The official "Increasing light output" thread

[sheffeyva]

I am sick and tired of the poor quality my 1994 signature series puts out. I want everyone to post their own experiences of what has worked for them and also ideas that could improve on this. First off I notice that 1995-1997 i think have a much more clear lens when compared to ours. Can those be swapped over or adapted? If not then is there any company producing a lens with all the lines through it i.e. the diamond clears as they are referred to. I wanted to do a HID swap with TSX projectors bulbs and ballasts. Anyways please feel free to post away and see what we can come up with.

[nailfoot]

You can swap the entire front clip from a 1995+ to a 1990-1994, but I wonder if it is worth the effort? Have you tried polishing your lenses? Also, there are a few threads here about Silvania Extravision lamps.

[sheffeyva]

What I am really looking for is a headlight with a clear lens so I can do a retrofit with some TSX projectors and ballasts. And just because its cold as hell outside right now, are the 1994 and under headlamps sealed beam or do they have the newer screw in bulbs?

[v8_dave]

'94 take 9004 capsule style bulbs.

You can:


Polish headlights (0-20%)
Install relayed wiring with large gauge wiring (25%)
Install 9007 XV bulbs (10W higher lows, 5W higher highs)


Thats what I have done and am satisfied

You can also:


Get the Sylvania HIR bulbs (direct fit, 30%)
Get some Hella 50mm projector bulbs and work them in.
Get some $100 HID universal capsule bulbs.

[cason1]

Don't do the 9007 bulbs without the relays first. That is what I am doing for now and eventually am going to go with the Hella 50mm projectors. I will be turning my headlights into low beams, turn signals into highs and custom making an LED turn signal assembly with the cornering light housing.;)

As for a clear lens, you can make one using the factory pieces but if the car is a daily driver, you might want to get junkyard set to play with. Go to my profile and have a look at my cardomain page to see what I did with my taillights. Same principal applies to the headlights. Lots of sanding and polishing.

[LowridinF100]

I have the Silvania Silver stars right now in there... im NOT happy... (thats why im reading this thread lol)

[Dereck]

Hi Sheffeya

I have 100/80 watt 9004s in my 92 TC with a relayed headlight harnes. (http://www.autodynamic.com/detail.asp?PRODUCT_ID=HH-9004)

http://www.autodynamic.com/transfer/dbimages/large/HH-9004.jpg

Regards

Dereck

[Shrewsbury]

Hi Sheffeya

I have 100/80 watt 9004s in my 92 TC with a relayed headlight harnes. (http://www.autodynamic.com/detail.asp?PRODUCT_ID=HH-9004)

http://www.autodynamic.com/transfer/dbimages/large/HH-9004.jpg

Regards

Dereck


I have the same relays installed on my 91 TC. Certainly worth the money and effort. The big advantage is getting the high current out of your headlight switch.

[nailfoot]

Heck, I strapped a flashlight under each headlight on my car, and DOUBLED the front light output over factory. :D

[Shrewsbury]

Heck, I strapped a flashlight under each headlight on my car, and DOUBLED the front light output over factory. :D
:rofl: Sad, but true. These old stock headlights are pathetic - dingy & brown. I have HID envy. :p

[the Andrew]

:rofl: Sad, but true. These old stock headlights are pathetic - dingy & brown. I have HID envy. :p

Yes hids are worth light you get, here's my 97 with them, I'm currtenly getting the Bi-xenons installed so I can have high beams again, the new hi beams with the new kit are like aircraft landing lights and draw directly from the batt.

I'll get some pics up of the high beams from all angles when I can. Ya know I see so many people on this forum spend lots of money on mods and such but this one is quite worth it.

[Shrewsbury]

Nice, Andrew! But sadly, the $600+ required to fit my car with the xenon HIDs is about what the old gal is worth. :( That mod would double the car's value.

BTW - Your sig line is a hoot! :p

[Brian C]

I can relate to this issue. I went from a '91 to a ''95 TC. The headlights in my '91 were in good shape (not dull or yellowed). And I would describe that as "average" for light output.

Then when I bought my '95, I was like....damn, what the heck? I thought there was something wrong with the lights, they were so bright. I even checked my electrical system with a voltmeter, to see if the alternator was over-volting or something !!

So yeah, I see the HUGE diffence. I've never even had to use my high beams on my '95, in the 20 months that I've had it.

I can't see how even polishing the lenses in a pre-95 would help much. Seems a lot of the 95+ headlight output, has to do with the cool looking reflector work in the housing.

[the Andrew]

Nice, Andrew! But sadly, the $600+ required to fit my car with the xenon HIDs is about what the old gal is worth. :( That mod would double the car's value.

BTW - Your sig line is a hoot! :p

HIDworld.com has decent prices, I guess it depends on what you want.

[w0by]

Where did you buy the Bi-xenon HID lights at? I have an 01 Town Car and I would love em! I heard that they aren't that focused because of the car being not made for HID, is that true?

[the Andrew]

Yes hids are worth light you get, here's my 97 with them, I'm currtenly getting the Bi-xenons installed so I can have high beams again, the new hi beams with the new kit are like aircraft landing lights and draw directly from the batt.

I'll get some pics up of the high beams from all angles when I can. Ya know I see so many people on this forum spend lots of money on mods and such but this one is quite worth it.

Well it's changed since, Now I have Mercedes Bi-xenon projectors, retro of course if you want a write up let me know. I included Some of the process photos and final just for preveiw, it was alot of work but dam, these lit up everything, and they look cool of course. Way better than just changing the bulbs to HIDs. Don't mind the arrow in the second pic, that was from an old post.

[osman1989]

Is it possible for me to use my brother headlights. He has a Benz S430 2002. He got new headlights for it like the clear ones with the projectors and hid and all. s it possible for me to use his old set up

[the Andrew]

Is it possible for me to use my brother headlights. He has a Benz S430 2002. He got new headlights for it like the clear ones with the projectors and hid and all. s it possible for me to use his old set up

Are his old S430 Head lights projectors? Mine came out of a Mercedes E55 AMG, look around on ebay you might find some.

[osman1989]

there blue. i think there just hids so i dont know

[w0by]

That's sw33t. When I get mine back I'll take some pics and vids too of my 01.

[w0by]

Wondering, you said "bi xenon" HID's...now...did you convert your headlight assembly to have 4 headlamps or did you just get the new "bi-xenon" HID's where they flip up the low beam with the magnet to create a high beam? I've been looking everywhere for a review on the high beams. I'm getting some custom projects made with the bi-xenon HID kit so they act like a single bulb with the dual filaments.

[Mark9]

I recently replaced the headlight units on both our '96 and '94 TC's. WHAT A DIFFERENCE!!! I had polished the original lens on the '94 last December and was pleased with the improvement. However, after I replaced both units on our '96 and saw the amazing difference I quickly ordered new assemblies for the '94. The difference between the old polished units and the new assemblies is remarkable. The '96 versions came with new bulbs and retaining clips, but the '94 had neither so I used the original clips and bulbs.

On the '94 I could have taken a bit more time to align the lights as they point a bit too low - however, I quickly noticed that even on low beams, cars in front of me now flash their lights thinking I have my high beams on. While driving my normal freeway route into the city I immediately noticed that road signs that were almost indistinguishable until you were right on top of them are now clearly visible in the distance. And this is with using the same bulbs that were in the the old assemblies.

If I had known how much of an improvement the replacement units were over the factory design, I'd had made the change much, much sooner!! When I think of all the time and effort I put into trying to clean up the oem headlights, I really feel stupid to say the least)...

[osman1989]

Wondering, you said "bi xenon" HID's...now...did you convert your headlight assembly to have 4 headlamps or did you just get the new "bi-xenon" HID's where they flip up the low beam with the magnet to create a high beam? I've been looking everywhere for a review on the high beams. I'm getting some custom projects made with the bi-xenon HID kit so they act like a single bulb with the dual filaments.

BI Xenon is the new style h.i.d it has dual filment in one like a regular 9007 halgoen bulb

[w0by]

I had bi-xenon but they were defective and the brights wouldnt work so im getting new ones.

[v8_dave]

True Bi-Xenon is an actuated shield to raise the cutoff of the low beams to high on projector HID lamps.

Fake Bi-Xenon are the same except cheepo. ;)

[the Andrew]

True Bi-Xenon is an actuated shield to raise the cutoff of the low beams to high on projector HID lamps.

Fake Bi-Xenon are the same except cheepo. ;)

Correct Real bi-xenon use the sheild and solenoid, like in my car's E55 projectors.

[jon920153]

hey what color temperature do you have on your hid's?
I have installed the 6k and the 10k. Also what are the relay harnesses used for? Does high current=higher light output?
You mentioned about a write up for those projectors, is that possible to be acquired?

[the Andrew]

hey what color temperature do you have on your hid's?
I have installed the 6k and the 10k. Also what are the relay harnesses used for? Does high current=higher light output?
You mentioned about a write up for those projectors, is that possible to be acquired?

Do you have a 95-present towncar? To do a retro on an older fluted lenses headlight would be difficult. I run 4300k They are THE brightest. The harness allows for more reliable ignition of the ballasts.

[jon920153]

Yea I have a 92 TC. Your headlights are ALOT slimmer than the ones I have. Thats why with the hid's, the lights kinda go everywhere.:rolleyes: Do you know if it's possible to put projectors on that type of headlight? Or do you have any idea to improve the lighting situation even with the hid's I have instatlled? I don't really wanna go back to halogen bulbs. Once you have hid's you cant go back.

[Newave Dave]

Changed my headlight today. i installed an OEM unit on what I viewed as the scratchiest side. Easy job, just had to buy a channel lock snap ring pliers. The light output is much greater. Now my other side that I thought was pretty clean, after all my sanding and buffing, looks dim by comparison and is going to get changed. BTW my voltage at the socket was 13.3 with motor running. Thanks for all the ideas guys!

[w0by]

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ijcb6cxk28A

[bojo68]

I realize people get carried away about this, but how much do I have to spend on my Markvii(95) to make it's headlights as good as the headlights on my 79 datsun with headlights that cost 5$ and are available everywhere?