Euro Lights?

[Louis-Alain Richard]

Huw Powell wrote :

Of course, some people just add some big driving lights on the bumper to 
run as high beams and live with the crummy low beams.  It's the cheapest 
solution, I guess, although the "look" might not please everyone.



BTDT here on my urQuattro : I have the standard 4 square headlight setup,
plus 4 removable auxiliary lamps (2 round 6-in yellow Bosch Touring
foglamps, 2 round 6-in white Bosch Pilot driving lamps). The fogs have a
separate OEM switch and used only with the parking lights, and the driving
lights are triggered by the high-beam circuit. The main square headlamps are
Hella 165x110mm with stock H4/H1 bulbs and E-code pattern. All lamps are
relayed.


Some observations :
- good beam pattern and lamp cleanliness is more important than high wattage
bulbs. If the pattern is bad, you'll just put more light at the same wrong
spot with these 100W bulbs.
- driving lights have narrow patterns (pencil beam), and can reach very far,
but they are not very useful to light the side of the road.
- one must add a stiffening bracket to the driving/fog lamps or he will
experience the dreaded vibrating light pattern at every bump.
- if you still follow that route, buy the biggest, deepest and roundest lamp
you can find and pay for (like a Cibié Oscar, 150$ each at least). The Bosch
are much shallower, and much cheaper (125$ a pair) but light pattern is not
that good.
- Remember, lighting is not cheap and is exposed to road grime and stones,
so don't install them below the bumper (this is the worst place for driving
lamps). The higher they are, greater is the angle, and more light you put ON
the road.


Louis-Alain