my headlights suck

[wildplumdx]

just wondering if i got these would they be legal to fit to my truck as my standard headlights are terrible

http://www.ebay.com/itm/GE-Nighthawk-5- ... 3f&vxp=mtr

[callum007]

Yes if you could make them perform within the NZTA guidelines for headlights.
http://lmgtfy.com/?q=NZTA+headlight+rules

[derk]

If they are LHD headlights they probably have a biasis towards the RH which would be the centre of our roads and dazzle oncoming traffic but would probably work sweet and still piss all over your existing candles

[Trench_rat]

^^^ correct , lhd drive reflector housings have a low beam bias opposite to ours so your low beams will shine into the eyes of oncoming traffic , it will show up on the beam setter at the testing station and you wont get a wof.

[juz]

Put them in anyway!

[Crash bandicoot]

most standard bulbs are 55/60 watt

super cheap sell 60/110 watt bulbs (but advice running high beam through a relay)

[diogenese]

I have a pair of these in my L200 that I got from TWL, they have a flat dipped beam pattern and are E marked so pass a WoF.
Dip is Much better than halogen, even new reflectors and 100w bulbs as the spread is wider and the cutoff sharper, main is just a bit better than halogen but works awesome with a good pair of spotlights for the long distance light.
Not cheap though

[zed]

I have a pair of these in my L200 that I got from TWL, they have a flat dipped beam pattern and are E marked so pass a WoF.
Dip is Much better than halogen, even new reflectors and 100w bulbs as the spread is wider and the cutoff sharper, main is just a bit better than halogen but works awesome with a good pair of spotlights for the long distance light.
Not cheap though

How much were they? Do TWL also do the 7" round?

[ChurchurDan]

Yes they do, about $300 each

[nzhunter]

TWL also now do the Truckmate LED rectangle ones that fit Hilux etc too. They about $300 each same as the 7" round ones. We just fitted out all of Huntlys Underground Mines Landcruisers with them, they can't stop raving about how good they are, they are just plug and play and only need to wire up the park light if needed.

[diogenese]

I paid $ 600 for a pair.
I have measured the power draw and they are 18w per lamp for dip and double for main, it leaves dip on and adds another led. The side light is a pair of leds in the middle I have used as day runners.
they are not fully waterproof though, they have a small vent hole with a cloth sticker over the top. I have tapped out the hole to 1/8th bsp being careful not to get bits inside and run a breather pipe. I tried just blanking it off but got condensation on cold mornings which ruined the pattern for dip

[Taz]

What are you wanting to achieve? (where are they most terrible?)

Open road high beam?
Offroad?
Low beam is too crap with oncoming traffic?

Unless it's your low beam with other vehicles around you might be best just to fit some spotlights or a light bar.

If they are LHD headlights they probably have a biasis towards the RH which would be the centre of our roads and dazzle oncoming traffic but would probably work sweet and still piss all over your existing candles

Could you not just mount them upside down?

[KIWI_TERRANO]

See in aussie 80series owner replacing high beams with led and raving about it, there a kit out there for it

[wildplumdx]

yeah its my low beam that sucks high beam sweet, i swear there aimed far to low... if i lifted the beam it would be sweet but the wof guy had a melt down when i said that but its ridiculous almost dangerous as it is

[Taz]

Ahh, well that sucks.

Might sound a bit stupid but have you tried different bulbs? They've come a long way and you can often use more powerful ones in without setting anything on fire (always a bonus).

Also, there are LED hi/low bulbs now. They're getting better and better but don't always have great distance when it comes to the high beam.

[wildplumdx]

yeah put some fancy osram bulbs in night breaker i think... suppose to be 110% brighter than standard... i didn't even notice a difference

[diogenese]

I think the problem is with the reflector, not the bulbs:(

[Taz]

I think the problem is with the reflector, not the bulbs:(

I just upgraded the bulbs in one of my bikes (1990). 30/55w H4's stock. Every corner on dip was a trip into the unknown but all sorted now for under $100.

It could well be the reflector, but bulbs are a good place to start on older vehicles for sure.