Lights

[sulphur]

How do I make the lights on the nova better? Would some Xenon HID 100W bulbs make a big difference? Or are they simply destined to be crap?

[Spudly]

I used to run 100w bulbs in the cav and they were impressive and much better, i now run HIDs and would never swap back but i think youre confusing the two kinds of bulbs there though bud!

[sulphur]

I might be, I was only copying the title from ebay. Just wanted some better vision on the dark foggy mornings/evenings. What's best to go for?

[Spudly]

For simple plug and play oe fitment higher wattage bulbs are the easiest but HID kits such as the ones on fleabay are really good but you will never get your beam pattern 100% and you will get all manner of nobs flashing at you even though your pattern points to the floor purley because they emit a lot of light around the front of the car aswell as projecting it forwards!

[sulphur]

Whats the difference between H1 H4 and H7. Any specific HID kit you'd recommend from eghey for the nova? Are they simple to install n fit?

EDIT: Nevermind, HID Kits are like £100. I could just upgrade the bulbs, that'd make a noticable difference wouldn't it?

[Welsh Dan]

You can get HID kits for much less, and they're easy to fit. I got mine from diane-shop on ebay and it was a BI-Xenon type meaning it does high and low beam, and was 6000k meaning its white not blue.

H1 H4 and H7 are bulb fitment types. Nova's take H4 only.

[ade]

have to say my MK1 lights are much better than my mk2 ones

One of the reasons I'm binning the mk2 ones in favour of mk2 Punto lights!

Nice n big n bright!

[vaughanmc]

I fitted H4 100w bulbs to the Nova and they make a big difference over standard ones

£8 I think they were from eBay, comes with the blue/white sidelights and blue/whiite main bulbs :)

[sulphur]

Apparently 100w aren't legal for road use, have you had any problems with them? My novas used daily so don't wanna attract unwanted attention or get myself in 'trouble' :(lol

[Welsh Dan]

I fitted H4 100w bulbs to the Nova and they make a big difference over standard ones

£8 I think they were from eBay, comes with the blue/white sidelights and blue/whiite main bulbs :)

If you run your own suitable wiring loom they'll be better again ;).

[Adam]

Apparently 100w aren't legal for road use, have you had any problems with them? My novas used daily so don't wanna attract unwanted attention or get myself in 'trouble' :(lol
Correct.
Only the standard wattage bulbs are road legal

[vaughanmc]

Not had any bother with them fitted - My mate has them in his Nova as well and his is out every night and hasn't been stopped or anything

[craig green]

Upping the wattage on std bulbs is all well & good, but it will draw more current through the crappy 25 yr old cables, in some cases the wire can overheat & risk a fire.

HID all the way tbh, just unplug them for MOT & use std bulbs. Most people have reported no instances of blinding on-coming motorists.

[sulphur]

Where can I get these HID kits for cheaper than eghey? If I don't go with the HIDs, what's the legal wattage for lights then? 60w?

[Welsh Dan]

55W.

This (http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/BI-XENON-HID-CONVERSION-KIT-H4-6000K-HI-LO-DUAL-BEAMS_W0QQitemZ300274221633QQcmdZViewItemQQptZUK_C arsParts_Vehicles_CarParts_SM?hash=item30027422163 3&_trksid=p3286.c0.m14&_trkparms=72%3A1301%7C66%3A2%7C65%3A12%7C39%3A1%7C 240%3A1318) isnt a bad price.

[Jack]

BMW E30 headlamps ftw lol

Halfords +50% came out trumps in a autoexpress test a while back. PIAA would have won, but the cost knocked them down a few points. The Halfords ones are also road legal.

I've had 110/130W (if I remember rightly) PIAA bulbs in my Nova which were good, but not strictly road legal, advantage was though that they only drew 55/60W. Expensive though!

I still don't remember anyone posting pics of the beam pattern from a Nova with HIDs?

tbh I'd pick the Halfords ones if you want something easy and legal. I've got them in my main beam lamps and thye're pretty good.

[Spudly]

I still don't remember anyone posting pics of the beam pattern from a Nova with HIDs?



Wheres joff when you need him as i know his has a perfect beam pattern with his HIDs, tis mk2 though so unsure what a mk1 would be like:roll:

[twistysnovagte]

im sorry to kinda go "slightly" off topic ,but seeing as were going on about headlights,i was wondering if anyone on here has bought the "angel eye" lights???,there was some for sale on ebay(mk1)not to long back,but i was 60/40 in favour of uprated bulbs instead(which i have done).anyone with pics of the angel eye headlights working???:D

[Pistol Pete]

Where can I get these HID kits for cheaper than eghey? If I don't go with the HIDs, what's the legal wattage for lights then? 60w?

I think eBay will be the cheapest. A few off here have bought sets through them (diane shop). There was a bloke on mig selling them, but very over priced. I too am going the HID route. For the price its a worth while investment.

twistynovagte Re: angel eyes. Naff and chav IMO.

http://www.dtmpower.net/forum/attachments/bmw-parts-sale/4212d1009156898-fs-e36-angel-eyes-angeleyes05.jpg

Where they belong. On a BMW. A single angel eye, would look odd. But thats just me!

linky: http://www.angeleyesweb.co.uk/

[Jack]

Round angel eyes look wrong when used on square lamps. Don't the ebay ones sit behind the standard graded lens?

As for cheap HIDs, I bought one set from a chap on CCUK for £100, and have since bought two el cheapo ebay jobbies (one of which was a diane shop one). Without doubt, the more expensive kit was (and still is) far superior.

[twistysnovagte]

Round angel eyes look wrong when used on square lamps.

thats what put me off,and now you mention it aswell,its definatley going to be a no-no,i think the uprated bulbs in mine are "bright"enough:thumb:

[sulphur]

RJ, by halfords +50% these are available off the shelf for novas? Are they higher wattage like what you had, but draw less or which? I have a look anyway. :)

[Jack]

Yeah, off the shelf. I believe they draw standard wattage but just emit more light or something. They come in all sizes, so you'll want a pair of H4's to fit a Nova. They're expensive (being halfords and all; the H1's I got were £8.99 apiece I think), but pretty good quality.

In fact, when I got some, they were buy one (bulb) get one free. That offer may still be on.

[sulphur]

I'll go now have a look. See what they've got in H4s an see what they recommend. Nova lights suck. :(

[1.6 8v turbo nova]

i just spent 12 quid on some bulbs, Slightly brighter. Wouldnt say they was worth the hassle.

Btw i changed because a main beam light was out.. Fitted new ones, still out. *Bangs fuse box* Fixed. Wasted 12 quid on some slighly brighter bulbs that didnt need replacing rofl. Found that all of my rear light curcuit board was nice and corroded too lol.

[white2lSR]

Yeah, off the shelf. I believe they draw standard wattage but just emit more light or something. They come in all sizes, so you'll want a pair of H4's to fit a Nova. They're expensive (being halfords and all; the H1's I got were £8.99 apiece I think), but pretty good quality.

In fact, when I got some, they were buy one (bulb) get one free. That offer may still be on.

I think bulbs are discounted with the halfords trade card, but i could be wrong.

[Adam]

Wheres joff when you need him as i know his has a perfect beam pattern with his HIDs, tis mk2 though so unsure what a mk1 would be like:roll:
You cant get a perfect beam with HIDs, because nova headlamps aren't designed for them, so cant focus the beam correctly.
They are a mot failure.

[Spudly]

You cant get a perfect beam with HIDs, because nova headlamps aren't designed for them, so cant focus the beam correctly.
They are a mot failure.


Well from seeing his briefly they looked spot on imo but obviously the light tester on a mot ramp would say yay or nay lol

[sulphur]

Went to halfords and those +50% bulbs are bloody £16 each. Buy one get one free fair enough, but still! That's just headlights, i want to upgrade my sidelights too which would be another £9. Didn't think bulbs were so expensive. Surely they're cheaper online somewhere?

[Jack]

I love not having H4s, facking expensive things that they are lol

If you want a decent replacement sidelight, get some diffused LEDs in. Ought to be able to buy some from ebay or maplins for much less than £9!

[sulphur]

Was thinking of ordering these

http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&ssPageName=STRK:MEWAX:IT&item=370121272951

Looks the same as the halfords ones,
along with a set of these

http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&ssPageName=STRK:MEWAX:IT&item=260320267141

What you think? Alot cheaper anyways.

[Jack]

Those blue sidelight bulbs will be poop, I've had a few pairs of them in the past

[sulphur]

headlight bulbs look good though aye?

[Welsh Dan]

If you want posh sidelights, these are the ones to go for:
http://cgi.ebay.com/2pcs-501-W5W-High-Power-LED-White-Dash-Wedge-Bulbs_W0QQitemZ190269382854QQihZ009QQcategoryZ7223 3QQtcZphotoQQcmdZViewItem

[sulphur]

Will those be a straight swap in the nova?