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New headlights
Posted: Tue Apr 16, 2013 10:41 pm
by Rattlenbang
So I got tired of driving around with crummy headlights pointing in the wrong direction, and yet the prices for crummy legal headlights seemed high, so I spent a lot of time searching for a replacement that was legal and yet better quality. These things are subjective and everyone online claims they bought the best ones, but the HELLA Rallye 4000 Euros seemed very popular, and the smaller versions (the 4000X) were claimed to be as good, so I took the plunge.
I can say that they are certainly brighter than stock, and its nice being able to precisely aim them. The light splash isn't as uniform as stock however, as the reflector isn't perfectly smooth behind the bulb. Unfortunately, as they are mounted on the bull bar they tend to jiggle a little on rough roads. I connected them to the regular headlight circuit, removing the old headlights. All in all, I think it's a good improvement on what I had before. The high beams seemed good enough so those I left as is.
Re: New headlights
Posted: Tue Apr 16, 2013 11:06 pm
by nxski
Rattlenbang wrote:So I got tired of driving around with crummy headlights pointing in the wrong direction, and yet the prices for crummy legal headlights seemed high, so I spent a lot of time searching for a replacement that was legal and yet better quality. These things are subjective and everyone online claims they bought the best ones, but the HELLA Rallye 4000 Euros seemed very popular, and the smaller versions (the 4000X) were claimed to be as good, so I took the plunge.
I can say that they are certainly brighter than stock, and its nice being able to precisely aim them. The light splash isn't as uniform as stock however, as the reflector isn't perfectly smooth behind the bulb. Unfortunately, as they are mounted on the bull bar they tend to jiggle a little on rough roads. I connected them to the regular headlight circuit, removing the old headlights. All in all, I think it's a good improvement on what I had before. The high beams seemed good enough so those I left as is.
Nice modification, they look good to boot!

Re: New headlights
Posted: Thu Apr 18, 2013 4:12 pm
by TardisDeli
HI R, looks nice. I had a similar setup, just for emergency use in case my combo stalk died (again).
Do you have yours wired through the delicate combo stalk, or on a separate switch on the dashboard. If wired through the combo stalk, this is bad news, as the amperage of the new lights is higher than the stalk can handle long term (we learned the hard way, and Jay is busy re wiring other L300s for headlight issues). If you have the new lights running through a relay between the stalk and the lights then OK, as relay will supply the power while the stalk merely says to the relay "hey dude, turn on the fancy lowbeams". If you have a separate push pull basic switch on the dashboard, then put a big fuse near the battery, on its own power source. You might already know all this.
Also, we found that to replace using the headlights during the day, just use the led strips with their own wiring (walmart) wired into the drl and the combo switch takes the load off that delicate combo switch.
I agree that the low beams on L300 are pitiful. But I always say that if the Delica has to have a fault, then I am glad it is one that is so easily solved.
Christine.
Re: New headlights
Posted: Thu Apr 18, 2013 4:39 pm
by Rattlenbang
I haven't yet updated the power to the lights yet, but it's on my list. I just ran out of time when I physically installed the lights. When I saw that puny wire to the stock headlight, I figgered that was at least partially responsible for the crummy low beams. The voltage drop must be substantial using such small gauge wiring. I will use a relay with a dedicated heavy gauge power line, and just use the switched line to the relay coil. Good to know that I will also be saving my headlight stalk switch.
I'm not sure what you mean about the led strips though...
Re: New headlights
Posted: Thu Apr 18, 2013 6:06 pm
by glenn
wallmart strip lights. I actually got mine through banggood.com for about $3.30 including shipping.
Re: New headlights
Posted: Thu Apr 18, 2013 6:17 pm
by Rattlenbang
Okay, but why?
Re: New headlights
Posted: Thu Apr 18, 2013 7:36 pm
by glenn
They draw way less power than your headlights as a DRL.
They are cheap and easy to install.
They look cool (I think so anyway)
Re: New headlights
Posted: Thu Apr 18, 2013 8:09 pm
by nxski
glenn wrote:They draw way less power than your headlights as a DRL.
They are cheap and easy to install.
They look cool (I think so anyway)
They don't quite serve the same purpose though...the ones in the above picture can actually be used as headlights.
Re: New headlights
Posted: Thu Apr 18, 2013 9:11 pm
by glenn
Hi Nick - hope you're feeling a better about your ride.
As I understand Christine's post, she was talking about using the newly attached aftermarket headlights as headlights, and mounting the LED strips inside the now unused factory headlamps (or stuck on somewhere else). Because R.B. has improved his night vision with the new low beams.
Re: New headlights
Posted: Thu Apr 18, 2013 9:20 pm
by nxski
glenn wrote:Hi Nick - hope you're feeling a better about your ride.
As I understand Christine's post, she was talking about using the newly attached aftermarket headlights as headlights, and mounting the LED strips inside the now unused factory headlamps (or stuck on somewhere else). Because R.B. has improved his night vision with the new low beams.
I'm not feeling bad about my ride, just frustrated with timing and mechanics.
I gotcha now, I thought you were suggesting using the LED lights instead of the ones pictured in the op.
Re: New headlights
Posted: Thu Apr 18, 2013 10:18 pm
by Rattlenbang
So people use the led strips as daytime driving lights? Are they really that bright?
Re: New headlights
Posted: Fri Apr 19, 2013 8:15 am
by glenn
Yes, they're pretty bright. They're not super bright, but they pass inspection. The more common LED lights are little pods that attach to the exterior somewhere. I had my headlights apart to change the lenses to LHD, so I thought this was a nice, clean way to add them. PITA if they ever fail though.
Lots of us have them.
New headlights
Posted: Fri Apr 19, 2013 8:27 am
by Firesong
Can tire had some led ovals that are completely sealed. Find them in the marine section. They have been running fantastic.
I've tried others, the strips, the pods off a couple eBay sites. They seem to last a bit then start to flicker, odd LEDs burn out in the pod. Not impressed. Ever noticed the LEDs burnt out in the head light And tail light clusters on the chevs and other after market lights. I think it looks pretty bad.
So far so good on these ones. I posted a bit ago on them for my l300. I'm going to put them on my l400 once it warms up a bit here. They are also bright enough to be seen in the day light.