Would new headlamp units help with low beam output?

[fgplayerx]

I have a Fabia Combi 5J 2008 with projector H7 headlamp units. Bi-Halogen. 70mm f70mm.

I have tried several types of Halogen lamps. And I am left deeply disappointed from the low beam output from the car. Specially when driving in extremely dark winding relatively fast roads. Which I do almost everyday to and from work.

High beams are absolutely no problem of course.

Would new H7 headlamps units help? Even if they are not original Skoda? Or, are they all built alike?

Sidenote: HIDs are not an option for me. Unfortunately. Where I live, it is not legal to do it yourself. And I would get into a lot of trouble if I do and I am controlled by police. That means that I would need to let a professional do it. Which would take a big chunk of money out of my pocket. I would prefer to change the car if there is not an easy or cheaper option.

[Ootohere]

Lets be honest, more modern Fabia Lights on dipped beam are as bad or possibly worse than the lights you have already.

 

Where is it that you live and drive.

Have you tried a newer Fabia with the type of lights you want to fit to see if they are worth the bother and expense?

 

I just got a brand new car and the dipped beam is just ridiculously bad. Dangerously so.

Fabia Mk2 Face Lift bad if not worse.

[blueR36]

Very easy to fit hids yourself , you just take it to an mot garage to get them aligned properly so not to dazzle

[Kobayashi]

In have had to fit H7 'Off Roaders' & they still don't look that bright - only marginal over Osram,

Have Tried phillips / Osram, now i am on Eurodezigns in the states.

 

https://www.eurodezigns.net/collections

 

The main beam is fine but the halogen lamp just dulls down so much even the brightest of bulbs. I would love to find a new headlight unit but dont think one exists for VRS

Edited 2 December, 2016 by Kobayashi

[xman]

Wear night vision goggles.

[fgplayerx]

I'm starting to think that Projector headlamps were not inteded to be used with Halogens.

 

Here's a rough comparison.

 

Picture 1. Left --> Bosch Gigalight 120.  VS.  Right --> Osram 64210 Original Replacement Bulb. High Beam.

 

Picture 2. Left --> Bosch Gigalight 120.  VS.  Right --> Osram 64210 Original Replacement Bulb. Low Beam.

 

Picture 3. Left --> Car Rover 4000LM LED.  VS.  Right --> Osram 64210 Night Breaker Unlimited. High Beam.

 

Picture 4. Left --> Car Rover 4000LM LED.  VS.  Right --> Osram 64210 Night Breaker Unlimited. Low Beam.

 

 

 

 

 

[AMD87]

Those Car Rover 4000LM LED look very interesting anymore details?

[fgplayerx]

Those Car Rover 4000LM LED look very interesting anymore details?

 

I bought them in Amazon Germany.

 

https://www.amazon.de/Rover-AutoLicht-Scheinwerferlampe-DC9V-36V-Fahrzeug/dp/B0166MMMOW/ref=lp_7405150031_1_7?srs=7405150031&ie=UTF8&qid=1481062034&sr=8-7

 

I have not tested them on the street because I need a permit. I need to see how that would work out.

 

They do look interesting. I will post again when I do check them on the streets I drive nights.

[Nathanio]

Apparently Phillips are producing a street legal led bulb for replacement of halogen bulbs. Still in concept phase but Auto Express have seen early samples

[fgplayerx]

I bought them in Amazon Germany.

https://www.amazon.de/Rover-AutoLicht-Scheinwerferlampe-DC9V-36V-Fahrzeug/dp/B0166MMMOW/ref=lp_7405150031_1_7?srs=7405150031&ie=UTF8&qid=1481062034&sr=8-7

I have not tested them on the street because I need a permit. I need to see how that would work out.

They do look interesting. I will post again when I do check them on the streets I drive nights.

Before you order a pair, apparently Car Rovers H7 socket is different as Skodas.

I could not fit my LED pair on the Fabia. I just placed one for the picture. But I could not fit it in the end.

The sockets are not compatible and there was no type of adapter in the box.

Be warned.

[Ootohere]

In Post #6 those lights seem to me to be set very high on dipped beam.

 

When were your headlights last checked on a Beam setter for the likes of a MOT?

Are you in the UK or some other country?

[Phil-E]

Those lights look pretty pathetic even with the uprated bulbs.

 

Do the lenses look ok? (the round projectors). They can sometimes get mucky and go a bit cloudy which can be cleaned up with some isopropyl alcohol and a lint free cloth.

 

The beam pattern with the LED bulbs is much better though at least and a much even spread of light without the "hot-spot" of light in the middle. The main beam also has a clean cut off at the top and a sharp edge which is what my bi-xenon looks like.

[fgplayerx]

In Post #6 those lights seem to me to be set very high on dipped beam.

When were your headlights last checked on a Beam setter for the likes of a MOT?

Are you in the UK or some other country?[/

Other country. A mechanic adjusted them. I had adjusted them myself before he checked them and told me that they were aiming too high. And the car is parked on an incline. Maybe that is why you think it is higher than usual.

[fgplayerx]

Those lights look pretty pathetic even with the uprated bulbs.

Do the lenses look ok? (the round projectors). They can sometimes get mucky and go a bit cloudy which can be cleaned up with some isopropyl alcohol and a lint free cloth.

The beam pattern with the LED bulbs is much better though at least and a much even spread of light without the "hot-spot" of light in the middle. The main beam also has a clean cut off at the top and a sharp edge which is what my bi-xenon looks like.

There is barely no difference between the original Osram and the Night Breakers I hace tried.

They look much brighter in reality than in the pictures. But in any case, pathetic.

The LED lights are an incredible difference. But their supposed H7 socket is not like any other H7 I have tried. I don't know if they have another type of H7 socket in China. Even though I bought then through Amazon Germany, they seem to be Chinese. I could not fix them to try them out on the street.

And they might be dirty on the inside. You might be right.

That is my next move. To try to clen them.

Which brings me to my next question.

Should projector lenses be cleaned periodically?

Edited 7 December, 2016 by fgplayerx

[fgplayerx]

Ok. After closer inspection, I made a HUGE mistake with the Car Rover H7 LED Lamps.

 

They do have a H7 form.

 

The problem is, I can't adapt the original clip retainer holders to them.

 

The clip should go where the red plastic line of the LEDs is.

 

Can anyone help?

 

The instructions that come with it are close to nothing. And they say that you should take the other one out. And the LED one in. But it does not work like that.

 

So, I apologize to everyone that has already read this topic. The LED is a H7. The original halogen H7 Skoda retainer clip is not directly compatible with the LED lamp form.

Edited 8 December, 2016 by fgplayerx

[fgplayerx]

A friend of mine who is a mechanic took the plunge and tried to clean the lenses without taking the headlamps units off.

 

Here is the drivers side lens before:

 

And here is the drivers side lens after his first pass:

 

You can still see a bit of cloudiness on the borders of the lens in the second picture. It is really difficult to clean them. I imagine that they are meant to be replaced and not cleaned.

 

In any case, it has made a HUGE difference already. For the better.

 

The next time I can leave the car with him, he will bake the units open and clean everything completely.

 

I will post some more pictures.

 

Highly recommendable to anyone having low beam light level problems.

 

Sidenote: how and why the lenses became cloudy is a good question.

Edited 15 December, 2016 by fgplayerx

[hutchysrs50]

The next time I can leave the car with him, he will bake the units open and clean everything completely.

I will post some more pictures.

Highly recommendable to anyone having low beam light level problems.

Sidenote: how and why the lenses became cloudy is a good question.

No he won't :D

These lights can't be opened like others can and cleaned so will have to stay sealed.

The lens getting cloudy? Age and use with added UV rays.

The projector getting cloudy? Usually aftermarket bulbs or higher W rated bulbs fitted burn the inside leaving marks as well as dust and dirt in the air baking to the glass projector on the inside

[fgplayerx]

No he won't :D

These lights can't be opened like others can and cleaned so will have to stay sealed.

The lens getting cloudy? Age and use with added UV rays.

The projector getting cloudy? Usually aftermarket bulbs or higher W rated bulbs fitted burn the inside leaving marks as well as dust and dirt in the air baking to the glass projector on the inside

You mean there is no way to crack them open?

And, are 55w bulbs already too much for these units?

[hutchysrs50]

You mean there is no way to crack them open?

And, are 55w bulbs already too much for these units?

No, not without serious damage basically. I'm not saying it's impossible then I guess but I've tried and consider myself abit of a pro with headlights.

I would never fit 55w bulbs, they get too hot and don't improve much over 35w anyway.

[fgplayerx]

No, not without serious damage basically. I'm not saying it's impossible then I guess but I've tried and consider myself abit of a pro with headlights.

I would never fit 55w bulbs, they get too hot and don't improve much over 35w anyway.

So, to clean them, the safest bet is to take the headlamp units off -bumper cover first- and then clean them through the holder holes. Should they be periodically cleaned?

[hutchysrs50]

So, to clean them, the safest bet is to take the headlamp units off -bumper cover first- and then clean them through the holder holes. Should they be periodically cleaned?

That's basically the only way I've found to clean them yeah, a powerful airline is great also.