Thinking of replacing my stock (non-foglight) Mk2 headlamps with a pair of something like these (although I have found similar ones on eBay at £129.95 and £149.95).

The reasons being:

• We live in the middle of the countryside: and a lot of the roads around here are unlit, and often edged with large clumps of trees and large hedges, etc. (so can be murky, at the best of times...).
• There are also the associated problems with suicidal wildlife...!
• I'm also a bit of a fan of DRLs!
• As mentioned in the DRL post, I like to be as safe as I can, when driving.

Before buying the Punto, I had a ruddy big Isuzu 4x4 -- which I loved dearly (because of the protection it afforded me, amongst other reasons...) -- but it was getting far too uneconomical: both in fuel and maintenance. Hence ordering the Panda (see my siggy, below); and then the Punto (initially, as a stopgap, until the Panda arrived; but now I'm intending to keep it on the road for a very long time -- for these reasons...).

I digress, though....

The reason I mention the Isuzu is that, when we moved here, I installed some nice angel-eye spotlights on the front, that came on with the main beam. (The angel-eyes came on with the ignition....) They were just about perfect -- especially as, being on a 4x4, they were mounted quite high up -- lighting the road for quite some distance; and I'd therefore like to replicate this (as close as is possible/pragmatic) on the Punto.

A handful of caveats:

• There isn't really anywhere to mount additional spotlights, though; and I don't want them protruding beyond the front of the bumper, of course. (Additionally, I don't think they would suit the look of the Punto, anyhoo.)
• There are no blanks in the bumper grilles for mounting any sort of light. (However, I am thinking of replacing the front bumper -- which is slightly damaged -- with a Sporting one; and I have seen, somewhere, a rather neat installation of a pair of lights in the grille underneath the number plate: although this is probably too low for my purposes....) I can't afford this, though...!
• I'd also like to avoid adding an extra switch in the cabin: preferring all extra lighting to come on automatically (as above) -- using relays, if necessary.
• I'm not particularly keen on going down the HID route, either -- unless someone can persuade me otherwise (my main concern is the legality -- or otherwise...) -- and therefore I'm simply just popping in 5,000k Xenon bulbs, to begin with, until I make my final decision.

What I'd therefore like to learn from the collective wisdom of forum members is:

• Whether this is a path worth progressing down.
• What you would do in my shoes.
• If there are any particular products -- i.e. replacement headlights, additional lighting -- that you can/would recommend -- either because you have/had them fitted; or know someone who has, etc..
• Any pitfalls I must/should avoid, when replacing the headlamps (e.g. not forgetting to transfer the height-adjustment motors...).

Thanks for listening! I look forward to your suggestions!

Fit a big row of 6" driving lamps on a roof mounted bar?

Having also come from a 4x4 background I know what you mean with the editional lamps (rangerover classic standard headlights are crap though) anyway without talking too much about the things you've already covered the mk2b headlights are much MUCH better than the projectors on the mk2

Ever considered converting the front end?
Mk2b also had additional fog lights in the bumper

Thought about getting an HID upgrade or brighter bulbs?

AndyRKett said:

Fit a big row of 6" driving lamps on a roof mounted bar?

Having also come from a 4x4 background I know what you mean with the editional lamps (rangerover classic standard headlights are crap though) anyway without talking too much about the things you've already covered the mk2b headlights are much MUCH better than the projectors on the mk2

Ever considered converting the front end?
Mk2b also had additional fog lights in the bumper

Click to expand...

Everyone's always lowering their Puntos. Perhaps I should raise mine (by a couple of feet); add some knobbly 36" tyres... -- and then that big row of lights'd fit right in...!? Yee-hah...!

Probably easier than mating my Mk2 with a Mk2b! Just a shame the front bumpers aren't interchangeable....

Loop said:

Thought about getting an HID upgrade or brighter bulbs?

Click to expand...

Sorry... -- it was a lengthy post, wasn't it?! Blink, and you might have missed this...

homeward said:

I'm not particularly keen on going down the HID route, either -- unless someone can persuade me otherwise (my main concern is the legality -- or otherwise...) -- and therefore I'm simply just popping in 5,000k Xenon bulbs, to begin with, until I make my final decision.

Click to expand...

Thanks for replying, though... -- much appreciated!

homeward said:

I'm not particularly keen on going down the HID route, either -- unless someone can persuade me otherwise (my main concern is the legality -- or otherwise...) -- and therefore I'm simply just popping in 5,000k Xenon bulbs, to begin with, until I make my final decision.

Click to expand...

Actually got round to fitting these, today.... A couple of the original(?) bulbs on the nearside were slightly rusty: so cleaned up the connectors, before putting the new ones in. [What a palaver, though: getting to the nearside bulb-holders! In the end, just unfastened the whole headlamp from the body (as per this guide...) -- as a result of which, that beam is just a tad low, at the moment... -- rather than unbolting the fusebox. (Next time, I'll probably attack the fusebox....)]

Anyhoo: the lights are now both somewhat brighter and substantially whiter... -- and have made me put off fitting replacement headlamps/angel-eyes, for the moment.... We shall see how I feel after the long, dark, winter nights...!

i had a box of cibie oscars
you could have had 4 on a bracket and scare the hell out of the nightlife
pity someone nicked em all