Headlamp question

Post by **Nicola&Tony** » 04 Jan 2007, 20:22

I've just put new bulbs (Osram Silverstar +50%, as recommended on Wiki) in my headlamps. Whilst doing this I noticed that the two headlamp units are different, despite each of them having "Hella" on the glass. The one on the driver side (RHD van, round headlights) looks older than the other and inside it is half a metal dome (hemisphere?!) on three metal legs. The bulb, when it is in position, sits inside this metal thing with the hemisphere directly in front of the bulb.

I'd be grateful if anyone can tell me what this is, why it's there and why it's not in both headlamps. Will it be reducing the amount of light hitting the road from me posh new bulbs?! I've been really struggling with the poor visibility when driving at night (despite increasing my consumption of carrots!) and was hoping that these bulbs would be the solution but I'm not sure if they will be with this metal object sitting in front of one of them!

I'd be very grateful for any info.

Tony

Post by **OLD ONE** » 04 Jan 2007, 20:28

That is a reflector. It throws light back to the main reflector so increasing the output

Post by **Nicola&Tony** » 04 Jan 2007, 20:42

Phew! Thanks Old One, very helpful. Any idea why we've only got one of them?

Post by **OLD ONE** » 04 Jan 2007, 20:49

One or another has been changed. Not to sure, but I would think the one with the extra reflector is not original. I may be wrong on this, no doubt someone will shoot me down if I am.

I don't remember seeing them on any T3s. Plenty on older vehicles.

Post by **Westy.Club.Joker** » 05 Jan 2007, 10:47

Look on the Wiki at the headlight wiring upgrade, it`s not hard to do and improves the original lights output. Did mine, well worth it

Use heavy duty wiring and relays and you can use higher wattage bulbs, for off-road use only obviously

Post by **cumbriankeith** » 05 Jan 2007, 13:31

The later type of round units have better optics and allow better bulbs - they are labelled H4 and are a direct replacement - just a few screws. You can use stronger bulbs in these older vans quite legally, apparently. With the wiring upgrade they make quite a bit of difference to sanity in the dark.

Post by **Nicola&Tony** » 09 Jan 2007, 03:43

I had a look at the wiring upgrade in Wiki before buying the new bulbs. Until we bought our van a few months ago my experience of tinkering with anything automotive was strictly limited to putting petrol in and turning the key, checking oil etc levels . . . oh, and changing bulbs!

So to a complete novice the wiring upgrade sounds great but looks a bit complicated!

I'll see how we get on with the new bulbs and then have another look at the wiring upgrade (and have a few more scratches of me head) if we're still struggling in the dark!

Cheers, Tony

Post by **ROBS T25** » 09 Jan 2007, 07:11

cumbriankeith wrote:The later type of round units have better optics and allow better bulbs - they are labelled H4 and are a direct replacement -

so if you already have these lenses in can you upgrade the bulbs without the wiring?? cheers ROB!!

Post by **Nicola&Tony** » 09 Jan 2007, 21:01

ROBS T25 wrote:
cumbriankeith wrote:The later type of round units have better optics and allow better bulbs - they are labelled H4 and are a direct replacement -
so if you already have these lenses in can you upgrade the bulbs without the wiring?? cheers ROB!!

That's what I've done (upgraded the bulbs but not the wiring) because we already had the H4 lenses. Don't know how effective it has been though because I've not had time to go for a drive where there's no street lights yet.

Tony

Post by **strangely brown** » 09 Jan 2007, 22:03

Hi, whilst i did'nt use Mr. Baxter's wiring up-grade my mate did it, i would suggest buying one of Mr. Baxter's because the the bottom line is, it makes a bloody huge differance to your lights. You can actually blind other road users for a change.

S.B.

Post by **Westy.Club.Joker** » 09 Jan 2007, 22:46

All info avaliable on WIKI for the wiring diagrams, for those confident enough to cut their `vans wiring loom and add bits to it

If not confident, get it done by someone who knoes how to do it. Cheap to do

Post by **cumbriankeith** » 10 Jan 2007, 00:30

The wiring mods overcome the probs of voltage drop thro old and sad wiring/switches. And you can use stronger bulbs - you can get 130/80s apparently! For offroad use only of course... tho I did hear that there is no restriction on bulb power with these older vehicles.
I think Simon may have stopped doing the mod kit - but it sounded good value compared with me faffing around sourcing the bits myself.

Post by **toomanytoys** » 10 Jan 2007, 08:29

Simons kit was excelent, but people wouldnt buy it as they thought it was costly.. he was hardly making anyting for his trouble so stopped doing them..

Upgrading bulbs is pointless without fitting relays.. if the output is poor with std bulbs then it wont be better with high power..
I thought mine were ok, but checked the voltage and I was getting only 11.5 volts at the bulbs.. did my own wiring and relay mod and now 14V when engine running... the difference is amazing..

Post by **Westy.Club.Joker** » 10 Jan 2007, 15:13

Like I said, read the well-informed research on the WIKI by people like Cumbriankeith etc, and then you`ll see why it makes such a difference, that light-output graph spells it out

Website · Post by **CovKid** » 22 Feb 2007, 23:59

Nicola& Tony:

I've done exactly the same and fitted these very same bulbs. The domed reflector might indeed reflect light back but that would apply to tungsten if you think about it. Halogen type bulbs are black (or in the case of the Osrams - silver) at the end so no light is emitted forwards anyway.

On that basis, removing them would be fine - might even be advantageous.

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