headlight upgrades
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2nd Gear
Joined: Apr 2023
Posts: 2
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headlight upgrades
Hi All, I just bought LED headlights (retrobright 3000) for my 76 C3. I saw a video with all 4 lights lit up on low beam and then all 4 went to high beams. Looked pretty cool. Maybe too bright. Looking for opinions on whether I should use the standard set up or the modified way.
Instructor
Joined: Feb 2023
Posts: 231
Likes: 341
From: Croatia
Hi All, I just bought LED headlights (retrobright 3000) for my 76 C3. I saw a video with all 4 lights lit up on low beam and then all 4 went to high beams. Looked pretty cool. Maybe too bright. Looking for opinions on whether I should use the standard set up or the modified way.
some pics would be nice as I’m considering the same thing
Is my vette stock?? HAHA
Joined: Oct 2015
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From: Im not allowed to tell you
2020 C3 of the Year Finalist - Modified
2020 Corvette of the Year Finalist (performance mods)
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being bright isnt the issue, its the beam pattern. Octane lighting have a really good setup for about the same cost of one of the Holley bulbs....The pattern is really good as well. There are multiple threads in the search bar
Le Mans Master
Joined: May 2007
Posts: 5,007
Likes: 1,114
From: North tonawanda NY
A good set with proper beam focus should not necessarily look brighter than stock when you look at them from an off axis viewing angle meaning when your not standing directly where they should be focusing the light pattern... improperly setup lights look more like floodlights from almost any angle as the light is being scattered and wasted with a terrible beam focus and these are the lights that more or less give aftermarket headlights a bad rap.
What you want is a set that have the actual leds mounted at the correct depth inside the housing to properly focus the beam so you can have a good cutoff and not blind oncoming traffic. otherwise your really just driving around with high beams all the time.
What you want is a set that have the actual leds mounted at the correct depth inside the housing to properly focus the beam so you can have a good cutoff and not blind oncoming traffic. otherwise your really just driving around with high beams all the time.
Drifting
Joined: Nov 2007
Posts: 1,687
Likes: 269
From: New York
Check out Dapper lights.
This is an email reply from Dapper:if you are to opt for the BiLED setup this will provide functionality for all 4 headlights to illuminate as low beams vs having just the outer two illuminate as low beams and inner two illuminate as high beams. We provide all the wiring necessary to be plug and play, no extra wiring will be necessary.
With the BiLED Setup all 4 headlights will operate together, so when you hit the high beams on all 4 lights will switch to high beam.
You have to get Bi-LED lights. Warning.....They are expensive.
Dapper Lighting 575 (Set of 4 Headlights)
This is an email reply from Dapper:if you are to opt for the BiLED setup this will provide functionality for all 4 headlights to illuminate as low beams vs having just the outer two illuminate as low beams and inner two illuminate as high beams. We provide all the wiring necessary to be plug and play, no extra wiring will be necessary.
With the BiLED Setup all 4 headlights will operate together, so when you hit the high beams on all 4 lights will switch to high beam.
You have to get Bi-LED lights. Warning.....They are expensive.
Dapper Lighting 575 (Set of 4 Headlights)
Last edited by cottoneg; Apr 30, 2023 at 10:47 AM.
Advanced
Joined: Jan 2020
Posts: 81
Likes: 47
From: California
2022 C3 of the Year Finalist - Modified
Does anyone know if Dapper Lighting upgraded their 575 relay harness?
See post #4. https://www.corvetteforum.com/forums...-readings.html
See post #4. https://www.corvetteforum.com/forums...-readings.html
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Drifting
Joined: Nov 2007
Posts: 1,687
Likes: 269
From: New York
Does anyone know if Dapper Lighting upgraded their 575 relay harness?
See post #4. https://www.corvetteforum.com/forums...-readings.html
See post #4. https://www.corvetteforum.com/forums...-readings.html
See post 12 of the same thread:
Hey there! Thanks for taking the time to evaluate our products. We spend a lot of effort revising and improving products and your feedback is definitely appreciated! When you messaged us the first time, we sent that over to the EE and he looked over the harness and agreed that the gauge should be 12-14AWG. It looks like this harness originally didn't do all four high beam and was adapted to do so without revising the gauges. We're happy to swap you over to the new harness when they are completed. We've also put in a request to swap them to the traditional Bosch 4 pin relays but that's a matter of setting up the supply and getting stock.
As for the headlights themselves, we've moved away from HID as many many customers have experienced issues with HIDs in their classic cars. While they do perform better than LED, it's simply too complex to troubleshoot these issues when many customers are still running stock wiring harnesses and prefer not to run relay harnesses.
Advanced
Joined: Jan 2020
Posts: 81
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From: California
2022 C3 of the Year Finalist - Modified
I understand that they said they were going to upgrade the harness, but they do not answer emails when asked about the wiring sizes used in the harness. Which leads me to believe, the harness is still under wired.
Le Mans Master
Joined: May 2007
Posts: 5,007
Likes: 1,114
From: North tonawanda NY
while the look isnt for everyone these led lights are an option They draw less current than the stock lights and are much much brighter. they have a good projector style low beam and bright highs too. the halos flash orange with the blinkers for added safety/ making turns easier to see.
Drifting
Joined: Nov 2007
Posts: 1,687
Likes: 269
From: New York
A similar post to read.
Headlights made in the USA - CorvetteForum - Chevrolet Corvette Forum Discussion
Headlights made in the USA - CorvetteForum - Chevrolet Corvette Forum Discussion
Drifting
Joined: Nov 2007
Posts: 1,687
Likes: 269
From: New York
Actually I sent them an email refering to exactly what your concern was. Their reply was:
With this configuration there is no need for a full relay harness as mentioned on the forum.
The 18AWG adapters included with this kit will plug directly into your factory headlamp plugs and will be more than sufficient for the 30W LED bulbs.
Typically a full relay harness like the one mentioned in your forum link will only be necessary with a high wattage Halogen or HID bulb because of the increased power draw in comparison to LED.
Instructor
Joined: Oct 2014
Posts: 231
Likes: 24
From: Auburn California
I took a different approach on LED headlights, less flashy and more utilitarian, - I bought Hella H4 headlights for the Hi/Lo (outside lights) and Hella H1 headlights for the Hi beams (inner lights). Stuck the appropriate LED bulbs in them. The current draw on an LED bulb is only a couple of amps and a relay is not needed. I had to enlarge the headlight housing on the inner lights so the back of the Hella H1 would fit. A 2 3/8 hole saw with a inner guid did a nice job, but you need to be careful and go slow. That housing is aluminum.
This light arrangement is really good. The European cut off type low beam keeps the light out of oncoming traffic while actually illuminating much more of the road. The high beams are like a small sun, lighting up the road for a quarter mile.
The down side is the incompatibility with the fiber optic light indicator. I suppose if one was motivated, the fiber could adapted.
I now have two sets of old sealed beam lights (one of the 1965) headed for the trash. These are worth anything to anyone right?
This light arrangement is really good. The European cut off type low beam keeps the light out of oncoming traffic while actually illuminating much more of the road. The high beams are like a small sun, lighting up the road for a quarter mile.
The down side is the incompatibility with the fiber optic light indicator. I suppose if one was motivated, the fiber could adapted.
I now have two sets of old sealed beam lights (one of the 1965) headed for the trash. These are worth anything to anyone right?
6th Gear
Joined: Feb 2021
Posts: 6
Likes: 2
~90% of our orders are all for LED kits which don't have any issues with the old harness. Because most people have switched to LEDs, we sell very few harnesses now so there hasn't been a ton of need to switch over yet. I can do small run of them if there is some interest though.
The "new" harness is swapped to a 14AWG on the supply side, 14AWG on the mains, 16AWG on the signal side. We've also upgraded to 40A Bosch style waterproof relays and female H4 connectors. The downside is cost went up significantly (guessing ~$79-99 retail).
If someone wants to give them a test, feel free to email me and we can have you review them: ben@dapperlighting.com.
Appreciate everyone's feedback and comments. Helps keep us continually improve our products. PS: Sorry for the awful picture but it should give you an idea.
Cheers!
Ben
