Omega Owners Forum

Omega Help Area => Omega Electrical and Audio Help => Topic started by: mc9 on 15 January 2013, 10:29:16

Title: Poor headlamps 2.5TD
Post by: mc9 on 15 January 2013, 10:29:16
Night driving on dip beams is difficult. Beam alignment check says the alignment is correct. With levelling control on position 0 the beams cut off too close to the car (it appears to us). We don't like driving into inky blackness.

I want to raise the headlamp adjustment. Is this an easy procedure? How is it done?

Cheers, mc9
Title: Re: Poor headlamps 2.5TD
Post by: zirk on 15 January 2013, 10:52:18
If the beam pattern is correct, then not sure this is the problem, how old is the Car?, are the reflectors / lens clear, assuming you dont have HID's may be worth looking at different bulbs etc.
Title: Re: Poor headlamps 2.5TD
Post by: Shackeng on 15 January 2013, 12:40:08
Probably broken adjusters, fit the ally billet adjusters advertised on here. :y
Title: Re: Poor headlamps 2.5TD
Post by: mc9 on 15 January 2013, 18:21:26
It's a 1999 2.5TD. Standard halogen lamps.

On other cars I've owned the dip beam pattern is somewhat diffuse and throws light far enough to make night driving comfortable. With this car the dip beam cutoff is VERY sharp and doesn't illuminate the road at all beyond the cutoff.

Just wondered if I can raise the beams slightly without dazzling other drivers?

mc9
Title: Re: Poor headlamps 2.5TD
Post by: TheBoy on 15 January 2013, 18:25:10
To raise, you really need to get done by a garage with proper equip.

Projectors have a more defined pattern than reflectors
Title: Re: Poor headlamps 2.5TD
Post by: mc9 on 15 January 2013, 19:19:03
Okay thanks, not a job for me then.

Yep, they are projector beams. A case of newer technology being an *improvement* on an older technology perhaps?  :-\

Cheers, mc9
Title: Re: Poor headlamps 2.5TD
Post by: Shackeng on 15 January 2013, 20:02:12
The projectors with nightrider bulbs work well on my TD, and I have the alumunium adjusters fitted. :y
Title: Re: Poor headlamps 2.5TD
Post by: RobG on 15 January 2013, 20:07:49
The projectors with nightrider bulbs work well on my TD, and I have the alumunium adjusters fitted. :y
Nightbreakers :y
Title: Re: Poor headlamps 2.5TD
Post by: ffcgary1 on 15 January 2013, 20:11:44
Retro fit a HID kit into the projectors with 6000k bulbs and see the improvment then. But there are grey areas with regards to law in this route but i will say i have them fitted to my tourer and have had no issues with regards the MOT AND POLICE.
Title: Re: Poor headlamps 2.5TD
Post by: dbug on 15 January 2013, 21:11:20
Retro fit a HID kit into the projectors with 6000k bulbs and see the improvment then. But there are grey areas with regards to law in this route but i will say i have them fitted to my tourer and have had no issues with regards the MOT AND POLICE.

You're better off with the standard 4300K bulbs or 5000K max bulbs - above this you will lose light output (range) but of course will have the bluer chav appearance  ;)
Title: Re: Poor headlamps 2.5TD
Post by: ffcgary1 on 15 January 2013, 22:24:16
6000k gives the whitest light output after that you get the chav look,  which i must say i hate with a passion. :)
Title: Re: Poor headlamps 2.5TD
Post by: Shackeng on 15 January 2013, 22:34:56
The projectors with nightrider bulbs work well on my TD, and I have the alumunium adjusters fitted. :y
Nightbreakers :y

Just checking ::) ::) ::)
Title: Re: Poor headlamps 2.5TD
Post by: zirk on 16 January 2013, 07:32:58
Stupid question but are the Bulbs sitting in there seats properly, that can throw the pattern all over the place?
Title: Re: Poor headlamps 2.5TD
Post by: mc9 on 16 January 2013, 19:57:31
Both lamps have identical beam patterns so I guess the bulbs are seated properly.

What are these "aluminium adjusters" of which you all speak? What are they for? Do I need them?

Cheer, mc9
Title: Re: Poor headlamps 2.5TD
Post by: ffcgary1 on 17 January 2013, 19:46:27
if your lamps have been attacked by ham fisted persons in the past there is a good chance the plastic adjusters will be broken.
This is because the adjusters that GM use becomes brittle after a few years due to the heat inside the unit. The alu replacements are a reto fit but require the lens to be removed first. They are bonded to the lamp body. There is a guide on here somewhere i belive.
Title: Re: Poor headlamps 2.5TD
Post by: Stallion on 19 January 2013, 00:46:03
If the lens are clean and you dont want to go down the route of putting on an aftermarket hid kit, put some osram nightbreakers on, they do light up the road ahead MUCH better then standard bulbs.  :y