Headlight upgrade progression

[dave_b]

Hi There gents,

I have a 2002 Alero and, desiring to upgrade my headlights effectively, legally and safely, have read this forum for a long time as well as contacted Mr. Daniel Stern. As I mentioned previously, he has a pair of OEM ECE Alero headlight assemblies. My ultimate goal is to purchase these assemblies as well as a relay kit and the optimal bulbs he suggested, Osram 65w H7 bulbs for low beam, Narva Rangepower+50 H1 for high beam.

However, this will be an over 500 dollar upgrade and I only pay cash for things, so I need some time to save up the neccesary scratch. I drive many kilometers across the Canadian prairie, and with the approaching winter and long nights, I was wondering if it would be a worthwhile upgrade to install the Philips X-treme Power 9006 for the low beams and Philips HIR1 to replace the 9005 in the highbeam, (recommended by Mr. Stern for the domestic Alero headlamp assemblies) WITHOUT a relay harness, as a first step to achieveing better lighting while saving up for the ECE units. In short, are the bulbs alone a worthwhile upgrade? My OEM headlight assemblies on the car are in good condition so that is not a concern.

Second, Amazon.com stocks both of the above noted bulbs at very reasonable prices, but the same search doesn't give any hits on Amazon.ca. I am not sure what it will take to shop through Amazon.com and have them ship to Calgary. The local GM dealer, which has the HIR1 as a part number in their system says there arent any closer than a few hundred clicks away. Any hints on a good online source for these bulbs that ships to Canada, or even better, a local place I can pick them up in person?

Thanks in advance for your comments!

Dave

EDIT: Also, are the GE Night Hawk Platinums (clear glass) any good? Because I know I can walk into any Canadian Tire and get those. I may have to drive from Calgary to Winnipeg at night on a whim next week, which is why im interested in local availability. Thanks.

 

[Alaric Darconville]

I drive many kilometers across the Canadian prairie, and with the approaching winter and long nights, I was wondering if it would be a worthwhile upgrade to install the Philips X-treme Power 9006 for the low beams and Philips HIR1 to replace the 9005 in the highbeam, (recommended by Mr. Stern for the domestic Alero headlamp assemblies) WITHOUT a relay harness, as a first step to achieveing better lighting while saving up for the ECE units. In short, are the bulbs alone a worthwhile upgrade? My OEM headlight assemblies on the car are in good condition so that is not a concern.

EDIT: Also, are the GE Night Hawk Platinums (clear glass) any good? Because I know I can walk into any Canadian Tire and get those. I may have to drive from Calgary to Winnipeg at night on a whim next week, which is why im interested in local availability. Thanks.

The GE Nighthawk Platinums are fine bulbs.

If at all possible, slow down if you feel your headlamps aren't performing well (or even if you don't feel it. Your sense of security is easily fooled. The human eye is easily tricked like that). Even the best headlamps will more often than not allow the same driving style and speeds at night as one could use in the daytime. Keep all the screens clean and dim those dash lights.

 

[dave_b]

Hi AD!

Thanks so much for the reply. I suspected based on some old threads that the NHP were acceptable but I wanted confirmation. The consensus seems to be that the Philips Xtreme Power or Xtreme Vision are the very best 9006 upgrade, but I wasnt sure if the NHP were comparable. It is a shame the Alero glare shield is slotted and thus cannot accept HIR2 in the low beam.

I am likely going to install the NHP before my upcoming trip, and then source some HIR1's for my high beams off of Amazon, leaving the NHP in the low beam slot.

I appreciate your advice regarding driving style. I generally drive very carefully. The Alero headlight seems a pretty decent OEM unit, and I am careful not to outdrive them, but why not shoot for the very best performance out of them. I am only 27 but my roommate calls me "grandpa dave" for my slower and methodical driving. I like it though because I don’t get stressed out by traffic and fools, because I plan ahead and leave with plenty of time so I can drive easily and still arrive on time. Generally on the highway, even though in Alberta the speed limits are marked at 110 kph, so people can (and do) generally get away with going 120-130 without a ticket, I set my speed at 110, and slower if conditions warrant. My poor little Ecotec doesn’t like to cruise at faster speeds, and the safety benefit backs it up.

Cheers
Dave

 

[-Virgil-]

Yup, I concur, the GE NHP is a fine choice and local availability weighs in its favor.

 

[dave_b]

Thanks guys.

Would you recommend sourcing HIR1 for my high beams later on when I am able?

Dave

 

[-Virgil-]

I can't think of a reason not to.

 

[dave_b]

Just picked up 4 NHP, 2 x 9006 and 2 x 9005. Excited to compare the difference from the very plain Sylvania regular bulbs I am currently running.

 

[Alaric Darconville]

It is a shame the Alero glare shield is slotted and thus cannot accept HIR2 in the low beam.

Indeed. I've got a set in my '01 Corolla and they are absolutely fantastic. It's awesome rolling up next to some truck with an awful HID kit (actually, ALL of them are awful, but I digress) and see how my headlights have a much better pattern without the strange blue hotspots all over the place-- and are brighter.

I appreciate your advice regarding driving style. I generally drive very carefully. The Alero headlight seems a pretty decent OEM unit, and I am careful not to outdrive them, but why not shoot for the very best performance out of them. I am only 27 but my roommate calls me "grandpa dave" for my slower and methodical driving. I like it though because I don’t get stressed out by traffic and fools, because I plan ahead and leave with plenty of time so I can drive easily and still arrive on time. Generally on the highway, even though in Alberta the speed limits are marked at 110 kph, so people can (and do) generally get away with going 120-130 without a ticket, I set my speed at 110, and slower if conditions warrant. My poor little Ecotec doesn’t like to cruise at faster speeds, and the safety benefit backs it up.

I call it "driving like I want to get there" :)

 

[dave_b]

Hi gents.

I wanted to give you all an update with my (subjective) impressions of the NHP bulbs. I had to drive across the prairie through the night so I purchased a full set of them from my local Canadian Tryer at 120 dollars for 4!

The first issue with these bulbs has nothing to do with their performance. Both my brother and father, who have both long suffered listening to me relate what I have learned about blue bulbs called me on the hint of blue coming from my headlights (with the lights off). I had to say "No, really, look, the BODY of the bulb is clear..." I felt like such a hypocrite.

Around town of course, it is really hard to judge anything. Once out on the highway, I felt the light coming from the bulbs was ever so slightly less yellow than before, but given that I was using standard Sylvania halogens this isn’t any sort of surprise. Please note, I am not talking about the "brighter whiter light" BS we know and love when it comes to SilverStars and their ilk. I found that, as before, the Alero low beam is basically adequate, but I was really quite pleased with the performance of the high beam.

This seems to me though to be a very common pattern in 90's and early 2000's GM cars. Merely adequate low beam performance (again, subjectively) with excellent high beam performance. I was discussing the matter with my father who has owned a number of full size GM vehicles, (LeSabre, 88, 98, etc.) and he mentioned the same impression.

However, the big surprise came during the trip. My parents live in a rural area and, cruising around there at night, I was all of a sudden slightly disappointed with my headlight performance, buck and quarter bulbs notwithstanding. My guess is that the 3 people with luggage in the car on the trip out raised my nose slightly, giving me better seeing distance. Sitting normally, I found that I lost a lot, even on high beam. My assumption is that my lamps are actually aimed a tad low. Sadly, I also discovered that the adjusting screws, while not stripped, are loose in their shanks and not making contact, thus, I cannot aim this set of lamps. Better too low than too high, I feel, for the sake of other drivers.

So in the end, I returned the bulbs and for now will use my standard ones. My decision is to save up and purchase the new ECE lamps from Mr. Stern, as well as his recommended H1 and H7 bulbs and harness for the very best headlights on my current ride. I will be keeping this car for a while (as it is paid off, economical, comfortable and reliable), and do drive on the highway at night an awful lot, so I am willing to spend on this type of upgrade.

Cheers
Dave

PS: Scheinwerfermann, I know you have a lot of experience with the quality and performance of many OEM lamps. Are my impressions of the Alero and many 7-15 year old GM cars accurate? Adequate low, decent high beam? I know my dad always took his cars in periodically to have the lamps aimed.

 

[-Virgil-]

Give your brother and father this explanation for the blue they see.

I don't disagree with your assessment of GM's US headlighting in general on their vehicles with separate low beam and high beam bulbs, though a fair number of them in the '90s-early 2000s have lousy low beams and just adequate high beams, and the picture degrades even further than that if we also look at their lamps with a single high/low beam bulb in that time period. The US Alero low beam was actually reasonably good compared to similar-size GM vehicles of that same time frame.

I think you are bang on target with your description of what changed between "Hey, these are nice" and "Hey, these don't justify the price". About 15 years ago I drove one of the early 9004 systems at night with a heavy load in the trunk and passenger compartment, and I recall finding the headlamps unreasonably good given what they were, except for no foreground light at all. Duh, when I removed the cargo and kicked out the passengers, it was back to two modest streaks of light and short seeing range.

I don't agree with your conclusion regarding lower-than-spec aim being safer; it's differently but probably equally dangerous as aim too high. But it sounds like it will soon be moot with the EC lamps. It's never fun to spend money, but there is nothing quite like escaping out from under the shadow of a car payment!

 

[dave_b]

Haha, thankfully you agree that the US Alero low beam is not too bad, which is why I haven't been too tweaked about it until now. I personally found that it seems to produce a broad and even beam, just that I wish the seeing distance was farther.

With regards to my aim, I guess I was just trying to make myself feel better about the current situation. I don't think they are too far out of spec (for whatever "I think" is worth) and yes, I am eagerly awaiting being able to remedy the situation with new assemblies.

I really appreciate your input.

Dave

 

[dave_b]

On a related note, is it likely that since the adjusting screws are not stripped, just loose and wobbly, they can be effectively tightened to do their job?

Dave

 

[dave_b]

Well, I have just pulled the trigger and purchased the ECE assemblies from Mr. Stern. Its a significant investment but since I intend to drive this bucket into the ground and drive out on the highways at night a fair amount, I figure that it is money well spent. I would rather give myself every advantage. I spend good money on high end winter tires, why not my lights if a signifcant upgrade.

I am very very excited to see what the combination of the superior reflector design, superior bulbs (H1/H7 vs 9005/9006), upgrade bulbs suggested by Mr. Stern (Osram 65w H7 bulbs for low beam, Narva Rangepower+50 H1 for high beam), proper aim AND relay harness will do.

I will let you know how it turns out!

Dave

Scheinwerfermann, do you have the link for proper aiming handy?

 

[JohnnyB]

I will let you know how it turns out!

Please keep us posted Dave, best of luck!

 

[-Virgil-]

Make sure you aim them appropriately for how (where) they will be used. It is an error to use what is commonly believed to be "the" European aim setting of 1% (0.6°, that is 3" drop at 25 feet). For safe, effective use with North American road geometry, ECE headlamps should be set to the US "VOL" setting of 0.7% (0.4°, that is 2.1" drop at 25 feet). And note those "drop at 25 feet" figures are only for reference; it is much(!) better to find a shop that will properly use an optical headlamp aim machine to set the lamps. "Tape lines on a wall" is nowhere near as good.

 

[dave_b]

Scheinwerfermann, I recall you mentioning that a headlight aim machine is standard required equipment for a VW service shop. Do you know if that holds true in Canada? If not, I will call around.

 

[dave_b]

Hey good news on the aiming front. It turns out that in Alberta, any shop that does out of province inspections is required to have a headlight aim machine (the service manager at the local Chevy dealership referred to it as an "alignment tool"). So my local Chevy dealership will aim my headlights using their tool and charge me half an hour for the labor. So at least in Alberta, it shouldn’t be too hard to find.

I called my uncle who is a mechanic in Manitoba and he confirmed the same deal. Any shop that does government safety inspections is required to have a beamsetter.

 

[dave_b]

I am eagerly awaiting the post man, and I have a number of questions.

1. I would like to document the upgrade with photos (Mr. Stern suggested it as well). Any suggestion for the type of photos I can take? I know beamshots don't tell a lot but...
2. Will the beamsetter at the local Chevy dealership care that these are not US spec lamps? IE will they aim to Scheinwerfermann's suggestion of "For safe, effective use with North American road geometry, ECE headlamps should be set to the US "VOL" setting of 0.7% (0.4°, that is 2.1" drop at 25 feet)" without me having to tell them?
3. I typically drive around with a box of business materials, a couple of folding chairs, winter essential kit and my battery booster pack in the trunk most times. Should I leave these in for the aiming?
4. Since the Alero factory fogs are basically useless, can anyone suggest a set of effective fog lamps that would fit in the opening on the Alero front bumper.

Thanks Guys
Dave

 

[Alaric Darconville]

I
3. I typically drive around with a box of business materials, a couple of folding chairs, winter essential kit and my battery booster pack in the trunk most times. Should I leave these in for the aiming?

Leave them in -- and show up with about a half tank of fuel.

 

[-Virgil-]

I would like to document the upgrade with photos (Mr. Stern suggested it as well). Any suggestion for the type of photos I can take? I know beamshots don't tell a lot but...

Well, you could try putting the car on a road that will let you take a picture that shows what the beam does/doesn't pick up in terms of distance and side spread. Use a long exposure and a wide lens opening, then put the car in the same place and use the same camera settings to take the "after" pic with the new headlamps. It won't be an accurate representation of anything, but the two photos could be compared.

Will the beamsetter at the local Chevy dealership care that these are not US spec lamps? IE will they aim to Scheinwerfermann's suggestion of "For safe, effective use with North American road geometry, ECE headlamps should be set to the US "VOL" setting of 0.7% (0.4°, that is 2.1" drop at 25 feet)" without me having to tell them?

No, because the US lamps are the VOR type (if I'm not mistaken -- check your lenses and see for yourself). You'll have to insist that they use the VOL setting, and if I were you I would try to physically watch them doing it, otherwise it's probable they'll just ignore you.

I typically drive around with a box of business materials, a couple of folding chairs, winter essential kit and my battery booster pack in the trunk most times. Should I leave these in for the aiming?

Yes, and half a tank of gas.

Since the Alero factory fogs are basically useless, can anyone suggest a set of effective fog lamps that would fit in the opening on the Alero front bumper.

The domestic (NAFTA) fog lamp is a typical cosmetic toy with an 800-series bulb. Useless. The export fog lamp is a more serious item, and is designed to fit the space correctly. Part numbers are 22621093 and 22621094; a quick search shows them at a surprisingly good price here and here.