Ebay Headlights

WE3RX7 · 02-27-2008, 09:20 PM

Let me start off by stating... I dont like ebay and I'm not one to cheap out on MOST cars... BUT, my gsl-se project is on a tight timeline and budget and I was curious what opinions are there on ebay headlight kits?

I'm talking about the simple 7" round "direct-replacement" w/ replaceable bulbs. I like the factory glass ones, but these are plastic. I want something that looks clean and is brighter than stock.

I've ramped up the gsl-se's electrical system, so I want to take full advantage...

Thoughts, opinions..

WE3RX7 · 02-27-2008, 09:23 PM

one320fc is pointing me to this: http://www.rallylights.com/hella/7in.asp which I'm not against.

I dont really need the headlights I guess, just wanted to have something clean and bright to go w/ the new paint job for dgrr...

Viperx7 · 02-27-2008, 10:59 PM

I've had them for years with no problems. I used for Hellas for awhile until one got broke. Now I've got one of the sets with the projectors in them. No problems so far.

WE3RX7 · 02-28-2008, 06:11 PM

They never melted? Plastic worries me...

Kentetsu · 02-29-2008, 03:17 AM

I upgraded the wiring for the headlights, and installed relays. Together with Sylvania (I think) Xtra Vision bulbs, it made a hell of a difference. Might be an option to consider...

WE3RX7 · 02-29-2008, 11:55 AM

When you say rewire the headlights - what do you mean?

Viperx7 · 02-29-2008, 01:28 PM

My headlights are glass, not plastic. The only upgrading I've done to my headlight wiring is to put in new ground wires and that was mainly because the lights started acting up going up or down. I haven't had any other problems.

$100T2 · 02-29-2008, 03:17 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by WE3RX7

Let me start off by stating... I dont like ebay and I'm not one to cheap out on MOST cars... BUT, my gsl-se project is on a tight timeline and budget and I was curious what opinions are there on ebay headlight kits?

I'm talking about the simple 7" round "direct-replacement" w/ replaceable bulbs. I like the factory glass ones, but these are plastic. I want something that looks clean and is brighter than stock.

I've ramped up the gsl-se's electrical system, so I want to take full advantage...

Thoughts, opinions..

I know VB (now Black Dragon Auto... I just hate calling it that) has exactly what you are talking about, brighter than stock.

ETA:
Wait a tick, I have a catalog here at work somewhere...

Euro Crystal Clear Headlight: Your part number is 72-555, $29.95 each. You can get a blue coated halogen bulb which produces an intense white light for $12.95 each. Part number on that is 72-031. They are made of semi-hardened crystal clear glass... Look beautiful in the pictures in the catalog, too. You can find it at www.blackdragonauto.com.

For those of you wanting to upgrade your lighting harness, they have a heavy duty harness for $29.95. Part number is 72-040.

darkfrost · 02-29-2008, 04:54 PM

I bought the eBay plastic ones, they've held up just fine, been using them over 2 years now. Here are some pics from the install, I've since removed that blue "city light" bulb and replaced the H4 bulb that it came with , with silverstars.

Also upgraded the wiring harness at the time of install.

WE3RX7 · 03-02-2008, 10:57 PM

I always liked VB and will probably go that route...

I actually drove the car back fhome today from my parents home where it was being kept. First time driving the car longer than 25 minutes since owning and first time driving it completely at night.. The stockers must had been replaced as they were brighter than original... but I'm still going to to check it out... Thanks for the input though!

Kentetsu · 03-07-2008, 05:20 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by WE3RX7

When you say rewire the headlights - what do you mean?

The way the stock wiring is, the electricity travels from the power source all through the dash (small gauge wiring), through the switches (more small wires), then finally out to the headlights. Picture electricity travelling through wires as being similar to water flowing through a hose. A smaller hose will let less water flow, right? Well, it's the same way with electricity.

Upgrading the wiring involves installing relays. The original power going to the headlights (what there is of it) will then be used to do nothing more than trigger the relay. The relay opens the flow from the power source to the headlights. This allows you to use heavy gauge wiring (I used 10 gauge) from the power source to the relay, and from the relay to the headlight. This gives you maximum power to the headlights. Even a small reduction in power will result in a huge loss of lighting, because it is an exponential relationship.

For a better understanding of the theory, check out www.danielsternlighting.com

aussiesmg · 03-08-2008, 01:41 AM

Welcome Kentetsu, for those that don't know this is the guy who wrote a great how to on this, I followed it and my lights improved at least 100%

http://www.rx7club.com/showthread.php?t=491459 (can we use links from that site)

Kentetsu · 03-08-2008, 11:07 PM

Thanks for the welcome Aussie.

Seems like a pretty cool forum, nice and friendly with all the same old faces I've known for years. Very cool indeed...

warwickben · 03-09-2008, 12:52 AM

i was in the same boat wanted briter lights and wanted to be able to just replace bulbs. i got mine for less then 50$ shipped. yes i got the one with the fake blue halo rings. i only put them on to flash at girls at night when iam waiting for my girl friend to leave a store. you cant see the halo when the lights are on.
they came with bulbs that said off road use only but they not that bad. i havn't had any problems from the cops with them. and i go to nh a lot to my buddy's place and dont worry about hitting deer with these.

02-27-2008, 09:20 PM	#1
WE3RX7 RCC Addict Join Date: Feb 2008 Location: VA Posts: 1,812 Rep Power: 19	Ebay Headlights Let me start off by stating... I dont like ebay and I'm not one to cheap out on MOST cars... BUT, my gsl-se project is on a tight timeline and budget and I was curious what opinions are there on ebay headlight kits? I'm talking about the simple 7" round "direct-replacement" w/ replaceable bulbs. I like the factory glass ones, but these are plastic. I want something that looks clean and is brighter than stock. I've ramped up the gsl-se's electrical system, so I want to take full advantage... Thoughts, opinions..

02-27-2008, 10:59 PM	#3
Viperx7 Rotary Fanatic Join Date: Feb 2008 Location: Richmond, KY Posts: 322 Rep Power: 18	I've had them for years with no problems. I used for Hellas for awhile until one got broke. Now I've got one of the sets with the projectors in them. No problems so far. __________________ Mike Chrisman 83 Rx7 Turbo 85 Rx7 GS 89 Rx7 GTU http://www.cardomain.com/ride/409797 "Don't apoligize for being Patriotic, F**k 'em. TK"

02-29-2008, 01:28 PM	#7
Viperx7 Rotary Fanatic Join Date: Feb 2008 Location: Richmond, KY Posts: 322 Rep Power: 18	My headlights are glass, not plastic. The only upgrading I've done to my headlight wiring is to put in new ground wires and that was mainly because the lights started acting up going up or down. I haven't had any other problems. __________________ Mike Chrisman 83 Rx7 Turbo 85 Rx7 GS 89 Rx7 GTU http://www.cardomain.com/ride/409797 "Don't apoligize for being Patriotic, F**k 'em. TK"

03-08-2008, 01:41 AM	#12
aussiesmg Rotary Fan in Training Join Date: Feb 2008 Location: Convoy, Ohio Posts: 39 Rep Power: 0	Welcome Kentetsu, for those that don't know this is the guy who wrote a great how to on this, I followed it and my lights improved at least 100% http://www.rx7club.com/showthread.php?t=491459 (can we use links from that site) __________________ 84 GSL with 5.0 SBF and T5 85 GS with 350 SBC and 350 trans, GRM Challenger

02-27-2008, 09:23 PM	#2
WE3RX7 RCC Addict Join Date: Feb 2008 Location: VA Posts: 1,812 Rep Power: 19	one320fc is pointing me to this: http://www.rallylights.com/hella/7in.asp which I'm not against. I dont really need the headlights I guess, just wanted to have something clean and bright to go w/ the new paint job for dgrr...

02-28-2008, 06:11 PM	#4
WE3RX7 RCC Addict Join Date: Feb 2008 Location: VA Posts: 1,812 Rep Power: 19	They never melted? Plastic worries me...

02-29-2008, 03:17 AM	#5
Kentetsu RCC Contributor Join Date: Feb 2008 Location: Grand Rapids, Michigan Posts: 530 Rep Power: 18	I upgraded the wiring for the headlights, and installed relays. Together with Sylvania (I think) Xtra Vision bulbs, it made a hell of a difference. Might be an option to consider...

02-29-2008, 11:55 AM	#6
WE3RX7 RCC Addict Join Date: Feb 2008 Location: VA Posts: 1,812 Rep Power: 19	When you say rewire the headlights - what do you mean?

02-29-2008, 04:54 PM	#9
darkfrost The Newbie Join Date: Feb 2008 Posts: 1 Rep Power: 0	I bought the eBay plastic ones, they've held up just fine, been using them over 2 years now. Here are some pics from the install, I've since removed that blue "city light" bulb and replaced the H4 bulb that it came with , with silverstars. Also upgraded the wiring harness at the time of install.

03-02-2008, 10:57 PM	#10
WE3RX7 RCC Addict Join Date: Feb 2008 Location: VA Posts: 1,812 Rep Power: 19	I always liked VB and will probably go that route... I actually drove the car back fhome today from my parents home where it was being kept. First time driving the car longer than 25 minutes since owning and first time driving it completely at night.. The stockers must had been replaced as they were brighter than original... but I'm still going to to check it out... Thanks for the input though!

03-08-2008, 11:07 PM	#13
Kentetsu RCC Contributor Join Date: Feb 2008 Location: Grand Rapids, Michigan Posts: 530 Rep Power: 18	Thanks for the welcome Aussie. Seems like a pretty cool forum, nice and friendly with all the same old faces I've known for years. Very cool indeed...

03-09-2008, 12:52 AM	#14
warwickben sa rat rod Join Date: Mar 2008 Location: tewksbury ma Posts: 408 Rep Power: 18	i was in the same boat wanted briter lights and wanted to be able to just replace bulbs. i got mine for less then 50$ shipped. yes i got the one with the fake blue halo rings. i only put them on to flash at girls at night when iam waiting for my girl friend to leave a store. you cant see the halo when the lights are on. they came with bulbs that said off road use only but they not that bad. i havn't had any problems from the cops with them. and i go to nh a lot to my buddy's place and dont worry about hitting deer with these.