Hi y'all

 

Since we're about to take my freshly-repaired Zed to La Belle France for a week of looning about, I thought it might be nice to be able to see where we were going in the dark.

 

I've tried 85w bulbs before (£23 per pair from the US) but got seduced by the claims about PIAA Superwhite. http://www.piaa.co.uk

 

So I tried a pair. Write up on 55w OEM vs 85w US vs 55w PIAA

 

Being J-spec and needing H3C (unless I solder stuff or fiddle with the loom) the choices are limited.

 

But gee - it's got bright out there (Well, for more than £20 per bulb, it bloody well should be!)

Hi Gio

 

It looks like the PIAA bulbs came out best then;)

 

The beam pattern is noticeably whiter and clearer. The passenger side may appear dimmer because it is probably aimed more to the left and higher, to light the area for road signs, verges etc. Whereas the driver side will be lower and central to avoid dazzling other drivers. Just a theory;)

 

I have just bought a pair of Osram super+30% H3s to try, as they are only £14 a pair. Auto Express reckon the blue coating of PIAA bulbs robs some of the light output. If they are better than the PIAAs I have already, I'll post it here.

 

Richard:)

Hi Richard

 

on inspection, the reason for passenger side being dimmer is the headlight has got condensation and looks dirtier on the inside!

 

Seems it needs headlights taking out, splitting, cleaning and reassembling.......

 

Probably NOT before going to France on Friday! :D

 

Also J-spec dip beams take a different bulb to UK spec unless you do a small mod. (J-spec = H3C, UK spec = H3). There are a lot more choices (like the Osrams you mention) for H3 than for H3C. I have only ever found the 2 PIAA fits and Leigh's US 85w imports.

 

Cheers - Gio

My first Zed (the Blue one) had a PIAA Kit on t, (lots of boxes and stuff under the bonnet with PIAA on them, and I couldnt understand why everyone aid zed lights were crap, untill i got the second one!!!

 

The old ones were twice as good as the ones i have now.

 

Wish I'd of known what I knew now, i'd of took all that stuff off the old one before returning it to the dodgy dealer who sold it me!!!