[medcapequip]

Guys, I have been looking at putting some 100W bulbs into my Range Rover on the high and fog positions. There seems to be only 100W bulbs available for the color I want. My previous experiences 10 years ago with higher wattage bulbs have been melted wiring harnesses. I never tried using them again but I really want these bulbs but they only come in 100W.

Anybody have any experience with 100W bulbs in high and fog positions?

 

[Ferdinand]

I would not do it! Unless you want to end up with a crispy wiring and a possibly burned BECM - The P38 has excelent headlights - and a good set of bulbs (H4 55/65 watt) for the low beam and H1 (Europe) or 9004/5/6 or whatever they are called in the US for the high beams..... and the H3 for the front fogs.

I've used Philips VisionPlus 50% for years now - change them once a year - they give great output....and they are legal! (100 watts are not to my knowledge - and they blind on coming traffic)

 

[spikemd]

I have fried my wiring harness in the foglamps on another vehicle when I put in 100w bulbs. I won't make that "upgrade/mistake" again. Definitely, not worth it in the Rover. Too many other electrical gremlins could emerge if you start overloading the circuitry... wiring, grounds, fusebox, BECM. I wouldn't risk it for extra lighting.

Get some real offroad lights if you need extra wattage.

 

[ghind]

From experience, at least in one case, the BCM can take it but if you drive slowly or idle with your high beams on you will make your lenses turn yellow.

Don't do it.

The Phillips +80's etc are the way to go. I also wonder if a 55w HID kit would be compatible with the BECM's sensing of headlight current. It has been confirmed that the 35w units aren't but I wonder about the 55w units.

If you want your headlights to be brighter, start with the electrical sticky. Seriously you will get a hell of a lot more light out of globes at 14 volts than at 13.2 volts. If you haven't fixed your electrics, you can be certain it needs doing. It costs next to nothing, makes your battery last longer, prevents all sorts of stupid electrical problems and makes your headlights a lot brighter.

My suggestion, from experience, is the Phillips +80% lights plus follow the electrical sticky and fix as needed

I'd love to see how a 55w HID kit goes, maybe I'll hook mine up some time to test.

Greg

 

[rtkraken]

FWIW,
I ran 100W bulbs for the first few years of P38 ownership with no ill effects to the vehicle or electrical. They are crazy bright, illegal (but I was never called on it), expensive, and don't last very long. After burning through a few sets, I eventually went back to the standard 55W bulbs and added a set of high beam OEM driving lights.

Moose suck, at night.

 

[kmagnuss]

Just get some 'good' 55w bulbs. Somebody makes one called a fat boy or something that gets GREAT reviews.

 

[ghind]

FWIW,
I ran 100W bulbs for the first few years of P38 ownership with no ill effects to the vehicle or electrical. They are crazy bright, illegal (but I was never called on it), expensive, and don't last very long. After burning through a few sets, I eventually went back to the standard 55W bulbs and added a set of high beam OEM driving lights.

Moose suck, at night.

For years after I bougt the car, mine had them fitted and I never knew. One of my lenses has got a just noticable yellow tinge to it. I'm the only person that would notice but (a) the yellow tinge cuts down light output and (b) it will only get worse if you leave those bulbs in (c) you could probably get away with it if you made sure you didn't use high beams unless you were on the highway at a decent speed.

For years I ran some 65/55 globes which were quoted at 130/110 light output. They were a reputable brand and they were awesome for 5 years. However you just can't buy them anymore but there are other good ones out there. I suspect mine were actually more like +80% units and now they have to be honest!

At the end of the day though, the light output with the +80's is just as good and none of the downsides.

Greg

 

[leftlanetruckin]

I always thought that the P38 had excellent headlights, and mine are the original 1998 ones with over 200k miles on them.....
Especially on a Rangey......"If it aint broke, dont (attempt) to fix it"
Martin

 

[jmason]

"If it aint broke, dont (attempt) to fix it"

I saw some headlights for sale at Canadian Tire the other day, and was thinking how nice they'd look on her, and then I thought of this. :lol: :lol:

 

[aynsley]

I have run 100w bulbs in my high beams for years in both my rovers to no ill effect anywhere, now the fog lights are a different matter.

 

[mekadodo]

The first time I changed my bulbs, I was shocked to find the owner had 90/100w bulbs in the main light position. However I had been running them for at least 3 years with no problems. He had installed an auxiliary light system though, so i'm guessing that he upgraded the wiring loom.
I swapped them out with Osram Nightbreakers, which are a 55/60w +80 i think. I could not notice the difference between the 90w and 55w settings, nor the high beam. The light of the Nightbreakers is a lot whiter though, because of a silly blue strip they put around the bulb. If the blue strip wasn't there, im sure the light would be even brighter.

I haven't actually put a normal 55/60w in there to compare them. Next time a bulb blows I might try to find one lying around and pop it in.

 

[Ferdinand]

The "silly blue strip" is actually what makes the light so white..... comined with the gas inside the bulb... :idea:

 

[996TURBO]

Try some HID H4 Bixenons and you'll never go back.
Use a good kit not a low cost.

35 W consumption and the light output is much more stronger than 100 W bulbs.

During 2 years, i've been never arrested for those, passed the french MOT, it looks like it doesn't glare because i've never receive headlight flashes

 

[mekadodo]

The "silly blue strip" is actually what makes the light so white..... comined with the gas inside the bulb... :idea:

Yes, but they also cut out a lot of the yellow light, which is actually easier on the eyes (mine at least). It also cuts down the light output. I would much prefer to have the bulbs without that coating

If you do go the HID route, double check your light alignments to make sure you're not blinding oncoming traffic, cos those things are BRIGHT! You might have to aim it slightly downwards. Remember that our headlights are pretty much at the head-height of other motorists

EDIT: Oops, realized you only want them for your high-beams. In that case, meh! The more light the better