i want to get a HID kit but a little short on cash at the moment. are there any cheaper alternatives to HID that will make zed headlights or front sidelights on a UK TT brighter as the standard main beam lights are just plain dangerous.

 

I mean stuff like brights bulbs and things that would make a difference but not hurt my wallet

Talk to Danny at DTA

Here is a bulb comparison. It doesn't cover HIDs - and is only for dip beam not the main beam you mention. However, I guess that brighter bulbs would be available for this as well.

 

I have recently driven a UK Z and the side beam on these appears much better than my JDM but whether this is because I need to clean the headlights or not I don't know yet.

The headlamps on a zed often get misted up inside and can really reduce the power of the beam that comes out. A rule of thumb is if you cant see the bulb glass enclosure inside the cylinder in the head lamp assembly then your head lamp assembly is misted up.

 

Mine is but to take apart and clean the headlamps i need to take the front bumper off which is not an easy peasy job.

Notice that if you do the H3C to H3 conversion then you can get even brighter PIAAs (85W actual I think)- that's what I use in mine.

 

You can replace the 5W side light bulbs with something brighter in the same package- I think the 13W spoiler brake light bulbs have the same fitting for example.

Erm, though it seems PIAA no longer sell:

• Superwhites
  
• anything remotely useful in H3C guise
  
• 85W (135W effective) bulbs in a useful guise
  

(That's looking at the PRI Racing and PIAA websites)

 

:(

 

Gio- would you mind doing another comparison with the new ranges of Platinum, Xtreme White and Xtreme Force?! :tongue: :)

I think cleaning the inside of the glass would be the most beneficial.

 

I've tried many, many sorts of different bulbs and they never make an enormous difference to light output. Some make a litttle difference - notably PIAA and Philips.

 

HIDs are well worth getting - the difference is massive.

Gio- would you mind doing another comparison with the new ranges of Platinum, Xtreme White and Xtreme Force?! :tongue: :)

Not in this weather, matey! :D Besides, my knuckles haven't healed from last time....

Seeing as you have a UK zed you'll be able to get 100W H3 bulbs from Halfrauds like I did before I had HID's. They were very good but I usually used about 5 or 6 every winter as they blew when hot. Clean the light, and fit the 100W bulbs and you'll be able to see where you're going!

 

Ivan

Halfords are doing 2 for 1 on super white bulbs on a H3 if your uk fitment which are meant to be 50% brighter. If your car is a jap then you need H3C which are a little harder to come by or you can do a tiny wire mod so you can then fit any uk bulb thats got the 2 prong connectors rather then the jap one style.

 

They are £14.99 each so you get 2 for £14.99 but as everyone else has said above, clean the headlights first and see if that helps if not then rather then changing a million bulbs and never being fully happy with them id just save the pennies and invest in a hid kit as once done youll never have to worry again.

 

I think they start at around £150 odd but id pay a bit more for them and ive just ordered a kit from danny DTA @ £235 and that with warrenty :D

 

Good luck mate.

 

(Thanks to Vijay and others for the above info which i only learned myself last week!!!)

The biggest difference you will see is from taking them apart and cleaning them, many people complain about how rubbish the Zed lights are but it is in fact due to the layer of dirt that builds up inside(especially on the domed projector), it is also cheap, just a tube of sealant required for when you put the glass back on.

Do what I did, take the lights apart and clean every thing inside then go to homebase and buy the bulbs you put in them high power torches (make sure they are the 12v ones) you get 2 in a pack for something like 2.99 and they are 100W I have checked them on my own car and all the wiring and nothing is overloaded with them and they work superb. plus they put out a nice white light rather then the usual yellowy light.

................Gio- would you mind doing another comparison with the new ranges of Platinum, Xtreme White and Xtreme Force?! :tongue: :)

 

Don't bother with Extreme Force, Mark. Any bulbs with a thick blue coating will be shite in a ZX - remember the projector beam lens is opaque. You really want a very good quality clear bulb so that no light output is lost shining through any coating.

 

Osram Super or Philips +30% H3s will give a noticably better light output. They may not look brighter side by side but on the road they are proven to give a longer/wider beam so you can actually see where you are driving!

 

Richard :D

Mine is but to take apart and clean the headlamps i need to take the front bumper off which is not an easy peasy job.

 

Stock bumper does not need to be removed to take the headlights out. It's a pain in the arse to do but can be done.

meh how much is pain in the arse lol. Someone said removing the drives side bush on a steering rack a pain in the ass and i found it impossible.

 

Tips please for removing headlamp whilst bumper is on :)

http://www.aus300zx.com/tech/headlight_removal/headlight_removal.htm

Headlight removal

 

There are 2 x 12 mm nuts & 2 x 12 mm bolts securing each light unit into the car

 

Off side

First remove 2 x Phillips screws to side indicator (Jap spec) (dark blank on UK spec)

 

Look through opening and locate 12 mm nut and integral washer at top right and remove.

 

Turn wheel on full left lock, remove lower wheel arch protector 5x 10 mm bolts

 

Pull back protector and tuck behind wheel, locate 12 mm bolt and integral washer at top right

 

Remove panel between headlights 2 x 10 mm nuts and washers.

 

Full removal of the airbox is required unless a cone filter is already fitted.

 

Airbox is secured by 10 mm bolts, trunking and the air mass meter which needs to be removed and stored carefully, this is by far the hardest part of the job.

 

Once access to area below airbox is gained look to off side headlamp front close to panel 1 x 12 mm nut and integral washer remove.

 

Same headlight towards rear, near to front slam panel 1 x 12 mm bolt and integral washer remove. As the position is confined the process to undo is fiddly and may take some time using a combination of open and ring spanners.

 

Now ease the headlamp towards the front of the car whilst lifting up ,only gently so as soon as clear the dip and main beam cable connectors can be released.

 

The near side lamp removal is the same with the exception that access to the last bolt in the sequence is fouled by the N/S recirc. valve and it may be an advantage to remove this via 2 x 10 mm nuts and 2 x jubilee clips.

Thanks.. but sod that lol. I will get at the headlamps form taking the bumper off.