S3 Elise Light Upgrades

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thesurfbus
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S3 Elise Light Upgrades

Post by thesurfbus » Thu Feb 28, 2019 9:05 am

Has anyone upgraded their S3 Elise/Exige Headlights?

Driving my S3 Elise this morning reminded me how bad the headlights are, on my S1 I replaced them with Osram Nightbreakers, but there appears to be less choice for the S3.

Headlight (Dipped Beam) HB3A
Headlight (Main Beam) H9B
Driving Lights ????
Lotus Elise 220 S

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Shug
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Re: S3 Elise Light Upgrades

Post by Shug » Thu Feb 28, 2019 9:53 am

Not personal recommendation as I've not had opportunity to try yet, but are there not now super bright LED options that fit in place of standard bulbs? Would deffo be investigating these (speaking as a bloke who melted light connectors using rally bulbs back in my S1 days)
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ironside
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Re: S3 Elise Light Upgrades

Post by ironside » Thu Feb 28, 2019 10:54 am

Night Breakers are available in HB3, which is the same bulb as the HB3A but with the connector turned 90deg.
I think BigD has tried this and got them to squeeze in ok.

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campbell
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Re: S3 Elise Light Upgrades

Post by campbell » Thu Feb 28, 2019 3:59 pm

I’ve got HB3 (non-a) Nightbreakers coming from Autobulbs Direct.

Prob a week or two before I have time to fit them but will report back here.

BigD has mentioned a heat gun to soften some plastic somewhere. Well that’ll be fun
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campbell
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Re: S3 Elise Light Upgrades

Post by campbell » Thu Feb 28, 2019 4:12 pm

Built in cooling fans and everything !!

https://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B07FYH3RWK/ ... 8357604698

Tempted.
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twinrotor2
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Re: S3 Elise Light Upgrades

Post by twinrotor2 » Thu Feb 28, 2019 5:35 pm

Check out this link on the lotus forum
https://www.thelotusforums.com/forums/t ... eadlights/
Chrome Orange Elise S

ScottJ-PS
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Re: S3 Elise Light Upgrades

Post by ScottJ-PS » Thu Feb 28, 2019 5:56 pm

I had looked at HiD conversions from eliseparts until CMC told me they would fail an MOT .

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campbell
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Re: S3 Elise Light Upgrades

Post by campbell » Thu Feb 28, 2019 8:24 pm

ScottJ-PS wrote:I had looked at HiD conversions from eliseparts until CMC told me they would fail an MOT .
Yep. Which is why I’m avoiding those for sure.
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BigD
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Re: S3 Elise Light Upgrades

Post by BigD » Thu Feb 28, 2019 8:43 pm

campbell wrote:I’ve got HB3 (non-a) Nightbreakers coming from Autobulbs Direct.

Prob a week or two before I have time to fit them but will report back here.

BigD has mentioned a heat gun to soften some plastic somewhere. Well that’ll be fun Image
There’s rubbery covers on the back of the lights presumably to keep out the water. I heated these as they wouldn’t stay on with the angled bulb and connectors. Just heated it to stretch it a little so that it stays on. Dead easy. Image

I didn’t want to fit the LED’s as I wanted to try better bulbs first and also raising the aim quite a bit whilst still being within limits. Passed the MOT so must be ok. For some reason they were aimed far too low so plenty of adjustment. Made a big difference but will never be normal car amounts of light.

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campbell
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Re: S3 Elise Light Upgrades

Post by campbell » Thu Feb 28, 2019 9:02 pm

Thanks, D

And good point re alignment / aim. A number of forum posts on TLF seem to refer to the value of getting that right.

I think mine are set quite well but will experiment when time allows.
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thesurfbus
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Re: S3 Elise Light Upgrades

Post by thesurfbus » Fri Mar 01, 2019 8:45 am

I fitted LED bulbs to my previous VW Transporter, they were amazing at night, but the beam seemed to lose their shape, was forever getting flashed as well, passed MOT fine. My current T6 has Night Breakers.
Probably going to try some LEDs. although I can only find one person selling H9Bs.
I think the driving lights are also HB3A.
Lotus Elise 220 S

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campbell
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Re: S3 Elise Light Upgrades

Post by campbell » Fri Mar 01, 2019 1:56 pm

I think the reflector design is critical to making dip pattern work safely but have only skim read.
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robin
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Re: S3 Elise Light Upgrades

Post by robin » Sat Mar 16, 2019 3:31 pm

Use the force.
I is in your loomz nibblin ur wirez
#bemoretut

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campbell
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Re: S3 Elise Light Upgrades

Post by campbell » Sat Mar 16, 2019 3:34 pm

We have been. It’s not working. That’s the problem
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thesurfbus
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Re: S3 Elise Light Upgrades

Post by thesurfbus » Wed Mar 20, 2019 9:14 am

So i bought a pair of LED HB3 bulbs, however the heatsink and fan sticks out the rear of the light too far and touches the wheel arch liner, so have bought a Pair of Osram Laser bulbs to try instead, will report back on what they are like.
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