EF XR6 headlights are crap

Jaeger · 05-04-2005, 09:30 PM

Anyone got any ideas on how to make them more effective??

I don't really want to put a nudgebar on with spottys. It will ruin the way I like the car looking.

Thanks

Julza · 05-04-2005, 09:47 PM

Hey Jaeger,
You could try replacing your globes for a start and upgrade to some brighter ones (like the philips clearvision...might make a bit of difference)
Also, you could hook up a set of driving lights and mount them in the two brake duct/vents in your front bar

Regards,
Julza

JADED6 · 06-04-2005, 01:54 AM

Globe change is an option.

b2tf · 06-04-2005, 10:03 AM

Unfortunately a common complaint in EF's, the headlights are utter shit. Try putting higher wattage globes in there (I had Narva Plus 50's in mine and they were good), and fitting driving lights in the brake ducts is a good idea. I had a set behind each duct and they looked factory fitted - didnt stick out or anything. Worked very well too.

FRDXR6 · 06-04-2005, 12:04 PM

I have got an EF XR6 and the lights are awesome very bright, there 10x better than my brothers ef futura's. Dont know why yours are so dull though? maybe just try some different globes like everyone else has suggested.....

**DJM83** · 06-04-2005, 05:34 PM

yeah i got some phillips globes from autobarn for my mights and my lights are from an ED XR they were $60 but the work awesome and not much need for high beam either
if ur interested part number is 12258BVSD H1 12V trust me they will work a treat :voldar02:

LUXO_8 · 06-04-2005, 05:36 PM

DO NOT put higher wattage globes in the low beam.... the reflectors are plastic and WILL melt.....
you are fine to put higher wattage globes in the high beam though.....

EFFalcon · 06-04-2005, 05:39 PM

i find the XR lights are WAY better then the GLi ones.
i simply adjusted my lights all the way up :P
works well now!

ilsautomotive · 06-04-2005, 06:41 PM

I would have said check that the lenses aren't discoloured but I suppose this wouldn't apply to an XR. If are willing to part with a few hundred, a HID conversion would solve the problem.

Jaeger · 07-04-2005, 01:52 AM

Ok Thanks for the responses.

I'll try changing the globes on the high beams and see how I go.

They just seem really dull and not really great for highway driving at night.
Even the old XF's headlights seemed to be better.

I don't know if its because of this "projector" technology or whatever it is, that i've read about in a few spots.

**DJM83** · 07-04-2005, 04:35 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Trouty

I would have said check that the lenses aren't discoloured but I suppose this wouldn't apply to an XR. If are willing to part with a few hundred, a HID conversion would solve the problem.

wats that im curious?

neb · 07-04-2005, 04:55 PM

my friends el had a weird round plasticy thing stuck on the front of his el xr lights... he took that off and cleaned it up a bit and they were much brighter.

Danny · 07-04-2005, 04:56 PM

Tru thing about those EF lights. It was the first thing i noticed in mine as well. Even the high beams are crappy, only pointing a small spot of bright light in front of you rather than a huge spread. I had the blue vision in mine and they worked beter but still not anything really unbeleivable....
-Dan

LUXO_8 · 07-04-2005, 04:59 PM

neb, that was a lite-skinz... people put them on to try and stop getting a stone through the lens.............. they go all crap and then no light can get through...

The Goodz · 07-04-2005, 05:31 PM

Jack those HID conversions aren't cheap, there is the globes, the wiring and the ballast boxes for each globes, I think to replace a pair of H1 globes is like $1300, not including installation. I already enquired about them for my car...

Alex

ilsautomotive · 07-04-2005, 06:25 PM

Alex, just for interest's sake I have friends in the US with various Mazdas and a full Philips kit is between US$300 and 400, and I understand installation isn't particularly hard. The thing that puts me off is that personally I'd want to do all my lights or none, and that's when it gets really pricey... Also there is a question mark over whether they would be excessively blinding to oncoming traffic.

TIKFD6 · 07-04-2005, 08:21 PM

Wayne, XR reflectors are Metal mate.
When you put higher wattage globes in it only melts the globe retaining clips.
I run 50+ globes in my High beam.
Try adjusting the high beams so they sit slightly higher thanyou would usually have them.
It works for me.

The EF/L grill covers alot of the outside of the lights.
Wayne, ive used Liteskins for years, and never had any discolour or go yucky.

ED/L XR headlights have to be the best of all E sries in my opinion.

Yagz · 07-04-2005, 08:30 PM

Thats why ford changed the design of the EL xr grill.. To allow more light to disperse around the front of the car..

Only problem i have with XR lights, is the alignment.

LUXO_8 · 07-04-2005, 08:34 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by TIKFD6

Wayne, XR reflectors are Metal mate.
When you put higher wattage globes in it only melts the globe retaining clips.
I run 50+ globes in my High beam.

the LOW beam reflectors are plastic.... ive fixed enough of them to know that (ie physically pulled the beam to pieces) ive also plastic welded the reflector up i seriously doubt you could plastic weld metal, though i could be wrong.... ive only been doing the job for 5 years.....
the HIGH beam reflectors are metal.............

which is what i said in my initial post....

also, id presume you've had a lucky run with the lite-skinz, 2 out of 3 lights we do with them we remove the skin and throw away as they have discoloured so much the light simply cant get through - we test globes prior to sending the lights out

**Polyal** · 07-04-2005, 09:23 PM

The only issues Ive had is with my high beams, they work great but when I flick over they turn the normal ones off. Is that normal? I plan to get it wired up so they both stay on; otherwise its like tunnel vision..lol

**DJM83** · 09-04-2005, 12:34 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Polyal

The only issues Ive had is with my high beams, they work great but when I flick over they turn the normal ones off. Is that normal? I plan to get it wired up so they both stay on; otherwise its like tunnel vision..lol

yeah dont worry i have the same problem in my car gonna get around to fixing it lol its in the wiring because gen XR's are wired up different
personaly i think E series XR's have the best lighting i had standard light the were pretty crap the i had Aftermarket twinlights a little better but XR lights are by far the better
Kerry is that lite-skinz the shit on my lights? still seems to b workin ok to me no discolouring