Headlights: more light please!

[Anders]

I discovered last night when i took my first longer winter trip on the smaller roads thats the Epedition 2007 headlight performance is a joke!! My old SAAB had nearly double luminence.
I was just lucky that a moose/deer didnt cross the road...
And when I switched ordinary driving lights, well they could be misstaken for position lights :-D
The headlight alignment seems fairly ok.

Im considering a bullbar with additional hi power lights as a final solution.
But:
- Do anyone have any experience with high performance replacement halogen lamps? I dont want to mess up the reflectors due overheating for example.

 

[GAINMOB]

HIDs

 

[Sterling Archer]

Skip HIDS and the high cost of the system (Done RIGHT), and the expensive bulbs....go to the below link and educate yourself....You will also find out why your previous Euro system seem to be of higher output...

Daniel Stern Lighting Consultancy and Supply

 

[Anders]

Skip HIDS and the high cost of the system (Done RIGHT), and the expensive bulbs....go to the below link and educate yourself....You will also find out why your previous Euro system seem to be of higher output...

Daniel Stern Lighting Consultancy and Supply

Good reading! Im aware of the need of relays and good cable area/connections when you mount extra high beam lights. But are you suggestion that i should rewire the standard headlight circuit?

Its strange to look in to this BIG headlamp with its impressive reflectors, and know that it prouces so little light.

 

[Sterling Archer]

Good reading! Im aware of the need of relays and good cable area/connections when you mount extra high beam lights. But are you suggestion that i should rewire the standard headlight circuit?

Its strange to look in to this BIG headlamp with its impressive reflectors, and know that it produces so little light.

No, for $59 US you can get the kit MINUS the actual 12ga wire. You then add your own wire and build the relay harness. This plugs into your existing OEM harness. Done right, there is no need for cutting/splicing.

Done right, the voltage reaching the bulbs can exceed even what you Euros consider "proper" voltage. It will be noticeable.

 

[Anders]

Ok, I will remove one head light lamp and measure the voltage.
Exactly what kit are you refering to... whats included? Link?

 

[Sterling Archer]

Ok, I will remove one head light lamp and measure the voltage.
Exactly what kit are you refering to... whats included? Link?

I already gave you the link. Look on his site. He sells the kits and tells the PROPER way to check for total voltage drop. It will be more reliable, cheaper, and mean cheaper, easier to find bulbs than going HID.

 

[Anders]

I already gave you the link. Look on his site. He sells the kits and tells the PROPER way to check for total voltage drop. It will be more reliable, cheaper, and mean cheaper, easier to find bulbs than going HID.

Okidoki, i will send him a mail!

 

[Sterling Archer]

Okidoki, i will send him a mail!

Good luck! I used one of his kits on my Ford Crown Vic years ago and it was noticeably brighter. Will be getting one for my EP EL, ASAP...Read his site, it is full of very good info on lighting. He has a kit for the FOG lights as well, may want to get both and just be done with it...

 

[Anders]

After some conversation with Mr Sterling, I have decided to order a bull bar and ad two big hibeam lamps. I quote:
"Compared to the European-specification headlamps you're accustomed to, the US-spec lamps are poorly focused and create a lot of upward stray light that causes back-glare in bad weather. Unfortunately, there is no European-specification headlamp for the 2007 Expedition. You will have to add appropriate extraljusar (swedish for extra lights)."

I probably go for cheaper high quality halogen lights... with broad and fairly long characteristics.
I dont drive so often off freeway in game crowded areas, but when I do I want to be prepared.

Edit: My wife won't tolerate any ugly additions, but she says she will accept these:

 

[5.4T]

do the new f150 headlights fit your Expe? if they do you could get the projectors

 

[Anders]

do the new f150 headlights fit your Expe? if they do you could get the projectors

I dont now, could check but it would probably be very expensive!
I have ordered the Philips 9008/H13 X-treme Vision bulbs, maybe some small improvement for the standard lights, in addition to the extra halogen lights on the bull bar. I will hopefully have this mounted in a week or two.

 

[GAINMOB]

They don't fit...the line up different for screws....ongoing thing with them

Holy Rollerz Christian Car Club (HRC3)

 

[Anders]

Well, i drove out last night to my wife's relatives in the dark dark country side and got the chance to see what the Philips 9008/H13 X-treme Vision bulbs could do...
I could notice the improvement on the completely dark roads (wet and no snow), but the light pattern is still rather horrible... spread out with no focus at all. But still, the replacement was worth it.
With additional head beams, the full head light will be sufficient. I guess I have to cope with poor "half light" .... I look forward for the bright and long days that comes with a swedish summer ;-) !

 

[GAINMOB]

If u want focus u may need to check into HID with projector...I would just go with HID and they will light everything up

Holy Rollerz Christian Car Club (HRC3)

 

[Anders]

I had to mount the bull bar and lights this evening... in the rain
The temperature is gonna drop tomorrow... from +7 to -15 ºC.
But now I'm ready for the darkness

 

[Lightnig]

Are those Hella Rallye 4000?

I've been considering a set of them myself recently. Been using Piaa 520's but am not impressed with the performance, especially considering the cost. I picked up a set off 100w bulbs to see if that makes much of a difference, but they still have the small 6" reflector so am not expecting big gains.

 

[Anders]

Are those Hella Rallye 4000?

I've been considering a set of them myself recently. Been using Piaa 520's but am not impressed with the performance, especially considering the cost. I picked up a set off 100w bulbs to see if that makes much of a difference, but they still have the small 6" reflector so am not expecting big gains.

Nope, its a cheap no-name light set that performed very good in a big round up test in Sweden (My wife accepted them due the chrome finish, but she's really suspicious when I buy cheap stuff ). Big reflector with both broad and fairly long beam. I will replace the 55 w bulb with a quality brand.
There were some very impressive xenon high quality lamps that performed better... but at almost 10 times higher cost.

This pair was so cheap that its worth a try. If I'm not satisfied, i will ditch them and replace with a hella setup. But not Xenon... to expensive for the few hours i need good lights.

 

[Lightnig]

ahhh, ok.

That's a shame though, was hoping you might have some feedback on the lights performance.

And yes, I understand about the cost of HID's. They are slowly coming down in price though. Hella's got a couple in their Optilux line that are not priced much more than a set of quality Halogens. Your wife may not care for them though, they have black cases...