dipped beam lenses?, i've took mine out.

[simonxm21]

hi all, i've recently took out my dipped beam lenses and have to say they look abit weird driving with them on, like i've got fog lights on! is this legal? has anyone dazzled other drivers like this?

i read peter.n took out his metal cups that go over the bulb?

what should i do?

[xmexclusive]

The lense you have taken out is designed to alter beam direction.
Put it back in the other way round and you have a LHD dipped light.
Remove the metal cover as well and the distance cut off goes making the light output reach closer to that from full beam.
I did some trials of these mods a few years ago off road.
I did not think the static beam pattern was precise enough to pass the MOT.
There was no cut off which should be an automatic failure.
Then we did some approaching tests on some fairly severe humps and bends.
Driving the modified car gave definite improved visibility.
Driving the car being passed you thought full beam had been left on.

From next January the MOT inspection requirements for headlights are to be tightened to include automatic failure for non standard fitment. In my view probably not the step forward it seems. With the present system the MOT man in giving a pass typically adjusts the beam as needed so minimising unwanted beam glare from the bulk of the cars on the road. From January with HID fittings visible to the tester many cars will have standard bulbs put back in just for the test. So we will change from having lots of cars on the road with illegal HID's that have been beam checked and adjusted at MOT to lots of cars with illegal HID's that have never been beam checked.

John

[Peter.N.]

I have done this mod on most of my cars as I consider the dipped lights to be dangerous and although the illuminated area is reduced its so much brighter that you can actually see where you are going. John is quite correct, it does alter the beam pattern but as far as I can tell it only stops it spreading to the left which is one of the reasons why it is brighter straight ahead.

I have done several trials to check for stray light, both by looking into the lights and scrutinising the beam in fog and I can see no stray light, I have also driven towards a modified car (my sons) and had it follow me, the lights are bright but certainly not as offensive as many new cars.

Peter

[simonxm21]

so next i should take out the metal part to?

[Peter.N.]

Well, I have only done that recently, just removing the lens and cleaning the reflector makes a world of difference but removing the metal hood doesn't seem to make a great deal, although it must increase the light output a little.

Peter

[simonxm21]

QUOTE (Peter.N. @ May 24, 2011 10:15 pm) 

Well, I have only done that recently, just removing the lens and cleaning the reflector makes a world of difference but removing the metal hood doesn't seem to make a great deal, although it must increase the light output a little.

Peter

hi peter, sorry for the delay there seems to be a delay in emailing notification!

so just to clarify..... i leave my headlamps as they are? i'm finding my xm is slightly cross eye'd like this? the beam is now concentrated to the middle of the car and little light to the outer edges of the beam, would removing the metal hood improve this? and how do i do this?

thanks.

[Peter.N.]

Removing the hood will only make it righter, if your lights are 'cross eyed' its because they are not adjusted properly, with the narrower beam this becomes more evident. If you can find a piece pf level ground with a convenient wall at the end, adjust the lights on main beam so they are parellel to the road and parellel to each other, ie. the beams are the same height from the ground as the lights and the same distance apart. In view of the increased brightness it might be a good idea to keep them slightly lower than horizontal but you will be able to see if they are to high when you drive it.

Peter

[simonxm21]

QUOTE (Peter.N. @ May 25, 2011 08:08 pm) 

Removing the hood will only make it righter, if your lights are 'cross eyed' its because they are not adjusted properly, with the narrower beam this becomes more evident. If you can find a piece pf level ground with a convenient wall at the end, adjust the lights on main beam so they are parellel to the road and parellel to each other, ie. the beams are the same height from the ground as the lights and the same distance apart. In view of the increased brightness it might be a good idea to keep them slightly lower than horizontal but you will be able to see if they are to high when you drive it.

Peter

o.k will do pete, luckily they only need moving outwards as they are parallel to the road, they take some getting use to don't they
not sure how they got out of adjustment as the car was mot'd a few months ago!

but thanks anyway.

[Peter.N.]

MOT is not generally critical of alignment as long as they are not to high so as to dazzle, another advantage of hydropnumatic suspension is that once the lights are correctly aligned - they stay that way

Peter

[Dieselman]

I removed the metal bulb cover on one car and don't think it made any difference at all, as the projected light comes from it being reflected off the rear of the headlamp bowl.

As said, cleaning the reflectors makes a significant difference.

[simonxm21]

QUOTE (Dieselman @ June 02, 2011 08:21 pm) 

I removed the metal bulb cover on one car and don't think it made any difference at all, as the projected light comes from it being reflected off the rear of the headlamp bowl.

As said, cleaning the reflectors makes a significant difference.

i'll leave mine then, i'm getting used to my front fog lights now