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| 22900013A Member Since: 23 Dec 2010 Location: Oxfordshire Posts: 3149   
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Two questions really -
Firstly my drivers side dipped beam sometimes cuts out, if I give the wing/lamp a thump or drive over a bump it usually comes on - any pointers to look for? Secondly, in our dark winter evenings/nights the standard headlamps are...well, crap basically. Is there anything I can do to give a bit more light? Uprated bumps perhaps? I'd consider spotlamps on my 110 but I'd like to try and improve them on my works Defender as well if possible, I can't fit spotlamps to that as it isn't mine! Thanks, Dan. 2011 110 USW 1973 Series III 1-Ton 1972 Series III 1-Ton Cherrypicker 1969 IIA 1-Ton 1966 IIA 88" |
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3rd Mar 2018 1:18pm |
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| 22900013A Member Since: 23 Dec 2010 Location: Oxfordshire Posts: 3149
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I want to keep the "original" external appearance of the lamps so ideally would be looking at a bulb upgrade if possible. I don't really want to go down the LED route as everyone I see with LEDs seems to burn my retinas! 2011 110 USW
1973 Series III 1-Ton 1972 Series III 1-Ton Cherrypicker 1969 IIA 1-Ton 1966 IIA 88" |
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3rd Mar 2018 1:40pm |
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| Bluest Member Since: 23 Apr 2016 Location: Lancashire Posts: 4194 
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Go with the headlamp loom and Osram Night breaker bulbs then. 2007 110 TDCi Station Wagon XS
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3rd Mar 2018 1:43pm |
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| 22900013A Member Since: 23 Dec 2010 Location: Oxfordshire Posts: 3149
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I take it I need to uprate the loom to change the bulbs? 2011 110 USW
1973 Series III 1-Ton 1972 Series III 1-Ton Cherrypicker 1969 IIA 1-Ton 1966 IIA 88" |
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3rd Mar 2018 1:56pm |
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| Bluest Member Since: 23 Apr 2016 Location: Lancashire Posts: 4194
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No, but one of the problems with the standard set up is the supply to the lamps through the column switch resulting in less than maximum voltage available at the bulbs. 2007 110 TDCi Station Wagon XS
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3rd Mar 2018 1:59pm |
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| Retroanaconda Member Since: 04 Jan 2012 Location: Scotland Posts: 2635 
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Non necessarily, however to get the best out of them it would be recommended.
Landreizger loom and Osram Nightbreakers is what I run, very good light and none of that LED nonsense that blinds everyone as you note. |
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3rd Mar 2018 1:59pm |
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| Cupboard Member Since: 21 Mar 2014 Location: Suffolk Posts: 2971 
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Properly set up LEDs shouldn't blind anyone, but people putting cheap and nasty LED retrofit bulbs in the standard fittings definitely do.
The Nightbreakers et al don't actually put out any more light (lumens) than "normal" bulbs, if you look at the manufacturer's datasheets that's pretty clear (well, when they actually give you the numbers it's pretty clear). What they probably do is put it out from a smaller filament meaning that if you've got a rubbish reflector then you'll end up with a more efficient lamp unit. I'm running Wipac Crystal headlamps with the upgraded loom from Paddocks, one bulb is a Nightbreaker and the other is a bog standard cheap one. This combination is noticeably better than factory. If you look at the lights standing in from the front, you can tell that the Nightbreaker side is slightly bluer than the "normal" side, but in terms of light on to the road you can see no difference whatsoever. When the other Nightbreaker bulb blows I won't be replacing it with another. |
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3rd Mar 2018 2:18pm |
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| Retroanaconda Member Since: 04 Jan 2012 Location: Scotland Posts: 2635
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Of the dozens or hundreds of LED-equipped cars I see each day I’d say 50% are dazzling in some way. You flash them to dip their lights as you assume they’re on high beam but they flash you back.
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3rd Mar 2018 2:32pm |
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| Cupboard Member Since: 21 Mar 2014 Location: Suffolk Posts: 2971
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I know, it's irritating.
They shouldn't do, but that doesn't mean that they don't  |
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3rd Mar 2018 4:31pm |
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| 22900013A Member Since: 23 Dec 2010 Location: Oxfordshire Posts: 3149
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What is the purpose of the loom change? I guess there is more current draw with the uprated lamps?
What is the best place to buy the parts from? 2011 110 USW 1973 Series III 1-Ton 1972 Series III 1-Ton Cherrypicker 1969 IIA 1-Ton 1966 IIA 88" |
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3rd Mar 2018 4:35pm |
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| blackwolf Member Since: 03 Nov 2009 Location: South West England Posts: 17312 
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Loom change is advisable because LR (a) used barely adequate size wires and (b) routed the full headlight current through the two colum switches. This means that only about 10 Volts ever are present at the bulb, and the switches melt with tedious regularity.
Rewiring so the lights are wired straight off the battery via relays makes a huge difference to light output even withoutany other changes. Fit better bulbs such as the Osrams, and better headlight units, and the result is highly satisfactory. |
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3rd Mar 2018 4:41pm |
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| zsd-puma Member Since: 09 Aug 2016 Location: Kent Posts: 2720 
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One of the biggest failures for a car's first MOT is headlamp alignment, where the dealer didn't bother to PDI the car properly. Chances are the ones that dazzle you just haven't yet been adjusted correctly, because they've not yet been for their first MOT to have the fault identified. Of course those illegal aftermarket HID bulb conversions are far worse! |
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3rd Mar 2018 5:31pm |
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| zsd-puma Member Since: 09 Aug 2016 Location: Kent Posts: 2720
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I've got the uprated Phillips H4 bulbs in mine along with the battery feed loom. The standard headlamps are fine unless they get very dirty.
Yours going on and off when bashed could just be a failing bulb, I've seen them where the filament is broken but moves about when knocked so it makes a circuit again - they usually fail completely shortly afterwards. |
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3rd Mar 2018 5:34pm |
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| Retroanaconda Member Since: 04 Jan 2012 Location: Scotland Posts: 2635
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I’d tend to agree with you were it not for the disproportionate number of LED-equipped vehicles that dazzle compared to normal ones. Though the number of selfish c**ts driving around with their fog lights on all the time because they think it looks cool is just as annoying. And then there are the utterly pointless gaytime running lights, but we’re in danger of straying into the grumpy old men thread territory here. I see some cars are now equipped with auto-dipping headlights, which is some special kind of madness. |
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3rd Mar 2018 6:12pm |
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