]

Thinking about rigging up a 100W spotlight on my parcel shelf to shine in tailgaters' faces.  Suspect there is some potential legal issues if one of the pricks dies tho.

[chodweaver]

Thinking about rigging up a 100W spotlight on my parcel shelf to shine in tailgaters' faces. Suspect there is some potential legal issues if one of the pricks dies tho.

I'm sure there is, more's the pity. I may* have spent some time thinking about lasers in the same location. Those operating at an invisible wavelength would be especially suitable. I'm not looking to kill or seriously maim anyone, but causing enough temporary discomfort to dissuade them from tailgating would be nice.

[AMC Rebel]

I'm sure there is, more's the pity. I may* have spent some time thinking about lasers in the same location. Those operating at an invisible wavelength would be especially suitable. I'm not looking to kill or seriously maim anyone, but causing enough temporary discomfort to dissuade them from tailgating would be nice.

 

https://www.ebay.com/itm/Car-LED-Laser-Warning-Rear-12V-200mw-Fog-lights-Brake-Stop-Anti-Collision-Lamp/332812970946?epid=19014010556&hash=item4d7d32ebc2:g:PZIAAOSw0ItboxeN

[lesapandre]

Thinking about rigging up a 100W spotlight on my parcel shelf to shine in tailgaters' faces.  Suspect there is some potential legal issues if one of the pricks dies tho.

Test out you brake lights - depending on the switch there may be a small level of depression of the pedal before the brakes are applied. Once you know this - a few long dabs of 'braking' can get rid of them.

[Guest Hooli]

Test out you brake lights - depending on the switch there may be a small level of depression of the pedal before the brakes are applied. Once you know this - a few long dabs of 'braking' can get rid of them.

Left foot dab and right foot flooring confuses them too.

 

Or just lift off as the get close and then accelerate away as they drop back. No brake lights and it doesn't normally take long for them to get confused about the changing gap.

[1duck]

I own an old Beetle with dynamo, and a Mk2 Golf. My standards for illumination are quite low.

 

 

never had a beetle, but i know my mk2 scirocco really benefited from something along the lines of this :

 

 https://www.vwheritage.com/mk2-golf/mk2-golf-electrical/wiring-loom-&-parts/headlight-wiring-upgrade

 

Used to be cheaper and i think you can get a diagram to knock one up from several places if you can be bothered.