Headlamp Upgrade ?Relays, Cabling & Advice!

[Orlando 300E]

Lets face it, we drive the best engineered cars on the planet, I just find it a shame that it goes pear shaped when the sun goes down -yes the headlamps on my 124 are pants! I find myself regularly driving beyond my headlamps at night. There is nothing wrong with the reflectors or the lens; I feel the bulbs are the weak point.

I would like to upgrade them to something more daring -more like 130w rather than standard 70w. Yes, this means buying bulbs with "For off-road use only" on them! :wink: I have in the past used those "performance" bulbs -they make so very little difference. I am not keen on fitting extra driving lights -need to keep the looks!

In order to do this properly I need a set of relays and some substantial wiring, drawing power straight from the alternator, rather than the battery through the standard weedy wiring. Using the existing headlamp wiring on one side as the trigger for the relays -at least that was how the kit I got for my ur-quattro worked (very well).
I have found one place on the net in America that does a kit, but it?s a lot of money. I would rather make my own than pay the price they are asking.

Now this is the bit where I need you guys -anyone got experience of doing this, suggestions on relay requirements & cable size or even a source for a ready made kit from this side of the pond. Even little bits of information like the reflectors are plastic and will melt are good! -by the way are they?
Please I can not eat any more carrots
Cheers
Orlando

 

[andy_k]

hella do kits for their spotlights so adapting one of those to fit/work should be a breeze. Last time I did something similar was on an Alfa (hi power main beam lamps) and the kit cost very little (one relay and some hefty wiring).

Things to watch out for

1, it's very possible your bulb warning system will fail to work properly as it will not be detecting any headlamps

2, the plastic holder for the bulb will almost definitely melt - they need upgrading. the silvering on the reflector may well melt as well

3, the bulbs are very expensive and don't last anywhere near as long as normal lamps

4, In the UK the lamps are illegal - they would void your insurance should it become known they were fitted - not just in the case of an accident but if you got stopped by the law if they thought your headlamps were a little too bright.

5, badly adjusted they are anti social to other drivers.

Andy

 

[MotardMan]

Things to watch out for

1, it's very possible your bulb warning system will fail to work properly as it will not be detecting any headlamps

2, the plastic holder for the bulb will almost definitely melt - they need upgrading. the silvering on the reflector may well melt as well

3, the bulbs are very expensive and don't last anywhere near as long as normal lamps

4, In the UK the lamps are illegal - they would void your insurance should it become known they were fitted - not just in the case of an accident but if you got stopped by the law if they thought your headlamps were a little too bright.

5, badly adjusted they are anti social to other drivers.

Andy

Andy, I'm confused! :?

Point 1. As Orlanmdo is keeping the headlamp assy and upgrading the bulbs, why would the bulb failure warning not work?

Point 2. The bulb holder should not melt as it made from thermoset plastic. It may burn and harden a little, but it will not melt. It is also very unlikely that the silvering will melt, it is a fine deposit of chromium, and as it reflects light, it will also reflect heat. :idea:

Point 4. Insurance will not be invalidated. The insurance company would have to prove that the uprated bulb was a contributory factor in any accident you had. An engineer will not be looking at the bulb rating! Properly adjusted there is no reason why the police should stop you, HID h/lamps are far brighter than any incandescent bulb, and far more of a nuisance to other drivers. Orlando could also use the h/lamp adjuster on the dashboard to aim the lights down whilst carrying loads.

Point 5. The aim of the h/lamp will not be affected by fitting uprated bulbs.

Orlando, I have used the uprated blue 60/55w bulbs and it was a total waste of money, they made no difference at all. I believe the culprit of the poor lighting to be the primary reflector in the lamp. This is the reflector that covers the bulb, lind of like a LNB on a satellite dish. If this has tarnished it does not matter how bright your bulbs are, or how clean and shiny the secondary reflector (or headlamp bowl) is, the light output will be bad.

I asked a question a while back about removing the glass from the lamps. This was so that I could have a proper look at the primary reflector and assess the problem. I still need to do this, before wasting my cash on uprated bulbs. BTW if you want bulbs cheap, this is the place to go:

http://www.beedspeed.com/bulbs.htm

Unless someone out there knows different?

Sorry to disagree with you Andy, I could be wrong, it just my VHO

Orlando, I hope you have more luck than I in finding a solution. This is a possibility, but as you want a UK based solution, may be no good:

http://www.midnightmoose.com/hid_index.htm

HTH,

Jim

 

[andy_k]

fair comment Jim but,
1, he's planning to run the headlamps direct from the alternator not the loom so any voltage drop etc would not be detected - i may be wrong but that's why I said "probably"

2, in my experience they did melt or at least distorted with the heat

4, an undeclared mod fitting illegal equipment? How many insurance companies would let that one go if they saw half a chance of avoiding paying out?

As for the Police having "no reason to stop you" - at the risk of starting a riot - when have they ever needed a reason? - that may make an interesting thread --------"the most bizarre reason you have ever been stopped for"

5, I agree the aim of the headlight will be unaffected if they are set up right they are no different that was just an observation. not everybody's lamps are properly adjusted and after fiddling around with the electrics, bulb holders etc how many people head off down to their MoT station to get the cars headlamps re-aligned?

Along the same lines, I may be wrong Jim, this is just stuff based on my own experience and opinion and I'm always willing to be proved wrong

I agree with you though the primary reflector has got to be the main culprit for weedy headlamps.

As for the W124 having poor lights - the ones on ours seem fine much much better than the W123 - if you want really poor lights - try driving a Peugeot 405

Andy

 

[MotardMan]

Aha! Useful to have personal experience, and there was me thinking you were just pontificating :wink:

I forgot he was doing a direct job off the alternator 2-0 to you.. :wink:

My point about the insurance was that how would they tell? Why would they be looking? If you fitted a supercharger and did not tell them, fair enough, but a bulb? Riding bikes teaches you to not trust the scum insurance companies, but even adding a race exhaust to my bike has not invalidated the insurance. They have to prove the part caused or contributed to an accident, before it can invalidate the insurance.

You are right about the coppers not needing an excuse, but I am really lucky to live in an area that has level headed and respectable coppers. My SuperMoto is bastid loud, but I have never been pulled for it, as I ride sensibly round town. Other constabularys are different, but in Glos., we are blessed, eh MikeB?

Nik C's 300CE W124 has good lamps and these are the same as my 300TE, which are pants, as was the last 300TE I owned. BTW, 2002 Vectra has great lights!

It will be very interesting to see what fixes the poor performance. Let ther fight continue!

 

[grober]

Headlight conversion article

There is an article on headlight conversion at http://www.mbca.org/w124.htm which is quite comprehensive but a bit more conservative than you are planning! Its also covered in the MERCEDES E CLASS OWNERS BIBLE. If I remember correctly they also rewire the fog lights as spots using 500e driving lenses and cover the install of the standard headlight leveling system (not an issue on european models) Having said this I must agree with Andy's comment about the legality of such a setup.

 

[Orlando 300E]

Thank you all for the input. Please keep it coming .
I forgot about the bulb test -that is a bit of a problem
I understand your concerns with the insurance and agree that they probably would try to default on payment -but they would have to find them first.
I totally agree with them being anti social if wrongly adjusted -but then again just look at all the morons who put driving / fog lights on in the rain :twisted: . I know this dose not give me the right....just have to make sure they are correctly adjusted, that is if I get this off the ground.
Yes, the bulbs would be illegal, but I don?t think they would be any brighter than gas discharge projector units on modern cars ?some BMW ones are real retina burners!
I have had experience with this level of power bulbs in my Audi, yes they do burn out a bit quicker and are a few pound more expensive, but I put being able to see much higher than a few extra quid. I would like the extra power to over come the night time ?where did the road go? problem on windy main roads when you pass another car coming the other way. I had overcome this on my quattro.
As for running them directly off the alternator -that?s how the kit for the Audi was So a rethink to overcome the bulb warning problem is going to have to happen.
I will just have to review all the web links you have all posted and see if I can glean any more info.
Andy, I must say hand on heart that 1986 Audi quattro headlights are a lot worse than Peugeot 405 ones, with the 124 is a big improvement over the Audi.
Jim, could not agree more those boy racer blue lamps are a real waste of time.
Grober, think you may have found the answer, but need review it properly.
Thank you all again for the great input
Orlando

 

[Orlando 300E]

What I am after is.........(would not mind most of the other stuff as well!)

http://www.bergwerks.com/lighting.jsp

That link is specific to the w124, they do cover other models.
Its been a while since I last found the Bergworks site, I think the price has come down -but then again the exchange rate has got better .

Any one know of a similar product sold in Europe? -I have had stuff sent over from the states before, believe me, a lot of trouble!

Cheers
O

 

[joe bloggs]

Running from the Alternator ?? this would be the same as connecting up to the battery, 130w lamps would draw roughy 10 amps each, definately needs 2 relays fed from the battery with a 30 amp fuse (anything less would get hot) the bulb fail would come on as the supply would now be bypassing the monitor unit (the origional supply would only be supplying the relay windings)

Improved my 190e lamps , easily by incorporating 1 relay and one extra switch. Now when on high beam the front fogs also come on (try it tonight--switch the front fogs on while on main beam, improves things greatly.

The switch is not essential, it just allows you to return the lamps to normal for whatever reason (MOT etc). let me know if you need any diagrams etc.

 

[JimmyTD]

Have you tried the Philips Vision Plus bulbs? I have tried various bulbs in my W202 and these are the best by far.

There is a company called PIAA that does upgraded bulbs that draw the same current as standard bulbs but have the output of higher wattage bulbs.

If I am driving on country roads I also use the built in fog lights but only on main beam.

 

[David Williams]

Hi Orlando - Did you ever do the headlight upgrade on your car? I need to do the same thing but don't know how to ensure the bulb fail light stays off. Any help you can give me from your experience would be appreciated

 

[190D]

Go for 100W headlight bulbs. I have 100w cool blue in my 190 with no relays and no fuse upgrade or nothing it?s been fine for the past eight years. ps the car is driven mostly at night

 

[landover]

Go for 100W headlight bulbs. I have 100w cool blue in my 190 with no relays and no fuse upgrade or nothing it?s been fine for the past eight years. ps the car is driven mostly at night

I bet it takes the power from your heater :lol: :lol:

 

[David Williams]

That's exactly what I needed to hear 190D - I can't see the wiring on my 98CLK being worse than any other merc so I will give it a go.

 

[OlafMaxwell]

I agree w9ith AndyK comment about Peugeot 405, but 4 130W bulbs soon cured that.

But as for the Merc, at least on the W210 the bulb holders are not up to the higher rated bulbs, whatever they are made of. The upgrade kit seems fine, should work, only thing to watch are the bulb holders. I had a problem in the Merc with riginal 55w bulbs, never had the upgrade fitted. I have now changed the bulb holders and have made a connection about 6 inches back from them which allows me to replace them easily. If you do the upgrade my advice is keep a spare set of bulbholders and then you can change them easily if you get a problem. I have dont these upgrades on cars and motor bikes without a problem. I cannot vouch for the bulb failure warning but I can say that when I was using a trailer in the summer a bulb failed on the trailer and the warning came up.