100w bulbs?

[Alyn]

Any reason not to use 100w bulbs for main and dip in a Td5 Facelift - off road use only of course? ;)

Alyn

[nobber]

heres one , you might kill someone. and your insurance will be void.
off road of course.;)

[AJC]

Yes. They generate so much heat and will crack your lamp lens' when it starts raining. It happened to my Disco.

AJ

[thebiglad]

THEY'RE ILLEGAL - for a reason !!!!

You'll crack lenses, draw too much current through the wiring and fry the plugs (which are crâp to start off with).

[Alyn]

Back in the '80's I put 100's into my Scimitar in Cibie units without relays and melted the headlight switch!!!!

Rewired and fitted relays - brilliant. (Naughty but nice!)

O.K., fair enough!! I know the risks etc. I'll learn by others' experience.

To be fair my main beam is fine - it's the dip that leaves a little something to be desired .......... yes they are adjusted correctly and the switch is in the right position.

........ and before you say it "Drive slower"

Thanks for the input.

Alyn

[MadDan]

You could go for a retro fit HID kit?
Got a hi/lo set up in the mrs's 300 and my Bm,outstanding!:cool:

[Nosnibod]

You could go for a retro fit HID kit?
Got a hi/lo set up in the mrs's 300 and my Bm,outstanding!:cool:

Which are also illegal unless you fit automatic self levelling and headlamp washers.

Again, any insurance is invalid and the MOT man won't be impressed either.

[tezzer]

i have them fitted to my transit and it passed mot and wiring and plugs dont get warm and the glass lens seem ok, but thats a transit, but im now thinking of getting 2 sets of these 120394467987 one for transit and a set for disco, a mate has them fitted and they are the business. :clearviso


tezzer

[jobo]

if been through the lighting regs (uk) and cant find where they are illegal

anyone care to point me to the statute ?

[Nosnibod]

The definitive source is the Department for Transport (http://www.dft.gov.uk/pgr/roadsafety/drs/hidheadlamps).

It makes a number of points but they basically summarised as follows:-

1. The headlamp unit must be tested and "e-marked' by the headlamp manufacturer with the HID bulb installed.

2. The headlamps must be fitted with automatic self-levelling or the vehicle may have automatic self-levelling suspension. So that means some air-suspension equipped Discos may comply, and in theory 110s with the Boge self-levelling unit. Also the dipped beam must stay on with the main beam.

3. The headlamp must be maintained in good working order, kept clean, and aligned/adjusted correctly like any other headlamp.

So, 1 is impossible for mere mortals like us to do, unless someone like Hella produces a HID-tested, "e-marked" lamp we can install.

2. May be possible and I know some people are looking at automatic self-levelling units.

3. Is obviously possible.

With all of the above, plus the expense and relative fragility of HID bulbs, I just fitted some 'plus 90%' standard H4 bulbs to my 110 and they are very good indeed.

[TBM]

if been through the lighting regs (uk) and cant find where they are illegal

anyone care to point me to the statute ?

Regarding 100w bulbs, I've had a good look through the Road Vehicle lighting regs and again can't find anything that defines maximum wattage.

Dipped Beam Regs (see point 8)

http://www.opsi.gov.uk/si/si1989/Uksi_19891796_en_9.htm#nsch4

Main Beam Regs (see point 8)

http://www.opsi.gov.uk/si/si1989/Uksi_19891796_en_10.htm

However, due to the higher wattage, 100w bulbs do not comply with ECE Regulation 37:

http://www.unece.org/trans/main/wp29/wp29regs/r037r5e.pdf

However, I've been unable to fnd anything that says UK vehicles need to comply with ECE 37 (however that doesn't mean it doesn't exist!)

[nicedayforit]

Regarding 100w bulbs, I've had a good look through the Road Vehicle lighting regs and again can't find anything that defines maximum wattage.

Dipped Beam Regs (see point 8)

http://www.opsi.gov.uk/si/si1989/Uksi_19891796_en_9.htm#nsch4

Main Beam Regs (see point 8)

http://www.opsi.gov.uk/si/si1989/Uksi_19891796_en_10.htm

However, due to the higher wattage, 100w bulbs do not comply with ECE Regulation 37:

http://www.unece.org/trans/main/wp29/wp29regs/r037r5e.pdf

However, I've been unable to fnd anything that says UK vehicles need to comply with ECE 37 (however that doesn't mean it doesn't exist!)


Schedule 5, Part 1, Item 5 requires all lamps to have"An approval mark or a BS marking".
As I understand it, no 100W lamps have such approval by marking and as such are not legal for use on roads.
If however you vehicle was registered before 1 April 1986
you are exempt from this approval requirement and can presumably use what you like.

[discool]

Info on HID lamps http://www.danielsternlighting.com/tech/bulbs/Hid/conversions/conversions.html

[Satancom]

If however you vehicle was registered before 1 April 1986
you are exempt from this approval requirement and can presumably use what you like.

Now thats interesting.

As AJC says another common way of smashing glass with 100watt bulbs is if you go wading, this can happen with normal bulbs but is more likely with 100watt.

If it were for off road use then the lights would have to be on a seperate switch to the main beam and of course only used off-road.. which means you can not use them for green lanning.

[Alyn]

Sorry I asked the question in that way - not looking to start a debate - just after advice.

I have just resealed the headlight unit - condensation. I noticed that one of the bulbs showed signs of staining and as a precaution want to change it, so might as well do the other bulbs too.

Rephrased question.......................... what are the optimum bulbs to fit in a Disco 2 whilst staying legal?

Alyn

[Naks]

Rephrased question.......................... what are the optimum bulbs to fit in a Disco 2 whilst staying legal?

When I got my Defender last yr I replaced the OEM bulbs with Osram Silverstars - made a huge difference - driving at night was not a dangerous outing anymore :cool:

I will fit these in my D2 when I have the time. Osram Nightbreakers are also said to be good, but I don't have first-hand experience with these so I cannot recommend.

[grantc]

There are a few "uprated " bulbs on the market. Some claiming to be as much as 90% brighter than standard. They are still legal wattage, just a lot brighter .Some of them work very well. I have a Phillips set and they are good. they vary in price 15-25 £ ish. you will see them on Eblag and similar places

[Alyn]

There are a few "uprated " bulbs on the market. Some claiming to be as much as 90% brighter than standard. They are still legal wattage, just a lot brighter .Some of them work very well. I have a Phillips set and they are good. they vary in price 15-25 £ ish. you will see them on Eblag and similar places

Thanks for that, I read the Autoexpress article a year or so ago and they were raving about them - but there's no substitute for a personal recommendation (You don't work for Phillips?:)) What works on one car/make might not be so good on another.

Cheers

Alyn

[grantc]

I'll try and remember to look tomorrow! (No, I don't work for Phillips!)

[mojofilter]

I ran 100 watters in my minis for years and never cracked a light or melted a wire or a switch, so did everyone I know without incident.

Had one in my Vespa too, you could only use full beam with a bit of throttle! :D

[Bingy bong]

When I got my Defender last yr I replaced the OEM bulbs with Osram Silverstars - made a huge difference - driving at night was not a dangerous outing anymore :cool:

I will fit these in my D2 when I have the time. Osram Nightbreakers are also said to be good, but I don't have first-hand experience with these so I cannot recommend.

Im Just in the process of facelifting the D2.
Both the main and Dip bulbs were standard Osram H7 55w
I have replaced the Dip with the newer Osram H7 55w Silverstars
And i thought about replacing the Main beam with Osram H7 55w Nightbreakers.
Both sets of bulbs are still only 55w and both are E marked but both claim massive advantages over standard bulbs. They arent really much dearer than a standard bulb yet are still road legal

Just a thought