BX Foglight bulbs

[m_2975]

Hi Guys,

Just wanting to check what size bulb fits in the foglight. Is it a H3? Does anyone know the recommended wattage?

Michael

[AndersDK]

I've only ever seen H3 types on my BX'es, but know there are H1 fitments around.
H3 have a short lead terminated in a male spade connector for the +12V supply. H1 has a standard male spade post.
Both types always comes in 55W wattage.

Note that the bulb sockets are different on the 2 types. H3 is a plain cirkular plate, while H1 has 2 lugs preventing the bulb turning in its lamp socket.

[m_2975]

Thanks Anders,

I took a guess and bought a H3. It fit nicely but all I could get was 100W bulbs. All others were out of stock. I'll get some 55W bulbs in 6000k as soon as I get my new headlight bulbs.

I'm ordering a H4 Bi-Xenon 6000k HID kit (Bulbs, Ballasts, etc) for the headlights so that I can actually see something! To me the low beam headlights are very average here with the long distances and high speeds at night.

I already have 6000k (Cool Blue) halogen bulbs that were a fortune but they are only just ok.


Has anyone got Xenon HID's installed in their BX?

[Mike E (uk)]

My headlamps were really dim too.
The voltage at the bulbs was very low.

The wiring is too thin, and it corrodes, plus there is no direct power feed or return for the headlamps. Also the reflectors had tarnished.

BX headlamps can be made to work very well indeed:

First, replace the headlamp units with new, surprisingly cheap.
Fit a relay for both high and low beam, energised by the original bulb feeds.
wire the bulb returns direct to the chassis.
wire the lights with proper heavy gauge cable.
add fuses for main + dipped at the battery +ve terminal.
(You can then replace the bulbs with 100w/55w devices if you like)

The quad lens version should also be installed in this way.

Night becomes Day! Really good for a nighttime blast on those country roads.

I did the same wiring mod for the fogs, after replacing them with spot lenses from an AX and they only light on main beam now. Looks good, but the extra 200w makes surprisingly little difference, as the main beams are so good.

Mike

[m_2975]

Well Mike, I will test the voltage on the bulbs today. My car doesn't get corrosion over here due to our climate. The headlights are both new cause i hate the dull finish inside.

It's funny, I went for a blast last night and the fogs were brighter than the main beam!

I'm a little scared that the 100w bulbs will melt the foglamp though. What do you think?

I'm going to try the relays and see. If not i'm going to get the real Xenon kit cimplete with Ballast!

That should light up the world!

Michael

[MULLEY]

I got some new lights & put in some xenon 50%+ brighter bulbs, i can now see superbly, didnt need to mess about with wiring, fuses etc...

I think these aftermarked HID kits in the UK are illegal as they are supposed to be fitted to lights which are self levelling etc... which of course most light units cant do, hence they dazzle everyone & are illegal.

[m_2975]

I got some new lights & put in some xenon 50%+ brighter bulbs, i can now see superbly, didnt need to mess about with wiring, fuses etc...

I have got them in as well at the moment. TBH they are worse than the halogen ones I had before! I think that the voltage is too low at the bulbs.

I think these aftermarked HID kits in the UK are illegal...

They're illegal in Australia too, well the HID ones with ballasts are anyway.
Funnily enough they sell them here but it's illegal to install.

Well I don't care. The BX lights are amongst the kindest lights of a modern car to an oncoming driver in their standard guise.

I'VE HAD ENOUGH OF BEING MR NICE GUY !

I'll blast them!

A bit like all those idiots in their BMW X5's with lights as bright as a football field!

GRRR!

LOL

[mike st gilles]

I think you'll find that the lights aren't illegal when you fit them to the bx or any other car with self-levelling suspension as that does the job of the light units in most cars.

[m_2975]

Thanks for the heads up. Makes sense.

Michael

[mnde]

BX headlamps can be made to work very well indeed:

First, replace the headlamp units with new, surprisingly cheap.
Fit a relay for both high and low beam, energised by the original bulb feeds..... (etc)

I've heard about these mods before, but I'm no electrician. I think that a step-by-step headlamp modding guide expanding on the above - preferably with photographs - would make a very useful "sticky" or addition to the tech section of the BXClub site. Mike, (or anyone else who's done this) can you make it so?

Thanks,

Mark.

[m_2975]

Well i'm about to do the mod myself so i'm happy to write it up and have my dear brother who likes taking photos "sieze the moment".
I'll get the parts this weekend.

Watch this forum.

[Mike E (uk)]

The 100w bulbs are not really road legal in the UK either.

But seeing as it IS legal to have additional spotlamps which give an extra 100w on high beam, I cannot see what the objection would be.

The fog lights are not worth putting 100w bulbs in, as they spread the light around anyway. Using AX/309 spotlamps have the same fitting but the different spot lenses work very well.
I have 100w bulbs in these too, but only because I happened to have a couple in the parts bin.
The lights cope quite happily with the exta power bulbs, and as they are only running extra power on high beam, they are not on continuously.

Mulley- measure the voltage on the back of you headlights when they are on, and compare it with the voltage directly accross the battery, this will tell you if your wiring is adequate or not. You should loose less than one volt.

I have a diagram for the wiring mods I made- I dont know how to get onto the forum though, so if some kind soul will do this bit, I will email them a copy to post up.


Mike

[MULLEY]

Mike - i dont have a voltmeter, so thats out i'm afraid, besides my lights are very good, so my wiring must be ok