Upgrading Headlamp Bulbs / using over rated bulbs

[2connect]

The standard RX7 55w bulbs are not exactly what you would call super bright are they.

I was thinking of sticking some uprated bulbs in, my local parts dealer has xenon bulbs at 80w 100w and one above that too I think its 150w some of the boxes say legal - others say not legal ...

What I am REALLY wondring is, if I stick in a 100w or above bulb , will there be problems with heat in the headlamp unit ? I did this on another vehile once and it caused problems with heat , melting various bits of trim etc. also I take it the alternator will run the extra wattage no problem?

Cheers

2connect

[rx7veilside]

u risk melting the wiring with these bulbs the standard lights are crap
u can get uprated bulbs that are marginally better but a lot of it is down to the crap reflectors
u can do a hid conversion which will help and not overload the wiring
clive at mazda rotary parts has a kit

[Prof]

HID\'s is the best way to do it by far, as they only use 35W per bulb as opposed to the 55/60 of a Halogen H4 unit.
 
You can get better bulbs that are still legal, but they don\'t seem to last as long.  Halfords do an \'All Weather bulb\' which is actually quite a bit brigher and gives better reflection off road signage and better visibility in bad weather.  Philips also do a 50% brighter bulb, which gives a whiter light - they are quite a bit more expensive than standard H4\'s - but it\'s worth it to see where you are going at night ! :driving :cool
 
The stock wiring is old in these cars, and the lighting circuits suffer badly from weather attacking the loom that runs across the front of the radiator.  Also, the alternator is already worked quite hard in these cars, so running higher wattage bulbs will be pushing it.  It\'s possible to fit an FD alternator, but you need to mod the pulley I believe, as well as the wiring.

[RemarkLima]

I\'ve been using the Phillips X-Treme bulbs:

http://www.mazdarotaryclub.com/forums/showthread.php?t=45298

No problems so far and so much better!