modified DOT headlights on '90 200q

[Phil & Judy Rose <pjrose@servtech.com>]

A friend recently modified his '90 200q DOT headlights to add an additional
source of "hi-beam" light. Sorry if this has been described before, but I
couldn't recall seeing or hearing about it on the list.

What he's done is to bash out the interior, plastic diffuser that resides
in the city-lamp section--it's just behind the external glass lens (he
first drilled a hole through the plastic diffuser--accessed through the
bulb opening--and then just picked it to pieces). Then he ground away the
tabs on the base of a 9005 lamp so it will fit into the OEM lamp "socket".
He used a 9005 lamp because its base was small enough to fit the socket
without extensive modification. He's fixed up an external, metal L-bracket
that maintains pressure against the 9005 lamp base and keeps it firmly in
the socket. I have no details regarding wiring or fusing, other than he's
not using relays. I reckon headlight switch life will be shortened, as
usual.

The extra 55 (?) watts on high beam really is eye-catching--in the "Hello,
I'd like to get by, please!" sense of the phrase. Even though the inner
diffuser is removed, the aiming of useful light down the road is less than
desired, of course, given the DOT lens and a non-optimal reflector. The
9005 tends to caste a lot of light on the road about 15-20 ft ahead and
also off to the sides. But you _will_ be noticed!

Phil Rose

'91 200q	Rochester, NY
'89 100		716-244-4274
		pjrose@servtech.com