Looking to replace my front side light bulbs and possibly may do the heads and fogs too.

Other than looking at an HID replacement kit - just wondered if any one has got any advice on the types of bulbs they may have used and suppliers in the past?

I have looked through the threads but dont seeem to see anything for us in the UK - so apologies if I am asking a silly question - the advice on other parts from the forum has been invaaluable so I am very grateful to all the forum members that have helped me previously.

Cheers in advance.

 

Hi MQ

Have a look on ebay & get hold of some 100w headlamp bulbs (standard are 55w) , I,ve had them installed for about 18 months , so much better , a good cheap upgrade , No problems with pulling more watts , wires not over heated or melted the lamp cans . HID's are good lights but you can not flash your lights with them installed ( so i am told ).
The law says that 55w are the max to use on the street but as the Xfires start off so dim i see it as not a problem it just bring them up to the same as all the other cars running around .

Cheers

Andy


p.s. your furture could be so bright you have to wear

 

If you want nice crisp white lights then search Ebay for PIAA bulbs (avoid Halfords exotic range as there crap). They are not in the same league as HIDS but make a remarkeable difference. There not excessively expensive either. I went like for like in wattage.

Just a word of warning though, the side light bulbs are a real pain in the *** to change, you need skinny fingers and be prepared to loose some skin from your knuckles. I ended up buying a skinny pair of long nose pliers to under the holder (twist & pull). Also, don't touch the new bulbs with your naked hands as grease from your fingers will ruin the bulbs.

 

Thanx for this Andy and Bazzer - I got a set from Ebay today should be here by the weekend - will post on how they look take some shots and thanks for the tips on fitting.

 

Speaking of bulbs, I get in the trusty old Crossfire to go to work this morning. Start it up and flip the headlights on ( Silverstar about 2yrs old ) and both burn out at the same time. I'm thinking the worst that this isn't good for next weeks festivities in St. Louis. I grabbed a couple of spare bulbs I had in the garage, put them in and they work. I am hoping thats all there is to it though!

 

See the articles on www.ukcrossfires.co.uk for the full low down on changing headlight and sight light bulbs

 

Thank you Steve - the bulbs arrived today and I followed the guide - which was very helpful - I would recommend any one to upgrade to the HID equivalent for the side light - they look so much better and throw so much light.

Thanks again. I recon by christmas I will have a nearly new car if I keep changing things lol.............

 

I've had mine just 3 years now and Im still changing things - just when I thought Id done everything, I find some thing else!

 

Just a quick follow on from my bulb adventure. Having replaced the side lights, I got a set of 50 w 6500 kelv bulbs for the head, main and fog lamps.

These were prettye straight forward having followeed the advice on the UK crossfire site

However drivers main beam is smack behind the expansion tank and of all the bulbs that could be tricky - the wiring harness is stuck on. Ive tried every thing I can think of including some release oil.

Any one got any advice, I could remove the wire clip, but I recon this could be fiddly and dangerous if I should drop it into the light.

 

Yea, that one is the most of a fiddle. I did mine without removing the tank but I know some folks have. I can be done with patience, but I had the bulb fall inside the headlight unit and fished it out with a wire coat hangar! Good fun! I dont know how you wiring conector has become siezed onto the bulb though! All you can do is wiggle it side to side, but if you can undo the clip you may bring the bulb away with the wires still connected, and deal with it then.

Good luck!
Steve

 

A pair of tweezers works really well to remove the clip completely. To replace tie a piece of string around the clip first, then if you do drop it you can easily fish it out.

I removed both clips when installing the HID kit as it was easier to route the wires this way. I did take the water tank off.

The main beams and the dip bulbs appear to sit the opposite way up (tag at the bottom on main beam). I had my dip beams done before I bought the car and did the mains after as they were totally useless in comparison.

Crosers

 

Crosers - you star - I unhooked the top of the clip hinge, tied a shoe lace around it and then unclipped the hinge with drawing the clip and releasing the bulb. The bulb had corroded onto the coupling and I had to spend some time easing this out, using some WD40 and then clean up the connector before reinserting the new bulb. To pop the hinge back, I used an old compact mirror, my wifes not mine, and then placed the bottom of the hinge back in place whilst still attached to the shoe lace. Once the hinge was fixed into the two hinge brackets undid the shoe lace and refitted the bulb, hey presto. No need to remove expansion tank and I now have very nice lighting - looks the business.


Thanks to every one who replied - very kind.