Headlight Question

Jeff · Post by **Jeff** » Tue Jul 13, 2004 11:24 pm

I put a pair of those Hella Xenon bulbs in mine a while back - they're
really nice! Brighter and with a better cutoff than any of the other cars
(Golf, 3 series and an MX3...). They're even cheaper (~$15 ea) than the
Hyper Xenon HID nonsense that Repco sells.

Knowing they you're a technical guy Gary, I think you'll appreciate it when
I say that they are ... the "shiznit"

Jeff

Voodoo · Post by **Voodoo** » Wed Jul 14, 2004 12:35 pm

With one headlight dead on low beam its time to replace. Mine are sealed beam, and I have checked back over the list and I see others have fitted Hella replacements.

I have some questions:

There are 2 Hella H4 catalgue items:

1/ 1056. 178mm with front position lamp aperture and sealing boot.

2/ 1058. 178mm with front position lamp globe holder and globe HL124 and sealing boot.

Anyone who has done this know which one they used. I'm not even sure what the description is telling me.

3/ Looking at the bulb choices Hella have a XenonUltra H4 which at the same power level (55W) claims greater light output and beam length. Anyone tried these?

4/ Self alignment... OK to do, or better to take somewhere with equipment to check the beam alignment?

Thanks in advance...

Simon Lord · Post by **Simon Lord** » Wed Jul 14, 2004 2:03 pm

Can't help on 1 and 2 but when one of my sealed beam units failed a month or
two back I fitted non-sealed units with the Xenon Ultra H4's and they are
excellent. Did it carefully and no alignment was needed.

If you are in Auckland and don't want to spend the money yet, I have the
spare sealed beam unit I took out and you can have it for free if you like.

Cheers,

Simon
97 SR Ltd

Grant · Post by **Grant** » Wed Jul 14, 2004 5:52 pm

I replaced my sealed units with Hellas some time ago. I fitted them with
Tungsram +50 H4 bulbs, but would be interested to know if the Hella ones you
mention would be better. I used the Tungsram because that's what the local
auto electrician had when I bought the Hellas from him. The ones I bought
are probably the 1056 ones. These had provision for the front position lamp
but no lamp. They do have the sealing boot.
The lights are much better than the original sealed units with greater
spread and penetration on high beam plus the typical European cut off
pattern on dip.
To check the alignment, I parked the car a few meters back from my garage
door and marked the position of the centre of the light beam from the
original lights (both working so an advantage!). Changed to the new
headlights and realigned them to centre the beam on the garage door marks.
If you are going to do it yourself then just park the car very close to a
wall and mark the centre position of the lights on the wall with a felt pen.
Back of about 5 or 6 metres and then adjust the lights on high beam to
centre on the marks (assuming flat ground). Go to dip and the beam should
have a very well defined cut off with the horizontal part of the pattern
below the marks on the wall, with the pattern rising to the left.
This should be quite cloe. Mine has passed warrant checks twice since doing
this with no problems.

Grant.

GrubbyMX · Post by **GrubbyMX** » Wed Jul 14, 2004 9:48 pm

I think it is trying to say:
1056 has a hole in the rear of the lamp for a park light bulb and a sealing
boot that covers the rear of the lamp so dust etc does not get thru the hole
into the lamp
1058 is the same but complete with the park lamp holder, bulb and sealing boot
1056 will do.

I have the Xenon Ultra 55w H4 bulbs and while they have good output they
were expensive.
I have the same items with 100W conventional Quartz Halogen in another
vehicle and reckon they are better...and cheaper.
It did cost me a set of relays but if these Xenon ones blow thats what I
will do.

David & Judy Kerr · Post by **David & Judy Kerr** » Wed Jul 14, 2004 10:12 pm

I have just put in a set of the 2nd ones you list plus the ultra bulbs and
they are great...a hell of a lot better than the old ones. I wouldn't go
back.
I got mine from Repco, I think the lamps were about $22.00 each and the
bulbs you buy in pairs for $33.00 pr.

Regards,
Dave.

Biff · Post by **Biff** » Thu Jul 15, 2004 1:32 pm

Excuse my ignorance, but how do you do this swap?
B

Grant · Post by **Grant** » Thu Jul 15, 2004 1:57 pm

It's a simple operation, Biff.
Pop the headlights up, remove the black plastic covers (4 screws) then
remove the chrome ring that surrounds the headlight (3 screws I think). Just
loosen the screws then rotate the ring to release it. The headlights will
then fall forward held only by their wires. Reverse the operation to fit the
new lights then check the allignment.
Will you be at the Techpac roadshow, August 2nd? Might see you there.

Grant.

Kjellberg, Adrian · Post by **Kjellberg, Adrian** » Thu Jul 15, 2004 2:06 pm

Has anyone performed the twin headlight conversion. Two to four headlights.
Is this an improvement in lighting or just stylie

http://www.miata.net/garage/bsplow/

Adrian.

Biff · Post by **Biff** » Thu Jul 15, 2004 10:25 pm

Yep sure will, I'd like to see your MX.
email me and I'll send my contact details.
Cheers
Biff

Grant · Post by **Grant** » Thu Jul 15, 2004 10:53 pm

Ok Biff. I will be coming down on the Sunday and staying at the Colombo in
the City motel for the night. I can call you when I get there. My MX is
nothing special and well used! Done 177000km now. Dare I admit it here but
it's GREEN!
Anyway, see you early August. Let me know your contact details and I'll call
when I get there.
Grant.

Bill Rehm · Post by **Bill Rehm** » Mon Jul 19, 2004 11:27 am

I haven't been following the recent stream about headlights other than I
believe it has dealt with installing dual headlights.

One of my low beams has just "blown out" and I was wondering, are there
any "high intensity" headlamps that can be installed as easy as the
standard replacement headlamp? If so what is the additional pain (i.e.
cost) for them and where do you get them in Auckland?
Thanks in advance.

Regards
Bill

Voodoo · Post by **Voodoo** » Mon Jul 19, 2004 12:25 pm

Hi Bill,

I did this over the weekend. After reviewing messages here I went and got some prices. My car had sealed beam units, and I replaced with Hella 1056 @ $79.20 each (this is the reflector part) and I used Xenon Ultra H4 bulbs XD1260/55XU @ $25.86 each. The job took very little time and was very easy. I'd estimate I have about 2 x as much light as I was getting from the old sealed beam lights. A huge improvement.

Check www.hella.co.nz for info.

For those in Wellington I got prices from L Alexander (in stock but prices on the 1056 were $10 higher) & Barry Shardlow Auto Electrical (I bought from them, price was better and although they didn't have stock they managed to get them on the same day).

Bill Rehm · Post by **Bill Rehm** » Mon Jul 19, 2004 12:34 pm

Thanks for the info VD

Regards
Bill

poison · Post by **poison** » Mon Jul 19, 2004 6:00 pm

Headlight QuestionHi Bill (Rehm)

I also did mine about 3 weeks ago, wow what a difference. I bought some 7"
Semi Sealed Beams from Repco (part No. 7019ss) for $73.98 I also bought some
artic blue (very bright with a mild blue tinge, like in all the new Audi's)
they were $44.99 a pair. But I should have gone to Supercheap in Albany for
those (I think they were about $33... maybe). Some people have said the
Arctic Blue have not been as good as normal halogens, but they sure look
better.

Piece of cake to install, if your not keen to try yourself and you live on (or
will take a trip to) the Shore I'll show you how.

Gazza

"PO1SON"

Bill Rehm · Post by **Bill Rehm** » Mon Jul 19, 2004 6:58 pm

Thanks mate, your generosity is appreciated. I'm thinking about my next
step and will let you know!

Regards
Bill

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