Omega Owners Forum

Omega Help Area => Omega General Help => Topic started by: Cybertrucker on 20 April 2009, 16:23:00

Title: Feeble headlights
Post by: Cybertrucker on 20 April 2009, 16:23:00

Contrary to my initial reaction, ie that nothing could ever be as good as my beloved Granada, I'm definitely warming to the Omega.  I genuinely sometimes wish I lived further away from work so I could drive it more!  However, I have to say that it has the most pathetic headlights of any vehicle I've ever driven.  They light up the road like a couple of anaemic glow-worms, and even main beam just means that the glow-worms are joined by a couple of their equally anaemic cousins. To be honest I'm thinking of buying a box of candles.

I had assumed that they were just out of adjustment, but when the car was MOT'd on Friday the mechanic slid the beam setter in front of them and declared himself to be happy with them.  (Pity he wasn't as happy about the bottom suspension arms... :( )  The problem seems to be that there are no lenses in the headlight glass to focus the beams.  They seem to be standard halogen bulbs, ie not the high voltage things (I had to have one of them out because the spade connector wasn't gripping properly, and it looked bog-standard), and for some reason the beams seem to have a blue border across the top, if that tells you anything.

Is it just my car that's got a problem, or are Miggy headlights known for their feebleness?  Can anything be done to improve them, or does anyone know where I can get candles cheap?   ;)

Title: Re: Feeble headlights
Post by: RobG on 20 April 2009, 16:30:27

Replace with "projector headlights" and use "Osram Nightbreaker" bulbs. Straightforward swap over :y

Title: Re: Feeble headlights
Post by: Cybertrucker on 20 April 2009, 16:36:33

Quote

Replace with "projector headlights" and use "Osram Nightbreaker" bulbs. Straightforward swap over :y

Thanks for that.  Do I need to replace the whole headlight unit or just a part of it?  I assume I need to get them from a breakers - what year did they start fitting the projector type?

Title: Re: Feeble headlights
Post by: MutantCav on 20 April 2009, 17:46:09

Yes whole unit...late 97 onwards in the mini facelift models except the Elite and MV6's which had HID's...clear glass lenses with no power pack underneath is what your looking for :y

Title: Re: Feeble headlights
Post by: TheBoy on 20 April 2009, 18:21:44

LOL, pre 97 headlights are utterly shite.  Never been massively impressed by the headlights on any of the Omega headlights, but those early ones truely are the worse.  Projectors are a plug in replacement, and worthwhile upgrade.

Title: Re: Feeble headlights
Post by: Agemo on 20 April 2009, 21:30:10

Projectors are a brilliant upgrade, I have a pair available, and I used to do a night trunk to the Hub at Lichfield!!! :(

Title: Re: Feeble headlights
Post by: Boatboy on 20 April 2009, 21:42:20

I used to have an '88 carlton so got used to travelling in stealth mode at night. ;D

Title: Re: Feeble headlights
Post by: Cybertrucker on 20 April 2009, 22:00:34

Quote

Projectors are a brilliant upgrade, I have a pair available, and I used to do a night trunk to the Hub at Lichfield!!! :(

Pity you're not running to Lichfield now, I'd buy them off you!  I assume you were running to Fradley, rather than Lichfield itself.  Whose Hub was it -PalletForce, Palletways, Great Bear, Interlink, Hellman?

Title: Re: Feeble headlights
Post by: Turk on 21 April 2009, 01:02:09

Quote

Replace with "projector headlights" and use "Osram Nightbreaker" bulbs. Straightforward swap over :y

Fitted them to mine and definately an improvement  :y

http://shop.ebay.co.uk/items/__omega-osram_W0QQ_kwZomegaQQ_kwZosramQQ_ckwZnightbreakers?_trksid=p3286.m104.l1198

Title: Re: Feeble headlights
Post by: mantahatch on 21 April 2009, 08:43:52

I fitted a couple of these cheap Depo make lights http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/VAUXHALL-OMEGA-B-97-99-HEADLIGHTS-HEADLAMPS-PAIR_W0QQitemZ300307279514QQcmdZViewItemQQptZUK_CarsParts_Vehicles_CarParts_SM?hash=item300307279514&_trksid=p3286.c0.m14&_trkparms=72%3A1683%7C66%3A2%7C65%3A12%7C39%3A1%7C240%3A1318

Then fitted with 100w bulbs, not strictly legal, but what a difference.

HTH

Mike

Title: Re: Feeble headlights
Post by: Agemo on 21 April 2009, 10:17:21

Yes, shame, A lot of member have them here but are a bit delicate to post. Would have been very convenient.
Yes it was Fradley Park, Palletforce Depot, although I hear the new one is now up & running now. It was a decent job, I miss the money.
The upgrade is well worth it, you will see a massive difference.

Title: Re: Feeble headlights
Post by: mantahatch on 21 April 2009, 12:08:03

When buying my new ones through the post, they cam with a metal retaining clip which held the moveable bit stationery, and I did not get any breakages.

Mike

Title: Re: Feeble headlights
Post by: Omega Man on 21 April 2009, 13:21:35

I fitted driving lights behind the front grill to come on with the main beam.  :)

Title: Re: Feeble headlights
Post by: Martin_1962 on 21 April 2009, 15:05:58

Mine has projectors - they are better but with a HID conversion they are very good.

And it passed the MOT.