VE Projectors?

[VECALAISV8]

Hey guys,

One of my mates has a VE GTS (April 2008) which has done approximately 38,000 kms.. He was complaining of poor vision at night and thought the performance of the projector headlights had dropped off.

Well we decided to upgrade the bulbs on the weekend to Phillips Crystal visions, that was all fine and dandy but when we removed the old headlight bulbs out of the projectors they had infact melted and gone black? Whats the deal with this, do they all do this or is there something wrong with his car? We put the Crystal visions in and they have made a huge difference to the look at night as well as the performance of the headlight but if theres a heat issue they wont even last as long as the standard ones I don't beleive.

Any help would be appreciated!!

[dgp]

Put the burnt globes back in and take it to the dealer, it is still under warranty.

[msjwood]

Sorry to thread mine, but I had a low beam blow a few months ago ('07 VE SSV ute), mentioned it at service and they replaced the globe. Great, I thought, until it got dark. The globe they put in (Wilson's, Albion Park) puts out nearly NO light (55W, H7 globe), yet is rated the same as the original. Has a sort of bright central beam, but no angled cut off when shone against a wall, like the other light still does. The original lights were good, this one is crap! Are Holdens getting their replacement globes from a cheap supplier now? Might as well get a pair of decent gobes from Supercheap. Any tips? Don't want them to look too blue, as I hear there is less definition-plus they can look too bright.
Cheers, Mike

[DAVZSS]

Sorry to thread mine, but I had a low beam blow a few months ago ('07 VE SSV ute), mentioned it at service and they replaced the globe. Great, I thought, until it got dark. The globe they put in (Wilson's, Albion Park) puts out nearly NO light (55W, H7 globe), yet is rated the same as the original. Has a sort of bright central beam, but no angled cut off when shone against a wall, like the other light still does. The original lights were good, this one is crap! Are Holdens getting their replacement globes from a cheap supplier now? Might as well get a pair of decent gobes from Supercheap. Any tips? Don't want them to look too blue, as I hear there is less definition-plus they can look too bright.
Cheers, Mike

:rofl:I cant believe you used the words decent and supercheap in the same sentence:)

[msjwood]

:rofl:I cant believe you used the words decent and supercheap in the same sentence:)

Sorry. Slip of the keyboard.

[Dieselman]

Sorry to thread mine, but I had a low beam blow a few months ago ('07 VE SSV ute), mentioned it at service and they replaced the globe. Great, I thought, until it got dark. The globe they put in (Wilson's, Albion Park) puts out nearly NO light (55W, H7 globe), yet is rated the same as the original. Has a sort of bright central beam, but no angled cut off when shone against a wall, like the other light still does. The original lights were good, this one is crap! Are Holdens getting their replacement globes from a cheap supplier now? Might as well get a pair of decent gobes from Supercheap. Any tips? Don't want them to look too blue, as I hear there is less definition-plus they can look too bright.
Cheers, Mike


Make sure they are seated in the light properly as that will cause the same issue.

HID's are the go if you want good lights :)

[msjwood]

Make sure they are seated in the light properly as that will cause the same issue.

HID's are the go if you want good lights :)

Swapped the globes over-same problem with the apparently dud bulb. BTW, it is a bitch to get at the globes. Even worse when you drop the plastic cap that protects the back of the unit (driver's side). It disappears into a black hole somewhere in the front bar. Easier to buy a new one (only 10 bucks) than dismantle the front of the car. Doh!
Cheers, Mike

[cnnonyx]

IS there any brand to suggest?

I want my headlights to light up half the country on low beam, when I turn them on

[NeishaVESS]

Swapped the globes over-same problem with the apparently dud bulb. BTW, it is a bitch to get at the globes. Even worse when you drop the plastic cap that protects the back of the unit (driver's side). It disappears into a black hole somewhere in the front bar. Easier to buy a new one (only 10 bucks) than dismantle the front of the car. Doh!
Cheers, Mike

Its only 4 clips on the inner guard and you can get to it. Very easy to do.

Shaun

[msjwood]

Its only 4 clips on the inner guard and you can get to it. Very easy to do.

Shaun

Thanks. I'll look at it on Saturday. Haven't bought the new one yet.
Cheers, Mike

[msjwood]

Hey guys,

One of my mates has a VE GTS (April 2008) which has done approximately 38,000 kms.. He was complaining of poor vision at night and thought the performance of the projector headlights had dropped off.

Well we decided to upgrade the bulbs on the weekend to Phillips Crystal visions, that was all fine and dandy but when we removed the old headlight bulbs out of the projectors they had infact melted and gone black? Whats the deal with this, do they all do this or is there something wrong with his car? We put the Crystal visions in and they have made a huge difference to the look at night as well as the performance of the headlight but if theres a heat issue they wont even last as long as the standard ones I don't beleive.

Any help would be appreciated!!

What had looked melted? The globe or the projector housing? If it was just the globes that looked black, they were stuffed, and warranty would cover it IMO. If the projector housing itself looked melted, then definitely warranty-unless they were non-standard globes.
Cheers, Mike

[NeishaVESS]

Thanks. I'll look at it on Saturday. Haven't bought the new one yet.
Cheers, Mike

Your welcome, Ive dropped mine in there once aswell, to make it east just turn the wheel almost full lock right and with 2 flathead screw drivers you can talk out the 4 clips and you will have enough room to get it.

If you have been driving it around with it in there it could be anywhere maybe even on the other side or it could have (hopefully not) fallen out..

Shaun

[msjwood]

Thanks for that. I've been driving for a week since dropping it. I'll look before the dealer shuts!
Cheers, Mike

[quityabitchn]

IS there any brand to suggest?

I want my headlights to light up half the country on low beam, when I turn them on

go zenon. worth the money

[Wonky]

IS there any brand to suggest?

I want my headlights to light up half the country on low beam, when I turn them on

Good HIDs! :yup:

[msjwood]

Good HIDs! :yup:

I know i'm being pedantic, but aren't there legallity issues with HIDs? Just like on my raked, widened, Procharged, LOUD Fatboy, I want to keep it legal! LOL.
DILLIGAF! (courtesy K. B. Wilson)

[Wonky]

I know i'm being pedantic, but aren't there legallity issues with HIDs? Just like on my raked, widened, Procharged, LOUD Fatboy, I want to keep it legal! LOL.
DILLIGAF! (courtesy K. B. Wilson)

:lol: There have been a few threads over the years on here on the legality or otherwise of aftermarket HIDs but I've now had HIDs for almost 5 years and (touch wood :D) never had an issue.

There have been threads which claim they have to be used in conjunction with things like headlight washers and self levelling suspension but from memory I think those were dismissed as deriving from the fact that the original high level European imports which came in with HIDs also happened to have those features. Judging by some lower spec cars which now seem to come from the factory with HIDs I doubt that's a legal requirement here (but could be wrong - for the first time in my life :lmao:).

They're becoming more and more prevalent on new cars so the chances of having a hassle due to having them, especially on a new looking car, are correspondingly decreasing.

[msjwood]

:lol: There have been a few threads over the years on here on the legality or otherwise of aftermarket HIDs but I've now had HIDs for almost 5 years and (touch wood :D) never had an issue.

There have been threads which claim they have to be used in conjunction with things like headlight washers and self levelling suspension but from memory I think those were dismissed as deriving from the fact that the original high level European imports which came in with HIDs also happened to have those features. Judging by some lower spec cars which now seem to come from the factory with HIDs I doubt that's a legal requirement here (but could be wrong - for the first time in my life :lmao:).

They're becoming more and more prevalent on new cars so the chances of having a hassle due to having them, especially on a new looking car, are correspondingly decreasing.

Thanks Wonky. TBH, I thought that might be the case if the car is not otherwise drawing attention. Was kinda taking the piss. What would you suggest for high & low beam? I also want a decent H4 globe for my Harley.
Cheers, Mike

[Wonky]

I've previously always used Gerald at Gadgetmaster for my HIDs. On the more expensive end for HIDs admittedly but they're a quality product and his backup is first class. Over the past 5 years I've bought a dozen or so sets from him and AFAIK they're all still going strong. My auto elec got me to buy a set from Gerald for his VYII Clubby after he installed my first set in the VZ and he's rapt that almost 5 years later they've never missed a beat.

However, recently I got onto a guy about 15min up the road from me and put 70w high beams in and a week or so ago had 70w HIDs put in the W427 driving lights. Unfortunately they're not yet aimed perfectly (car has been off the road all week for a cam swap and Chev's then discovered a lifter was starting to lunch itself) but when it's all aimed properly I should be able to see England. :lol:

My recommendation for cars is 35w low beam, 50w high beam (or 70w :D). See http://www.ls1.com.au/forum/showthread.php?t=139040

[msjwood]

I've previously always used Gerald at Gadgetmaster for my HIDs. On the more expensive end for HIDs admittedly but they're a quality product and his backup is first class. Over the past 5 years I've bought a dozen or so sets from him and AFAIK they're all still going strong. My auto elec got me to buy a set from Gerald for his VYII Clubby after he installed my first set in the VZ and he's rapt that almost 5 years later they've never missed a beat.

However, recently I got onto a guy about 15min up the road from me and put 70w high beams in and a week or so ago had 70w HIDs put in the W427 driving lights. Unfortunately they're not yet aimed perfectly (car has been off the road all week for a cam swap and Chev's then discovered a lifter was starting to lunch itself) but when it's all aimed properly I should be able to see England. :lol:

My recommendation for cars is 35w low beam, 50w high beam (or 70w :D). See http://www.ls1.com.au/forum/showthread.php?t=139040

Thanks Wonky. As I live in Wollongong, do you suggest any of the aftermarket franchises that might be here? Obviously not Supercheap or Auto-One, but should I contact your guy in Melbourne? What about the offroad accessory dealers? I have a cousin in Denilliquin (Fred's 4WD), who might do the right thing by me.
Any help appreciated.
Cheers, Mike

[msjwood]

BTW, just as an aside, do you have an easy way of changing the globes without touching the globes (I know, I can wear gloves), or do you have very small fingers? Mine are size 8 (large), and it's a PITA!. Passenger's side, I can remove part of the air filter (no OTR CAI on mine), but the driver's side is a nightmare!
Cheers, Mike

[Wonky]

Given my disabilities I have to now pay someone to do all my car work, whereas I used to do it all myself. Therefore unfortunately I don't really know....... :(

[msjwood]

Given my disabilities I have to now pay someone to do all my car work, whereas I used to do it all myself. Therefore unfortunately I don't really know....... :(

Thanks Wonky. I'll get off my arse and work it out. Just being lazy and seeing what the forum threw up.
Cheers, Mike

[VECALAISV8]

It was the bulbs that had melted not the projectors.

They were stock factory and the car only had 38 kay roughly on it. The cheap chinese electronics is starting to show in these cars, headlight bulbs should last alot longer then 38,000 kms, and they didnt just blow, they just turned into candles.

One of my other mates has a VE R8 2006 and both the tailights are stuffed on it now, when you put the indicator on it nearly doesnt flash anymore because half the LEDS are gone?? Holden want a rediculous amount to replace them.

I sold my Calais due to all the issues with it and bought a G6E Turbo.. Way better build.

[VX BY DESIGN]

BTW, just as an aside, do you have an easy way of changing the globes without touching the globes (I know, I can wear gloves), or do you have very small fingers? Mine are size 8 (large), and it's a PITA!. Passenger's side, I can remove part of the air filter (no OTR CAI on mine), but the driver's side is a nightmare!
Cheers, Mike

Mike,

As mentioned in an earlier post, to get to the driver’s side turn the wheels hard to the right, take out the half dozen shivets (or what ever there called) (use two flat tip screwdrivers and lever out) you can then pull the inner guard down enough to access the back of the low beam and the fogs. I also moved the fuse box (3 nuts) off its mounts too give me more room.
Another thing to do is pull the coolant tube out to give you better access to the high beam.

The HID’s I’m using at the moment I got on here as a group buy from WA and they are an all in one type set up so you don’t have to find somewhere to mount the ballast.
The previous ones I had were a different brand and had a separate ballast.

The photos aren’t the best but the marked area is the ballast mounted on the rear of the existing plastic covers.

http://i38.photobucket.com/albums/e107/muzzathe1/new%20sled/IMG_0071a.jpg

http://i38.photobucket.com/albums/e107/muzzathe1/new%20sled/IMG_0072a.jpg

If you want the details for either of them send me a PM and I can put you in touch.