ameli0rate
Newly Enlightened
- Joined
- Jan 26, 2014
- Messages
- 53
I have a 2006 Volvo V70 with plastic headlights. They are universally considered utter [expletive].
This is it;
It uses H11 and H9 bulbs, so no HIR available (that I know of), and the plastic fades (since polished, but that's short-lived), and I *really* have a dislike of the European solution of a few large UFO landing lights on a bar in front of the grille.
I've seen solutions from the 2001-2004 glass headlights opened up and using Morimoto HID projectors to replacing the OEM fluted glass with a clear lens. My understanding (from lurking here) is that both solutions are illegal due to modifying an existing "system" of bulb/reflector/housing. The former gives very nice light, sharp cut-off etc, but is discouraged due to alignment issues between headlight and the HID unit's attachment inside of it.
The latter is illegal because the fluting in the glass focuses and shapes the light, so the clear glass will make for glare and poor(er) lighting.
I *could* just plug&play the Volvo ABL (active bending lights) with projector HIDs. They won't active-bend due to lack of software, but they are OEM and fit right in, etc. They are $1400 EACH!
My current thinking has me mounting some additional lights in the grille, flush, sort of like the new Mustangs. It's not a large grille, so something smallish would be nice.
Small, round projectors should do the trick. One high beam, one low beam, alternatively one or two high/lows. HID or Halogen, while the HID will have better light output it's also a matter of how much better compared to the halogens. Dollars and sense, right?
ECE pattern whenever possible - probably not legal, but an improvement.
They would have to be sealed to live behind the grille, so something like this;
http://www.rallylights.com/hella-60mm-projector-headlamp-module.html
These have the benefit of using HIR bulbs.
This guy;
http://www.rallylights.com/90bh-hella-bi-halogen-90mm-hi-lo-headlamp.html
An additional $100 EACH (total $214 each) for the ECE lens, [children of unwed parents!] But I'd have lots of light, both low and high.
The only downside is the H9 bulbs with shorter lifespan, but I'd have a master switch so these are only on when needed. Most after-dark city driving wouldn't require these to be on.
Oh, and they need some connectors, brackets and parts too, at additional cost.
Then there's this one, the bees knees;
http://www.rallylights.com/hella-bi-xenon-90mm-hi-lo-headlamp.html
HID, bi-xenon, and costs accordingly at $605 each, plus some brackets and wires. I *could* get one at a time.
Given that I like a relatively small unit (hehe) and sealed for outdoors use, I looked around a bit for what is out there for bikes.
The only thing I've found is this;
http://www.trailtech.net/lighting/hid/scmr16
It's a reflector HID with an ungodly amount of light up to 300 feet. It does rival the bi-xenon Hella at 2/3s of the cost. One flood, one spot and I can see to the horizon.
The downside is that they can ONLY be used as high beams. I'd be effectively blind with the factory low beams.
So ideas? Thoughts? Suggestions? Has anyone used the SCMR16s? The videos on youtube don't paint a good picture (or rather, they're not very flattering to the light).
This is it;
It uses H11 and H9 bulbs, so no HIR available (that I know of), and the plastic fades (since polished, but that's short-lived), and I *really* have a dislike of the European solution of a few large UFO landing lights on a bar in front of the grille.
I've seen solutions from the 2001-2004 glass headlights opened up and using Morimoto HID projectors to replacing the OEM fluted glass with a clear lens. My understanding (from lurking here) is that both solutions are illegal due to modifying an existing "system" of bulb/reflector/housing. The former gives very nice light, sharp cut-off etc, but is discouraged due to alignment issues between headlight and the HID unit's attachment inside of it.
The latter is illegal because the fluting in the glass focuses and shapes the light, so the clear glass will make for glare and poor(er) lighting.
I *could* just plug&play the Volvo ABL (active bending lights) with projector HIDs. They won't active-bend due to lack of software, but they are OEM and fit right in, etc. They are $1400 EACH!
My current thinking has me mounting some additional lights in the grille, flush, sort of like the new Mustangs. It's not a large grille, so something smallish would be nice.
Small, round projectors should do the trick. One high beam, one low beam, alternatively one or two high/lows. HID or Halogen, while the HID will have better light output it's also a matter of how much better compared to the halogens. Dollars and sense, right?
ECE pattern whenever possible - probably not legal, but an improvement.
They would have to be sealed to live behind the grille, so something like this;
http://www.rallylights.com/hella-60mm-projector-headlamp-module.html
These have the benefit of using HIR bulbs.
This guy;
http://www.rallylights.com/90bh-hella-bi-halogen-90mm-hi-lo-headlamp.html
An additional $100 EACH (total $214 each) for the ECE lens, [children of unwed parents!] But I'd have lots of light, both low and high.
The only downside is the H9 bulbs with shorter lifespan, but I'd have a master switch so these are only on when needed. Most after-dark city driving wouldn't require these to be on.
Oh, and they need some connectors, brackets and parts too, at additional cost.
Then there's this one, the bees knees;
http://www.rallylights.com/hella-bi-xenon-90mm-hi-lo-headlamp.html
HID, bi-xenon, and costs accordingly at $605 each, plus some brackets and wires. I *could* get one at a time.
Given that I like a relatively small unit (hehe) and sealed for outdoors use, I looked around a bit for what is out there for bikes.
The only thing I've found is this;
http://www.trailtech.net/lighting/hid/scmr16
It's a reflector HID with an ungodly amount of light up to 300 feet. It does rival the bi-xenon Hella at 2/3s of the cost. One flood, one spot and I can see to the horizon.
The downside is that they can ONLY be used as high beams. I'd be effectively blind with the factory low beams.
So ideas? Thoughts? Suggestions? Has anyone used the SCMR16s? The videos on youtube don't paint a good picture (or rather, they're not very flattering to the light).
I'm not too worried about it, plus an UltraGauge gives me a baseline of coolant temps at all times.
