running 80w lows

[kanadary]

am interesting in hearing from folks that currently run 80w low beams, do you get flashed alot? and i don't mean "flash friday" was thinking of ordering some but may stick with 55/100 instead if the 80s are too annoying to other drivers.

[RoninLB]

i currently run 85/80w Osrams pn 64206

I ran 130/100w Narva but they would burn out a little after 5k night miles

the trip with adjusting for me was to 1st get them straight and evenly balanced but aimed a little low

2nd act was to raise the driver's side bulb straight up a little bit, then test drive. Repeat a little bit at a time till i got an occasional flash from an oncoming car. If the flash happened once every 20 hours of night driving I'd leave it there. If it was once an hour I'd lower it a tiny bit.

3rd act was to do the right passenger side. Same routine till i got the flash but this time i aimed the lens a little off to the right. I'd do this a couple of times till no more flashing BUT highway signs could now be read at a great distance and i had plenty of straight ahead light from that lens.

you have to feel your way through it. And the screws correctly function when turned clockwise. If you have to turn counter clockwise overshoot the adjustment and finish up clockwise.

Try to do this on a level road. If i was going over a hill with 100 lows or even the 80 lows oncoming traffic always flashes.

if you're serious use E-code lens which is not the auto store DOT lens. Due to the legality of selling non DOT lens you may have to say the lens is for off-road use.

if you're stuck with DOT lens' don't bother with bigger w bulbs because the beam is scattered and not nearly as sharp a cut off as E-code lens' imho

you must have relays and hopefully high temperature bulb sockets or remove the socket completely and connect the wires directly without a socket


all above in my humble opinion and what i do to drive the 911 x-country

[Steve@Rennsport]

Originally Posted by kanadary

am interesting in hearing from folks that currently run 80w low beams, do you get flashed alot? and i don't mean "flash friday" was thinking of ordering some but may stick with 55/100 instead if the 80s are too annoying to other drivers.

Hi Ken,

Two of my cars have E-code H-4 lamps in them running 100/150w bulbs and if they are properly aimed, you'll not get flashed. It does take time to get this right.

Been doing this since 1985 with nary an issue from an on-coming driver,....

[RSBob]

I have H4s with 80/100s and never get flashed. There are so many cars with much brighter lights (HIDs, possers with retrofit improper HIDs, bright-asp bulbs without european cut-offs) I look great in comparison. Even standing while facing the car at various distances at seated heights - no issues.

That being said - I ran new upgraded wiring harness to each headlamp bucket, ceramic plug-ins (the plastic might melt) as well as additional fuses and relays. Quite a project but at least I know nothing will fry.

[Quicksilver]

80/100 Euro H4s and never flashed.

[balleta]

Originally Posted by kanadary

am interesting in hearing from folks that currently run 80w low beams, do you get flashed alot? and i don't mean "flash friday" was thinking of ordering some but may stick with 55/100 instead if the 80s are too annoying to other drivers.

Remember to add relays or you'll get the turn signal/hi/lo switch fried.

[kanadary]

thanks all. i will try them, have the relays installed already, actually cured my flash function on the stalk when i installed them. have euro h4s with the e glass so i should be okay. will rewire with 12 gauge to the lights from the fuse. are the H4 adaptors our host sells good enough or do i need to go ceramic?

[Chris Morse]

I purchased the relay kits, lamp assemblys and bulbs from Daniel Stern Lighting Consultancy and Supply
Lots of good info and help. Don't forget to upgrade the ground wire and make a good connection for it too.

hth,
chris

[KTL]

Agree with all the above fellas. Have the Euro H4 setup in my '87 with beefed up wiring and independent relays. What a huge improvement it was with the nice lights and flamethrower bulbs. Highly recommended for anyone who does a lot of night driving. When you switch to high beam, the added reach is impressive!

[T77911S]

Originally Posted by Steve@Rennsport

Hi Ken,

Two of my cars have E-code H-4 lamps in them running 100/150w bulbs and if they are properly aimed, you'll not get flashed. It does take time to get this right.

Been doing this since 1985 with nary an issue from an on-coming driver,....

maybe you should go for a drive and let someone drive your car behind you and see how it is.

i notice around here even though there are cars driving with hi beams on, i dont see cars flashing them to turn them off, but then around here, you might be a redneck if you think your hi beams are just a spare set of headlights.

maybe its just me, but i seem to be more sensitive to hi beams, i wish they would just remove them from all cars. sorry, i just have some issues.

[SpeedracerIndy]

80/100w for the last 5 years and never flashed. E-code headlights have a very defined cutoff and do not produce glare for oncoming traffic as long as they're aimed correctly.

[Wil Ferch]

Correct.....the Euro-pattern H4's have a strong cut-off with a dark top-half. Conversely, the US style has a "blob" pattern that illuminates the top-half of the profile.

I sometimes flash oncoming cars and trucks thinking they have high beams on....and I find as we pass each other...I can see that they are heavily "laden" and loaded in the back, causing their low beams to aim-high. Therefore, with the "blob" light pattern, it goes to show that alignment is vastly important.

Euro H4's therefore should be able to handle low-beam hi-watt bulbs without much trouble for oncoming traffic.

[T77911S]

alignment is important. but when someone pulls up behind you at a stop light with hi powered ights, even aimed properly, they shine right into your mirrors. its even worse when i am in the 911 since it is lower. i can tell the ones that have hi power lights, they are excessively blinding when right behind me, but they appear "normal" as thye get further away.
so for those that do have hi powered lights, remember, when you are close to someone, it is like having hi beams blasting in your mirrors because they shine down into the car, so try not to tailgait others, unless you really dont like them.
i have thought about more power, but i was thinking more in the way of 65/100.
my lows are 55 or 60 and my highs are 65, in the volvo, so iwas thinking just a little brighter.
i need to check the BMW, although those lights are pretty good as they are.

[Wil Ferch]

Quote:...." alignment is important. but when someone pulls up behind you at a stop light with hi powered ights, even aimed properly, they shine right into your mirrors..."

Ahh...no.....not in my experience.

With properly aimed H4's, I find that the "cut-off" is conveniently just UNDER the bottom-edge of their rear window. I was always very careful on such possibilities and never saw an irritating "flip" of the day-nite lever by the driver in front of me... when I came upon someone at a traffic light.

My experience anyway.......

[m110]

Originally Posted by Wil Ferch

Quote:...." alignment is important. but when someone pulls up behind you at a stop light with hi powered ights, even aimed properly, they shine right into your mirrors..."

Ahh...no.....not in my experience.

With properly aimed H4's, I find that the "cut-off" is conveniently just UNDER the bottom-edge of their rear window. I was always very careful on such possibilities and never saw an irritating "flip" of the day-nite lever by the driver in front of me... when I came upon someone at a traffic light.

My experience anyway.......

I think he means a higher vehicle like a pick up or SUV coming behind him which seem to shine in regardless of aiming when equipped with inprecise reflectors and lenses with hi lumen bulbs.

[Wil Ferch]

m110... I thought we were speaking of applying hi-watt lights to our Porsches..... no? Or for that matter, any regular passenger car......not elevated SUV's or trucks, although I see your point.

[mike_dunn]

I run 80/100w Hellas with the Hella h4s and the relay kit. Lighting is amazing and I get no flashes. I aimed them by eye against the garage door.