Okay.... I've watched the Star Wars trilogy about 10 times and I am still no closer to developing the force.

 

Why would I need it? Because the f**king headlights on my Z are useless. Cosmetically there fantastic and I appreciate the innovation of Nissan and the large ammounts of cash invested in them. However, when it comes to seeing where you're going, you'd be better off with two small haddock taped to the front of the car.

 

I have a UK model, so apart from changing the indicators around for Jap ones, driving lights aren't really an option.

 

What's the best solution? HID's are prohibitively expensive. There are sites that sell (illegal for road use) 'rally' bulbs which are rated at 100W. Has anyone tried this? I appreciate that they're going to draw a lot more current and generate a lot more heat. Can the headlight reflector cope with it, and what about the wiring?

 

Any help would be great - I have to drive down a lot of country roads, and at present feel as if I am taking my life into my own hands everytime I have to dip the beam!

 

Reflector mod for guaranteed results ..only way... £20ish DIY sorted. Jeff TT

 

[This message has been edited by Jeff TT (edited 06-11-2001).]

I agree entirely with you Mr. Jerboa my friend! My lights are not funny either! Picking my car up from SE this weekend and will have to be back to the Z coffin(my garage) before the sun goes down...or we could potentially both end up DEAD!

 

Just waiting to see how Jeffs light mod holds up...if it stands the test of time I'm there like a shot!

 

 

Timski you could allways strap a couple of torches on the wing mirrors just to get you home I did LMFFAO!

 

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LMFAO

 

Hey up matey, not a bad idea that!

 

Have you got extra lights in your Stillen front Iain? Can't remember if it was your car or someone elses that I'd seen.

 

That's always another option, instead of having to drive around with main beam on all the time, try some of those PIAA little driving spots you can get from Harrys etc. I might put some nice little round ones on my Stillen!

 

Not like a Welsh boys Champagne Vauxhall Nova...no...no...no...just some little subtle ones in the air dam...can't make seeing any worse than it already is!!!

Yes Timski I am looking for some If you see any nice ones give me a buzz.because It's nice to talk

 

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The headlight situation is something I am not looking forward to when I pick up my car next year.

 

My 200sx lights are great, might see if SE do a deal on night vision goggles.

 

Have thought about driving lamps, any comments anyone? How much improvement to those PIAA thingys make?

 

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crazyeddie.co.uk

It is good to talk Iain me old mate, and good to meet up with Northerners occasionally aswell! ROFL Hint...hint you Souverner Zedders!

 

Anyway, a slight stray from said topic there I reckon...LOL

 

Not sure about the PIAA ones, have found some nice ones on some yank sites. They look quite discreet but not sure how good they are.

 

I've been in contact with Regal Bulbs who advertise in Max and Fast car etc. Spoke to them about 4-6 weeks ago about Xenon conversion. They basically get the systems of the Mercs, new one which should fit our cars comes straight off the new S500 is it?

 

Kit is about 500 squid, which I think is reasonable considering 98/99 MY new style Z lights are probably about that anyway.

 

I'm still watching Papa Z's effort though, I'd rather go with Jeffs upgrade for the reflectors than burn 500 notes!

Stu (Powerlord) has some PIAA's on his I think. Get in touch and find out what they're like.

I agree with Jeff Top Technician.. why wouldn't I? he does know everything and he does have the force.

Z headlights are crap, I always just use sidelights and fogs. This was I *can't* see where I am going better

Have a read thru Lord Jeff's light mod thread and try that maybe, otherwise buy a pair of these:

 

LOL

 

 

 

 

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Glen

:)

Even better Glenski, you can then proceed to drive around in Stealth mode...with lights off!

 

ROFL

I've got the PIAA bulbs, fitted them last week. They are better than stock(but so is couple of Zippo lighters) as they are very bright. They also cast the light further in-front of the car. But, like everyone says to get the lighting up to current standards you will have to modifiy the headlights themselves(like in JeffTT's write up).

Trev

My lights are REALLY not that bad (and I hate carrots). Certainly don't come close to my R19 16v though ...

 

Tim, we'll have to do a back to back Zed headlight comparison on Friday.

My 19's lights are great too - well, they would be if I cleaned the 1/2" of crap off the lenses

 

Zed's lights were.. well I never owned it long enough to find out really!..

 

Had to drive the boss's P reg Saab 900 up to York last w/end though.. My god.. lights that go 15 feet in front of you aint much use doing 95 on the motorway, are they! Yikes..

You can adjust the rake on those though can' t you Az?

 

Andy, yep, defo have to do the headlight thing...but if I'm still in Essex after dark in that thing I'll need a man with a red lantern to walk 270 klicks in front of the car! LMAO

On the 19 yep - I have 'em set down one notch.. Dunno about the Saab, it was dark and I was doing 95.. Seeing as the boss only recently figured out how to turn her headlights on (I am not kidding!) the chances of her knowing where an aim adjuster was were pretty slim... (sigh.. women.. )

My Astra lights where shit. Even worse than my Z. I put on a huge set of spot lights for those dark roads. They where fantastic.

 

Stuart

yeh, I've got PIAAS.. but they ain't wired up (they were on car when I got it and I've never got around to it and was worried about loom not taking the power, and fitting new wiring relays seemed like a lot of hassle).

 

As for high wattage one, I used to have 160Watt ones in my MR2. bloody excellent.

 

totally illegal, but how many times have you been stopped to have your light bulbs checked ? And they were only 10 quid or so.

 

But as far as I know the Z wiring loom is pretty much maxed out as it is. All the stuff I've read says, your chancing a fire putting higher wattage lights in without changing the loom.

 

stu

 

here's PIAAS:

http://www.btinternet.com/~powerlord/media/jpgs/carandbike/car/piaa.jpg

http://www.btinternet.com/~powerlord/media/jpgs/carandbike/car/CARFRONT.JPG

 

 

 

Stu,

 

What is that on the front right of your motor on the end of the wing?

 

Is it one of those parking aerials? You see them on Shogun and GTi-R's etc. I was told that they are for parking so that the little Jap. people know where the front of the car is.

 

Anyone know if this is true?

Yep Timmy your quite correct those little flags on the bumpers that sometimes have little neons in are for short arses to park!!!!

 

Funny thing is you get that distracted by this little glowing thingy stuck in the air you forget about parkin' and drive into the car parked in front anyway!!!!

Has anyone tried or know about the CATZ ZETA HID setup, as it seems to be the most reasonably priced. The kit comes with proper ballast resistors, and everything. Suppose to be a plug in and go solution.

 

Leigh

 

 

yup, there is a button on the centre console. raises a wee aerial about 6 inches with a green neon light on the top, so the 3 foot jap f**kwit that owned the car (the same one that fitted PIAAs but didnae bother to wire them up) could see where the front is.

 

stu

Leigh,

My 30 second research indicates this is a bulb only option and I think to make a real difference we need new reflectors.

Oh well back to square one.

 

Wheres JEFFTT, I think his option may now be best. No sure about ripping the headlights apart though.

 

Maybe JEFF would be up for a 300ZX headlight replacement gathering???

 

Leigh

 

 

I’m with you on this one Leigh.

 

The headlamp conversion is probably very painless to someone competent with a tool box but for a hammer and screwdriver merchant like myself the whole thing is a bit intimidating. Wonder how much it would cost to replace a broken headlamp.

 

I have only had my Z for two weeks and it is currently at SE having the engine oil leak sorted and some other bits done so I have not driven it at night. However it seems to me that if the headlamp problem is as bad as everyone says it is then for people like Jeff TT or other equally skilled people, there is a lot of money to be made by supplying and fitting converted headlamps on an exchange basis, I recon they would have people queuing up to part with their cash.

 

Just a thought.