Hi all, I'm looking to upgrade my standard H7 bulbs to a much brighter light, as I find that no matter which ones I buy they're just not enough at night. I'm looking at some HID retrofits and also considering just getting 100w bulbs, but logic tells me the former are the more suitable of the two if done properly.

Which brings to me to my question of, what other solutions do I have, and I'd also like to know what you all think of this (http://www.ebay.com.au/itm/111327644114).

Thanks in advance!

That is illegal unless you fit automatic levelling. Plenty of locals are being done for this now, so it would be up to you.

Mike

Hi all, I'm looking to upgrade my standard H7 bulbs to a much brighter light, as I find that no matter which ones I buy they're just not enough at night. I'm looking at some HID retrofits and also considering just getting 100w bulbs, but logic tells me the former are the more suitable of the two if done properly.

Which brings to me to my question of, what other solutions do I have, and I'd also like to know what you all think of this (http://www.ebay.com.au/itm/111327644114).

Thanks in advance!

HID retrofits are illegal and defectable unless self-levelling and headlamp washers are fitted.
100w bulbs are also illegal and will probably melt your lamp housings anyway.

In both cases, but especially with the latter, you risk copping a punch to the throat from anyone you're following or approaching.

HIDs work extremely well in 3rd gen parras, matter of fact projector lens does not really make it a lot better (look at the photo, left is standard parras with HID, right is projector lens with HID) . Yes they are defective, i have had them in my car for over 6 years now. You are not going to glare anyone if you align them properly. No defect notice yet, EVEN if you do get defected, in NSW its a minor defect and can be signed off by any licensed mechanic who can do a pink slip. Performance of standard parras with normal globes is just plain horrible, HID is the only thing i found that made them adequate, IN MY OPINION. Going for higher wattage globes makes no sense IMO (like diamond vision) as they are illegal anyhow so might aswell go for HID. If you dont care about looks so much then standard third gen headlight is fantastic with plain globes.

http://i1012.photobucket.com/albums/af244/e363ma78/Frontview.jpg (http://s1012.photobucket.com/user/e363ma78/media/Frontview.jpg.html)

Lukky, have you tried the Philips Extreme or the Narva Blue Power? Both are ADR approved and give 80% extra brightness and 20% whiter in appearance. Parabolics can handle HID lights as the ZG Outlander came with them. It was only in the ZH that they moved to projector style. However, the Outlander parabolics look a lot different to the 3rd gen low beam ones. They look a lot similar to the 3rd gen high beam ones.

I've tried the Philips bulbs, and I asked for a demo of the Narva ones, but I was never really happy with the performance of both of them. It just didn't have the feel of that HID punch. I'd be happy to get them automatically levelled but how would I go about that?

You would need the whole shebang. The projector units, HID units with ballasts, auto leveller ECU and sensor and motors and washers. Try sourcing ones prior to intro of CANBUS. Yes, HIDs do look good. Quite enjoy a night drive in the Pajero.

I read an article which stated that HIDs are actually a negative more than a positive. I am not going to pretend I dont love how they floodlight the road, though according to the article and some of my own research, there is something to it. The greater intensity of light means you have more reflected light in your eyes. That along with blue and white being right up there in colours of light that hinder our night vision makes for poorer peripheral vision. The article also talked about HIDs being very defined in their spread. While a regular globe even being below full strength at where a HID light ends, it still keeps on going past it. A bit of light vs no light sort of thing.
I still love HIDs as Im a sucker for lighting tech, but if you dont have it, this info is like a consolation prize.

I do wonder about Andrei saying there is no glare without projectors. When you say you aligned them properly, do you mean the lens or the globe position? Because I understand the lens is designed around the light being produced in an certain spot. When its in a different spot, you get the scattered light. The photo with projectors is definitely much more defined!

Shezza, you are right in that the pic with parabolic reflectors have scattered light above the cut off. The parabolic reflectors in the ZG Outlanders don't have that issue. In fact, the light spread of the wife's Outlander is very much like that projector lights compared with my old Gtvi AWD.

As for the near field light effect, that is true in country driving where you need good distance and peripheral lighting and is what auxiliary lights are for. In built up areas, HID work much better than conventional lighting.

When I talk about aligning I generally mean the globe within the lens. I'd need it to be pointing downwards so it doesn't burn everyone elses retinas. Right now my passenger-side headlights have an issue where they point lower than the driver-side when locked in properly. It would be a little too high when left loose (but I've had it fall out of the socket and leave me with one light), which is why I'm considering HID retrofitting. However this is all in planning stages, I have yet to find a tutorial on installing the autoleveller etc.

There should be adjustment screws on the headlight unit that allow you to change the angle of the beam. You should never have loose headlights in your car for that exact reason. Put them in correctly, locate your adjustment screws (usually white coloured plastic tabs you can rotate with a flathead or hex key along the upper back area of the headlight), and get them angled right.

There's instructions on what level to set them at if you read the workshop manual for your car. Can't remember mine off the top of my head, but if you want to be 100%, you have your car at a set distance from a flat wall, with 1/2 a tank of fuel, and you angle them up/down till they are at the specified height.

Hope that helps :)

This should be helpful:

http://www.aussiemagna.com/forums/showthread.php?t=54896

Thanks for the link, I actually had no idea they were deliberately designed to have different heights. I would assume that if I do purchase a HID retrofit that I'd just screw the lens onto the existing housing, right?

Shezza, you are right in that the pic with parabolic reflectors have scattered light above the cut off. The parabolic reflectors in the ZG Outlanders don't have that issue. In fact, the light spread of the wife's Outlander is very much like that projector lights compared with my old Gtvi AWD.

As for the near field light effect, that is true in country driving where you need good distance and peripheral lighting and is what auxiliary lights are for. In built up areas, HID work much better than conventional lighting.

I have noticed that the percentage of cars with factory HIDs use projectors. The old VRX Outlanders, IS300, LS400, Forester XT and one of the originals - the Honda Legend are among a handful or two of cars that dont use the projectors. I think I feel the glare more without the projectors and I wonder if thats at all the reason most cars use them. My other thought was - How hard is it to manufacture a HID parabolic reflector vs the projector lens. I would have thought the latter would be dearer to produce, but I am just guessing. Im mostly curious if there is any real difference between a reflector designed for HID and one desgined for a regular halogen (besides the globe position). Maybe you know?

Well that was my other thought - peripheral lighting. I was actually thinking its a great thing to have on any country vehicle. Beyond foggies which give you a bit of assistance. Something more like indicator operated lighting. Id definitely tap into them and get them to work with my high beams if I had them! Its the Kangaroos coming from your peripheral which is really my biggest fear. They love to pop out in the last second and a bit of notice would be awesome!
Anyway, its nice to have at least a single reason that not going HID is a positive. Im always tossing up between staying standard or going HID and I was just trying to make my life and others in my position find some sort of peace with staying standard.

I noticed your Pajero as your avatar and your nice puddle lamps... would love to see a night shot! Im guessing you installed them yourself?

Hi Shezza, the lights are factory. I just replaced the bulbs with LEDs. See my signature for link to the Pajero with night time/pitch black shots.