Headlight Bulbs?

[Stuart Lampard]

Hello fellow Surfers

I hope you have been having as much fun in the snow as I have!

I got some new headlight/sidelight bulbs from e-gay, so I might have a chance to see in all the snow and fog we are getting.

Any idea how an idiot like me can change the bulbs?

It looks like I have to take the grill off to get to the lights from the front, as the back is full of batteries and water bottles.
I took the sidelights off and changed the bulbs ok, but I could not get the grill off? I undid all the little plastic clips I could see, but it seemed to be stuck firm along the bottom of the grill as the top was all loose.

I gave up after an hour, with cut hands, a hurting back, frostbite and hypothermia!

Thanks for any help, Stuart.

[puddlesurfer]

Hi Stuart,

You can either take off the grill, and then unbolt the headlamps (that how I changed mine)

Or alternativey unbolt both the batteries and the water tanks to get in from the rear!

Either way it is a pain in the a$$!!

[VidaMusic]

na it's easy!

just do one side at a time, take one battery off, and move the bottle out of the way, then just pull out the housing that holds the bulb, change it, pop it back in, battery back in, then do other side. 15 min job ;-)

One of mine has just gone tonight ironically. i might look for some HID lights cos these are p1ss poor - and even these are the 'brights' from egay!

I'm used to Xenons which are as bright white as you can get, so these to me are just like having side lights on!

[Stuart Lampard]

Thanks Vidamusic, I will try to "enter from behind" next time!
The bulbs in my surf are just a dull yellow and the e-gay ones promise "100% brighter", WOW! I will be shining the sun out of the front of my surf!

[VidaMusic]

i wouldnt bother with the cheap 100w halogens mate. i have em on now and they are crap...

i've just found THESE think i may give these a try..

[Predictable Bob]

If you want better light output without the risk of MoT fails and getting pulled by the fuzz then try Osram Nightbreakers - excellent lamps and they're improved the working life recently too

[Ben_D]

Another vote for Osram Night Breakers, others that are worth a look are Ring Xenon Max. The Ring bulbs give of a white light that is more like day light, I have these as headlamps. The osrams gove off a slightly more yellow light but are probably brighter, got these in my spot lamp.

Easy enough to get lights out from behind on a Gen 3, not sure about a Gen 2. As has been said, loosen battery bar & slide batteries back. I removed the neck on my washer bottle and unclipped the expansion tank too, this allowed for a fairly easy change.

Cheers

Ben

[VidaMusic]

which one do we have? i mean all the codes, H1, H4, H7, H11 etc, which is which? is it a certain no for the Surf?

[VidaMusic]

aah, got it. think we have H4 bulbs...

cool, gonna try the Osram i think ;-)

[Ben_D]

aah, got it. think we have H4 bulbs...

cool, gonna try the Osram i think ;-)

Is H4 on Gen 3.

[si tate]

Is H4 on Gen 3.

Yes.

[Surfer Ross]

On the 2nd Gen, its the headlamp wiring looms that are the problem, they don't allow enough current to the bulbs. You can replace the looms with either home made or ones bought online.

Personally, I'd go for the Xenon HID upgrade kit. No normal bulbs will get close to their performance. You can't fail your MOT for them as long as they're properly aligned and have a colour temperature of less than 8000k.

[Chevydancer]

Be careful buying aftermarket HID kits because they're going to be an MOT failure from next year. HID lamps will have to be self levelling and a complete unit as in the after market kits the bulbs are the wrong length to give the correct beam with the existing reflector. Hence why so many badly fitted ones dazzle oncoming traffic.

[Surfer Ross]

Be careful buying aftermarket HID kits because they're going to be an MOT failure from next year. HID lamps will have to be self levelling and a complete unit as in the after market kits the bulbs are the wrong length to give the correct beam with the existing reflector. Hence why so many badly fitted ones dazzle oncoming traffic.

Thats an urban myth, there is no change to the UK MOT Headlamp regulations in December 2011. Its a change to the European Union regulation document regulating the minimum testing standards in EU member states. It is being introduced to bring some of the Eastern European countries up to an acceptable standard.

The actual wording of the headlamp section of the document is below and the document itself can be found here: http://eur-lex.europa.eu/LexUriServ/...47:0072:EN:PDF


4. LAMPS, REFLECTORS AND ELECTRICAL EQUIPMENT
4.1. Headlamps
4.1.1. Condition and operation
Visual inspection and by operation.
(a) Defective or missing light/light source. (b) Defective or missing projection system (reflector and lens). (c) Lamp not securely attached.
4.1.2. Alignment
Determine the horizontal aim of each headlamp on dipped beam using a headlamp aiming device or a screen.
Aim of a headlamp not within limits laid down in the requirements ( a ).
4.1.3. Switching
Visual inspection and by operation.
(a) Switch does not operate in accordance with the requirements ( a ) (Number of headlamps illuminated at the same time) (b) Function of control device impaired.
4.1.4. Compliance with requirements ( a ).
Visual inspection and by operation.
(a) Lamp, emitted colour, position or intensity not in accordance with the requirements ( a ). (b) Products on lens or light source which obviously reduce light intensity or change emitted colour. (c) Light source and lamp not compatible
4.1.5. Levelling devices (where mandatory)
Visual inspection and by operation if possible.
(a) Device not operating. (b) Manual device cannot be operated from driver’s seat.
4.1.6. Headlamp cleaning device (where mandatory)
Visual inspection and by operation if possible.
Device not operating.

There is nothing in this document that outlaws retro-fitted HIDs. The governing law in the UK will always be the Road Vehicle Lighting Regulations. I've passed 7 MOTs with HIDs fitted and nothing is being introduced that will change this.

[mckirdy-services]

I have fitted HID to my 3gen and the difference is great.

http://www.hiluxsurf.co.uk/showthread.php?t=65691

I also found it easier just to slide the battery out of the way to change the lamps