Clearing the headlights...
Tech Contributor
Joined: Dec 2003
Posts: 19,384
Likes: 87
From: Horncastle Lincolnshire, England
2023 C5 of the Year Finalist - Unmodified
Not sure I understand the question. Do you have condensation in the lenses? If so, you can take the headlights out and clean them up. You may be able to get something inside by taking out the bulbs but its really tight.
You may want to find out why it would fog up. Either the housing is cracked, the seals have gone bad or the bulbs are not seated properly in the housing
You may want to find out why it would fog up. Either the housing is cracked, the seals have gone bad or the bulbs are not seated properly in the housing
Thread Starter
Burning Brakes
Joined: Nov 2007
Posts: 1,241
Likes: 0
From: Oceanside New York
DeeGee, I want to thank you personally, you've always been answering my questions when no one else would 
.
What I meant was if you look at the headlights, stock, you'll notice that they're not "diamond cut" clear. I'm not looking for a "Diamond Cut" version, but just to make them crystal clear.
I do not believe condensation has anything to do with this...
.What I meant was if you look at the headlights, stock, you'll notice that they're not "diamond cut" clear. I'm not looking for a "Diamond Cut" version, but just to make them crystal clear.
I do not believe condensation has anything to do with this...
Racer
Joined: Sep 2000
Posts: 373
Likes: 0
From: Wakefield R.I.
Let me start out by saying I am NOT an expert on this.
If you had a crystal clear lens wouldn't that be like the old style "driving lamps"? and wouldn't that send the beam just straight down the road with no deflection to the sides?
See if someone can post a good pic of the euro lamp which is glass and I think is a bit more clear than our plastic lenses.
If you had a crystal clear lens wouldn't that be like the old style "driving lamps"? and wouldn't that send the beam just straight down the road with no deflection to the sides?
See if someone can post a good pic of the euro lamp which is glass and I think is a bit more clear than our plastic lenses.
Tech Contributor
Joined: Dec 2003
Posts: 19,384
Likes: 87
From: Horncastle Lincolnshire, England
2023 C5 of the Year Finalist - Unmodified
DeeGee, I want to thank you personally, you've always been answering my questions when no one else would .
What I meant was if you look at the headlights, stock, you'll notice that they're not "diamond cut" clear. I'm not looking for a "Diamond Cut" version, but just to make them crystal clear.
I do not believe condensation has anything to do with this...
.What I meant was if you look at the headlights, stock, you'll notice that they're not "diamond cut" clear. I'm not looking for a "Diamond Cut" version, but just to make them crystal clear.
I do not believe condensation has anything to do with this...
The lenses are faceted to shape the beam. The stock lights have facets that give an oval flat beam. They're made of plastic material so I can see how they could go cloudy.
The euros are even more faceted so I doubt they'd improve things for you. That said, they're made of glass and are much better quality. They're designed to give a more shaped beam with a distrinct cut off. take a look at this pic:
I've seen some guys do DIY mods and replace the lens with a sheet of Lexan but its a serious mod. You can also get the C5R style non pop ups.
Last edited by DeeGee; Jan 20, 2008 at 03:25 AM.
Racer
Joined: Sep 2000
Posts: 373
Likes: 0
From: Wakefield R.I.
Hey DeeGee, thats exactly what I was hoping someone would show to CharlieB.
Wish he would come back on and tell us what exactly he is looking for when driving the car.
I am also looking for better lighting and can't decide between the euro and the HID kit. My issue is more for High beam driving.
I'll keep watching this thread to see what else pops up.
Wish he would come back on and tell us what exactly he is looking for when driving the car.
I am also looking for better lighting and can't decide between the euro and the HID kit. My issue is more for High beam driving.
I'll keep watching this thread to see what else pops up.
Race Director
Joined: Jul 2007
Posts: 10,959
Likes: 2,641
From: Texas Hill Country
Is there a way to angle the high beams down to make a super bright regular beam (thus nullifying a high beam)? Then you could run with the highs on but just effectively have a great low beam view. Could be a cheap alternative.....
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Racer
Joined: May 2006
Posts: 352
Likes: 42
I did this last summer it it works well, be sure to aim your lights kinda low. I do get 'flashes' from a few cars thinking my brights are on but not very many. We sit so much lower than most cars it doesn't affect the vast majority of folks.
I also added PIAA Fogs and that along with the bulbs really help.
Doc
Drifting
Joined: Nov 2007
Posts: 1,813
Likes: 0
From: Tampa Fl
mothers aluminum polish old trick of teh trade takes off all foggyness on your headlight beams, for cheap people cheap paste style tootpaste usually the cheaper the better also works. both are like a rubbing compound for your lights.
Le Mans Master
Joined: Feb 2003
Posts: 6,682
Likes: 144
From: Memphis Tennessee
Yeah, you can do this, I've done it on mine. You install HIGH BEAM Silverstar Ultras in place of the low beam bulbs. You gotta cut off the little piece of plastic that keeps the highs from fitting in the low beam hole but that's easy to do with a dremel tool.
I did this last summer it it works well, be sure to aim your lights kinda low. I do get 'flashes' from a few cars thinking my brights are on but not very many. We sit so much lower than most cars it doesn't affect the vast majority of folks.
I also added PIAA Fogs and that along with the bulbs really help.
Doc
I did this last summer it it works well, be sure to aim your lights kinda low. I do get 'flashes' from a few cars thinking my brights are on but not very many. We sit so much lower than most cars it doesn't affect the vast majority of folks.
I also added PIAA Fogs and that along with the bulbs really help.
Doc
Thread Starter
Burning Brakes
Joined: Nov 2007
Posts: 1,241
Likes: 0
From: Oceanside New York
Hey guys! Sorry, yeah, i'm back now:
This is a short of what i'm referring to...i'm guessing the European Lenses are going to the more "clear"...but let's see if you guys can follow me on this, since my examples are pretty poor.
Look at the stock C5 reverse lights housing...they're completely "fogged" over, they're cloudy and ugly...for sale, you can purchase the "Diamond Cut" reverse lights housing...clear as a bell, can easily see right down to the bulb without any type of problem. Looks great!
Hope that helps....
On a sidenote...relative to the headlights...it's abit colddddd out...when the headlights go back down you hear a "Squeakkkkkk"...cold weather issue? (hasn't gotten warm enouigh yet for me to compare...but wondering anyway...it's been around 18-22 degrees out.
This is a short of what i'm referring to...i'm guessing the European Lenses are going to the more "clear"...but let's see if you guys can follow me on this, since my examples are pretty poor.
Look at the stock C5 reverse lights housing...they're completely "fogged" over, they're cloudy and ugly...for sale, you can purchase the "Diamond Cut" reverse lights housing...clear as a bell, can easily see right down to the bulb without any type of problem. Looks great!
Hope that helps....
On a sidenote...relative to the headlights...it's abit colddddd out...when the headlights go back down you hear a "Squeakkkkkk"...cold weather issue? (hasn't gotten warm enouigh yet for me to compare...but wondering anyway...it's been around 18-22 degrees out.
Last edited by CharlieB1979; Jan 20, 2008 at 11:52 PM.
Tech Contributor
Joined: Dec 2003
Posts: 19,384
Likes: 87
From: Horncastle Lincolnshire, England
2023 C5 of the Year Finalist - Unmodified
Hey guys! Sorry, yeah, i'm back now:
On a sidenote...relative to the headlights...it's abit colddddd out...when the headlights go back down you hear a "Squeakkkkkk"...cold weather issue? (hasn't gotten warm enouigh yet for me to compare...but wondering anyway...it's been around 18-22 degrees out.
On a sidenote...relative to the headlights...it's abit colddddd out...when the headlights go back down you hear a "Squeakkkkkk"...cold weather issue? (hasn't gotten warm enouigh yet for me to compare...but wondering anyway...it's been around 18-22 degrees out.
Lubricate the cradle hinge. Take off the black bezel. There are 2 screws one side and one on the other. That should fix the squeak.
Melting Slicks
Joined: Dec 2003
Posts: 3,315
Likes: 17
From: Near Jacksonville Fl.
I just finished the conversion over to the Euro's and as you can see in DeeGee's photo there is quite a difference.
Now I went a few steps further, I installed a set of METEC bulbs wattage draw is 60/55 output is 130/110.
Color temp is 4350K and they look like HID's but are really HIR's but boy what a difference.
I also installed a set of 50 Watt fog lamp bulbs so there is some improvement there too.
All in all it was a great improvement over the stock setup and still does not "brighteye" the other guy coming the other way.
Now I went a few steps further, I installed a set of METEC bulbs wattage draw is 60/55 output is 130/110.
Color temp is 4350K and they look like HID's but are really HIR's but boy what a difference.
I also installed a set of 50 Watt fog lamp bulbs so there is some improvement there too.
All in all it was a great improvement over the stock setup and still does not "brighteye" the other guy coming the other way.
Tech Contributor
Joined: Dec 2003
Posts: 19,384
Likes: 87
From: Horncastle Lincolnshire, England
2023 C5 of the Year Finalist - Unmodified
I just finished the conversion over to the Euro's and as you can see in DeeGee's photo there is quite a difference.
Now I went a few steps further, I installed a set of METEC bulbs wattage draw is 60/55 output is 130/110.
Color temp is 4350K and they look like HID's but are really HIR's but boy what a difference.
I also installed a set of 50 Watt fog lamp bulbs so there is some improvement there too.
All in all it was a great improvement over the stock setup and still does not "brighteye" the other guy coming the other way.
Now I went a few steps further, I installed a set of METEC bulbs wattage draw is 60/55 output is 130/110.
Color temp is 4350K and they look like HID's but are really HIR's but boy what a difference.
I also installed a set of 50 Watt fog lamp bulbs so there is some improvement there too.
All in all it was a great improvement over the stock setup and still does not "brighteye" the other guy coming the other way.
