GU head lights
Submitted: Tuesday, Sep 07, 2004 at 11:04
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Austravel
Hi,
As per Truckster's previous post on improved lighting in a GQ it's really worth the effort and $$. I replaced my lights with Hella inserts and made up the wiring loom myself and used 100/90 watt globes. What a difference.
Now I have a GU and the lights on high beam are pretty crook. What can I do here, I'd assume you can't get replacment lights or if you can there pretty dear. Has anyone simply replaced the bulbs and wiring loom and got a big benefit??
Reply By: Truckster (Vic) - Tuesday, Sep 07, 2004 at 11:07
Tuesday, Sep 07, 2004 at 11:07
Try some 130/80's see how you like it.. you can always chance them, cheap enough.
High beam is crook, buy some LF 240's.. you will never complain again.
YMMV
AnswerID:
75479
Follow Up By: Member - Captain (WA) - Tuesday, Sep 07, 2004 at 11:18
Tuesday, Sep 07, 2004 at 11:18
Hi Truckster,
I reckon the wiring upgrade on any vehicle would certainly help, but I would be careful about using 130/80 bulbs in newer vehicles. Many lights are now plastic, not glass, and the higher heat of bigger globes can melt them. This is particularly true when headlight protectors are used, which keeps cooling air off the lense.
Cheers
Captain
FollowupID:
335227
Follow Up By: Truckster (Vic) - Tuesday, Sep 07, 2004 at 11:22
Tuesday, Sep 07, 2004 at 11:22
Good point.. but he has Hella inserts, so would have thought them to be glass?
FollowupID:
335232
Follow Up By: Member - Captain (WA) - Tuesday, Sep 07, 2004 at 11:33
Tuesday, Sep 07, 2004 at 11:33
I am certain the Hella's are glass, but that was on his GQ. He now has a GU and wants to upgrade that. I haven't checked my GU, but I "think" its a glass lense with a plastic reflector. But many new vehicles have all plastic, lense and reflector, and I would think twice about doing it if either part was plastic.
Makes me long for the old days when all were either simple round or square standard headlights and you could easily upgrade them. Oh
well, it must be progress...
Cheers
Captain
FollowupID:
335239
Follow Up By: Truckster (Vic) - Tuesday, Sep 07, 2004 at 11:54
Tuesday, Sep 07, 2004 at 11:54
misread it... too busy at work.. (actually watchign an auction on ebay LOL)
FollowupID:
335247
Follow Up By: Member - Roachie (SA) - Tuesday, Sep 07, 2004 at 15:12
Tuesday, Sep 07, 2004 at 15:12
You blokes are on the money......BUT.....
I have the LF 240s which are brilliant (forgive the pun). Problem is when I dip down for oncoming traffic, it's a case of..."where thebleepare we?". The standard lights low beam are pathetic. On long straight sections, when i see oncoming vehicles, I will switch off the LFs first, but leave standard high beam on for a few hundred metres.
I am also wary of putting in higher wattage globes into the plastic "cases" of the standard headlights....
If they weren't so bloody expensive, I'd be putting in a set of HID inserts. These throw out a shytload more light but are only supposed to be around 35watts... WHAT THE F**K?....Wouldn't that be nice?
FollowupID:
335295
Follow Up By: Truckster (Vic) - Tuesday, Sep 07, 2004 at 15:36
Tuesday, Sep 07, 2004 at 15:36
Roachie..
Agree 100%..
Dip the spotties, and its like a pr of dolphin torches with flat batteries. But I can actually see light still!!! Im impressed.
You would hope that the std plastic could handle 100w at least..
FollowupID:
335299
Reply By: NissanofOld - Tuesday, Sep 07, 2004 at 15:28
Tuesday, Sep 07, 2004 at 15:28
The globes were one of the first things I changed on my GU, the light output reminded me of the old 6V VW lights. I bought some inserts made by Hella from memory, they're the new type that put out around 50% more light, but also meet the wattage/ADR requirements. They actually work and make the lights much better. No need for upgraded wiring either, but if you can go that route, that modification on its own makes an amazing difference.
AnswerID:
75514
Reply By: Austravel - Tuesday, Sep 07, 2004 at 17:16
Tuesday, Sep 07, 2004 at 17:16
Thanks all,
This was my concern, that the reflector was plastic, plus the way the light is diffracted through lens I thought that there may have been no fix. There are black areas in the light pattern on the road. I guess the only option is better light output bulbs (with no increase in amps) and upgrade the wiring.
Already have rallye 2000 spotlights on but as already raised the drama is when you turn them off it's pretty sad.
Thanks
AnswerID:
75532
Reply By: Bonz (Vic) - Tuesday, Sep 07, 2004 at 17:59
Tuesday, Sep 07, 2004 at 17:59
I put 90/130's in
mine, PITA to get to the passenger side one. Also rewired with relays straight from the battery, one relay for hi and one for low, got some plugs off an old XD Falcon and spliced the wiring in with that I ran from the relays, so can return to normal when and if required. This made a big difference to the headlights, theyre actually passable now.
AnswerID:
75537
Follow Up By: Austravel - Thursday, Sep 09, 2004 at 09:42
Thursday, Sep 09, 2004 at 09:42
Have you had any dramas with the 130's and damage to the reflector?? It's certainly a lot more heat output than the standard ones.
FollowupID:
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Follow Up By: Bonz (Vic) - Friday, Sep 10, 2004 at 20:47
Friday, Sep 10, 2004 at 20:47
None at all, theyve been fine
FollowupID:
335823
Reply By: Mudguard - Tuesday, Sep 07, 2004 at 20:21
Tuesday, Sep 07, 2004 at 20:21
g,day I had the same problem with my GU but I went for the Phillips Blue Vision globes 55W/60W =100W/110W ( H4) no greater current draw,less heat and white light not dull yellow H1 globes for spotties are expensive cheers
AnswerID:
75572
Reply By: dublediff - Tuesday, Sep 07, 2004 at 21:53
Tuesday, Sep 07, 2004 at 21:53
Whatever you do if you put higher watt globes in replace/upgrade the wiring. 90/130's tend to melt the standard "hair filament" cabling. Added to that the extra heat from the overheated wiring damaged my plastic headlight casing. Mr. nissan wasn't too happy. I now have 90/130 with a pirhanna loom and it makes things a little more reasonable when I turn my LF170's off. PS. I put the 170's on instead of the 240's to increase the airflow to my GU 111 3.0. If you can't put an insect screen on them what would the LF240'S DO???
AnswerID:
75600
Follow Up By: Cobra - Tuesday, Sep 07, 2004 at 23:55
Tuesday, Sep 07, 2004 at 23:55
I wanted to upgrade
mine a few years ago and was told that unless I used replacement inserts the heat buildup would melt the standard ones. Decided the cost was not worth it at the time.
FollowupID:
335365