Headlights and bulbs

[brianatccm]

I have a 1993 Ford Escort LX 4-Door Hb w/ the 1.9 SOHC/auto. My headlights seem very dim compared to other cars. I would like to see where I am going and any deer along side the road. Currently the headlight assemblies are yellowed. I have new ones; I just need to have them installed. When I bought the car it had 45/65 watt bulbs. Shortly after I bought some APC 80/100 watt bulbs for $20. On tirerack.com I noticed that they sell a pair of PIAA 85/110 for $65+shipping. I was wondering how much of a difference the new headlights or the PIAAs would be.

Please post your headlight set ups and what you think about the brightness.

Thank you to all who reply.

-Brian
AIM: brianatccm

[AzTumbleweed]

I tried some 80/100 watt Xenon bulbs and loved them. Problem was that everybody else hated them because they were so bright. People were always flashing their lights at me. So I went to Wal-Mart and got a set of 'BAJA' off-road lights for $20. They come with H-3 50 watt halogen bulbs. I took those out and replaced them with H-4 100 watt halogen bulbs. These light up the road pretty good. I have them wired through a relay in such a way that they come on when I hit the hi-beam switch (along with the stock hi beams). I just hit the high beam switch and go to nearly 400 watts total with one click. Works for me. The covers for the lights say 'BAJA' so I painted over that. Then there is a plastic 'protective' grill over the lenses. Cut that off with a pair of dikes. I cleaned up my stock headlight lenses somewhat using rubbing compound. The second picture was taken in the middle of the day!

[brianatccm]

Thanks AZTumbleweed. That is a cool set up; 400 watts sounds awesome. I would attempt that set up if I had a garage. Its cold and I don't have a good place to work on my car. I will probably attemp the set up in the spring. I guess I should install those new headlights pretty soon...

To everyone else: Feel free to post about your headlight configuration.

-Brian

[midwayfreak]

My lenses were badly yellowed, I took them out and soaked them in Clorox bleach, it helped a lot

[AzTumbleweed]

Originally Posted by midwayfreak

My lenses were badly yellowed, I took them out and soaked them in Clorox bleach, it helped a lot

Now there's an idea..... Have to try it. Works on the brown shit in my coffee cups!

[Davescort97]

If your headlight lenses are kind of crusty on the outside it can be taken care of with some 600 grit wet or dry sandpaper. Then they can be rubbed out with compound to finish the job.