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Are the beach lights really that bad?

Nolan said:
Short term I've ordered a set of these as they are meant to make it better.
https://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B00NMEEOV2/?tag=eliteelect-21

Long term I'm looking for a set of the H7 light units but they don't seem to come up for sale very often.

I thought I'd ordered my van with the H7 lights but it seems there was a miscommunication with the dealer early on (my quote I showed him listed exterior pack and the one I got back didn't then I presumed lights & vision would have included it). All very frustrating but I'll get there in the end.
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Well I fitted them tonight, first impressions are good but it's hard to judge without living with them for a few days.

Fitting took about 30 minutes and I have sore hands now :) (I didn't need to remove the airbag or anything though)
 
Gary&Heather said:
I must admit when I saw these in use they were very impressive.
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My concern in relation to the light output is that in dipped mode (which traffic dictates is main use) they would have no benefit plus if going from high power mainbeam to dip you would get a sense of being plunged into semidarkness. If they have a dip function then that would solve that issue..
I've had that problem before with halogen spot lights that worked in conjunction with mainbeam operation.
 
Had the beach about 2 months now. Telling myself the H4 were passable...until tonight.
Badly lit A road, wet conditions....sweet baby jesus I couldnt see any sign of the beam. Nearly drove up the verge. Ridiculously bad in a vehicle like this.
Time to look at h7's ir try some updated bulbs in the meantime.
Morale of the story for future beach owners. You read that the H4's are terrible...its true they are!
 
Agree i am putting in night breakers in for now as i rarely drive at night but shocking
 
Yes, they are bad, when driving at night, in rain and or with oncoming vehicles headlights the H4's just get drowned out. We have had the Beach since beginning of this month and the lights don't seem to bother me as much (must be getting use to them) plus I don't drive much after 5pm.

They must be just the right side of legal for DOT to allow them.

I have bought some Osrams but not fitted them yet.
 
I have also ordered some white drl bulbs
 
CaspersCali said:
Had the beach about 2 months now. Telling myself the H4 were passable...until tonight.
Badly lit A road, wet conditions....sweet baby jesus I couldnt see any sign of the beam. Nearly drove up the verge. Ridiculously bad in a vehicle like this.
Time to look at h7's ir try some updated bulbs in the meantime.
Morale of the story for future beach owners. You read that the H4's are terrible...its true they are!
Click to expand...
Not H4's but H7's

Cali has all 4 fitted with Philips Racing Vision +150% and much better in dip & mainbeam.

Our Citroen has GE +150% in dip and seemed better than Philips ones. Now put Osram +150% in Citroen mainbeam (wasn't much difference between just dip and mainbeam on) and big improvement now

I'd rate Osram - Ge - Philips in that order; note +150% versions (actually +50% as they take 100% as being the same as standard)

I see Osram do a +150% in H11, the fog light, so about to buy and fit those in the Cali..
 
Calimili said:
I thought I was done with work on the Cali for this year, you just got me busy again..;)
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I know it’s expensive but mine has LED headlights. Worth the extra and doesn’t need adapters for countries that drive on the wrong side of the road.
 
Ours has the twin halogen H7s same as the standard ocean. I’m quite impressed with them, they’re more than adequate. Front fogs have helped too recently but I only use when conditions allow, even without those the headlights are fine and I don’t feel urged to upgrade them. Interestingly I just fitted the Philips 150% bulbs in my golf and they do make quite a big difference. That’s H7 again, will replace the van bulbs with those once they go. LED lights - never had them, I’m sure they’re great for the driver, not so good for everyone else! Some are so bright and distracting.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
 
Neilos said:
Ours has the twin halogen H7s same as the standard ocean. I’m quite impressed with them, they’re more than adequate. Front fogs have helped too recently but I only use when conditions allow, even without those the headlights are fine and I don’t feel urged to upgrade them. Interestingly I just fitted the Philips 150% bulbs in my golf and they do make quite a big difference. That’s H7 again, will replace the van bulbs with those once they go. LED lights - never had them, I’m sure they’re great for the driver, not so good for everyone else! Some are so bright and distracting.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
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Properly installed (factory) TUV LED headlights are fine, and great if you are the driver behind the wheel for visibility. There are a lot of people now that try and copy them with Uber bright bulbs that need the beams controlling with something like a projector lens. HID bulbs are the worst for this if not controlled. The blue/white light given off by LEdS is great for vision, and a lot safer in my opinion. I wouldn’t buy another vehicle without them now going forward.
 
Dont see it as often as I used to, although some folks I think use them as DRLs instead.

I do wish I had the turning lights on mine, I need to add fogs but I suspect the turning part is expensive to add after the fact.
 
MattBW said:
Dont see it as often as I used to, although some folks I think use them as DRLs instead.

I do wish I had the turning lights on mine, I need to add fogs but I suspect the turning part is expensive to add after the fact.
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After upgrading the headlight bulbs I couldn't see much difference when the turn lights came on.
Since upgraded the fog bulbs and I can tell the difference.
Had it on my previous BMW as well and wouldn't say worth going to the expense of adding them as a turn function, with the standard bulbs that is.
 
As many people have said, responses here are subjective. My subjective response, having owned a beach for 1 month today, is that I frequently now check if I have actually go the lights turned on. This is in-part due to my previous car having auto-lights but it is mostly due to how poor the lights are, which is particularly noticeable when you travel from a road with lighting to one without, which is normally when I have check if I forgot to turn them on.
 
Maxx said:
As many people have said, responses here are subjective. My subjective response, having owned a beach for 1 month today, is that I frequently now check if I have actually go the lights turned on. This is in-part due to my previous car having auto-lights but it is mostly due to how poor the lights are, which is particularly noticeable when you travel from a road with lighting to one without, which is normally when I have check if I forgot to turn them on.
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Most modern street lighting is now LED - where are the haters!?
 
Volkywagen said:
Most modern street lighting is now LED - where are the haters!?
Click to expand...

LED street lighting is great; now there is no need for headlights, driveway lights or bedroom lights!

There was no street lighting outside our house ( in 60mph stretch) , then 27 new houses were built in the field behind our house and LED lighting was installed on ‘health & safety’ grounds. The speed limit remained at 60mph.

3C4B6F74-36D3-432F-9B33-536C32D70A44.jpegD3840BE5-22D4-4079-9F08-53294B981D84.jpegA0AF3911-65D4-4EEF-B45F-B3C993A1E1A4.jpeg
 
Ch1pbutty said:
LED street lighting is great; now there is no need for headlights, driveway lights or bedroom lights!

There was no street lighting outside our house ( in 60mph stretch) , then 27 new houses were built in the field behind our house and LED lighting was installed on ‘health & safety’ grounds. The speed limit remained at 60mphView attachment 54666
[/QUOT
Click to expand...
Ch1pbutty said:
LED street lighting is great; now there is no need for headlights, driveway lights or bedroom lights!

There was no street lighting outside our house ( in 60mph stretch) , then 27 new houses were built in the field behind our house and LED lighting was installed on ‘health & safety’ grounds. The speed limit remained at 60mph.

View attachment 54664View attachment 54665View attachment 54666
Click to expand...
If you forget to close your blinds, do you wake up with a tan?
 
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