General Dipped beam rubbish...Worth trying xenon?

[hastingsmum]

I don't know if this is a general Multi issue or just my Multis but has anyone tried xenon headlights?

I don't want them so bright that people flash me coz they think I'm driving with full beam, but would like to be able to see a bit better in the dark now we're going towards the dark season...

 

[BikeDoc]

What sort of condition are your reflectors and lenses in?
How about the beam alignments?
If they're out, no amount of extra brightness will do much good.

If all that's OK, then you could try some 'upgraded' bulbs.

 

[hastingsmum]

What sort of condition are your reflectors and lenses in?
How about the beam alignments?
If they're out, no amount of extra brightness will do much good.

If all that's OK, then you could try some 'upgraded' bulbs.

I will have to have a closer look at them in a little while but I haven't noticed anything wrong with the reflectors and lenses, but if they need adjusting that could be a problem as the O/S adjuster has rusted off

 

[Agnelli]

I replaced ALL of the bulbs on my Eleganza JTD with Halfords SuperBright Xenon bulbs and LED parking lights.I can only describe the results as BRILLIANT!!

 

[hastingsmum]

I replaced ALL of the bulbs on my Eleganza JTD with Halfords SuperBright Xenon bulbs and LED parking lights.I can only describe the results as BRILLIANT!!

 

[BikeDoc]

. . . I haven't noticed anything wrong with the reflectors and lenses, but if they need adjusting that could be a problem as the O/S adjuster has rusted off

The most common fault is that water gets in (missing/loose rubber 'boot' on the rear), and you get condensation on the lens and reflector, which will diffuse the light enough to make them dimmer.

 

[widemouthfrog]

I will have to have a closer look at them in a little while but I haven't noticed anything wrong with the reflectors and lenses, but if they need adjusting that could be a problem as the O/S adjuster has rusted off

The white plastic bit of the adjuster (that's probably fallen off of yours, as it has on mine) is unfortunately also the thing that maintains the beam aim. So when it falls off, dipped beam goes very dipped. Try pulling back the knurled metal bit that's left while the lights are on and you'll see what I mean. Use a clothes peg to grip and hold it in place, temporarily at least, so that you can see what you're missing!

 

[boilermansab]

Agree, must be a problem elsewhere, have standard bulbs on ours and it lights up the road well!

 

[hastingsmum]

The white plastic bit of the adjuster (that's probably fallen off of yours, as it has on mine) is unfortunately also the thing that maintains the beam aim. So when it falls off, dipped beam goes very dipped. Try pulling back the knurled metal bit that's left while the lights are on and you'll see what I mean. Use a clothes peg to grip and hold it in place, temporarily at least, so that you can see what you're missing!

Ok great will have a look shortly.

 

[hastingsmum]

Agree, must be a problem elsewhere, have standard bulbs on ours and it lights up the road well!

I just thought because my old 1.6 was the same that it was an issue with these, but will have a look the suggested above

 

[hastingsmum]

The white plastic bit of the adjuster (that's probably fallen off of yours, as it has on mine) is unfortunately also the thing that maintains the beam aim. So when it falls off, dipped beam goes very dipped. Try pulling back the knurled metal bit that's left while the lights are on and you'll see what I mean. Use a clothes peg to grip and hold it in place, temporarily at least, so that you can see what you're missing!

Only one side o/s has come off, but it makes no difference trying to move it... Maybe just the way they're meant to be? But they are a lot less effective than the ones on my old Rover 214

 

[widemouthfrog]

Is yours a square-nose Multi?

For the bulbs, I've replaced both the main and dipped beam lamps with Osram Nightbreaker+ lamps. Changing the main beams had more of an effect than the dipped, but they're both worth doing. I also stripped the main beam units apart. Use a hair drier to get the lens off the body, then black silicon to stick them back together after everything's been polished up:

https://www.fiatforum.com/multipla/316059-main-beam-adjustment.html

I'm not sure if you can do the same thing with the dipped beam units.

 

[hastingsmum]

Is yours a square-nose Multi?

For the bulbs, I've replaced both the main and dipped beam lamps with Osram Nightbreaker+ lamps. Changing the main beams had more of an effect than the dipped, but they're both worth doing. I also stripped the main beam units apart. Use a hair drier to get the lens off the body, then black silicon to stick them back together after everything's been polished up:

https://www.fiatforum.com/multipla/316059-main-beam-adjustment.html

I'm not sure if you can do the same thing with the dipped beam units.

Thanks for the link, will have a look tomorrow when my brain is in less of a sleepy mood than right now...

When you say square nose is that the newer nose job you mean? Mine's a 02 reg one

 

[widemouthfrog]

That'll be a round-nose then......

As a fix for your white knob falling off (it comes to us all with age) I reckon one of these might do the trick:

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/5-6-6-35-8mm-Flexible-Shaft-Coupling-CNC-Stepper-Motor-Coupler-Top-Tight-D20L25-/370631482123?pt=UK_BOI_Electrical_Components_Supplies_ET&var=640032108165&hash=item564b5b9b0b

If it was cut in half, disposing of the spiral-bit in the middle, the flat end of the coupler would bear against the back of the headlamp shell, doing the same job as the original white knob. The other half can do the adjuster on the NS when that falls off

 

[hastingsmum]

That'll be a round-nose then......

As a fix for your white knob falling off (it comes to us all with age) I reckon one of these might do the trick:

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/5-6-6-35-8mm-Flexible-Shaft-Coupling-CNC-Stepper-Motor-Coupler-Top-Tight-D20L25-/370631482123?pt=UK_BOI_Electrical_Components_Supplies_ET&var=640032108165&hash=item564b5b9b0b

If it was cut in half, disposing of the spiral-bit in the middle, the flat end of the coupler would bear against the back of the headlamp shell, doing the same job as the original white knob. The other half can do the adjuster on the NS when that falls off

Ok this sounds very sensible, will have a look again tomorrow when I'm awake to see if it still makes sense to me, lol