Nick Woods Posted August 20, 2002 Share Posted August 20, 2002 I'm not especially impressed with the performance of my standard headlamps and want to improve the quality and quantity of light so I can see better at night. Having spent ages going through the search engine I've not come up with a consensus on what is the best option is, hence the posting. It seems to me the options are replace the headlamps with a different make - but what ? are the 5 1/4 ones from (eg) James Whiting any better in terms of illumination or are they just smaller ? uprate the bulbs with higher wattage ones - some rewiring required but not beyond the bounds of possibility, however higher-wattage bulbs are technically illegal. use the '30% brighter' bulbs sold by halfrauds etc add some auxiliary driving lights - are there any that are small enough to fit on a seven without looking stupid that give decent performance ? Nick P8MRA - The green one with red wings Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
scooby dooby doo Posted August 20, 2002 Share Posted August 20, 2002 my 5.75" ones seem better. OTOH they're not covered in tape, silicone, dirt, pits and scratches... HOOPY CYCLE WINGS CUCUMBER Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
stevefoster Posted August 20, 2002 Share Posted August 20, 2002 The direct fit 30% brighter Xenon bulbs gave enough of an improvement for me. Steve My racing pics, 7 DIY, race prep. Updated often here Hants (North) and Berkshire area club site here Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mark4newman Posted August 20, 2002 Share Posted August 20, 2002 put some more headlights on the roll bar? M100EOW.... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Miraz Posted August 20, 2002 Share Posted August 20, 2002 This is very effective, but does look very silly - here Miraz Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Nick W Posted August 20, 2002 Share Posted August 20, 2002 Is that a Seven or Mickey Mouse? . Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Nick Woods Posted August 20, 2002 Author Share Posted August 20, 2002 Its a mouse Are they legal that high from the ground ? Nick P8MRA - The green one with red wings Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Miraz Posted August 20, 2002 Share Posted August 20, 2002 Probably not - but they are linked to a bypass switch as they are for off-road use only I'm working on the basis that most trucks are festooned with lights even higher off the ground, so it won't be a problem. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
stevefoster Posted August 20, 2002 Share Posted August 20, 2002 "This is very effective, but does look very silly" >>> BUT is a must for driving in Scandinavia at night where an elk or large deer could be lurking in the roadside trees ready to bolt out. You need all the extra vision you can get. Personally I think they should paint or gm the coats so they glow in the dark. I had a stag bolt out and miss me by a knats whisker in Sweden. They look very, very big from a 7's cockpit. Steve My racing pics, 7 DIY, race prep. Updated often here Hants (North) and Berkshire area club site here Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Peter Carmichael Posted August 20, 2002 Share Posted August 20, 2002 IIRC, Cadillac launched an IR head up display for just such circumstances - probably not on the options list for the seven yet. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Nick W Posted August 20, 2002 Share Posted August 20, 2002 Miraz I suspect it will be about as much use off-road as an X5 . Or is that being too harsh . Nick Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ian B Posted August 20, 2002 Share Posted August 20, 2002 I think the high level ones would just reflect off my bald-patch and dazzle other drivers ☹️ Ian - MI 5EVN - SV's do it longer Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Miraz Posted August 20, 2002 Share Posted August 20, 2002 The picture was taken in Sweden...only one small moose was encountered. The return trip via Norway included a dirt stage, which was lots of sideways fun at 70mph although there was a section of gravel in Sweden that took the alternator belt off the front of the engine and filled the chassis rails with big lumps of rock. here, here and here On balance, probably better than an X5! Miraz Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
stevefoster Posted August 20, 2002 Share Posted August 20, 2002 I know it was Sweden. Statoil is the give away... Lived there for ages you see. Rocks etc. And they think racing is hard on cars.... Steve My racing pics, 7 DIY, race prep. Updated often here Hants (North) and Berkshire area club site here Edited by - stevefoster on 20 Aug 2002 15:42:34 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Nick Woods Posted August 20, 2002 Author Share Posted August 20, 2002 ok, here comes a brave but probably futile attempt to get back on-topic Are there any auxiliary lights that will fit on a 7 by the main ones ? Nick P8MRA - The green one with red wings Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Miraz Posted August 20, 2002 Share Posted August 20, 2002 I've seen one car that had small driving lights fitted in place of the indicators, which had been moved to the leading edge of the cycle wings. It's possible that it was Tony Boyd's car although I can't be sure - it was a little while ago. If you did Julian T's headlamp modification then you could do something similar. Miraz Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tony Martyr Posted August 20, 2002 Share Posted August 20, 2002 For some 4 years I was pretty unimpressed by my lights. They certainly can't see round bends as fast as the car can travel as the have limited spread when dipped. However my last MOT test was carried out by Millwoods who adjusted them as part of the test and that has been a revelation. I had a hell of a job to get them right at first build and had used a local garage's MOT device - obviously I had not got it optimised but it is very difficult to tell. Now driving on fast country roads at night is very exciting rather than rather scary as before - but to make them even better I will buy the direct replacement bulbs if they really work - do they? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mr Locust Posted August 20, 2002 Share Posted August 20, 2002 Go with the 30% xenon bulbs. I have used them and found a good improvement. Also least cost/p***ng about option. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ian balson Posted August 20, 2002 Share Posted August 20, 2002 Nick, Not sure if you went on the club trip to Le Mans this year, but there was a guy there (Dave, his surname escapes me) who had the Cosworth powered 7 that did the race in Mexico - La Carrera Panamericana in 1995. It had an Ali nosecone with built in driving lights. I'll mailed you a pic. I think Dave may lurk on Blatchat occasionally? Rgds Ian ian_balson@yahoo.co.uk Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Nick W Posted August 20, 2002 Share Posted August 20, 2002 Nick Saw the 'ring car at Caterham sales (South) last weekend. It had some very snazzy rectanglular driving lights (zenon i think) on it from the race. Apparently it had two pairs on at night, but they had taken one set off. I expect they are very expensive, but a quick call to one of the guys would confirm this. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Nick Woods Posted August 20, 2002 Author Share Posted August 20, 2002 Thanks Ian - they make it look like one of the very early Lotuses - I cant remember which one but theres a picture at the start of Chris Rees's book Nick P8MRA - The green one with red wings Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ian balson Posted August 20, 2002 Share Posted August 20, 2002 Nick, Apparantly it had to look like a lotus 6 to get an invite, hence the unusual rear wings. Rgds Ian ian_balson@yahoo.co.uk Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mr Locust Posted August 20, 2002 Share Posted August 20, 2002 If you want to be very extreme. John Tipler's Lotus and Caterham Sevens book shows a 24h endurance entry with a pair of Cibie Oscars bolted on the top of the nosecone. Functional but not exactly stylish. Maybe mount a white stick on the grille? 😬 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Pierre Gillet Posted August 20, 2002 Share Posted August 20, 2002 Try the Philips Vision Plus : up to 50% more light and 30 m deeper. And of course it is the well known reliability of Philips bulbs. My new JW small bulbs are now fitted with those and they are very efficient. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mav Posted August 20, 2002 Share Posted August 20, 2002 Page 142 in Demon Tweeks red catalogue, centre bottom of page Super white bulbs H4 draws 65/55W produces 110/100w E-marked pair - £40.96 + vat part no EWC-1. Regards, Martin Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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