Quote:
Originally Posted by GSB
Hi guys, new member here.
I too have been pondering the ridiculously poor light output of my C30’s headlights since I picked it up last week.
A look at the headlight units themselves has revealed that they have previously been fitted with an HID ‘upgrade’ of dubious quality (or a hungry badger has knawed holes in the back of my headlights and half the wiring), net result is the reflectors are toast and the Osram night breaker laser lamps I put in are currently putting out less additional light than a clipper lighter waved at an Ed Sheeran gig.
Properly designed LED’s are unbelievably good, I have an Audi with matrix headlights and they are beyond excellent, but throwing a LED or an HID lamp into a housing it was never designed for will never replicate them, and I’m unwilling to run illegal lights. This leaves me with the option of new OEM headlights (££££££-ouch), or fitting the new H7 modules from retrofitlab as suggested by T5R92001.
Thing is, these E46 clones are based on a decades old design and are far from perfect, so perhaps fitting something like a 50mm Hella 1BL 009 071-001 into the headlight housing would offer something with more modern output? It’s fully legal, it’s halogen so doesn’t need self levelling tech, and it looks like it should be fairly easy to fit... Which begs the question, has anyone done it?
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I don't believe anyone has done that. Not on this forum at least.
With regards to retrofit lab projectors (with clear lens):
New Projectors + H7 Halogen bulbs = Excellent headlamps. Halogen simplicity with "modern" razer sharp cut off... feels special and far superior to other halogen headlamps.
New Projectors + 35watt HID Kit = VERY bright at hotspot. On par (or very nearly on par) with any OEM LED setup in terms of brightness. Some eye strain for driver due to intensity + sharp cutoff.
New Projectors + 55watt HID Kit = Overkill. Don't do this. Not recommended.
Option 1 is the best compromise between simplicity, performance and expense. Your car will go from rubbish headlights, to excellent legal headlights and you can experiement with as many bulb brands and choices as you like.
Option 2 & 3 are complicated and involved to setup properly. Enthusiast job really.