thinking i need to upgrade the lights for the FC some time soon as they are crap lol.
just wondering if anyone else has upgraded theirs and has any recommendations?
HID the best way forward?
or are cheap bulb upgrades ok? such as http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/MAZDA-RX7-FC-1985-95-XENON-HID-CAR-FOG-BULBS-/220825295450?pt=UK_CarsParts_Vehicles_CarParts_SM&hash=item336a369a5a
cheers,
yas
Using these myself along with new h-lamp units as the reflector does tend to deteriorate with age, I\'d check those first. http://www.ringautomotive.co.uk/product_detail.asp?prod=2423
I\'ve been using some raybrig lenses and h4 hid hi lo kit for a while
Works great
Rebuild to low-rise and Hella lenses, H7 for lows and D2S for high (in Norway atleast, xenon is not legal in lows without automatic height adjusting and cleaning of some sort (squirters or wipers))
I plan to do it when I get hold of £600 to do it :P
Quote from: kev-yorks;846918Using these myself along with new h-lamp units as the reflector does tend to deteriorate with age, I\'d check those first. http://www.ringautomotive.co.uk/product_detail.asp?prod=2423
cheers. what are the life like of the bulbs? have you had to replace often?
No issues thus far but I suppose like anything else you can always get a bad batch.
kk sweet. just ordered a set from ebay. hopefully get them and fit them soon. will try get pics to show the before and after if i remember lol.
Quote from: jimmydanny;846948Rebuild to low-rise and Hella lenses, H7 for lows and D2S for high (in Norway atleast, xenon is not legal in lows without automatic height adjusting and cleaning of some sort (squirters or wipers))
I plan to do it when I get hold of £600 to do it :P
In the UK the MOT requirements state similar things - but there is also a new addition stating that cars with stiffer suspension don\'t require the self levelling lights, as they are far less likely to suffer from the \'loaded boot\' problem making the front end go up. Washers are still a requirement though, but the FC does have those.
A cheapish upgrade is to go with Halfrauds All Weather bulbs - straight H4 replacements, but they give out a lot more light and also some UV which helps illuminate road furniture better. HID\'s are the best replacement, but most HID bulbs aren\'t suitable for the standad reflector, you\'ll need to find the ones that are mostly \'shielded\' so that they throw a proper lo / hi beam pattern - and if you are getting the motorised units - watch out for fitments in the popup lens - some of the HID\'s have very long motors and they will foul the mechanism. Higher wattage bulbs apart from being illegal, are quite likely to test the old and tired wiring to distruction with the extra currents - HID\'s are lower wattage and also usually come with a power loom anyway.
raybrigs with 4300k HID bulbs are the best job! raybrigs for an fc are the same as unit as can be fitted to the following motors: MR2, Toyota AE86 (pop-up light model), Nissan S13 180/200/240sx. and possibly ma70 supra (second last one)
Quote from: kev-yorks;846918Using these myself along with new h-lamp units as the reflector does tend to deteriorate with age, I\'d check those first. http://www.ringautomotive.co.uk/product_detail.asp?prod=2423
these are defiantly a good bulb, i use them in my red Uk fc. These are the same as the halfords ultimate brilliance model (dont quote me on the name though) can be purchased for £19.99 for 2 with a halfords trade card
Ross
Quote from: turbointhebrain;846997raybrigs with 4300k HID bulbs are the best job! raybrigs for an fc are the same as unit as can be fitted to the following motors: MR2, Toyota AE86 (pop-up light model), Nissan S13 180/200/240sx. and possibly ma70 supra (second last one)
Is the raybrigs lens a projector lens unit ?
hey prof,
no, they are basically the same shaped unit, but the light refractor (shapes the light to the right positions) is built into the reflector at the back of the unit, like new cars. they also have a clear (crystal) front lens. The standard fc unit has the refractor on the front lens and in turn this will make the headlamp unit less efficient in output.
the raybrigs come either with blue tinted reflector or just silver
(http://img294.imageshack.us/img294/9086/dsc08719f.jpg)
(http://www.carpron.com/multisite/d/235055-1/P7080944.JPG)
(http://memimage.cardomain.com/ride_images/3/144/901/25357950016_large.jpg)
Ross
nice one ross!!
will look into getting a set of these when i get some spare cash. just ordered bulbs for the time being.
They do look good - I am in 2 minds now - it was a reworking of standard reflector or go with quad light solution....
changing to xenon bulbs seems like a good cheap upgrade. havnt tested them out at night yet, but look much brighter.
light on left side of pic is changed - right side of pic = standard
(http://img22.imageshack.us/img22/7791/belfast2013011000323.jpg)
Go with some clear Raybrigs (had some on my MX5) and get some Osram nightbreakers, they are the best halogen bulb you can get, basically the same sort of output as a HID, but 55w Halogen so no issues with the MOT.
Quote from: Prof;846987In the UK the MOT requirements state similar things - but there is also a new addition stating that cars with stiffer suspension don\'t require the self levelling lights, as they are far less likely to suffer from the \'loaded boot\' problem making the front end go up. Washers are still a requirement though, but the FC does have those.
A cheapish upgrade is to go with Halfrauds All Weather bulbs - straight H4 replacements, but they give out a lot more light and also some UV which helps illuminate road furniture better. HID\'s are the best replacement, but most HID bulbs aren\'t suitable for the standad reflector, you\'ll need to find the ones that are mostly \'shielded\' so that they throw a proper lo / hi beam pattern - and if you are getting the motorised units - watch out for fitments in the popup lens - some of the HID\'s have very long motors and they will foul the mechanism. Higher wattage bulbs apart from being illegal, are quite likely to test the old and tired wiring to distruction with the extra currents - HID\'s are lower wattage and also usually come with a power loom anyway.
Wait whaaaaat? Washers? Okay, I must have missed out on :censored::censored::censored::censored:loads here, cause when it snows here, and we get this salt slush :censored::censored::censored::censored: on the road, I have to clean my head lights every 50km with a wet paper or something.
Where is this magic hidden, you say? I haven\'t seen any nozzles or anything?
They are on the lower part of the bezel, there is a button on the dash surround for the washers lol
There is no button in my dash mate. The only thing I have on my dash is:
Main switch: No lights - Park lights - Low beams
Washer switch: brings up the lights, keeps them there, thats it
Rear window heater switch: Speaks for itself, doesn\'t it?
And the other side is:
Main: Mist - Off - Int - slow - fast (windscreen wipers)
Convertible switch
Hazard Lights
Turn signal and high beam.
That is what I got. With headlight washers I of course mean something like I mentioned, like nozzles that spray windshield cleaner or headlight wipers (which it obviously doesn\'t have).
Now, are we on the same page here? Cuz I can\'t remember seeing nozzles or pumps down there, neither do I see a switch for them imaginary cleaners of mine :/
And I really need them! :/
It should be the same button that you call the "Washer switch". It should be able to be pressed in and that will activate the headlight washer jets. You should also notice an extra reservoir for the headlight washer fluid inside the engine bay as it draws from its own reservoir and not the same one used for the windshield washer fluid.
It\'s also possible that they are not fitted in Europe. I\'m pretty sure that the USA spec FC\'s did not have these fitted. At least if my memory serves me correctly.
Back on topic, I\'ve fitted Philips X-treme Visions to my other car. Made a world of difference. I\'d love to get some Raybrig lenses, but they cost so much.
My car is USDM, yep! But my RHD UK switch doesn\'t have it either (I got the wrong one lol).
I have to check this up, this is very weird!
On topic, I\'d still say getting something like NSX-lenses would be the best and cleanest option, also helps reducing drag! :D
I thought about using NSX lenses at one point, but the only problem with them is that you lose the flash to pass ability in the FC. The lens would be too high in the down position to shine through the FTP lenses. Otherwise, I\'d agree it would be a nice solution.
I can\'t see the real need for FTP really? Dunno about the norms in the UK, but in Norway we use the turn signal out, thats it. We never flash before we pass unless it is a trailer or something like that, or a unforeseen passing that you are doing.
All in all, I have started to look for NSX headlights myself now :D But they probably cost loads.
Running blue raybrigs with the rally uprated bulbs far better than stock and cheaprer than hid and less room taken up. But mine are in fixed down position with cut bumper for the lights as my new bodykit is being modded the the bn style light cut out.
Not quite as goods as modern crystal clear car headlights but still good. Best I ever had were orange ones as come fog time the orange cut threw the fog and was like it wasnt there were most reflect off the fog new cars are dreadfull for this.