so the other week we went up north in the dark and the lack of light from the Bi-Xenons is mildly disturbing. They're Ref 17.5, so I can add a full 32.5 per side without breaking any laws... anyone already done this and found a good LED / Xenon solution? I'd also be interested to hear how you did the switching. 

 

I know, this isn't necessary in most of the UK where it's either too busy or there's street lights, but the contrast between driving the M40 from London to the E75 from Vaajakoski northwards couldn't be starker. I would like more light, the question is how to get it.

 

 - Bret

You're right, there isn't much call for them here in the UK, unless you spend a lot of time up in the depths of the Scottish highlands.

 

I guess you'll be wanting something as discreet as possible, in which case slimline LED light bars are getting more popular. They're designed more for pick-up trucks and are generally roof mounted, but there are more and more coming on to the market that can be fitted to front bumpers and grills etc.

 

They're still not what you'd you'd call aesthetically pleasing, but if the OEM set-up isn't enough then ultimately you're going to have to stick something on to the front of your car.

 

Most are wired up the main beam function, or a separate aftermarket switch mounted inside the car somewhere...

 

 

 

 

https://www.highbeamsolutions.com/product/vision-x-xpr-12m-custom-grille-kit/

 

Edited 14 October, 20187 yr by silver1011

Ping @Petunet

I'm fine with adding something. The question is what..  I haven't seen any ref 60 LED bars yet, though 40 and 45 seem pretty common. 

 

I can find one particular Hella lightbar with ref 30, which would work. Switching is easy with the right gear... wondering if there's somethign I've missed...

 

 - Bret

I have 3x Lazer Triple-R 1000 lamps on my truck, when I say that they literally turn everywhere into broad daylight I am not joking... that does come at a price though!

 

https://www.lazerlamps.com/home/lights/triple-r

 

  

Up here in the Highlands my bi-xenon on the MK7 Golf are fine...

 

must be the design of them..

 

 

Mind you have you tried fitting better xenon bulbs...plenty of brighter & better versions out there...compared to factory fit..

 

also if fitting more lights, best to wire into one main headlight wire..back to a relay to then activate the live for the new lights...thus when the headlights are on it activates the relay to power the new lights...also saves the existing lights having more draw power which could confuse the CANBUS..

 

Oh & second Lazer…..bees knees...

Edited 14 October, 20187 yr by fabdavrav

I'm going to transfer my existing light array from Cordoba to Octavia:

 

 

But if I would buy new LED lights, I would propably install 3 of these SAE Seeker 20's and disable the original high beam.

 

 

 

2 hours ago, Petunet said:

I'm going to transfer my existing light array from Cordoba to Octavia:

 

 

 

My god - I think you could turn those on in Helsinki and they would see you coming up in Tornio already! 

 

The A2 already has Comet Xenons and they're good, but I'd like more. Those top out at Ref 75, the old limit.. I'm tempted to just do 45 or 50 Ref Hellas.

 

Those Seekers look good, the 10x in Ref 30 seems to give 1 lux at just short of 400m, and they're relatively cheap at €150 each. Going to be difficult to get much better than that... three 30s would be good

 

Need to read more about the XBB relay set and the options for disabling the built-in mirrors when HBA is installed.

 

Thanks!

 

 - bret

Sorry if this is not the right place, but on the subject of lights.  I just watched a guy on Utube exploring the innards of an LED headlight bulb.

In the comments, someone had written that if your car has LED head lights, you shouldn't park facing the sun, as the reflectors can focus the sunlight onto the LEDs and cook them.  I'm no expert, but it sounds possible.

Hmmm...I doubt that. The sun should be shining from where the driving light beam hits on the road in front of you.

On top of a very tall building on sunrise perhaps.