Dipped beam upgrade

[jonjeffryes]

As the dark nights are now well and truly with us, I decided I'd better try and improve the night time drive-ability of the old girl (the car that is).

I invested in a lens polishing kit, which has been reasonably successful at improving the blooming on the plastic lenses. This has improved the quality of light but it is still nowhere near modern standards.

Stage 2 involved spending a little more money on improved bulbs. down at my local Halfrauds they have an embarrassment of choice with bulb options covering a multitude of brands and power improvements - the more power, the more expensive the bulbs.

I selected Halfords own branded top of the range Ultimate Bulbs boasting up to 120% more light at a weighty £29.99 each...however fortunately on a buy one get one free offer......however, at £3.89 a side, I declined Halfords offer to fit them

10 minutes of wiggling and contorting saw the bulbs fitted. the proof is in the pudding and on the drive home on a dark and dingy M25, I could see a substantial improvement...maybe not 120% better but certainly stronger light than the previous standard fitment.

These must be a benefit as I splash around the UK Motorway system for the next few months.

[J44EAG]

I have exactly the same in my car, Jon.

Worth every penny of the money. The only downside is that I seem to be re polishing the polycarbonate at least twice a year. Whether this is down to age degradation or the possibility that the Halfords lamps run hotter than the standard units is unknown. They are still road legal at 55w each.

I suppose eventually I shall have to shell out for replacement light units, probably used but in a less degraded condition. At that point it might be an idea to investigate HID units to save having another fry up.

To add injury, even fitting uprated lamps to our cars is classed as a modification so we must tell our insurance company...so is wrapping your car in a different colour vinyl or fitting polyprop anti roll bar bushes.

Daft if you ask me. The car is no more likely to have an accident or be involved with a claim whether it has uprated headlights or not. It is the dummy at the front that causes an accident. I would have thought better headlights contributed to better road safety.

Mike

[jonjeffryes]

Crikey Mike,

I never thought about advising the insurance company.....I've just changed the CD to Queens greatest hits from a more sedate Brat Pack, do you think I might incur additional cost for being too racy!

....and what about the air fresheners....I've changed from 'white linen' to 'new car' ......keep that quiet or I will face an early morning call from the Direct Line Mafia