I can see!

[canucksafari]

I'm still running the old school lights, one is an H4 and the other a sealed beam (after a rock took out one of the H4s I didn't want to replace the pair). They suck, both of them do, I've been toying with the idea of an upgrade but here are the issues I have with H4 type units: during water crossings water gets in through the back and I have fish tanks with blown bulbs, if a rock hits them no one is selling just single replacements so you're on the hook for a pair.

LORDCO will sell single semi-sealed Hella headlights. They don't have them at the stores but they have them in the warehouse and in their book. However, the price for one is only about $10 off the price for a pair. They always come with 12V bulbs. I usually pay around $85 for a set and then do a bit of a trade to get another set of 24V H4s. I have heard very good things about the CIBIE semi-sealed lights that Daniel Stern sells. If you tell him your issues, I am sure he will only sell you the product that addresses your concerns or he won't sell you anything.

I've now gone through a few sets of Hellas. I now also have a set of IPFs (ARB) that were a fair bit more than the Hellas. I really can't see the difference between the two. So when i did the headlights on Lety's Safari I just put in another set of Hellas. I think my next broken set will be replaced with CIBIEs. They'll be a bit more than the IPFs but perhaps Daniel Stern will also pull out the standard 12V bulbs and give me a deal on 24V bulbs.

You could also try Gregg Distributors. They sell a lot of lighting products in 12V and 24V. If I find my catalog CD, I'll check it out.

BTW, don't wast your money on the ARB headlight lense protectors. I am sure they would work fine if you could get them to stick.

Of course, if people are consistently having problems seeing a night while driving, perhaps it is not the headlight. Maybe they just need to get their eyes checked and a pair of glasses.

 

[Enigma]

Of course, if people are consistently having problems seeing a night while driving, perhaps it is not the headlight. Maybe they just need to get their eyes checked and a pair of glasses.

I see just fine now, it's like fxxxing daylight out there. Now if only these assholes would stop driving straight at me!

YouTube - elton john - candle in the wind

 

[jfc]

I see just fine now, it's like fxxxing daylight out there. Now if only these assholes would stop driving straight at me!

YouTube - elton john - candle in the wind

Most people dont find it that intimidating, Im not very aggressive... only clipped mirrors twice, and ran one vehicle off the road

 

[WrenchMonkey]

stop being cheap just buy the roundeyes H4 conversion and be done with it. good quality, bright, DOT approved, don't mind water they have a goretex breather and polycarbonate lense.and I still have the original bulbs that they came with. Oh and there is a company that sells legal HID's they use them on the city buses around vancouver area and they are built to be a seal beam replacement but you guys will have to search for those. come with everything including proper housings.


Oh and if I were JFC I wouldn't attempt your little game with a green and rusty BJ42 I don't scare easily and like to how can I say this "educate people"

 

[LanceCruiser]

I would have to agree with proper adjustment, I've had cars with the brights on blinding me, like they had their high beams on constantly. I've had Graham driving behind me, and his lights don't blind me with my mirrors.

 

[sailor]

As stated, I have reflector style E code headlights, correctly installed and carefully aimed by a competent mechanic. (I only hit the switch that adjusts the aim back up and left when I detect the approach of rednecks, Nissan owners and New Democrats!)

I have never once had an oncoming driver flash their high beams at me. My wife concurs that my lights are a non issue when I follow her Subaru. I take that as a 'semi professional' endorsement of the installation of my system. (And yes, I would get an earful.)

I have been dazzled by other cars with aftermarket lights- I think that they are in the wrong enclosure or incorrectly aimed. The desire to aggressively swerve towards one of these drivers, however, is indicative of more serious issues generally related to inadequacies in the 'gentleman's area'.

 

[canucksafari]

I have been dazzled by other cars with aftermarket lights- I think that they are in the wrong enclosure or incorrectly aimed. The desire to aggressively swerve towards one of these drivers, however, is indicative of more serious issues generally related to inadequacies in the 'gentleman's area'.

Yes, if they are in a halogen casings, with halogen reflectors and halogen lenses, then they are in the wrong (aka illegal) enclosure.

Glad to hear that your set-up is non-blinding. CVSE roaming road blocks are becoming more frequent the last few years. Those in RHDs and or heavily modded vehicles better hope they don't run into a CVSE road block or meet up with a polcie officer who has something against RHDs or lifted 4x4s. You can expect extra attention and they will spot the HIDs right away.

As for Jim implying he plays chicken with people using illegal HIDs , I think that "more balls than brains" is the appropriate term.

The last few years of the HID craze, I've noted that truckers have some techniques to deal with illegal set-ups. From behind, some light up their backup lights or drag one side of their trailer tires on the shoulder showering the HID vehicle with dust and rocks. Head - on, they just usually light up their driving lights or leave on their high beams. Not that I agree with these techniques, as others behind the HID equipped vehicle get part of the punishment. It would be nice just to see the police and CVSE pull the offending vehicles off the road.

 

[jfc]

I see just fine now, it's like fxxxing daylight out there. Now if only these assholes would stop driving straight at me!

YouTube - elton john - candle in the wind

I think this would be more fitting jeff

youTube-denis leary- a****** (not a link find it yourself)

I drive an 80 and instal HID's, and I dont give a damn if any esle can see, I'm an...

(Just kiding, I know you not running the "illeagal setup", ateb wouldn't install that (Reputable shop I hear), or did you change your own headlights like back in your wrenching 45 days.. how's that coming along anyway..)

 

[Enigma]

That's my theme song, and I play it at least once a day.

And the 45 is still in the garage, patiently waiting. And for the record, I did change a headlight in it once (sealed beam replacement)

 

[speycaster]

An OEM conversion for my Jetta cost just under three grand. OEM for Borras in the EU. So you can do it properly if you want to spend the money for certain vehicles, Mark 4 jettas and Borras are the same vehicle just different names for different markets.

 

[sailor]

I have no issue with increased inpection of vehicles. There is a lot of crap out there driving around. When my truck was on 5 inches of lift, it should have been VI'd just for the emergency handling and caster issues alone. Just try a panic stop on a rutted road in an HDJ with bias Swampers and -4 degrees caster! I spent a considerable amount of time, effort and money to return it to an acceptable condition, with all numbers back to stock values. I'll take my chances with the lights. I drive into the cop shop private parking lot several times a week without issue as well...

 

[BC40]

Late to the party here but fully agree with Jim on stupid bright lights people feel entitled to run. The problem is that much worse for small cars approaching trucks because the headlights are at windshield height. And new cars are getting that much worse.

 

[LanceCruiser]

I would like to have a mirror angled back at them if they have them adjusted too high. I know it's illegal, but it sure would be nice to give it back.

 

[canucksafari]

I would like to have a mirror angled back at them if they have them adjusted too high. I know it's illegal, but it sure would be nice to give it back.

LOL I use to do that with my electric side mirror on our old mini-van. It encouraged them to pass me quickly. My current mirrors won't move that far out.

BTW, headlight adjustment is not just a HID thing. I bet over 1/3 of the vehicles on the road have their head lights out of adjustment. It's just not something people check or ask to be checked.

 

[sailor]

John, I think you make an excellent point. Remember when there was that yearly inspection down on Georgia by Stanley Park? I recall that one of the tests was headlight aim- now I know that was a long time ago because the memory is very clear going there with my Grandfather in his '71 Skylark when I was a child. Sadly I have no recollection of what I did two days ago, perhaps I'll mark that down to my rapidly advancing decrepitude?

 

[canucksafari]

The only place I remember where the public could check their headlight aim was at my old high school where they had the measurements marked out on an outside wall and on the pavement. Now you pretty much have to bring your own tape measure and tape to mark it out on someone else's wall. Perhaps we can mark up the outside wall and parking lot at Steve's new digs.

 

[kim]

John, I think you make an excellent point. Remember when there was that yearly inspection down on Georgia by Stanley Park? I recall that one of the tests was headlight aim- now I know that was a long time ago because the memory is very clear going there with my Grandfather in his '71 Skylark when I was a child. Sadly I have no recollection of what I did two days ago, perhaps I'll mark that down to my rapidly advancing decrepitude?

I was pretty sure I had a good reply to whatever in the hell it was you just said....

 

[Enigma]

And now I can blind the hillbillies behind me as well

Before....

 

[Enigma]

And after...

 

[canucksafari]

You'd be jail bait for a CVSE or a cop with a hate-on for JDM. ;p