Headight Upgrade Question

[theastronaut]

I got big into upgraded headlights a few years ago and it's turned into an addiction... I started with Silverstar sealed beams in a '97 S10, but they didn't help alot. Then I went to Delta Tech's H4's with the blue tint bulbs that came in them, and also wasn't happy with the light output. I currently have an upgraded harness, Cibie Z Beam E code headlights, and Hella 80/100 watt bulbs in mine. It makes a HUGE difference in how well you can see at night; I can see a 1/4 mile away now!

I ran fused 10g power wires straight from the battery to a pair of 50 amp Dual 87 post relays, one for high beam and one for low beam. With dual 87 relays (post 87 is the output) you only need two relays instead of four. Then more 10g wire from the relays out to the headlights. The original wiring harness is used to turn on the either the low or high beam relay and also to ground the relay. You don't have to cut up your original harness this way. I also used ceramic H4 connectors since the higher wattage bulbs could melt plastic connectors. New 10g ground wires made sure that the whole system is matched. 10g is probably overkill from the relays to the headlights depending on what wattage bulbs you'll be running.

I bought the parts to make my own relay harness from Ray's Automotive in Marietta GA for around 50-60 bucks delivered, IIRC. Very nice quality and great customer service.





It's also important to have a high quality housing that makes a good, usable beam pattern without any excess glare. I had a set of cheap H4's when I first started my headlight upgrades in my VW, but they had a very narrow low beam pattern that didn't distribute light evenly. I've used E-code Cibie's, Marchal's, and Hella's in a couple different cars and they all had a really great beam pattern. Bosch also make a great H4 but I've never had a pair installed.


Here'a a low beam shot from right inside the windshield. You can see the sharp horizontal cut off that keeps glare down for oncoming traffic.





Shot of my cheap H4's before I upgraded the wiring. Stock 55/60 watt bulbs. Very narrow beam spread, still better than sealed beams though. These were Delta Tech's 7" Classic lens, sold through Classic Industries. They're actually overpriced re-labled Weisem lamps that are made overseas. Dont make the same mistake I did and pay for low-end "upgraded" lamps.




Cibie H4's, harness, and 80/100W bulbs. Very wide, even pattern and much more intensity of the light itself. The cut off pattern keeps glare down for oncoming traffic, I've never been flashed at even once by oncoming drivers because my lights were glaring in their eyes.





If you really want to see well at night, you can add a pair of driving lights for better long distance visibility. These have a narrow beam pattern for distance and use H3 bulbs. They're made to be used as aircraft landing lights, I bought them from an aviation supply store. They're wired in with a relay to only come on with the high beams. With the high beams on, I've got 340 watts of lighting power.