Cracked headlight - Might as well get Elipsoids

[Cottis]

Went out this morning to smoke some super and caught a stone nicely in the offside headlight. Fairly big hole and cracked right across.

It is a 3B Coupe and I have always refrained from upgrading the ancient candles to Elipsoids as I rarely drive the car at night. When I do, I just close my eyes and pray ha ha.

Anyhow, the S2 is going to cost me some cash this year (Cambelt due and need some new vented discs for my Movit upgrade, ouch) so might as well go to town and upgrade the headlights to Elipsoids whilst I am at it.

Questions are;

1. Anyone got a decent pair available and how much do they tend to go for.

2. I will be giving them to my mechanic to fit. Is there anything he should know or is it a direct plug and play fitment from ABY to 3b

Cheers guys
Andrew

[shaun5]

That's a bummer but a good excuse to upgrade

I have got a few lights for sale (see my parts for sale thread)

If you have got to replace your mov-it disc's you might not have enough money for anything else Last time I replaced mine it was a 4 figure bill

There are some mods required for fitting the lights but a search should answer you questions

[Cottis]

Hi Shaun

I was just looking at your FS thread prior to Xmas and also at some posts about fitting elipsoids. From what I read so far, it looked like a straight swap but I will search a bit more about fitting. It won't be me doing it (which is probably wise)

Yep, not looking forward to the brake disc replacement. That said, I like how it stops so it is money well spent seeing as they last a very long time without any fade whatsoever (as you no doubt know very well)

Cheers
Andrew

[shaun5]

people take the micky out of me for spending that amount on disc's when you can get a cheaper alternative but ive had them since 2000 and they have never given me any bother running under standard alloys. They have save me LOTS of money in repair bills, Headlights, bumpers, intercooler, cross members aren't cheap

Ive bumped my for sale thread

I think there is a wiring mod to stop both beams working on full beam.

[Cottis]

You get what you pay for as far as I can see with most things. I have used many brakes over the years from rubbish ones made out of paperclips through the mid range right up to high spec components. You absolutely get what you pay for and nothing I have ever driven stops as well as this car. They have done over 30k miles and being fair, they look a bit scabby but actually work fine, no wharping at all but I am just a bit picky and dont mind spending on stopping safely. I'm not into making it look different or silly stuff like that. I want it to go like stink and to stop better.

I cannot find any threads about 3b elipsoid upgrade requiring a mod of some kind. Can someone point me in the right direction please as "elipsoid upgrade" in the search box is not resulting in what I need. Cheers.

[K Simmonds]

The pin swap is required to get both bulbs working on main beam, did it a month or so a go just before I got the S2 back on the road.

See this thread and the link from it for details.

http://www.s2forum.com/forum/showthread.php?t=68669

Upgrading to ellipsoids is a must if you want to drive at night in anything other than a state of terror.

[RustyNut]

I've got a pair perfect for a 3b. Pm if interested.

[Cottis]

Ok so half hour later I should have gone straight to the last post by Alex ha ha. It was fun reading about everyone elses dim/dip issues with strobing ballasts though. Thanks for all the info guys. Look fairly straight forward or must be if I can understand it.

Will post up a wanted ad shortly for people to PM me with what they have. Shaun has already offered me a pair but I like being thorough so once I post in the wanted section, hit me with what you have.

[Monkeymagic]

You most definatly dont need a mechanic to swap the lights or do the wiring swap. It requires a philips screwdriver and an hour.
I have fitted ellipsoids to mine the lighting is better. Not massively but they certainly modernise the look of the car.

[Cottis]

I was expecting the lighting effect to be much better. If it is only marginally better, I will just replace the glass or the individual unit itself. I dont really use the car at night, just thought due to this stone crack that I might as well upgrade but if you think it is only a slight improvement, I wont bother. In fairness, the original lights are particularly crap. Not sure I have ever had a car with such poor headlamps. Fortunately it is not my daily.

[newsh]

Get a new glass and put a set of Osram Nightbreakers or the Philips equivalents, makes a decent difference.

[newsh]

http://www.autobulbsdirect.co.uk/h4-60-55w-headlight-bulb/

[Cottis]

Thank you Newsh, I will try that first I think. Will be a lot easier than buying and changing out two units when they actually work fine (i use the term fine loosely of course) Is the original 3b glass lens still avail or will it be a case of buying an old unit?