Upgraded headlights

Catbert

Catbert

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"Let there be light!"

When I buy a new house one of the first things I do is install a whole house water filter and an under-sink water filter in the kitchen. The kitchen filter affords double-filtered drinking water.

When I buy a new (read new "old") car, the second thing I do besides changing all of the fluids is to install upgraded headlights. This usually entails swapping a halogen bulb for an LED bulb. Even though my 1975 CSi is still in transit, I am already buying things for it. Yeah, I'm always anxious to make improvements both mechanical and cosmetic. I will look silly if my new car already has upgraded headlights, even though that isn't likely.

Research indicates the E9 uses 5 3/4" headlights. So, I went ahead and purchased two lamps each for the hi-lo main lights and the hi-beams. I went with Hella, a trusted quality lamp and likely what is OEM for the car. I bought two H4 hi/low beam lamps and two H1 hi beam lamps. For the main headlights, I purchased Auxito LEDs. I am really impressed with the build quality. At $36 for the pair, it's a real bargain! Quality LED bulbs have really dropped in price like all LED lighting. I will post pics when this little project is completed.
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i am with Chris on this one. reflectors / lenses are designed to work together with omni-directional bulbs. the LED bulbs push light in a couple of directions that may / may not hit the reflector well. LED is a very linear light source that does not 'bounce' well. i hope your experience is better than i expect it to be.

i was recently driving on a North Carolina mountain road in my 2023 audi TTS with LED headlights and while they put out a lot of light, the visibility wasn't great. i much preferred the xenon lights in my old porsche 997c2. my thought is to stay with halogen bulbs (using h1 bulbs on all 4 european code lamps) and just go to higher wattage. how many people have driven with 80 to 100 watt halogen bulbs before? i did in a pro-rally car and there was tons of light ... even before we turned on the driving + fog (cornering) lights.
 
Interesting comments about light physics and compatibility. All I know is, I've been upgrading to LED bulbs for the past 10 years in all kinds of cars with nothing but great results. Good bang-for-the-buck to see the road better and improve safety.
 
FWIW - H4 lenses poke out of the trim rings and look kind of funny. Not bad, just not great. That’s a necessary sacrifice if you want dual high beams. Do you plan on much night driving?
 
some are better than others - just like with halogen bulbs. the big name companies are historically best - Philips / Osram. Chris, you are correct about focusing on brakes as those are needed for daylight or night driving. i just can't emphasize how disappointed i was with the LED lights on a twisty mountain road that i was pushing it to drive at 45mph - number one, there was no straight longer than 150 feet with a lot of hairpin / switchbacks ... the car wanted to go faster, i just couldn't see. the cutoffs kept light from going up the hill and the high beams created way too much glare ... there was some moisture in the air. LED on a straight road is a reasonably good source (interstate driving).

Markos said:
FWIW - H4 lenses poke out of the trim rings and look kind of funny. Not bad, just not great. That’s a necessary sacrifice if you want dual high beams. Do you plan on much night driving?
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Markos, as i learned from our friend @HB Chris, if you change the wiring in the dip switch, you can run all 4 bulbs on high beams
 
Daniel Stern (Expert) discussion of LED bulbs ....

Daniel Stern is Chief Editor of Driving Vision News, the technical journal of record for the world's vehicle lighting, ADAS, lidar, and interior sectors.


In one sentence: halogen headlamps must use halogen bulbs or they don't—can't—won't work effectively, safely, or legally.


 
Do what suits you, but remember there is a load of BTDT experience here. Regardless of concurs correctness, whatever lamps you use should provide adequate forward illumination. I think some of the comments imply that some bulbs dont play well with the reflectors, so consider that, and do what works for you...
 
Euro lights…

I finished my car today. All H1 lamps and bulbs. OEM… Euro version

First pic is the city lights - that is a 4 W bulb in the low beam lamp

Second pic is low beams with H1 bulbs

Third pic is high beams with H1 bulbs

In this case, high beams is all six bulbs lit at once in four lamps
 

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rsporsche said:
some are better than others - just like with halogen bulbs. the big name companies are historically best - Philips / Osram. Chris, you are correct about focusing on brakes as those are needed for daylight or night driving. i just can't emphasize how disappointed i was with the LED lights on a twisty mountain road that i was pushing it to drive at 45mph - number one, there was no straight longer than 150 feet with a lot of hairpin / switchbacks ... the car wanted to go faster, i just couldn't see. the cutoffs kept light from going up the hill and the high beams created way too much glare ... there was some moisture in the air. LED on a straight road is a reasonably good source (interstate driving).


Markos, as i learned from our friend @HB Chris, if you change the wiring in the dip switch, you can run all 4 bulbs on high beams
Click to expand...

But not on 1974 model year……
 
bavbob said:
Easy and cheap upgrade is to run a set of relays to your lights.
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i have done the relays and big power wires (with fuses) to the headlamps. i will go with 80w lows and 100w highs in the hella european code lamps. i still have to do the dip switch mod ... but that won't take long.
 
HB Chris said:
Don, Didn’t the dip switch mod work?
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Not on 1974 model

The yellow wire is always hot

I ran an extra relay to low beams triggered by high beam signal.
That block keeps the low beams from turning on high beams while allowing highs to turn on lows.

Today I aim the headlights!

We have marked the big door to the shop!
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Do a short write-up and I will add it to the FAQ. I would think Yellow is always hot on earlier coupes as well.
 
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Update: The Hella H1 lamps are not compatible and use a different electrical connector. The H4 lamps are a perfect fit and look OEM. Here is the link to buy them on Amazon at $45.67 each.

Amazon.com: Hella 002850001 HLMP 5 3/4" 135MM H4 ECE : Automotive

Buy Hella 002850001 HLMP 5 3/4" 135MM H4 ECE: Headlight Bulbs - Amazon.com ✓ FREE DELIVERY possible on eligible purchases
www.amazon.com

The comparison between standard halogen and LED is dramatic!

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